Travel logs

[BarbaraRose]

Do most of you keep travel logs? If so, what all do you keep track of, write about? I bought a notebook to put checklists and things in but thought I should add some type of travel log in there too. I found a website called Mytriplogs.com. Has anyone used that?

[JudyJB]

I use an excel spreadsheet to keep track of expenses. I also keep track of mileage driven each day on that spreadsheet. I also added a column to track cell service in each campground. Also, I keep my blog so my family and friends knows where I am, and I can remember where I have been!

[snowball]

I thought I would even thought about a blog that didn't happen....and somewhere deep in one of the computers I am sure I
could find an entry or two
go for it it will be fun
sheila

[Bethers]

My first two years out I kept excel spreadsheets of every penny I spent. I wanted to know just what this type of lifestyle would cost. I no longer do that. But I have little notebooks, one in the rv and one in the car. I keep track of all my expenses for each vehicle. And the rv one also keeps track of my mileage driven each day.. Where I spend each night. And the cost. If I want to remember anything specific about the place, I note it there also.

[Colliemom]

I keep a diary sort of, of where I stay, what I do or see, my expenses for that day etc. Kind of fun to read back through later especially when I make my scrapbook of a trip.

[PeggyinCT]

Hi Barbie, yes I have kept a big yellow five-subject notebook for seven years. In the beginning I tracked mileage, gas , campground fees, etc. I've kept track of all repairs, both to the engine and to the house components of my van. In one in the pockets I keep all of my repair receipts. I often refer back to them when I need something done. I also had to keep track of when and how long I exercised my generator, because I had difficulty at first remembering to do it. In another pocket I keep info about places I want to visit and things I want to do as I travel.
You will have different needs, but I think tracking in the beginning is a good thing. Nothing fancy, just a notebook and a pencil is all you need. Have fun with Happy and I hope to meet up with you somewhere on the road. Peggy

[BirdbyBird]

After I retired and before I was able to travel much I kept a very detail budget for about three years. I even purchased a neat program that I was able to individualize. Then I drive off one time and left the computer behind and I never got back in the habit. But by that time I had paid off the last big chunk of debit that was hanging over my head and I had learned about my expenses and where my money went every month/year. I learned how thin a shoe string I could manage to live on. etc. At this point I am sensitive to bigger ticket items or repairs and think about the cost of groceries and gas, etc because I know that I have built in that "travel/dog/fun" fund.....I know that I have enough budget to cover normal expenses and a safety net for emergencies. I am good with that.

On the "diary" note....my step mother always kept a journal of her travels (Her travels consisted of airplanes, boats, ships, Inns, hotels, motels and staterooms) She loved her trips. She loved her pictures and telling us all about her trips. (On the sad side she never thought to invite and of the family to travel with her ) Those little books and the picture albums sat on her shelves. They made the trip from the house to her independent apartment after my father passed and then they moved with her into assisted living. I only looked into one of them once. She wrote many details down including what she ate and how much it cost but little reflection of how the place made her feel or any reflections of thoughts. It was sort of sad really. The prices of lunch but not what looking across the savannah of Africa felt like.

After she passed I packed all of them up, brought them to my house and passed them to her daughter when she came in for the Memorial service. I am not sure she even looked at them before she threw them out. I do know that my step mother when she was in assisted living and having trouble even walking talked about how she would read through them and remember her wonderful trips. The administrator and one of the other employees would stop by her rooms about once a month. She would serve them drinks and she got to talk about all her trips and entertain them.

The sad part.....
Mostly, we did not find her trips all that entertaining and long ago had gotten over her trying to be the center of attention and dominating topics and conversations because she thought no one was as important as she was.....

[retiredhappy]

I used to do a small binder for each trip then I started doing diary type. Kept beginning and ending mileage and my expenses as well as stuff about the campgrounds I liked or didn't like, printed pictures and pasted them wit comments

[bikerchic777]

I started a blog when I first started RVing. The blogspot site crashed and took my blog with it. I was so upset that I never started one again. I sometimes wish I would keep a journal. I have the Fillip app for my phone and log my gas mileage. I can add notes on there, so I put where I filled and where I'm going. I thought that was an easy way to keep a log of my travels, but when I got my new phone, it didn't transfer, and I had to start over. Aargh!

[BarbaraRose]

Thanks for all the ideas! I will check out that website too and see how that works.

I, too, had a blog about my adventures while living in California, but my blog page got hacked and deleted. Lots of time and effort all gone! I will probably start another one again and be more careful about who I give the link to.

Birdie, that is sad that your step=mother never wrote about what she saw, felt and experienced on her travels. Sounds like she enjoyed remembering and talking about the trips tho. That is why we all do this, for the experiences and the great memories.

[gypsyrose1126]

I keep a notebook of my trips, but not daily expenses. I put the total cost of gas, food, attractions, tickets, etc. at the end, along with the total mileage. I keep info on the trip, just stuff I am interested in, I really don't expect anyone else to read it. I make comments about the campgrounds, the drive or area, what I liked and what I did not like, weather, etc.

[snowball]

my husband always kept a log of miles fuel cost total cost where purchased at...in a note book when I emptied up the green pickup
I put it somewhere...so when I got this one I started up keeping track of the same but choose the wrong note book and the pages
keep coming out ....I think I need that app!!! I do like to see that information I also occasionally check the miles per gal bit
sheila