Filling In The State Map and Taking State Selfies – Day 50

Today we enter our 9th state and soon we will be able to add another sticker to our state map on the back of the camper.

Like most of the RV’s that travel around the United States, we have purchased a Travel Camper Map. This map includes scenic decal stickers of all 50 states.

You place the blank outline map of the United States somewhere on your camper. Then commemorate every time that you stay in a new state by placing that state’s sticker in it’s proper location.

Besides that fact that you actually have to be in that state, there are no set rules on when you are supposed to add the sticker.

When To Add The State Map Sticker

For us, we have decided that we can only place a new sticker on the state map once after spending at least one night in the state.

And of course, it has to be a night that was spent in our T@b 400 camper.

So that means that the states that we had visited prior to traveling with our trailer do not count. And yes, even if we drove to them.

Therefore, tomorrow we get to add one more state on our map. That is because today we crossed over the Snake River into Eastern Washington.

And I have to tell you, as silly as it sounds, we both look forward to placing the new state sticker on the back of the camper every week.

In fact, we even take turns on who gets to actually do the honors of adding the sticker to the map. And because of Mary’s height, sometimes we put the stickers on together.

But regardless, it feels fantastic to see what once was a blank state map turn into a partially filled one.

However, because we are in the next few states for an extended period of time, it may be another 10-14 days before we can add a new state to the map.

But that is okay, Washington, Oregon and California are pretty large states to get through and we are thankful to have a few extra days to spend in each one.

The State Sign Selfies

Another unexpected tradition that we have embraced along this journey around the country is taking a photo at each state’s sign as we enter.

Lucky for us, so far it has been fairly easy. Each state has had a paved, or partially paved area to pull off near the state sign.

So we have slowed down, and pulled off to take a state sign selfie at each one.

However today, as we entered the state of Washington, it was a little more difficult.

As we traveled across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho to Clarkston, WA, we actually crossed the state line as we crossed the bridge at the midpoint of the river.

Obviously, there was no pull off and nowhere to stop to take a picture. However, once we made it over the bridge, there was a Welcome to Washington sign that was the perfect for a selfie.

Although parking was a little challenge, we were able to find a spot on a side street that allowed us to get our 9th state selfie sign.

I am not sure what we will do with all our state selfie pictures, but I am hoping that someday it will make for a great collage for a poster, blanket or maybe even Christmas ornaments.

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

• Day 50 of 365
• States Visited 9 / 50
• National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
• Stayed In : Clarkston, Washington
• Miles Driven : 18.2
• Total Trip Miles To Date : 6486.2
• Total Gallons Used : 484.04
• Biking Miles : 0
• Biking Miles To Date : 109.6
• Hiking Miles : 0
• Hiking Miles To Date : 126.9

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

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