Tag: Travel

January 2026

Hello Everyone,

As we wrap up January, you’ll find us at El Dorado Ranch in the Baja of Mexico. This month has been shaped by relaxation and time for reflection, reminding us once again how quickly time moves when you live life on the road. By the middle of next month, we will have been in Mexico for 90 days, and although we have struggled a bit with the social scene, which is sometimes difficult to fit this nomadic lifestyle into a world of “sticks & bricks”, we have met some very interesting people. We have enjoyed the low humidity of the desert with the luxury of a sandy beach, we have enjoyed the amenities, as well as proximity of markets and supplies. We have not made any commitment for next winter but we have not ruled it out either

LOOKING AHEAD:

Key Dates:

  • Mid-February will have us crossing the international border back into the United States

Plans & Highlights:

  • Some much-needed Amazon orders & a Costco visit to restock
  • Finding a quiet boondocking spot in the LTVA at Imperial Dam
  • Visiting with friends in Southwest Arizona

Bucket List Items:

  • Explore the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
  • Explore the Mitty Lake Wildlife Area

BLOG POSTS THIS MONTH:

Travel & Destinations:

  • El Dorado Ranch – an overview of the history behind this development  ►read more
  • Boyce Thompson Arboretum – Arizona’s best kept secret of desert beauty  ►read more
  • Valley of Fire – Nevada’s first state park a world away from Las Vegas  ►read more
  • Mexican Postal Service – an overview ►read more
  • Border crossing 2026 – updated process ►read more

RV Tech & Gear:

  • SeeLeveL Tank Monitor – A look at how tanks should be monitored (and its Canadian)  ►read more
  • Solar For Dummies – Re-published from December 2019  ►read more

Lifestyle & Reflections:

  • IPTV Streaming – Not for everyone but an amazing service for travelers  ►read more
  • Public Mobility – How we saved over a thousand dollars and sacrificed nothing  ►read more

THIS MONTH IN PHOTOS:

LESSONS FROM THE ROAD

After 8+ Years of Full-Time RV Living

This month’s takeaway:

Full-Time RV living is an amazing adventure or series of adventures. If you remember that this a “Lifestyle not an extended Vacation” take your time and be flexible with your schedule.

UPDATES & PROJECTS

Rig Update:

After an extensive search for a replacement torque rod, the original has been re-welded and re-installed until a new one can be obtained once, we are back in civilization. I have spent most of my working life in the “service” industry and was appalled by the arrogance and price gouging that I experienced from some sources. I know we drive and live in a 28-year-old coach, but that is the choice we have made, and it burns me to know some people are being so mistreated. While under Thunder there are several items that need to be addressed like a leaking left rear axle seal (it was replaced on Vancouver Island in 2022) and our leaking water tank and 28 years indicate I need some repair work in the basement floor, as well as regular service work like oil & filter. So, I’m looking for a lot or driveway back in Ontario where I can make some of these repairs this summer, if anyone knows of a spot please reach out.

Systems / Solar / Connectivity:

As I look back over last year’s numbers it has become apparent that we cannot yet boondock without supplementing our power with a generator, I’m creating a blog to explain why and what we need to do to survive off grid. It will bore some, but it will explain our issues in detail and offer some solutions as well as talk about things like winter sunshine and daylight hour compared to “solar hour” plus options and opinions for someone looking to add solar. Also I will be publishing a Solar Blog Series that will address some of the mystery in great detail and depth.

Blog & Creative:

Those of you who have been following our blog for an extended period of time will know that last year was not a good year for our blog, call it burn out, lazy or just tired I was close to stepping away from the blog, but not  being a quitter I decided to ask for help and while friends were supportive they were too kind. So I feed all 500+ blogs into an AI program and asked for a critique and constructive help, and the results were both comforting an eye opener as well. For over a month now I have been creating my blogs in my word processer and then loading the file into the AI app and have been pleased with the newer, cleaner and readable style reducing some of my rambling. On Facebook I have started a photo a day project and so far I have been able to find something to capture and present, we will see if I can make it to day 365.

I have managed to put together a short video of our home this month. ►see video

PS: The upcoming Solar Blog Series will be separated by travel blogs and equipment reviews ten solar blogs in a row would even be too much for me. ☺

Miss Laurie’s Artwork:

Her talent never fails to amaze me, whether it in acrylic paint or watercolor and now she is experimenting with pencil drawings. So, this month between pickleball, seashells, swimming, or corn hole, spending time in the coach painting has not been a priority, here are her creations.

Mister Sam’s Photo of the Month:

Thank you for following along and being part of our journey.

See you down the road,

Laurie & Brian

The Buchanan’s Rolling Down the Road

www.thebuchanansrollingdowntheroad.com

Day 3045

One Year Later: Why We Switched to Public Mobile for RV Cellular Service

Reliable cellular service is critical for how we travel and live on the road. Between navigation, reservations, banking, staying in touch with family, and running our online work, our phones are not optional — they are infrastructure.

About a year ago, we made a significant change: we switched our cellular service from Rogers to Public Mobile. After twelve months of real-world use across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, here’s an honest breakdown of why we switched, what we’ve saved, and what you should know — good and bad — if you’re considering Public Mobile.

What We Were Using Before: Rogers

Prior to switching, we were on a Rogers Canada/US/Mexico plan that included:

  • Unlimited calling and texting
  • Coverage in Canada, the United States, and Mexico
  • 90GB of shared data between two phones

The Cost

  • Approximately $90 per phone
  • $180 per month total for two phones

While coverage was generally solid, the cost was high — especially considering how closely we monitor data usage and how often we’re moving.

Why We Started Looking for an Alternative

As full-time travelers, we’re always evaluating recurring expenses. Cellular service is one of the largest monthly costs for anyone living on the road.

We wanted:

  • Canada / US / Mexico coverage
  • Predictable monthly pricing
  • Enough data for daily use without constantly worrying about overages
  • A plan that made sense financially

That search led us to Public Mobile.

Our Current Setup: Public Mobile

We switched both phones to Public Mobile and selected identical plans for each device.

What We Get Now (Per Phone)

  • Unlimited calling
  • Unlimited texting
  • Canada / United States / Mexico coverage
  • 60GB of data per phone

The Cost

  • $39 per phone per month
  • $78 per month total for two phones

No contracts. No surprises.

The Savings: What Switching Really Changed

This is where the decision really justified itself.

Monthly Comparison (Two Phones)

  • Rogers: ~$180 / month
  • Public Mobile: $78 / month

Monthly Savings

  • $102 saved every month

Yearly Savings

  • $1,224 saved per year

That’s real money — enough to cover fuel, campground stays, maintenance, or travel experiences instead of disappearing into a phone bill.

Coverage & Performance After One Year

This is the most important question: does it actually work?

After a year of use:

The Good

  • Coverage has been solid in Canada and the United States
  • Mexico coverage has worked reliably for calling, texting, and data
  • Call quality has been clear
  • Data speeds have been perfectly usable for everyday tasks
  • No unexpected roaming charges

For normal phone use, navigation, messaging, email, and general browsing, we haven’t felt handicapped by the switch.

The Trade-Offs (What You Should Know)

Public Mobile isn’t perfect — and it’s important to understand what you’re giving up.

Potential Downsides

  • No in-store support (online/self-serve model)
  • Limited customer service options compared to major carriers
  • Data speeds may not match premium-tier plans in congested areas
  • No phone financing — bring your own device

For us, these trade-offs were acceptable. And the yearly savings will cover the expense of a phone upgrade. We value cost control and coverage more than premium add-ons or in-person support.

Why Public Mobile Works Well for RVers

For travelers and RVers, Public Mobile makes a lot of sense:

  • Predictable monthly cost
  • International coverage without complicated roaming plans
  • Enough data per phone to avoid constant monitoring
  • Easy budgeting for long-term travel

We pair this service with other connectivity solutions depending on where we’re parked, but as a primary phone service, it’s been reliable.

Final Thoughts: Would We Switch Again?

Yes — without hesitation.

After a year on Public Mobile, the service has proven reliable enough for our needs, and the cost savings alone make it worth it. We don’t feel like we downgraded — we feel like we stopped overpaying.

If you’re currently on a high-cost Canada/US/Mexico plan and don’t need premium extras, Public Mobile is absolutely worth considering.

As always, this isn’t sponsored — just a real-world review based on how we travel and live on the road.

Day 3040