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 Gypsy Journal chronicles couple's RV journeys through the USA By Chuck Woodbury, editor Nick and Terry Russell lead what many people believe is the dream life — traveling America fulltime by RV. But unlike most RVers, the Russells share what they find on their journeys in a delightful, homespun tabloid newspaper, The Gypsy Journal. The Russells travel where they want, when they want, and write about whatever they find of interest. The newspaper is packed with stories and photos that will fuel the wanderlust of any RVer or would-be RVer. "We try very hard not to have a fixed itinerary," said Nick. "We spent too many years with tight schedules and don't ever again want to deal with the stress of having to be somewhere at a given time if we can avoid it. We usually have a general idea where we may be headed, but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll get there anytime soon. If we find a place we like, we may spend a week or even two, but we're just as likely to be heading down the highway the next morning." The Gypsy Journal is the public record of this full-timing couple's travels. Issues include articles about interesting places to see and about things to do of interest to RVers. Regular columns deal with the fulltimer life, including tips on working on the road and even descriptions of where the Russell's camped, including many free locations they stumble upon. Issues are typically 36 tabloid pages with about the same number of words as in a typical nonfiction book. The writing is clean and crisp and the Russells' folksy writing style makes each issue read like a letter from a friend. "It’s the first paper or magazine I’ve read that sounds just like the campground conversations you have with your neighbors to find the kind of information you really need as you travel," wrote Julie Wurglitsh of Springfield, Missouri. Said Terry, "When we find some neat little out of the way town that interests us, we share it with our readers. Maybe some day another overworked couple out there will look at each other over the kitchen table at the end of a long, stressful day and say to themselves 'If they can do it, we can too!' When that day arrives, we hope our experiences will help them make the decision to escape." Before hitting the road full time in their 36-foot motorhome, the 40-something Russells lived stressful lives like many (if not most) of their baby boomer peers. "We were overworked and stressed out to the breaking point," said Nick. "Between the pressures of running two businesses, the long hours required to make the climb up the ladder of 'success' and the demands on our time from every direction, we never seemed to have the time to stop and smell the roses." And so they bought their motorhome, sold most of their possessions and hit the road. They publish issues of the Gypsy Journal from wherever they are after writin
The Gypsy Journal will win no awards for design — it's plain ol' black and white — but it really doesn't matter as the content makes up for any graphic shortcomings. The Gypsy Journal stands alone as the best homespun newspaper published from the road. Anyone who travels by RV or who plans to — especially full timers — will thoroughly enjoy this informative and folksy periodical. A one year subscription (USA only) is $15 from Gypsy Journal, 1400 Colorado, C-16, Boulder City, Nevada 89005.
Copyright 2004 by Out West Newspaper |
