Our parents and our family travels

The name of our blog, TravelingTolins2, is derived from Larry’s parents Traveling Tolins.  They were avid RVers who got their start by honeymooning at Yosemite in Dad’s homemade teardrop pull-behind trailer in the spring of 1938.

After a two decade break, while Dad served in the Navy during World War II for 3+ years and for both Dad and Mom to raise two boys, they bought a used Airstream pull-behind, self contained travel trailer.  During the subsequent three decades they pulled trailers through 49 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

At the age of 86 Dad traded in a pull-behind travel trailer for a 33-foot Airstream motorhome.  Mom and Dad continued to travel in it for six more years when they had to retire due to Parkinson’s Disease.

Diane’s parents were also RVers.  When Dad retired from the Army, they bought an Avion pull-behind trailer and traveled most of the US states in a two-decade time.  Like Larry’s parents, they also traded their trailer for a motorhome.  But they also were ocean cruisers for eight two-week trips; they really enjoyed their times at sea and travels.

In their retirement they had two priorities, church and family.  Dad continued to serve their church in Palm Harbor, Florida a day a week for many more years.  They took RV breaks to visit their three children, five grandchildren + 2 blended grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren + six blended great-grandchildren, and three blended great-great grandchildren.

Larry and Diane followed their parents’ RV footsteps.  They started early with a pop-up camp trailer but after retirement at ages 56 and 48, they purchased a 38-foot fifth-wheel travel trailer.  They sold their home in Leavenworth, Kansas and hit the road.  After a year of trailering they decided it would be safer to drive and travel in a motorhome. 

They lived and traveled in their motorhome for eleven more years.  They became RV tour guides (wagonmasters) and lead RV tours into Mexico in winters, Alaska, Canada, and the US in summers.  After landing in Overland Park with twelve years as full-time RVers they continued to use their motorhome for eight more years.  Finally they sold their life on wheels two years ago and have now taken to cruising, both river and ocean.