Bob & Pat Wangen started their full time RV journey in June 2011. They sold their house in DeWitt, MI, sold or stored their “worldly possessions,” and took the big step. Pat wrapped up her business as a part-time consultant. Bob was the owner of Implement Improvement, LLC and continued his training business from the road. Bob fully retired in November 2014 when he finished the last of his contracts and didn’t seek to renew them
Pat is originally from Bad Axe in the “thumb” of Michigan. Pat began her career in banking with Manufacturers Bank in Detroit. She left banking to start their family and after the kids were on their own went back to work as an independent consultant.
Bob grew up in the Detroit suburb of Allen Park, and started with the YMCA in Warren, MI, then to the Red Cross, and then to the Michigan National Guard. Bob retired from the Guard in 1999 and started his training business.
They met while attending college at Central Michigan University and were married in 1973.
Bob and Pat have been camping for years and enjoy kayaking and snorkeling.
Visit their blog as they tell the story of their experiences on the road.
Michigan Traveler 
Hi Aunt Pat & Uncle Bob! Thought I’d share a few links with you since you’re headed to Florida and all 🙂
Top 10 Family Camping Spots in Florida
http://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/florida/article984743.ece
Top 100 Florida Campgrounds
http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=64
And a neat Museum about a 1/2 mile from my house I think Uncle Bob would enjoy…
http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com/
Can’t wait to see you soon!
Uncle Bob –
You should be in our area this weekend… tsk tsk
5Civil War re-enactment: Called the Battle of Ballast Point, Civil War re-enactors will be camped out this weekend at Fort DeSoto with ongoing events such as battle re-enactments and demonstrations of mid-19th century life. Have a bag of fresh kettle corn and listen to some drum and fife music or watch artillery demonstrations and infantry drills. It runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde. Free, but it’s now $5 to park.
Sounds like a perfect date for you and your favorite FL nephew 🙂
Hope you guys are enjoying Key West.
Love,
Robin
Love your web site – Your next door neighbors on the Rock Pile in Sigsbee – Marie and Elmer, who are back in NY and looking forward to going to Key West again next winter.
Hi Bob & Pat,
Great to see you this past week in Michigan and catch up on old times! We’ll look forward to keeping up with you during all your travels.
Happy Trails!
Kay and Lynn Sommerfeld
(Go Hatchets!)
Grandma and Grandpa,
That sure is something I hadn’t known about you guys!!!!
Wow, Bob… This really IS a small world! I grew up in Allen Park, also!
Jim
This is almost too much! Are you guys planning to return to Woodchip after your trip to Florida?
Just for a short stopover, as we have some chores to attend to. We are going to be up around TC this summer. More onour blog about that when it happens.
Hi Bob and Pat,
My husband and I are considering an Alaska Adventure Trek trip. Did you find the 50 day one to be just right, or would you recommend the 35 day trip?
Thanks for any advice.
Jeanne
I would definitely recommend the 50-day caravan. The 35-day caravan goes to the same locations, but you have more scheduled activities in each day and have no free days to things YOU want to do that are not on the schedule. If you are an active couple I would encourage you to hike to the top of the Exit Glacier in Seward and kayak to a glacier in Valdez. Check out our posts on these to get more information.
Thanks so much. I appreciate your info.
Jeanne
You’re welcome Jeanne, Contact us again anytime.
Found your articles to be very interesting. We also are starting our western trip and up to Alaska with Fantasy Tours in June. We also have a 2011 Cameo and we very curious as to how well your camper did on the trip. This is our 2nd one so we know how well they are built. this is our home so we want to take very good care of it. Your thought are very much appreciated.
We heard ALL of the horror stories about RVs being almost destroyed traveling to Alaska. NONE of them were true. We had no damage to our 38 ft fifth wheel trailer. Some of the motor homes traveling with our caravan had to have windshields replaced, but that was the only problem. if your RV is in good shape, you are not overweight, and don’t drive too fast, you should not have any problems.
you shared campgrounds with Fantasy Tour groups – you should have a great time, enjoy! BTW take pictures of EVERYTHING, you may not be back.
Thanks so much. The RV is in great shape. I do my best to keep it that way. cost to much to replace.
https://militaryliving.com/whidbey-island-wa-july-2016/
Bob we just posted your Whidbey article on http://www.militaryliving.com
I would like to give you a free your subscription to our website, If you will be so kind as to send me your email I can set you up. Regards, RJ Crawford
President Miltiary Living rj@militaryliving.com 571-216-7829 Intresting article thanks.
Hey Bob and Pat from Michigan this is Dave and Laura from Michigan looks like we’d like to do similar things love your site and will be following you along
Hi David and Laura,
Welcome to the full-time RV lifestyle. I have no doubt you will find fun and adventure while traveling this great country. Let us know if you have questions.
Bob
robertwangen@gmail.com
Hi Bob and Pat,
this is an unusual message in regards to property my in-laws purchased on June 2, 1984 in Harrison Michigan from Bruce O. and Janey H. Wangen on land contract. I realize this is odd, but on behalf of my mother in law who is trying to sell her place up north, could you touch base with me. She need more information for the realtor.
Sincerely,
Doug Richardson