Month 3 Late Gap year USA road trip

So just started 4th month 20,000 miles covered 26 States but this will slow as Colorado and Utah have some many places to visit but not a lot new learning/advise to add, but.

Saw our first other UK van in Yellowstone a 72 plate Chausson, but no one "at home".

• If your a recycling fanatic then you'll either have to become lapsed or keep hold of recyclables for a few days. National Parks have good recycling facilities but things vary greatly from town/city/state to state. Most Walmart have bins for "flexible" plastic but generally not glass/aluminium or paper/cardboard.
• Oil change after 16,000 miles and "interesting" to note that while the "same" Sofim 2.3 turbo Diesel is fitted in the Jeep Cherokee the oil filter for the Jeep has a US connecting thread, so will not fit Fiat, good job we shipped 3 then.
• We have looked at 4G booster systems but for the limited time we don't have connections the <$500 for the market leader and needing installation does not seem best value. If your trip is to be more offgrid then one may be a good idea. They should work in Europe as well as they are just a more powerful antenna than you phone has and act as a middleman between your phone and the mast in can connect to.
• Monzo & Starling card proving useful for getting "cashback" when/if needed.

https://dollarsprout.com/cash-back-stores-debit-card/#:~:text=In addition to grocery stores,minimum purchase requirement to consider.

• Walmart cash self-service checkouts good for getting rid of coins, they take 1 cent upwards.
• You'll discover frequently "Americans" will fuel their vehicle and then go into the shop for several minutes or as we had they bought some ice and then proceeded to empty the trunk/boot to get the ice box out to put it in. Stopping overnight at multiple petrol stations the longest I noticed was 20 minutes from filling up, going into shop and driving off.
• ELK Lodge is another option for "free" overnight, approx $100 to join, anyone can but you'll have to sort out how, and you can stop at any lodge overnight and use facilities according to several US full time RV's we've spoken to.
• Canadian "curry" sauces are not to our taste.
• Tom Tom or other dedicated Sat Nav's are available proving useful when no 4G to use Google Maps/ Waze but apps have the advantage of providing live feedback.
• No other issues with the Swift part of the van, though I'm still bugged by the excessive and totally unnecessary lighting.
• Still getting 26.8 mpg. 9 Speed auto, Eco setting 99% of the time.
• Ad-Blue usage seems to be greater in the higher temperatures, we've had <28c for several weeks and only getting 700 miles per 5l.
• If your van has other media input, bring it, surprisingly or maybe not big gaps in FM coverage.

Google Maps is very useful for planning multiple steps and sharing:

You can see out current list of "to visit" here:

We do review/update as we approach each State using: https://www.attractionsofamerica.com/
Or City: https://www.attractionsofamerica.com/destinations.php

You can follow our misadventures and keeping everyone up to date if we go missing @: https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-late-gap-year