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Over The Rainbeaubeaux

Posted November 30, 2017 – Narrated by Carmen

Due to the video below, there is no podcast.

“It’s always best to start at the beginning. And all you do is follow the yellow brick road.”

– Glinda, The Good Witch – The Wizard of Oz

 Pico and I play “Oz” at my sister’s charming house in the woods of Tennessee

Once upon a time this summer while camping at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a production crew from Wunderman – a prominent digital marketing agency – sent an email requesting permission to join us on the road and make a mini-documentary about LIB.

On the first read, we doubted the authenticity of the offer and, as we were off-grid and without a cell signal, we put the correspondence aside until we had WiFi at Boots Bar and Grill in Medora, North Dakota.

We decided to say ‘yes’

Intrigued, we researched the agency’s legitimacy.

Wow! This was for real. We just sat there, stunned.

Wunderman’s client, Best Buy, was interested in how technology facilitates our passion for full-time travel. Of course, we had a few questions, such as why our story, and how did they find us …? And how did they know we are Best Buy customers…?

These questions and more, Wunderman said, would be dealt with in due time but for the moment they were in a whirlwind of activity and needed our answer. Yes or No?

Naturally, we had doubts about the wisdom of putting ourselves out there, but apparently, LIB had already opened that door. And, a “No” answer would roundly deny our LIB mission to embrace the spirit of adventure. So we took the leap…

“The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.” – The Wizard of Oz

… and answered, “Yes.”

Yes! to being swept into a wave of youthful creative energy and carried up into the clouds by an itinerant band of passionate storytellers for a couple of glorious early-autumn days in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Yes, indeed!

We met the crew at the highly rated Harvest Hosts destination, Bluestone Vineyard, and the gracious owners of this spectacular property and tasting room opened their gates and casks to us …

“Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by boat or train. It’s far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain…” – Dorothy

… and then, we went over the rainbow!

Here is the mini-documentary

Special thanks to the team of kindly wizards at Wunderman, Best Buy, and Drive Thru, Inc.

“But it wasn’t a dream. It was a place, and you … and you … and you … and you were there!” – Dorothy

Here are a few ‘behind-the-scenes’ photos from our 3-day film-making adventure.

“Frightened? Child, you’re talking to a man who’s laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe… I was petrified.” – Wizard of Oz
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” – Wizard of Oz
“There’s no place like home” – Dorothy
“I’ve got a way to get us in there, and you’re gonna lead us.” – Scarecrow to Dorothy
“It really was no miracle. What happened was just this…” – Dorothy
“It’s funny, but I feel as if I’d known you all the time, but I couldn’t have, could I?” – Dorothy
“My! People come and go so quickly here!” – Dorothy
“The dreams that you dare to dream really do come true” – Dorothy
“Now which way do we go?” – Dorothy to the Scarecrow
“If we walk far enough, we shall sometime come to someplace.” – Dorothy
“We must be over the rainbow!” – Dorothy
“My goodness, what a fuss you’re making!” – Dorothy to the Lion
“Shucks, folks, I’m speechless” – The Lion

And, now, as we gently come back down to earth, we’d like to thank our beautiful hot air balloon, Sirus, and her pilot, Mark Miller, and the crew at Star Ballooning for the smooth and expert flight – Honestly, I could have iced a cake through that landing!

“Everything has to come to an end, sometime.” – L. Frank Baum quote about the Oz series

So what did we learn from this LIB adventure?

Three things:

  • To pay more attention to our inbox.
  • To trust our LIB dream and to follow wherever it leads.
  • And to keep our eyes open and strive to see everything, because …
Graffiti on the summit parking lot of Reddish Knob, Virginia where we shot the hiking scene.

68 thoughts on “Over The Rainbeaubeaux”

  3. Sounds like you had a fun time sharing your Adventures with all of us via a different medium. Love the blog and the ongoing adventures. Thanks for the fun!

    Reply

    1. Hey Jack! We’re so lucky to have friends, family and followers to share with. Thank you, and safe travels!

      LIB

      Reply

    1. Hey Frank!

      Hopefully, we will never have any movie-worthy adventures.

      What a lovely thing it is to have met you and Debbie. Can’t wait to get together again!

      xoxo,

      LIB

      Reply

    1. Hey Carrie! What a hoot that was. And, it sure helped us to see ourselves in a whole new way … so, now, we’re on a diet.

      xoxo

      LIB

      Reply

    1. The most beautiful thing about all this is how MUCH there is to discover! We will NEVER be done! There are too many secret places. The world is vast and we’re so tiny. Thank you for being with us!

      Safe Travels,

      LIB

      Reply

  12. Always look forward to each new adventure that you take and to the information that you take the time to share!

    Reply

    1. Aw, thank you, Eva. I feel better knowing that you are watching us “from afar.”

      A blessed Christmas season to you!

      xoxo,

      LIB

      Reply

  16. Wonderful! You two look gorgeous on professional video. I agree with your friend Frank. I’m ready to see the movie now that the trailer is out.
    Can’t wait for Maria to see this and notice you are wearing her old ‘Dorthy’ dress.
    Deb

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Kathy and Steve, for being with us! We feel safer knowing that we’re being checked up on!

      Safe Travels,

      LIB

      Reply

  24. What an awesome experience!!! Wonderful mini-documentary! (I’m tempted to say I’m jealous of your life but I try not to feel that way).

    Reply

  27. I live by the 4-3-2 rule also. I usually only sleep for four hours when I have to wake up at 3 a.m. Because I have to pee for the 2nd time that night

    Reply

  32. Outstanding video! Your spot in our driveway is open, The Buffalo Trace, and my aged Alabama ‘shine is waiting on you…..

    Reply

    1. Nathalia, so great to hear from you! Hope all is going fantastic with your life and career. As I recall you are reviewing movies. Are you still doing that?

      Reply

  34. I’m looking to cut the ties in 4 years (just my timing) and become houseless. Had the dream since last year to hitch a Bambi or Base Camp to my truck (going solo at this point). Also, had a hot air balloon ride two years ago. Great adventure. One more off the bucket list. You guys are an inspiration. Keep up LIB.

    Reply

    1. Hey Burt!

      Cheers to your dream! Sounds like the plan is well in motion. You’re already on the journey and off to see the Wizard. No need to rush. Just one step at a time. It will all come together as all things do. Take small trips. If you can rent to test different styles and sizes before you settle. Enjoy! Hopefully we will still be on the road when you launch.

      Happy Holidays!

      Carmen@LIB

      Reply

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