When Mike and Katie Myers left their home in Chattanooga, Tennessee to participate as guests on Fantasy’s Rivers West – Path of Lewis & Clark tour three summers ago, they knew they had discovered something very special in group RV travel. Their tour leaders, Paul and Donnamae Whitman and Pam and George Raney, convinced them to become more involved and they subsequently signed on as WagonMasters for Fantasy Tours.
Since then, they’ve been busy, to say the least. That fall they went to the Fantasy training sessions, and then worked the Taste of Mexico, Alaska and New York City tours and the annual Reunion Rally. They’re even busier this year – they’ve already completed another Taste of Mexico tour and the Urbanna Reunion Rally, and had just returned from the Kentucky Derby Rally. They’ve done the prerun on the Florida Sunshine tour which they’ll be leading later in the year. And yet to come during 2018 are the Canadian Maritimes followed by a repeat of the New York City tour.
The Myers’ have been RVing for 10 years – first in a trailer which they bought at a “fire sale” auction. “We wanted to see if we would like it, and guess what? We loved it!” says Katie. Next they moved on to a fifth wheel and they are now the proud owners of a 45’ American Tradition motorhome. “We can fit in every RV park we’ve been to in Alaska, not to mention the New York City RV park in Jersey City!” says Mike.
In the early ‘80s, Mike was one of the first 200 people hired by the fledgling Discover Card. When he retired in 2003, the firm had more than 15,000 employees. Katie’s career was in education, spending 25 years teaching and another nine as an administrator at the middle school level. And in their spare time, they owned and managed investment rental properties which they sold 10 years ago. Today, they spend much of their time volunteering in various capacities in Chattanooga.
The Myers’ have a difficult time deciding which Fantasy trip they enjoy the most, although they certainly have fond memories of the Rivers West tour, their first Fantasy experience. (If you'd like to learn more about this tour – check out our Facebook page for updates on the 2018 tour, which is out on the road now.) They recall how early in the trip, the group had just finished a fondue dinner in Madora, North Dakota – right across from Teddy Roosevelt National Park. There was an outdoor musical theater next door, and to honor the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, they were playing songs associated with each National Park. “When they got to Smokey Mountain National Park, they played ‘Rocky Top’,” says Mike. “It’s the state song of Tennessee and it was so great to hear it all the way in North Dakota.” Mike also really enjoys the Reunion Rallies, “because they are larger events and you can see and meet more guests there,” he says.
At the time of this interview, Mike and Katie had just returned from the Kentucky Derby Rally. They emphasize how much quality is included in Fantasy tours. “On the Saturday of this year’s Derby, we had the most rain ever recorded,” says Mike. “But our group was under cover. We were all dry and had a great time.”
“We find that everything is taken care of on a Fantasy tour,” says Mike. “RV parks are reserved ahead of time. The meals which are included in the trip are set up and paid for. Fantasy does it first rate.” Adds Katie, “On the New York City tour, we eat at the finest restaurants in the city. We see the best plays. It’s the best of the best.”
“Katie is the driver when we travel,” says Mike. “And I’m exclusively the dog handler.” The Myers’ 10 lb. poodle and their 10 lb. half poodle always travel with them, sitting in Mike’s lap. “I love meeting other women who are the drivers,” says Katie. “It’s great to share experiences.” The two Myers daughters and four grandchildren are very supportive of their traveling lifestyle – particularly “when we bring them cool stuff,” she adds.
With their busy 2018 schedule, Mike and Katie are loving their lives and the people they meet.