The story of how an epic summer adventure led Brie Curran to become an RV tech.
An Epic Summer Adventure
Brie dreamed of an epic summer adventure with her two young daughters. Alaska was the destination, but staying in hotels was out of her budget, and she didn’t want to tent camp. Determined to make it work, Brie bought a 1998 Aerolite 26-foot travel trailer for $2,500 and a 2001 Suburban with 193,000 miles on it for the same price. On June 1, 2019, with no reservations and zero RV knowledge, Brie and her girls set off from St. Louis for the adventure of a lifetime.
Coming from a long line of travelers, Brie was passionate about instilling a love for adventure in her daughters. She knew that a summer spent exploring Alaska’s wilderness would create unforgettable memories and strengthen their bond.
A Few Bumps in the Road
Their journey started with a few challenges. The first night, in Iowa, they found themselves on a dead-end road with hardly any space to turn the trailer around. Having never towed a trailer before, Brie struggled to maneuver it, worrying about what onlookers might be thinking. Finally she realized that it was impossible to turn around and backed the trailer down that dead end road!
As they traveled further, more mishaps followed. Brie noticed one of the trailer tires wearing unevenly and stopped at a shop where she was sold an unnecessary alignment for the travel trailer—a mistake she learned later when the real problem turned out to be a faulty axle. Despite these bumps in the road, Brie and her daughters learned and adapted as they went.
Memories to Last a Lifetime
When they finally reached Alaska, the trio embraced the off-grid lifestyle, camping for free and soaking in the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. The trip was everything Brie had hoped for—a summer filled with adventure and lasting memories of glaciers, wildlife, and stunning landscapes.
I love this photo. I love the expression of wonder and joy on Ada’s face as she pauses to look around & take in the view. We had just emerged from a low lying forest full of little streams & moss & wildflowers, and this was our first glimpse of the valley carved by Exit Glacier. The kids were working on Junior Ranger badges & had also checked out a Discovery Backpack from the park rangers that was full of various activities, including citizen science & art projects to complete along our hike. After hiking up to see the glacier from above, we hiked back down & followed the river to the toe of the glacier. It was a beautiful, incredible, perfect day, and Ada’s face says it all. ❤️
Fireweed is a symbol of summer here. The blooms start from the bottom & work their way up. When they reach the top, summer is over. We were here for the summer solstice & watched the seas of purple explode & blanket the Alaskan landscape. Tonight is our last night boondocking in the trailer. I’ve sold my rig & we fly home this weekend. We’re parked a mile up the road from Denali NP overlooking the river, & here along the gravel drive, the final blooms are arriving. I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve how perfect every second of this trip has been, even when it wasn’t. I don’t feel worthy to have seen the things that I have seen. When in Liard River Hot Springs, Ada said she felt like Zeus & Athena lived there, like it was a place of the gods. And she was so right. Alaska & the Yukon aren’t just otherworldly, they’re of an entirely different realm all together. We somehow managed to sneak undetected into this sacred place of the gods: the brown bear, the moose, the mountain, the forest. They have allowed us to pass through unharmed & have given us beautiful gift after gift around every turn. Every day was a gift. Every day something magical happened. I feel so humble & grateful. And so very sad to say goodbye.
By the end of the summer, Brie was already dreaming of their next big journey. She began thinking about how she could support herself while on the road and realized that on future trips, she’d need the skills to fix her own RV. After selling the truck and trailer, the family flew home, their heads filled with dreams of their next adventure—this time, perhaps driving the Pan-American Highway.
Becoming an RV Technician
Once back home, Brie dove into learning more about RVs. She discovered the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) and applied for a scholarship to attend the RV Technical Institute’s (RVTI) all-women class. It was a game-changer.
Since then, Brie has been working as an RV technician at Byerly RV.
Now, she’s taking her passion even further, opening a second location for Sparkle Travel & RV Services in Columbia, Missouri. Her journey has come full circle, from a novice RV owner to a skilled RV tech, ready to support others as they embark on their own adventures.
Brie will be serving the Columbia area offering a full range of RV Services to get you on the road to your next adventures.
