From South Central to the Open Road: How Rico and Cynthia Freeman Found Their Freedom in the Cruisers

For some people, the RV lifestyle is a childhood tradition passed down through generations of campfire smoke and sleeping bags. But for Rico and Cynthia Freeman, it was a dream deferred, a blueprint drawn up decades ago, and a world they had to discover entirely on their own.

Today, the Fontana couple are active members of the California Cruisers RV Club. But sit down with them for a few minutes, and you’ll quickly learn that their journey to the open road is a story about breaking away from the city, chasing a promise, and learning to navigate the highways of life together.

Leaving the City Behind

"Growing up in South Central, I never thought of this lifestyle," Rico admits candidly. "You're just not exposed to it."

For Rico, the world of hitches, holding tanks, and highway lane-splitting wasn’t even on the radar. Cynthia, meanwhile, grew up in a strict, highly structured household in Oakland—her father was a Navy man and her uncle retired as a Brigadier General. 

From the time he was a teenager, Rico knew he wanted out of Los Angeles. He eventually moved out to Diamond Bar and La Puente, always looking for something a little wider, a little quieter.

When Rico and Cynthia first got together, they did what many young families do: they packed up the kids, grabbed some tents, and went camping. But as the years rolled on, the appeal of sleeping on the hard ground wore off. "We got too old to be down on the ground," Cynthia laughs.

But while the tents went into storage, a bigger dream took root.

"I made up my mind. If I buy an RV, once I retire, I'm going all over the place. That stayed in my mind from probably age twenty-five." — Cynthia Freeman

As a single parent at the time, the dream had to wait. But Cynthia kept the promise she made to herself. Three years ago, she went online, specifically searching for an African American RV club, and found the California Cruisers.

Life as "Newbies"

Though they’ve been with the club for a few years now, the Freemans still consider themselves "newbies." They still laugh about their early trips—even if they can't quite agree on the details. Ask them about their very first Cruisers campout, and you'll get a classic married-couple debate. Was it behind a Walmart near a casino? Or was it up in Bakersfield where their rig’s under-sink plumbing decided to act up?

No matter where it started, they found their stride. Cynthia counts Emerald Desert as her absolute favorite destination so far. In fact, they love the club so much they’ve become unofficial recruiters, handing out the Cruisers' website info to couples they spot at gas stations.

For Rico and Cynthia, the mechanical learning curve of RVing was entirely worth it because of the community they found.

"The people are different," Cynthia says. "They are friendly, and they made us feel really welcome. I’m not a fake person, and I don’t do 'police' people... but they are real good."

The Ultimate Road Trip: Destination, Georgia

Now, the Freemans are staring down the windshield at their biggest adventure yet: their first-ever cross-country tour.

Armed with a fresh AAA map and a routing itinerary, the couple is preparing for a month-long trek across the American South. The trip is anchored by three major destinations: a week-long stay in Georgia to visit Cynthia’s son (and see a new grandbaby on the way), a stop in Texas to see family, and a bucket-list visit to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

As for the states in between? "We're just gonna wing it," Cynthia says. If they see a sign for the world's largest rocking chair or a hidden roadside attraction, they're pulling over.

They won’t be entirely alone, either. While they initially hoped to caravan with some veteran travelers to act as "tour guides," they will be hitting the blacktop alongside fellow club members Glenda and James Hall.

They've also been collecting practical highway wisdom from seasoned Cruisers who know the terrain. On the agenda? Surviving Interstate 40. Veteran drivers have warned them about the notorious potholes and heavy truck traffic that threaten to "rattle your dentures out," offering tips like favoring the right lane where it's safer and keeping a steady hand on the wheel.

Keeping it Real

But as they gear up for the cross-country haul, the focus is back on the driver's seat. Cynthia’s main job on the highway? Keeping Rico's right foot in check.

"I'm in the driver's seat," Cynthia jokes, reminding Rico that she'll be monitoring the speedometer to ensure their insurance rates stay right where they belong.

With a Triple-A map on the dash, good friends in the caravan, and thousands of miles of American highway ahead of them, Rico and Cynthia are living proof that it’s never too late to find your lane.