Welcome to Detour Ahead!
A little bit about me and what you can expect from this newsletter
Welcome to Detour Ahead!—a space where food, travel, and community come together. If you love connecting with people through food, finding joy in the journey (even when it takes unexpected turns), and embracing the adventure of cooking on the road, you’re in the right place.
The Detour Ahead Newsletter
The Detour Ahead! newsletter is a continuation of my blog. It is free for all subscribers—a way to bring you along as we explore new places, meet new people, and uncover delicious new recipes. It will come to your inbox twice a month on Sunday mornings.
Issues will include topics such as:
Where We Are This Month- A quick update on where we’ve been (or if we’ve been parked, what’s been going on!)
Featured Recipes- Fun new recipes you won’t find on the blog.
Small Kitchen Tips of the Month- Cooking in a tiny space? I will share tips that have saved me lately!
This Month’s Favorite Finds- including Kitchen Gadgets I Can’t Live Without, A Fun Ingredient to Try, or Book/Podcast/Show Recommendations
On the Road- Great spots that we have discovered during our travels. Whether it’s a campsite, restaurant, or market. If I love it… I will share it!
Reader Spotlight & Community Corner- Each month, I want to feature YOU!
Did you try one of my recipes? I’d love to see your version!What’s Coming Next?- A little teaser for what to expect in the next newsletter or upcoming blog posts!
About Me
I’m Holly Coppedge—a wife, mom, self-taught cook, and lover of good food, great company, and life on the road.
I love getting outside and moving—whether it’s hiking through the woods, flowing through a yoga session (I’m currently working on my 200-hour Yoga certification), or just soaking up nature.
And when it’s time to cook? You’ll usually find me barefoot in the kitchen, a glass of wine in hand, with the windows open and George Strait blaring on the radio. There’s just something about 80’s country music that makes everything—especially cooking—a little more satisfying!
I’ve been married to my husband, Ken, for 27 years, and together, we’ve raised two incredible sons, now 20 and 25. With both of them off chasing their own adventures, we’ve officially entered the empty-nest phase—though we’re never truly alone. Our dog, Sheena, is our loyal travel companion, always ready to hit the road with us in our 5th-wheel RV.
We travel as often as we can and dream of the day we can make full-time RV life a reality. But no matter where we are, one thing never changes—I find pure joy in cooking and sharing my creations with my family and friends!
The kitchen (no matter how small) is my happy place, whether I’m testing new recipes, making comfort food from scratch, or cooking up a feast to share with friends and family. There’s just something about gathering around a meal that brings people together in the best way!
In 2022, I started my website, Entertaining the RV Life, as a way to share my passion for making "real" meals in tiny kitchens. Cooking in an RV comes with its own set of challenges, but I believe you don’t have to sacrifice flavor, variety, or quality just because you have limited space or equipment.
My goal is to prove that incredible meals can come from anywhere—even a two-burner stovetop in the middle of nowhere. One day, I hope to turn this passion into a full-time career so Ken and I can work remotely and travel as much as we want.
Unlike my blog entertainingthervlife.com, The Detour Ahead! newsletter is a more personal space—a place where I hope to connect directly with this amazing community.
Here, we can make our own rules, share stories, swap ideas, and keep things real. I can post recipes I love (and want to pass down to my boys) without the worry of whether it has the proper keyword or competition score to rank on Google.
No ads, no algorithms—just good food, great conversation, and a love for adventure. I’m so glad you’re here!
Why become a paid subscriber?
I have a passion for creating and sharing recipes, but it IS a job, and like any job, it takes time, effort, and resources. Most of what I create is available for free—because I want as many people as possible to enjoy real, delicious food, no matter where they cook.
On my blog, Entertaining the RV Life, ads help keep the content free, but let’s be honest—ads aren’t fun for anyone. Substack offers something different. Here, there are no distractions, no algorithms deciding what you see—just a direct connection between us.
When you choose to become a paid subscriber, you’re not just getting extra recipes, behind-the-scenes stories, and a more personal look at life on the road. You’re also helping to keep this space independent and sustainable. Your support means I can spend more time creating and sharing, rather than worrying about ad revenue or chasing trends.
Not everyone can or will pay, and that’s okay—I will always share plenty of free content. But if you’ve found value in my work and want to help keep it going, subscribing is the best way to do that. It’s a simple way to support real, thoughtful content while getting even more inspiration for your own kitchen and travels.
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Subscribed
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
Well guys, that pretty much wraps it up! I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to connect with you. Whether you’re a fellow RVer, a food lover, or just someone who enjoys a good meal and a great story, I hope you’ll stick around. I’m excited to see where this new adventure takes us!