Minimalism
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Most Beautiful Place
I sit here, perched above the rushing river, at sunset, my feet soaking in a tub of hot water. I heated river water on my Coleman stove. I just hiked with my friend Doc up to 13,000 ft elevation where we met with the Continental Divide Trail. We took Doc’s 4wd miles up a pretty rugged road leading us up the side of the mountain, until it opened up into a heavenly expanse of mountains and meadows, filled with wild flowers, including the state flower, the Columbine.I was in complete awe of the beauty. We were in such a remote area. We climbed the trail taking us straight up the side of the mountain. There were beautiful fairy glens, where streams were coming down the mountains and wild flowers of deep, rich colors were growing in abundance.
We had to take it slow and take plenty of breaks because the altitude was so high. At the top we reached temperatures of 42 degrees. I was grateful I brought my heavy windbreaker as the wind was very strong.
After a beautiful day of hiking we came back to my amazing new camp right on the river. Across the river was a very tall waterfall falling from the mountains above. I still had cell service, my hotspot worked great and I could work from this beautiful spot in nature.In so many ways this is the experience I had been seeking; getting away from the commercial campgrounds and out in nature with no disturbances other than the Off Road Vehicle traffic that seemed to like the side gravel road running by my camp.
Being only a couple miles from town, I could easily drive to the coffee shop every morning, charge up my electronics and visit with the locals.It is nearing the end of June now and I must say time seems to have slowed down. It is hard to believe it has been only a month on the road. Sometimes it feels I’ve been out here so much longer. The first day of summer was last week and I still have the whole summer ahead of me.
A friend asked me about the concept of “time going slow” and asked “doesn’t this mean you aren’t having fun?” This is because it is said “time flies when you are having fun.” I asked him “wouldn’t you rather time slowed down when you were having fun so you can savor every moment?”Time is a gift right now and I am embracing the slow paced van life I am living. I don’t know when I will move on. Right now, I am loving where I am at and won’t “move on” until I feel the call. After all, isn’t this what my trip is all about? Following the call of spirit? I say YES!
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Technology Dependency
One of the most frustrating aspects of my journey has been technology. Since I am still working and seeing clients, I am dependent upon technology and on the road, there are some real challenges.
I purchased a solar charging unit for my phone but it only actually worked once. So that was a waste of money. I have my car phone charger as a backup, but for some reason this is not working either. So I become dependent upon Cafe’s and Campground lounges to charge my phone and my laptop.
When I am in session for five plus hours a day, I run the risk of my laptop battery draining. I have a new Asus Zenbook which is supposed to have a good twelve hour battery, but I find I am lucky to get a solid six hours from it. I find myself having to book a “charging break” in my day and go have a cup of coffee or tea in a place with outlets.
My morning coffee charging time is mandatory. I begin each day with fully charged electronics and do what I can to conserve.Now I understand why having solar panels installed on the top of one’s rig is important. As I was watching all the youtube video’s of people who live in their Van’s or Rv’s, most will have a couple solar panels installed that keep not only their electronics charged but also their fridge. I would have to choose between my roof cargo rack or solar panels. It would make sense to pair down the amount of “stuff” I think I need to have, lose the cargo rack and install the solar panels. That would be next trip. I’ve already managed to get three weeks in and even with the electronics issue, I am managing.
Many travelers depend upon campground electronics. Campgrounds charge very good money for “hookups.” It is typical to pay anywhere from $40.00 to $60.00 per night for an RV hookup spot. Even if one spent $45.00 per night, plus tax, on camping, they would be investing roughly$1500.00 per month on parking. For some, this is simply factored into their budget, but for me, it doesn’t make financial sense.
What I have found about most RV parks and commercial campgrounds is they make the most of their real estate and don’t give a lot of space between units.
For me the whole idea of camping is to get out in nature. Not to be so close the camper next to me that I can hear every word they say, smell their cooking, hear their music and in some cases, even hear them snoring at night. To me, this is not my idea of a good time.
I understand that people with big camping rigs, just shut themselves in at night, like they would their homes, and turn on their television sets, their air conditioning and all the comforts of home. They really don’t hear their neighbors.
The night I had to put in ear plugs because I could hear the camper next door snoring, was the night I decided I needed more space around me.
Fortunately today, the summer solstice, the San Juan National Forests are opening back up, and so I get to retreat back into the forest, where there is a lot more open space. I also only take clients Monday through Wednesday, so I have some days free of electronical worries.
Overall I am so very grateful for our electronics, because it allows me to be “FREE!” I can go anywhere and still work, as long as I can get a signal. And this is why I am able to be on this “Flying Solo” journey.
Happy Summer Solstice!
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Back In My Van
I got my Van back, with no diagnosis at all and nothing done to it. It wouldn’t “fail” to start for the mechanics. They tried over a hundred times to start it and it started without fail every time. Several hundred dollars later, I traded the Ford Explorer back in for my Mini Van and headed back out on the road.I spent a long weekend in my tent. Heavy rains were coming and I had hoped to get the Van back before they hit. These rains were badly needed because of the Forest fires in the area.
With the National Forests all being shut down in the area, I had the choice to “move on” or adapt. Adapting meant staying in commercial camp sites or camping stealth.
I pulled out of my campsite of nine days on the day the rains came. With the rain brought experiences that both rocked my world and turned it upside down. I found myself writing feverishly but unable to post my writings, because they were so deeply personal and I wasn’t quite ready to share this content. I realized that I would save some of the content of my journey for my “Flying Solo” book, which will allow me to have some distance from some of the experiences before sharing with the world. This is always a writer’s challenge. How “up close and personal” do we get with our writing.
The one thing I can say now, is if there is a such thing as “instant karma” I’m all over it. Every action has an immediate consequence, whether it is good or bad. There is a boomerang effect happening. Sometimes it is really good and sometimes it is really bad, depending on my actions and choices. I’m being forced to be “hyper aware” in every moment of the choices I make.
There is a saying “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Well, this is what my “flying solo” journey has been like from the beginning. Nothing was going as “planned” and I was being challenged on some very deep levels. I was being challenged to reach deep inside of myself and find the will to “carry on,” to keep going, even when the going was getting pretty rough.
There were times I allowed myself to get disorganized in my Van and the one thing I have learned is that everything has its place and if things don’t get put back in their place, I may never find them again. It is far too small a space to leave things lying around. I ended up bringing too much, which as I understand, is a common mistake van dwellers make. The more you have, the more you need to organize and find places for.
I cherished having my van bed. It doesn’t matter where I am, my comfy, cozy bed remains the same and is always welcoming at the end of the day. There are even times I wake up and I’m not really sure where I am. I have to reorient myself.
The van is starting for the most part but has had a few “near misses” where it didn’t start for me but eventually it did. I know that I could be stranded at any moment but taking it to a shop didn’t work out well for me. Eventually I’m sure it will go back into the shop, but under what circumstances? Time would tell.
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The Universe Ripped my Van Away
I knew when I began this journey, there would be the good, the bad, the light and the dark. One thing I have learned in this life is that we all get our fair share of challenges. There is no escaping it. It is what we do with the challenges that matter.This week I’ve experienced a very interesting challenge. My dear “Red Raven” Minivan got sick and had to go to the hospital. She was flying along beautifully and then I arrived at my new destination in the mountains of Colorado, found a great, safe place to camp, with all the amenities, including Wifi, laundry and showers. The setting was incredibly beautiful as well. My van backed right up to a small lake and beyond the lake was a river. The people here were very friendly and it felt like a good place to stop and relax a while, so I booked a week in the campground.
As I settled into my new place I felt truly happy. I felt that I somehow “arrived.”
The next morning, my van wouldn’t start. I thought maybe I had drained the battery, so I went to the office and asked for a jump. A kind gentleman came out with a charger and at first the Van wouldn’t start and then after a few tries, it finally kicked in. Whew! I was still concerned however, that maybe there was an issue with the battery, and so the gentleman helping me suggested I go into town to the local auto parts store and ask them to test the battery. He also recommended a good auto mechanic, if I needed one.
The battery tested fine and so I thought maybe it was a one time thing. I went on with my day, stopping at the little “whole foods” store and stocking up on my treats and then stopped for a pedicure. The woman sitting next to me was very friendly, welcoming me as her new neighbor. We struck up a conversation. We talked the whole time, carrying on like best friends, and when it was time to go I bounced out into the parking lot with my shiny pale pink toes, feeling happy about my experience. I went to start the “Red Raven” and she wouldn’t start. I tried again and again until she finally kicked in and I drove directly back to my camp spot and called my warranty service. They informed me they didn’t have anyone in my area but I could use any Certified auto mechanic and they would reimburse, if the issue was covered under the warranty. I called the mechanic that was recommended to me and schedule an appointment for the next day.
The next day, an hour and a half before my appointment I climbed into the “Red Raven” and she wouldn’t start again. I tried and tried and she still wouldn’t start. I called my warranty service again and they issued a tow service to come and tow my Van to the auto mechanics.
As I sat waiting for the tow truck, it suddenly occurred to me, I was about to become homeless. They were coming to take the Red Raven away. I had to think fast and so I pulled the tent and tarp from my roof rack and set it up directly under the big tree in my camp site. I then began to pull everything from the ”Red Raven” and put it in the tent. I left the bedframe, but took the tri-fold, memory foam mattress. Before long I had a little cozy tent cabin with all my stuff, including my fridge and the shelf unit I had in the back of my Van. This would have to be my home until the Red Raven returned from the hospital.
No sooner did I get my tent set up, the tow truck arrived. Gerald, the driver was very kind and offered to give me a ride back to camp, if needed.
One thing I noticed so far, was the kindness of the people around me. The woman from the office at the campground also offered to help in anyway. She said they were always going into town and could give me a lift for groceries or whatever I needed. It felt I was being taken care of.
When we arrived at the mechanics, Gerald offered to wait until we could figure out if I needed a ride back or to a car rental agency. The mechanic was also very friendly and helpful. He took care of the warranty claim like a pro, telling me they work with warranties all the time. He also offered me a loaner vehicle, explaining it was nothing fancy but would get me around. On that note, I bid Gerald farewell, he gave me his card in case I needed anything and told me to call anytime.
I drove home in an old Ford Explorer with Colorado License plates. Now I had arrived!
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The Mystical Van Kitchen Tour
Since I am a healthy eater, adhering to a plant based vegan diet, it is important to me to have a functional kitchen. I put a lot of thought into putting this mini-van kitchen together in a way that didn’t require a lot of stuff, but still got the job done. For example I have one large sauce pan with a steamer basket and lid, and one frying pan. That’s it for pans. I have two forks, knives and spoons, and one set of bamboo utensils including spoons and spatulas. I have two bowls, two plates and a couple storage containers with lids. I’ve got two dish towels and a couple dish cloths. Trader Joes also carries these amazing inflatable sponges that take up very little room. All of the above fit into my Walmart crate that 
fits on the bottom rack of my two rack shelf unit. The Coleman two burner cook-stove fits perfectly on the top rack.I love my igloo 12 volt fridge/cooler. You can set it upright or use it like a regular cooler. I choose to set it upright to create more space for my two small drawers that house my food and spices.
I am giving you a tour today as I create a delicious Tempeh Stir-fry. A very quick and easy recipe that can be made in fifteen minutes. I just saute’ red onion and peppers, add a block of cubed tempeh (a fermented soy product) and add spices, like cumin, turmeric, chipoltle chilli seasoning, and Tamari. I brown the tempeh first and then throw in the onions and peppers, but you could do it the other way around. I just like my veggies lightly cooked.For a quick “van tour” my friend Hinton took a video that you can watch here.