My photographs often take me on the road -- a few weeks ago a trip to the southern Washington coast and this past weekend a day skiing and snowshoeing at Mt. Baker with family.
For that reason, my wife Stephanie and I have considered buying a sprinter van. Especially after six weeks in Europe this summer, when we realized we could happily be away for longer periods. We have a million questions, including cost, but it could provide better accommodation for the two of us and allow us to travel with our dog Willow. I love solo camping in my Suburban, but it is admittedly tight for two+ and having a small bathroom, stove, and refrigerator are great rewards as well.
As a test run, we rented a sprinter several weeks ago for a few days. I found myself sitting on the southern Washington coast writing this story in days of persistent rain, often heavy, with dark skies and brooding clouds. Shortly lived sunlight exploded periodically and without warning, offering beautiful light and so many rainbows. I did not take a lot of photos, and I have not yet looked to see what if any of those images actually came out.
Our rental was super cute, and new, hand built and custom, but it was too small for us. Or for me at least! My legs are too long, my feet too big, and I was too tall to either stand up or sleep comfortably on the tiny bed. Willow, on the other hand, loves it. A rolling doghouse, a loft bed filled with down, and with her pack twenty-four seven. Heaven! And I can always make do.
I learned long ago that I can sleep almost anywhere. I do not need plush accommodation, but I do need space. More as I grow older. Curled up in a fetal position all night, or in a cramped driving space, leaves me sore and cranky. In high school, a relative (thank you Uncle Johnny) got me a super summer job working in Pittsburgh’s South Park. It was a great job, and I quickly found myself on the supervisor’s “special squad.” We were often tasked with the most difficult jobs, but sometimes we were dropped off in a field and told to hay the field before someone came to pick us up at the end of the day. We were all young and strong, and quick. Our supervisor told us that if we finished early, we could relax. The only caveat was not to let anyone catch us sleeping, so I learned to sleep in trees, in the brush, or sprawled out on a picnic table if it was relatively hidden. It is an acquired talent that has helped me out often.
In my first conservation job with American Whitewater, we had no budget in the early days. So, I bunked with our wonderful members all around the country (and made great friends), or I camped. On one trip, I needed to do a morning presentation. I rented my first Motel 6, but when I submitted my expenses, our administrator sent it right back. “Why did you get a hotel? We rented you a car!” It was a fair point, I often slept in the backseat of a rental on the side of a river (not in civilization, and back then it was different times and I was much younger), it just wasn’t often I needed to put on a suit in the morning.
Later on, in my own travels, I traded up to a Subaru Outback. Sleeping in that was tough, but I managed. On one of my first trips up to British Columbia, I folded down the back seat and left the hatchback up for some extra room. Waking in the morning, I found myself sprawled out, arm thrown over my cooler, and a black bear munching grass about four feet away. He was cool, I was cool, but I was so glad I had not left trash in the car and that he had not figured out what was in the cooler (yet!).
Moving west, Steph and Danna (at eleven) flew out to Bellingham. I followed several months later driving cross country in our Jeep Grand Cherokee. Much larger, and I slept in it for two weeks on the way. I stopped to take a hike in Colorado, it was some eleven miles and lots of elevation to a lake, and the second half included post-holing through waist deep snow (maybe in shorts?). I was exhausted when I got back, and the thought of sleeping in the car was unappealing. I started to drive, came around a corner, and saw small roadside cabins each of which had a private hot tub on the back deck – I left some rubber on the road turning into that driveway! Paradise – AND I was ready to continue driving again in the morning.
So, while the rental sprinter was too small, our interest has peaked. It was snug, but in a good way as well, and Stephanie and I really enjoyed the shared time in close proximity. A different sprinter could keep us entertained for a long time. The biggest question is how do we shoehorn all the sprinter trips in with the travel we want to do to Antarctica, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Europe? How do we get back to visit our granddaughter (who we need to see almost weekly)? Where do we want to go first, and for how long?
I hope you will follow along to see where all this leads (if it does), and what adventures await!
Endnotes:
· South Park holds both history and a special place in my heart. Just outside of Pittsburgh where I grew up, it is one of the largest parks in Allegheny County. It is where I first learned to ice skate with my parents. In high school I spent nearly every day at the pool trying not to get into too much trouble, and later spending almost every daylight hour playing basketball. Working there, I mucked out horse stalls, cut brush, and was so happy being out in the sun and weather. In later years, Stephanie and I have great memories of family picnics in the park with my parents and my aunt.
Comments