White Dodge van parked on a roadside with Mount Rainier in the background

Mt. Rainier

After winding down my photography career in 2020 and working seven years at the University of Arkansas as a research technologist, I decided to finally return to the life I always dreamed of living.

The yearning for adventure and learning and growing is something that never quite goes away.

Selfie in Port Townsend Washington at sunset

Selfie in Port Townsend, Washington

I know I'm not the first person to tell this kind of story and it is honestly a tired trope at this point. I might as well just call my YouTube video "Corporate Women Sells Everything To Live On The Road!!!!"

But there's a difference! I've traveled the country by van, thumb, and freight train making art and learning as I went. I was a vanlifer before vanlifing was a thing. I remember when it was just called being homeless.

Those first adventures happened when I was fresh out of college with absolutely no savings or prospects and a $600 Ford Econoline from the 80s.

Blue 1985 Ford Econoline van parked in the desert

My first van, a 1985 Ford Econoline

This time I'm a little more put together. I had a good job, I bought a good van, and I spent several months building out an interior with solar power, a sink, a fridge, a photo editing workstation, and cooking space. I'm 33 years old now and I finally had the time, money, and skills to build the van I always wanted back then.

White Dodge van parked on a foggy forest road at Deception Pass

Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, Washington

Ese the dog sitting inside the van on a rainy night

My doggie, Ese

That's not to say I did this on a rich person's budget. The money for this came mostly from selling my beloved Miata, my Yugo, and all the contents of my apartment. I bought the van for $3500 and spent another $6500 finishing the interior work on it. It could be done for less money if you wanted, for sure.

If you'd like to learn more about this build, you can read about it here: Building A Dajiban

This journey started in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I've called Arkansas home for the last 33 years but it was time to leave. Housing prices are rising at an insane rate. Anti-trans sentiment is boiling over. I wasn't legally allowed to use the bathroom at work.

I said goodbye to my friends and family and set off through the vast expanse of Oklahoma.

View of an Oklahoma highway through the van windshield White Dodge van towing two motorcycles on a trailer in Oklahoma
White Dodge van parked at the base of a wind turbine in Oklahoma

I don't know if you know this, but windmills are so big. They make a perfect camping spot for the night, if you can stand the vertigo and sense of fear that comes from looking up at blades, bigger than your house, swinging by at 40mph.

Oklahoma was the most difficult part of the journey, mostly because of the oppressive heat and the lack of AC overnight. Things got a lot easier once the Rocky Mountains were in sight.

Dodge van and motorcycle trailer next to the Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign

Welcome To Colorful Colorado

Tree covered Colorado mountain with a rocky summit Mountain valley and lake overlook in Colorado Pink wildflowers in a green Colorado meadow Lake view framed by evergreen trees with a snowy mountain beyond

We wound through the mountains, crossing back and forth over the Great Divide several times. The van was really struggling with the passes. Sometimes we'd be in 2nd gear at full throttle just barely managing to maintain 35 or 40 mph. If you're going to build out an old van and tow motorcycles behind it, you should probably get the V8 version.

Rolling Wyoming hills seen through the van window

Next was Wyoming!

What a beautiful place. I drove through Grand Teton National Park and then Yellowstone. I had been close to these places before, but never actually went into the parks. They were absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like them. I got to see Old Faithful at sunset and it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life.

Snow covered Grand Teton mountain peak

Grand Teton

Dead tree on the shore of a lake in Yellowstone Blue geothermal hot spring water in Yellowstone Steam rising from a geothermal area beside a forest in Yellowstone Steaming geothermal pools with orange mineral deposits in Yellowstone
Old Faithful geyser erupting at sunset

Old Faithful at Sunset

Alpine town in a river valley with snow capped mountains in Idaho River and meadow with wooden buildings at dusk in Idaho

Idaho was the most surprising stop on this trip. I had no clue these beautiful alpine towns existed here. It was surreal!

Motorcycle trailer spare tire and tools during a roadside repair Close up of a blown trailer tire with worn tread

Throughout this trip, the van was actually incredibly reliable. I've been so happy with it! Literally zero oil consumption and no other running issues. That's incredible for a van from 1999. Unfortunately, the trailer finally blew up a tire in Ontario, Washington. I got stuck there overnight until Harbor Freight opened the next day. Having motorcycles in tow is nice for parts runs.

White Dodge van towing a motorcycle on a foggy forest road

Western Oregon gave us those famous Pacific Northwest colors. It was rainy, cold, and perfect.

Stormy sky with light rays over Western Oregon Rolling Oregon hills under dark storm clouds
Ese the dog on a Pacific coast beach

Finally, we made it to the coast.

Sailboat on the water with Olympic Peninsula mountains beyond

There's nothing else like this. This is where I'm going to leave the story for now. Be sure to check back for updates over the coming months as I settle into life on the Olympic Peninsula!