Author: Molly O'Rourke

Sprinter Camping Conversion: Our stagnant progress.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

I imagined our biggest debate would be which color wood to install or where to put the overhead lighting.

We planned to begin the next phase of our camping conversation in January. It is January. Our progress has stalled.

CD was halfway to Eugene to pick up the roof rails when he changed course. He dropped by to chat with the fellow Sprinter owner that we met a few weeks ago. They shared thier visions and ideas.

CD turned around and drove home. His hesitated to spend money on factory roof rails. Our friend endorsed a much less expensive option.

So here we are, along with many other Sprinter owners. Part of our dream is financial sustainability.

When should we get the factory products? When should we improvise? How much extra work and time are we willing to put in to each step in order to save a few dollars?

It wasn’t hard for us to answer these questions. We are on board to save money if the alternate plan provides the same result in the end.

What is holding us up now?

Our Sprinter works well for us. We are happy. In just a few weeks last spring, CD pounded together a camping conversion far superior to any other way we have traveled.

In order to move forward, the current conversion needs to be dismantled. Not only will we not be able to camp in our Sprinter, we will not be able to use our Sprinter.

Our garage will be full of dismantled food boxes and beds.

Nothing in an Oregon winter is free of rain and mud. I can’t guarentee the wood will be safe.

So, here we are. I anticipate that one day we will just get up and start tearing the Sprinter apart. It will be both sad and exciting. I will be impatient and restless. It will be worth it.

Until then, here is a bit about Sprinter life in Oregon in the winter.

The Hackleman Old Growth forest is easy to drive past. It can be found on the South side of Highway 20 between Corvallis and Sisters. The parking lot is paved and easy to access. A sign marks the trail.

After driving past it dozens of times, stopping there this year was an obvious choice. When driving the Sprinter, it seems like trail heads and parks pop up everywhere!

Short trails or boardswalks are an excuse to make hot chocolate and play a game of cards or two.

It is about the journey; we stop often

Our afternoon base camp at the old growth. It is raining but we were warm and happy
This is a slug. The slugs are one of a handful of things that I found amazing when I moved here. This isn’t the biggest we have seen.

Colorado Hike: Mayflower Gulch

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

Some Colorado hikes are so great that it doesn’t seem right to put them out there on the internet for everyone to see.

Most places are already fully accessible online, however. They are all likely more crowded than before the internet existed. The crowds are not because of my little blog. In the interest of sharing some great spots, I will start will a great one.

Mayflower Gulch is the sort of hike that you see in magazines or on television. It is picturesque.

It was a weekday afternoon type of hike for us when we lived in Summit County. According to the internet it is a 5.9 mile loop. It didn’t seem that far. The trail head is less than 10 miles towards Leadville from I-70. The road is well traveled.

As with many hikes in the high country, I recommend it in the winter. With snow it is quiet and light. There will likely be a few other people there but they will all be smiling.

Skis with climbing skins, Nordic skis, snow shoes, or boots will all typically work well for this trek. Old mining cabins mark the end of the trail and offer a good place for lunch with a side of inspiration.

Please follow our blog for more adventures!

https://ramblingfootsteps.travel.blog/2020/01/19/steamboat-springs-top-5-activities-not-to-miss/ https://ramblingfootsteps.travel.blog/2020/04/21/throwback-blog-series-a-tour-of-utah/

Are you looking for a hike in the high country? Colorado Winter Hikes.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

Some places are so great that it doesn’t seem right to put them out there on the internet for everyone to see.

Most places are already fully accessible online. They are all likely more crowded than before the internet existed. The crowds are not because of my little blog. In the interest of sharing some great spots, I will start will a great one.

Mayflower Gulch is the sort of hike that you see in magazines or on television. It is picturesque.

It was a weekday afternoon type of hike for us when we lived in Summit County. According to the internet it is a 5.9 mile loop. It didn’t seem that far. The trail head is less than 10 miles towards Leadville from I-70. The road is well traveled.

As with many hikes in the high country, I recommend it in the winter. With snow it is quiet and light. There will likely be a few other people there but they will all be smiling.

Skis with climbing skins, Nordic skis, snow shoes, or boots will all typically work well for this trek. Old mining cabins mark the end of the trail and offer a good place for lunch with a side of inspiration.

The stops that were soon forgotten. I-80 Westbound to the Manitou Incline. Sprinter DIY.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

I was flipping through my phone when I found a series of brief videos chronicling last years mad-dash for Colorado.

As per our usual, we hit the road at a moment’s notice. Our goal was Colorado by afternoon the next day in order to cross paths with a cousin that CD hadn’t seen in years.

Here are a few videos from Sprinter stops soon forgotten.

We conquered I-80 again. CD’s cousin was still there and this was the reward.

If you haven’t heard of the Manitou Incline, this is for you. Here is a picture from the top.

The incline: Manitou Springs, CO. Sprinter DIY

Back in the day the challenge was to hike to the top in the same number of minutes as your age. I was thirty something. My record time was 42 minutes and that was before they improved the steps. I like to think I would have easily broken 40 minutes if it was like it is today but who knows.

This year I forgot to start my watch. I have had the same watch for fifteen years and I have never forgotten to start it.

It turns out that in 2019 I still made it to the top. It was not as pretty and not as fast. I still felt successful and healthy and tired and thirsty.

In my younger days, it had been said that one of my main motivations for exercising and recreating was to “apres”. I still believe that “apres” is meant for more than just skiing.

We hiked down and headed to town. After a light lunch and a cold cocktail, I almost felt thirty again!

Manitou Incline Info and Stats:

The Incline is made from the remains of a narrow gauge railway that was built in 1907. It was destroyed in a rock slide in 1990. The rails were removed and the rail road ties remain.

Until 2013 locals and fitness enthusiasts would walk past “no trespassing” signs to hike up the disorganized and unmaintained remains. CD and I were among the people that had the privilege of doing so. I am happy to report that we did so without injury.

It has since been repaired and opened to the public. The obvious results of this have been fees for parking, greater crowds, and evenly spaced railway ties without raged metal edges. We still love it.

  • Altitude at the base: 6600 ft
  • Ascent: 2011 ft
  • Distance: 0.88 miles
  • Steps: 2744
  • Grade: up to 68%

What to bring:

  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Hiking poles (Seriously – you will thank me later!)
  • Water (Enough water to dump some on your head if you need; Shade is sparse)
  • Snacks
  • A friendly smile (To encourage other hikers and let them know you are doing okay.)
  • Hiking poles (Trust me on this!)

Sprinter under seat storage.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

What is under the kids’ seats?

We removed the second row in our Sprinter but left the third. The kids sit there and we keep our day use items in the under seat storage.

So, what do we keep there?

These are just the right size for under the back seat.

Under Grace’s seat we kept two collapsible canvas bins. The first one pushed back so that the second one would fit as well.

First Bin:

The first one had six swimsuits and two pair of goggles.

This may seem like an odd choice but we have been to splash pads in nearly every State and Province that we have driven through. I even had an idea to make a splash pad locator app for parents traveling with kids. I didn’t follow through when I realized that other parents may not be as excited about having wet kids in the car on and off day after day. In any case, it didn’t take long for us to see the benefits of accessible kids swimwear.

The Sprinter acts as a mobile changing room. When they are motivated by a splash pad, the kids can get their suits on in under two minutes flat. After the fun, they can just slip their clothes back on and hang the wet suits on our make shift Sprinter clothes line.

One of the earlier ones. A good example of why we pack readily accessible swimwear. This was more of a fountain that a splash pad and not too many people in Aspen were into playing there. We liked it! Sprinter DIY
Passing through Salt Lake City on a super hot day. Sprinter DIY. Sprinter under seat storage.

Second Bin:

The second bin contained sunscreen and towels.

Middle Bin:

The middle row held the trash can. CD made it out of re-purposed heavy duty cardboard. It was just the right size and height.

2 Extra Bins of Sprinter Under Seat Storage:

There were also two bins under HB’s seat. The bin farthest back contained playing cards, dice, and travel board games. I added Racko to the mix last year but the kids lost interest once they found out that it was my favorite.

The second bin had a mix of drawing pads, notebooks, pencils, and pens. These got a fair amount of use both on the road and when we were stopped. HB made a fairly elaborate picture journal on our way out of Yellowstone last year.

In true CD style, all of the bins and the garbage can were held in place by a bungee cord and 3 mm accessory cord. They never slid forward when we braked so I guess this technique worked.

We will definitely continue to use the bins and garbage can but I imagine that the contents will evolve over time. I hope we stick with swimsuits and towels. Prioritizing such non-practical items just seems like a sign of a family that is out for a spontaneous and carefree good time!

Since my splash pad app never took off, here is non-comprehensive list of great splash pads we have found.

  • North Carolina (Ashville)
  • Florida (Marco Island)
  • Minnesota (Sauk Centre)
  • Ontario (Wiarton, Grand Bend, Bayfield, Port Elgin)
  • Michigan (Millennium Park; Sparta)
  • Colorado (Aspen)
  • Oregon (Corvallis)
  • British Columbia (Kelowna)
  • Alberta
  • Utah (Salt Lake City)

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means that we may get a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that we recommend. Clicking these links will not cost you extra money but will help us grow our website. Thank you for your support!

Please follow our blog to share our adventures.

What exactly is stored under the kids seats?

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY, Traveling as a family

We removed the second row in our Sprinter but left the third. The kids sit there.

So, what did we keep under their seats when we traveled last summer?

These are just the right size for under the back seat.

Under Grace’s seat we kept two collapsible canvas bins. The first one pushed back so that the second one would fit as well.

The first one had six swimsuits and two pair of goggles.

This may seem like an odd choice but we have been to splash pads in nearly every State and Province that we have driven through. I even had an idea to make a splash pad locator app for parents traveling with kids. I didn’t follow through when I realized that other parents may not be as excited about having wet kids in the car on and off day after day. In any case, it didn’t take long for us to see the benefits of accessible kids swimwear.

The Sprinter acts as a mobile changing room. When they are motivated by a splash pad, the kids can get their suits on in under two minutes flat. After the fun, they can just slip their clothes back on and hang the wet suits on our make shift Sprinter clothes line.

One of the earlier ones. A good example of why we pack readily accessible swimwear. This was more of a fountain that a splash pad and not too many people in Aspen were into playing there. We liked it! Sprinter DIY
Passing through Salt Lake City on a super hot day. Sprinter DIY

The second bin contained sunscreen and towels.

The middle row held the trash can. CD made it out of re-purposed heavy duty cardboard. It was just the right size and height.

There were also two bins under HB’s seat. The bin farthest back contained playing cards, dice, and travel board games. I added Racko to the mix last year but the kids lost interest once they found out that it was my favorite.

The second bin had a mix of drawing pads, notebooks, pencils, and pens. These got a fair amount of use both on the road and when we were stopped. HB made a fairly elaborate picture journal on our way out of Yellowstone last year.

In true CD style, all of the bins and the garbage can were held in place by a bungee cord and 3 mm accessory cord. They never slid forward when we braked so I guess this technique worked.

We will definitely continue to use the bins and garbage can but I imagine that the contents will evolve over time. I hope we stick with swimsuits and towels. Prioritizing such non-practical items just seems like a sign of a family that is out for a spontaneous and carefree good time!

Since my splash pad app never took off, here is non-comprehensive list of great splash pads we have found.

  • North Carolina (Ashville)
  • Florida (Marco Island)
  • Minnesota (Sauk Centre)
  • Ontario (Wiarton, Grand Bend, Bayfield, Port Elgin)
  • Michigan (Millennium Park; Sparta)
  • Colorado (Aspen)
  • Oregon (Corvallis)
  • British Columbia (Kelowna)
  • Alberta
  • Utah (Salt Lake City)

What should we do with our spare Sprinter seats?

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

We store the seats from our Sprinters in our garage.

Three months into owning the first one, we dismantled the bed, put the seats back in, and sold it in its original passenger van form. It was easy to sell.

It was nice to re-claim our garage. Sprinter seats aren’t small.

We chose the passenger van for the windows and we don’t regret it! The kids can see out. We can see out. We can lay on the bed and look at the view. We can also chose to put up the blinds and act as if we don’t have windows at all.

I sometimes wonder if I would be claustrophobic without the windows. When the blinds are up, I sometimes lift a corner just to look out at the world.

This was our van when we bought it.

The seats do not move easily. The back seat is especially hostile. It is bolted to the wall of the van and the other seats needs to be removed to get it out.

Just imagine the possibilities of easily changing a van from a camper to a passenger van. You could sleep in it one day and take all of our friends to the beach the next.

We haven’t invented the camper conversion that would make this dream a reality but will let you know if that changes!

In the meantime, I am voting for selling our seats and re-claiming our garage for the second time.

Would you like to buy two rows of 2015 Sprinter seats? We are offering a great deal to the first person that stops by to pick them up! Just think of all of the kids you can take to soccer if you had two more rows of seats!

Here we are in Utah. Deep in the heart of gridlock

For us, a bed in a van is so much better than seats! The soccer car pool will have to go on without us but if any one needs to lay down and rest, we have just the vehicle for that!

Best Gift Idea for Friends in the Pacific Northwest.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Recreational equipment reviews

It rains in the Pacific Northwest and it definitely rains in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. I am from the mid-west but this is not the same as rain in the mid-west. The weather here is devoid of sharp edges; rain comes in slowly and stays. What gift ideas do you have for friends or family that live in the Pacific Northwest?

The number one piece of equipment on which I depend during winter, spring, and fall in western Oregon is not really a piece of equipment at all. It is more of an accessory.

It was packed away in our things for the first year we were here. When CD found it and brought it out, it was as if everything was going to be okay again. At least everything would be less wet again.

It admit that it is a luxury but it is one that use gladly nearly everyday between November and June.

The DryGuy Boot Dryer

Seriously, this was a game changer! I received this as a gift when we lived in the Colorado high country. I never expected it to change my life! Try it. You won’t regret it!

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links. This means that we may get a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that we recommend. Clicking these links will not cost you extra money but will help us grow our website. Thank you for your support!

Please follow our blog for Oregon adventures!

Are you looking for gift ideas for friends in Oregon? Here is an idea.

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Miscellaneous, Recreational equipment reviews

It rains in the Willamette Valley. It rains most days in the winter. It is not the same as rain in the mid-west. The weather is benign and devoid of sharp edges. The rain comes in slowly and continues. Eventually, it leaves slowly.

In four years, I have yet to see a storm roll in and out of the Willamette. Sometimes it rains harder and then lighter. I hear people talk about storm clouds but when I look at the sky, I don’t see them.

The number one piece of equipment that I love during winter in Western Oregon is not really a piece of equipment at all. It is more of an accessory.

It was packed away in our things for the first year we were here. When CD found it and brought it out, it was as if everything was going to be okay again. At least everything would be less wet again.

It is a luxury but I use it nearly every day between November and June.

The DryGuy Boot Dryer.

Seriously, this was a game changer! I received this as a gift when we lived in the Colorado high country. I never expected it to change my life! Try it. You won’t regret it!

I haven’t used it in the Sprinter but am putting this on our to-do list for sure!

Christmas Break Finale: Willamette Valley, Oregon

by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

The past three days have been a blur. The neighborhood kids descended on the street and yards. They played outside together through lunch and well past sunset. Some of us finally got in on the action with dinner and Euchre last night.

In a last ditch effort to have a productive Christmas break, I tore apart our master bathroom. The wall paper is mostly down and our tooth brushes are on my night stand.

Despite this, we hopped in the Sprinter for “Sunday Fun-Day”. We headed to the only hike we could think of that was on the way to Home Depot but far enough to justify driving the Sprinter and close enough that we usually don’t go there.

Jackson Frazier Wetlands. Sprinter DIY

I hadn’t been there in three years. It had changed. Much of it looked more like a farmer’s field than a wetland. There were signs explaining that a “emergency restoration” was in progress. Apparently this includes removing invasive species and modifying water drainage.

It was a nice day in Oregon for a hike on a boardwalk. We found two geo-caches, got plenty of mud on our boots, and had snacks in our van.

While I am on the topic of invasive species, I will pause to mention my current least favorite invasive species.

Have you heard of Phragmites? Have you seen the videos on our media page? Of all the invasive species that I have battled, these are by far the most impressive. Here is a quick video from Lake Huron. This was part of the lake but now it is a field of Phragmite.

Please follow our blog for other adventures.