vanlife – Page 4 – Rambling Footsteps

Cape Perpetua. A sunny Oregon day.

February 17, 2020April 16, 2020 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

The Oregon coast offers beautiful views and an occasional picture perfect sun shiny day. Today was one of those days.

I packed hats, gloves, rain pants, spare clothes, winter jackets, hot chocolate, sunglasses, and rain jackets. We took the long way between the Willamette Valley and Waldport.

We stopped for a snack at Mill Creek Park in Alsea. There were fisherman and empty boat trailers everywhere. It turns out that the Steelhead fishing was hot. I filed this away for next weekend and we continued on our way.

Cape Perpetua is a must – see when driving the coast South from Yachats. It offers a trail system, visitor’s center, interpretive programs, and awesome views. Bring your inter-agency pass and settle in for the day.

A paved trail, including a tunnel under 101, leads from the visitor’s center to places with names like Devil’s churn and Thor’s well.

These tide pools offer far fewer treasures than the ones at Yaquina Head but, none the less, the kids were thrilled to find barnacles, anemones, and one small sea star. We spent at least two hours there but we could have spent much more.

We dragged the kids back to the visitor’s center with promises of Junior Ranger badges and a hot lunch.

As far as picnic locations go, we hit the jackpot. A mile or so South is a parking lot with sandy beach access. Neptune South.

The pictures don’t do it justice but I will leave them here for you to enjoy.

This is crazy multi-colored sand. Sprinter DIY

It had been a while since I had cooked beside the van. This was a good day to get back at it!

There was hardly a breath of wind. The stove was just where I had left it. The dry food was also where I had left it. It was fun to sort through and decide what to cook. I went with a rice dish with fresh fruit and Valentine’s Day candy on the side.

The kids were soaked and gladly changed in to dry clothes before dinner. HB took a rest up on the bed and Grace sat on the step to wash the sand off of her feet.

Even in mid-February, #vanlife was like riding a bike.

The day left me with a smile, a feeling of excitement, and also a bit of self-recognized impatience with the profoundly slow pace of our Sprinter camping conversion. I could have really used some additional storage today. With that being said, if additional storage never comes, a day with the Sprinter is still better than many other days!

Cape Perpetua, Oregon Coast Day-Trip.

February 17, 2020April 14, 2021 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Oregon, Traveling as a family

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The Oregon coast offers views and endless access to the ocean. There are so many options that it is hard to decide where to go next. The coast is one of our favorite winter day-trips.

What to pack for a winter day-trip to the Oregon Coast?

Hats, gloves, rain pants, spare socks, spare clothes, winter jackets, sunglasses, and rain jackets.

Our van stays stocked with food and kitchen supplies but I usually make sure that I have plenty of hot cocoa and a fast way to boil water!

You will also need your Interagency Pass and your National Parks Passport book if you have one.

What does Cape Perpetua and the Oregon Coast have to offer?

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area includes 2700 arces of Oregon’s coast. There are views from 800 feet above the shore.

There is a trail system, visitor’s center, ranger programs, and amazing views. Bring your inter-agency pass and settle in for the day.

A paved trail, with a tunnel under 101, leads from the visitor’s center to places with names like Devil’s churn and Thor’s well.

Are There Tide Pools?

There are tide pools. It is worth noting that these are not nearly as robust as the ones a few miles north at Yaquina Head, but none the less, the kids enjoy them.

Where Should We Eat Lunch?

As usual, we are always on the look out for places to park our van and enjoy a good meal. Cape Perpetua does not disappoint!

Head approximately one mile south to Neptune South. It is sure not to disappoint!

The kids love checking out the beach, running through water, splashing in puddles, discovering beach creatures, skipping stones, making dams, and they will continue this all day if I let them!

The pics do not do it justice!

Please like our blog for more fun!

Sunny February Weekend: Van Stay-cation.

February 3, 2020April 17, 2020 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

Here we are. The first weekend in February. The sun is shining. It is nearly fifty degrees. We are waist deep in home projects and paperwork.

Despite all of that, we squeezed in small scale van adventures.

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent celebrating a 50th birthday at our friend’s farm. It is 10 miles from town and we have threatened to sleep there in our van more than once.

We didn’t sleep there this time either but we enjoyed the ride. Our after dinner hike ended up with wet pants and socks so we took advantage of the van changing room option.

Sunday morning started off lazily but the sun was too tempting. We dashed out to the forest before the Superbowl.

McDonald – Dunn Forest Lewisburg Saddle is a fifteen minute drive from our house. I packed a light lunch and spare socks.

Sitting in the van is like a breath of fresh air. There is something comfortable and simple and wonderful about it. I think we all feel it.

We took the Vineyard loop and enjoyed the view from the old cement foundation at the top. The kids pretended to be planning a Superbowl party for cats and dogs. They walked and talked the whole way.

We spent ninety minutes walking and thirty minutes sitting the van.

They took theirs shoes off and hopped up on the bed. With the door open, the sun was shining right in. I got the snacks out but they didn’t eat. CD and I finished the cheese and crackers and eventually let them know that it was time to go. I think they would have stayed up there looking out the window all day.

The Sprinter requires a different life pace. It is good to be reminded that a slower pace is just fine too.

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

January 15, 2020April 16, 2020 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!)

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

January 6, 2020April 16, 2020 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.

January 6, 2020April 17, 2020 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Miscellaneous, Traveling as a family

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.

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.

Christmas Break Finale: Willamette Valley, Oregon

January 6, 2020April 14, 2021 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Old Posts

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.

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.

Please follow our blog for other adventures.

Bring on a new year of Sprinter adventures. Sprinter DIY: Alsea Falls.

January 2, 2020April 20, 2020 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Traveling as a family

Today was a good day. We jumped in our Sprinter and headed out for a hike. A few minutes into the drive, HB said: “It feels good to be in the Sprinter.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Alsea Falls was our destination. It is on BLM land in the southern part of the Willamette Valley. The scenery is classic for this part of Oregon. The trees are covered with lichen and moss. The ground is covered in mud.

The falls are a short walk from the parking lot. We ended our hike there.

The picture is fuzzy but so was the woods. Sprinter DIY

We don’t go anywhere without our Inter-agency pass. No camping at the day use area but there were plenty of campsites all around.

It was raining and not all that warm. Twenty minutes into the drive, I realized that I had forgotten our jackets. CD packed rain jackets and pants for the kids and himself but couldn’t find mine.

When we parked and headed out for our hike, he offered me a beach towel to keep me dry. I typically would have laughed and declined but recently the kids have made a point to let me know that I embarrass them. Wrapping myself in a beach towel while hiking seemed like a perfect opportunity to really be ridiculous. They laughed at first but soon forgot about it. I was stuck carrying a beach towel for the next hour or so.

Classic Willamette Valley sign. The weather is tough on signs and bridges and benches and houses.

We headed towards Green Peak Falls. The trail was nice and easy to follow. There were plenty of other hikers ringing in 2020. We got side tracked to the river and through the woods a few times and this ended up being our turn around point.

Another classic sign for this part of Oregon.

An amazing long table, obviously made from a single tree.

It seemed like McBee Park may have seen better days. There were outhouses but all seemed to be in a state of dis-repair. I expect that by the time the rainy season is over, things will be looking better again. There were tons of BLM campsites along the river here.

Despite the nearly constant winter rain of the Willamette, I really prefer dry campsites. I may come back and camp here in the spring when the rains slows but wasn’t tempted to camp there today. These campsites are likely popular in the summer as they are on the river, huge, and easily accessible from the road.

Back at the Sprinter, we took off our boots and settled in to some snacks. The kids didn’t waste any time getting comfortable on the bed. CD was happy to use his new gadget. The Camp Chef Mountain Series Striker was tasked with the job of whipping up hot cocoa. I was so proud of CD for moving beyond his back packing mind- set and getting excited about such a luxury. It really was much faster and easier than boiling a pan of water on our camp stove! It was so fast that the kids even had two cups each.

It worked! The kids and CD were happy. I have a feeling there will be a lot more Ramen, Cup of Soup, and Hot Cocoa in my future!

The mom in me asked CD to stop refilling propane bottles. He picked these up and we are all happy for now. He is just humoring me until we decide to start carrying a much larger propane tank and cut out these less earth friendly items.

Just as we were about the fire up the Little Buddy Heater, another family stopped by to chat. They had a Sprinter 170 passenger van camping conversion. They were well beyond us regarding the extent of their conversion.

They admired our idea of putting the kids in the third row instead of the second and were going to do that themselves in the future. That was about all we had to offer them. They gave us tons of tips regarding exchanging windows to improve air flow, adding insulation, and even removing the rear AC to make space for a large solar panel. They personally knew many of the people that CD had already spoken with on the phone regarding modifications and supplies. They gave us their number and invited to stop by and see their Sprinter.

They validated our path with our Sprinter so far. They were able to share our vision and bring back the “fun” in the Sprinter DIY dream.

In talking to them we felt hopeful, inspired, and energized! With that, we head into 2020! Cheers!

Sleeping 4 in a Sprinter 144. Sprinter DIY camping conversion.

January 2, 2020January 2, 2020 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

It didn’t take long for us to agree that we need at least two full size beds.

CD came up with a plan. He described it in detail. Despite his best efforts, I just couldn’t see his vision.

He disappeared into the driveway. Neighbors stopped by on and off. A few days later, we had storage boxes and two beds.

I started a YouTube channel to document our camping conversion. It turns out that my video production skills are seriously lacking. This blog was born.

I will do my best to describe in words and pictures our current two bed conversion. I will even show a video below; it has already been established that my video skills are sub-par at best.

Initial camping conversation priorities:

Two comfortable, readily accessible beds: Each large enough for two adults or one average size adult and one sideways sleeping child
Storage for food, cooking supplies, miscellaneous daily – use items

CD combined our storage and our sleeping conversion needs. I honestly could not be more impressed. This is truly a budget-friendly conversion that works!

The inaugural trip in our high roof Sprinter was 8528 miles and 190 hours and 55 minutes. We slept in the Sprinter each night that we were on the road. The kids fell asleep during a crazy rain storm after fourth of July fireworks and we converted the beds without opening the door, moving them from their seats, or waking them. This may have been one of the most successful moments of our marriage.

How is our seating arranged?

We removed the second row of seats and put the kids in the third row. During the day, we use the space where the second row was for having lunch, changing clothes, doing stretches, or using the Luggage Loo. At night it becomes our second bed.

In our first Sprinter, I slept on a camping pad in this space. The challenge was moving the cooler, food, stove, Loo, shoes, and clutter from the floor in order to make the bed. This did not work.

What about clutter?

Decreasing and controlling clutter was also high on our to-do list. Storage was the obvious starting place. CD built and secured two wooden storage boxes. This was life changing!

How did we build two beds for four people?

The first bed was built with a wooden frame behind the kids seats. Not only is it great for sleeping but it is needed to build the second bed. It holds two mattresses. The second mattress is stored on top of the first and pulled down to build the second bed.
The second bed is assembled using wooden storage boxes that CD built and secured to the van. The bed is constructed like a puzzle using pieces that are stored to either side of the kids seats. There are three pieces. The 1st piece goes under the cooler just to bring it up to the right height. Someday we will likely upgrade our cooler and this won’t be necessary but for now it works great. A 2nd piece goes between the front end of the storage boxes. A 3rd piece of wood has a hinge and is supported by the storage boxes and a 2 x 4 extending from behind the third seat and anchoring at the passenger side storage box.
The mattress for this second bed is then moved off of the first mattress and placed on the second bed platform. The first bed’s mattress measures 54 x 72 and the second is 48 x 68.

After 1 or 2 days of getting used to the second bed conversion, it was a breeze. I traveled well rested and contented. The total price tag of this two bed conversion was less than $500. This included two mattresses, one of which was custom cut to size.

As far as I am concerned, CD is a genius!

For more details about the bed conversion build, feel free to ask! Again, I am sorry for the video quality but will add better quality video once we have some to share!

Sprinter DIY. Sleeping 4 in a 144. Sprinter van conversion. #vanlife

Sleeping 4 in a Sprinter: Budget Friendly Guide.

January 2, 2020April 14, 2021 by Molly O'Rourke, posted in Sprinter DIY

Sleeping 4 in a Sprinter 144 is our challenge. I knew that it could be done but we wondered if we could do within our budget.

Starting points:

We need two beds.
Our budget is a consideration.
We can’t sleep on the van floor because then we have to move everything.
Sprinter camping should be fun!

Our Plan for Sleeping 4 in our Sprinter

CD came up with a plan. I didn’t see his vision. He resorted to talking with neighbors. A short time later, and to my surprise, we had storage boxes and two beds!

The Final Product: High Roof Sprinter 144 with 2 Beds.

The first bed is a fixed structure behind the third seat. It has storage underneath.
Two mattresses are stored on the first bed during the day. One mattress was custom cut. The mattress measurements are as follows.

Bed #1: 54 x 72

Bed #2: 48 x 68

3. We remove the second and fourth rows and leave the third row in place.

4. Bed #2 gets built in front of the third row as needed.

5. Wooden storage cabinets are secured behind the driver’s and passenger’s seats. These are constructed in such a way as to support bed #2.

6. Bed #2’s platform pieces are stored next to the third seat. Directions to construct are below.

7. The second mattress gets pulled down from the first bed and placed on the newly constructed second bed.

To construct the Bed #2, follow these steps:

Piece 1 goes under our cooler to add height to the cooler and allow it to be part of the support system.
The next piece is a bridge between the two fixed storage boxes.
Piece 3 is a 2 x 4 that pulls forward and attaches on the passenger side storage box.
The final piece is a hinged piece that opens and covers the remaining space. It is supported by the storage box edges and the 2 x 4.

10 Reasons We Love Our Two Beds

The total price tag was under $500. This includes two mattress, one of which was custom cut.
Bed #2 is elevated off of the floor so that shoes and other items can be stored underneath.
There was a steep but short assembly learning curve. We are quite proficient at assembly and can even assemble with the kids asleep in their seats.
We can sleep two people per bed and not feel crowded.
The mattresses are comfortable.
Our <a href="http://Reliance Products 9881-03 Luggable Loo Snap-on Toilet Seat with Lid for 5-Gallon Bucket, Black, 13.0 Inch x 1.5 Inch x 14.0 Inch“>luggable loo is easy to access.
Our cooler is helpful rather than in the way.
I can sleep head to toe or side to side. CD is a bit more limited in his choices, however.
We can assemble the second bed in under 10 minutes and without stepping foot outside the van or opening the door. This is amazing news during a downpour.
We wake up well rested!

Our Inaugural Sprinter Van, Sleeping 4 Conversion

We drove 8528 miles with a trip timer of 190 hours, 55 minutes and we slept at campgrounds, friends’ driveways, gas stations, Walmart, rest areas, and parks. No matter where we slept, we woke up well rested and ready to go!

CD’s second bed conversion is pure genius as far as I am concerned.

Sleeping 4 in a 144 and how it can be done! Sprinter van conversions can be fun, too

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