Over the past six weeks, we’ve put over 5,000 miles on the minivan we bought for $1200 in Sacramento (we named it Jesus because #jesussaves). Starting in Tahoe, we went west to Santa Cruz, then through Big Sur to visit my brother in Santa Barbara. Then we drove east to the Sequoias, where afternoon highs were in the 90s, so we called an audible: “Nevermind, Sierra Nevada.” Instead, we did Rowdy and Jesus a favor so they wouldn’t overheat. We swapped the high deserts and dry mountains of SoCal for the coastal breezes and shade of the Redwood forests. We explored Shelter Cove and ran the Lost Coast Trail before cruising north along the Oregon coastline, camping and hiking in the ferns and old growth forests. In Portland, we explored street markets and enjoyed live music. We ran along the PCT and around the Timberline Trail at Mount Hood. In Washington, we visited family in Seattle, watched fireworks over Puget Sound, and backpacked the Baker-Snoqualmie Wilderness. We’ve sampled local libations at breweries (maybe a few too many), bathed in creeks (apologies to the biker who saw me naked in Jordan Creek), sought out $1 CDs (yes, they still exist) and collector’s pins from our favorite regions, and made espressos and dinners on a trusty Coleman two-burner. Grocery Outlet/Bargain Market, you’ve been so good to us! It’s hard to go wrong with $4 bottles of quality red wine, $2 salad mixers, and $0.50 Larabars. Bonus points: Only once have we paid to camp. Other than a $10 site outside of Seattle, the three of us have slept comfortably either in the van or the tent. Well, we’ve paid for two cheap motel rooms, but a total $150 ain’t bad for a six-week budget trip. After all of that and more, I just read in a pre-race email that we’ll score a sweet coaster for our new coffee table in Colorado if we show proof on Instagram that we carpooled to tomorrow’s 50-mile foot race. Sure, you could say we carpooled 😉
#summeroffun #dosomethingawesomeeveryday #roadtrippin #vanlife #budgettravel #buzzinsohard
#50mile #trailrun #mounthood #carpoolcoaster #gobeyondracing #roddapaint #coloradobound #PNW #calitocrestedbutte
