Some days it seems like our van conversion to a camper will never be done. But anticipation is a good thing. My dear, sweet husband, John has dedicated much of his free time (which is basically Sundays) to working on this project which will allow us a way to travel and do some longer weekend camping on a budget.
The last two Sunday’s he spent making templates which you can see in the photos above.
Today he is using those templates to cut out storage walls and beds in good plywood – video below.
Being that today is July 4th it won’t be all work and no play…and some leisure time for lunch and an adult beverage will be happening soon as we venture off for a “test” drive in the van to a beach bar and grill.
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated about our van conversion. Life can sometimes get in the way!
We are heading for Tennessee early November with the van. And no, it won’t be ready in time. But we knew this. We plan to work on it over the winter so it is fully functional next summer. And we are only staying one night in a campground on the way down to Tennessee and then one night on the way back this time around. While in Tennessee we will be staying in a cabin.
So it looks like we will be throwing down some memory foam for a make-shift bed for this short duration we will be staying in the van this first trip.
The good news is that we will have power! Whether we hook-up to shoreline (we discovered it’s called this whether you are in a camper or a boat) or we use our solar panels – we will have heat when need be and air, too. This is very good news!
Solar panels fit inside ladder rack and behind it our air conditioning unit and Fan-tastic fan. Far end is open for additional storage.
And for a little more added cozy comfort I got the softest blanket that my sister made (Gidget is posing with it above). She said, “When I saw the dachshund pattern, I couldn’t pass it up!” She thought it would be perfect for our van, “Second Chance.” And she’s right – I just love it – and of course, I knew Gidget would too! So know doubt it will come in handy to snooze under while cruzin’, snuggle under in front of a bonfire, or when hanging out and reading in bed.
The goal is to have van insulated and sub-floor in place before we head out early November. I can hardly believe our vacation is almost here! It’s been three years since we’ve gone on vacation, and we are both more than ready… and excited about this new chapter of what we hope to be many adventures with Second Chance – the Vamper!
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9/20/16 UPDATE: Winners are Marilyn who posted her comment on Facebook and Jean who posted her comment here on the blog post. Congratulations! Jean, please contact me with your mailing address so I can mail you one of the birdies! And thank you Marilyn for providing your address – your birdie will go out in the mail this week. Enjoy!
My mom traveled first by boat and then by RV with her late husband, David for many years. She had many adventures and it’s always fun to hear about them. When John and I began our van conversion about two months ago my mom said we’d have to have a mascot that traveled with us. David and my mom had a little monkey that went everywhere with them when they traveled. They even lost him at one time on a trip, but backtracked their route and luckily found him.
I sure hope she does not mind me sharing this story, but I find it so endearing. David could be a tough cookie on the outside, but we knew better, and he absolutely had the biggest, softest heart when it came to animals. When David passed away almost two years ago, my mom put the monkey in with David in his casket. That touched a place deep in my heart. This trip would be solo and I’m sure my mom didn’t want David to feel alone as he made his way to the other side.
And now our Van Camper or Camper Van (or what John has now dubbed, “The Vamper” to make it easier), also called Second Chance, now has her mascots! I’m thinking those of you that have followed me for quite some time would have been hoping it would be a dachshund and/or Labrador. While I wouldn’t have minded that, I wanted our mascots to be something that John and I both shared in common. Not that we don’t both love dogs, because we do.
But you might recall in a previous post, I wrote about a song that John and I identify with and have called “our song” since we first began dating when I was 15 1/2 and he was 19. The song is by Tanya Tucker, Two Sparrows in a Hurricane. Thinking about this, I just knew we had to have two little birdies to accompany us on road trips.
So meet our little feathered traveling mascots – John on the left and me on the right. I think they are perfect for us and my whole insides fill up with love when I look at them. And as my mom says, John and I are two peas in a pod, and we are two little birdies also that enjoy exploring and taking flight together on many things.
And now for a giveaway! Our little birdie mascots came in a set of four – and being we only need two, I want to pass on the birdie love! So I’m giving away two of the birds. There will be two winners chosen. So just leave a comment in the comment section of this post or on Facebook as I know many of you catch my posts there and tell me your favorite place you’ve traveled to or would like to travel. Enter by midnight cst Monday, Sept. 19th. I’ll notify winners on Sept. 20th (open to US residents only).
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