Winter Really Is Over!

The little van and screen house on West point Lake

I finally made it out camping! After losing my reservations last weekend, I decided to wing it this time. I stopped at Whitetail Ridge only to discover that they were booked solid. So I drove another 20 minutes and was able to get into R. Shafer Heard for 2 nights. Not the 3 I’d hoped for.

King of the Mountain — Mikkey surveying his domain

But as unexpectedly brisk and chilly as the wind turned out to be, I didn’t mind leaving a day early and waiting for balmier weather. At least, a few spring flowers assured me that winter really was over, even though it wasn’t warm enough to sit outside. Until today when I was leaving!

See, spring finally arrived!
The van got decorated with yellow pine pollen, in case I missed the fact that spring is here.

Since brisk walks were our only outings, I entertained myself cooking inside the van.

This was a chicken and everything-in-the-refrigerator curry.


We watched geese, a big grey heron, ducks, and a hawk (not an osprey) dive for fish. It was the first time I had seen a hawk fish!

I really miss the old WordPress editor where I could intersperse small photos and have the text wrap around it. Maybe I still can, when I get used to this new one.

I plan to head out again as soon as being outdoors is comfortable.

Now– to get busy on Casita repairs and maintenance so Ron and I can go camping together!

Urge to Build & Yearning for Freedom

kitchen-sm

This photo is from a UK Small Van Campervan Conversion Project website. http://www.campervanconversion.co.uk/projects/small-van/tin-tent-2

 

I’ve been chasing another dream.

A dream of building an absolutely minimal camper and heading off by myself — or camping with a few select women friends — and just feeling free — for days or even weeks at a time.

The header photo shows exactly what I was looking for.  A place to sleep, a minimal kitchen and a place to store a porta pot.

So I’ve drawn plans and have how I would do it down to a Tee.

But then I realized.  The van wouldn’t do it for me.  It’s the place.  The openness and spaciousness.  The freedom implied by the photo.

And even if I had the van and took off in it, I would take me with all my emotional baggage along with me.  So the sense of freedom would be fleeting.

So I’ve quit drawing mini van plans.  But in the back of my mind, these images linger.  🙂

NOTE!!! It took over 5 years, but I finally built my microvan inspired by these photos!

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