3. Go.

Mile: 1,082

Horsetooth Reservoir 

The gold reflection on the water is priceless and cannot be bought to keep. It is a moment in time. The Artist has painted a picture that changes every second to reveal a different mural of beauty. Cameras attempt to capture it but the product is only a cheap imitation, not even worthy enough to call a knock off. How can a picture capture the cool breeze ebbing and flowing kissing the left side of your face? How can a picture give you the lapping sounds of the waves in their eternal goal to push back the rocks on the bank? How can a camera heat the sunlit side of your body as if sitting the perfect distance from a campfire on a cool evening? How can a picture capture the smooth refreshing untainted air you draw deep into your lungs? How can a picture change the mood of your soul? It cannot. To experience such things you must leave your house, break your routine, and go. Go. It will not wait for you. Go. It is free to take and yet no one can keep it. Go. Sunsets are the blessing of the end of the day silently shouting out the glory of God and that He is the artist in control. Go. Freely take a soul changing moment. Go.

2. YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!?

Mile: 57

Finally, I was on the open road. Windows down the music turned up. Next stop....what the?? The roof rack was rattling quite a bit but then it began making a whistling sound. Even a car novice knows that when a new sound starts that’s never a good sign. I pull over and noticed that the 16 gauge steel wind deflector has started to tear like a piece of paper being ripped in two. WHAT!? I just slaved over this dang thing and it’s partially the reason why I’m missing an epic hike with my brother delaying my trip by a couple days. 

So after calling a few welding shops I found a couple good ole boys who were still at their shop after 5pm and told me to bring it by. 

$100 later I’m back in the road. But wait a minute...there was the shaking and whistling noise again! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!? Sure enough it had began to tear again.  

So now, 50 minutes from home on this grandeur venture, I’m sitting in a parking lot looking at this crap. Thankful I put some tools in the van before I left. Grabbing my hacksaw I went to work. One NICE shoulder workout and 35 minutes later, I’m on the open road. Colorado Bound!

1. And so it begins...

Mile: 0

And so it begins...

It’s hard to believe the time has come for me to drive out of the driveway and begin this adventure. For the last three months I have been getting off work, running by Home Depot, scarfing some dinner, and getting to work on the van. So much has happened to that little van. Well, she prefers to be called by her name, The Black Pearl, Pearl for short. If I were to condense the last three months of after hours and weekend work into a few sentences it would be this; After ripping out all the stock interior I insulated her and installed the framing followed by the sub flooring and the western cedar paneling on the walls and ceiling. Cutting the hole in the roof was a little bit nerve wracking, the point of no return you might say. After that I installed the bed frame and began the wiring. The trim work and ends of all the cedar paneling had to be the most challenging with no straight angles in the van to work off of. The vinyl flooring came together quickly which was very different than welding the roof rack together, yikes.

It pains me to give that brief and cheap of an explanation of the last three months of working on her. I might give a more in depth detail of the build out later. But what must be said is a major thanks to Gordon and Tim for helping me work on the van, dream up layouts, teaching me how to wire the electrical, and to laugh along the way. There were some late nights leading up to the launching of this venture pulled by both and I am so very thankful for that. 

So, here I am, having left my job and with everything at home squared away, I am road ready. Let’s see what adventures three months of living in a van traveling the western half of the US can drum up...

Photos by Jon Yoder Photography