As I mentioned earlier, we packed up the van, made sure everything had its place, and prepared for the next steps. We still had our cars at the time, so those had to go. Fortunately, Jill’s car sold within the first month, giving us the perfect opportunity to test out the van. We took a trip to visit my Uncle Mike, who was buying Jill’s car, and figured it’d be a great way to kick off our travels! After that, we headed up to the UP (Upper Peninsula) to visit Jill’s parents and spend some time camping with her friends. The adventure was officially underway!

Adjusting to “van life” was far from the glamorous image we'd seen in all those cool videos during the lockdown. There were plenty of stops at rest areas, Cracker Barrels, and Love’s truck stops. We ran out of water for the first time in Ohio, quickly learned just how cramped the van felt on rainy days, and, well, let’s just say dumping the pee jug for the first time was an "unforgettable" experience. But despite the challenges, we slowly found our rhythm. There were some truly joyful moments, like watching Bear and my mom’s dog Max wrestle and play, taking walks with Jill’s parents, and catching up with nieces and nephews we hadn’t seen since the previous Christmas. Those little moments made it all worthwhile.

In the past few years, any trip we made to Michigan to visit family was either in the dead of winter or far too short to enjoy summer in Michigan—which, by the way, is absolutely incredible. This time, we were in no rush. We soaked in peaceful walks along Lake Michigan’s serene beaches and marveled at the powerful waves of Lake Superior. Watching summer transition into fall, with the leaves changing right before our eyes, was breathtaking. Seeing Lake of the Clouds in person, after months of admiring it on Instagram, was surreal. Experiencing it with Jill and her friends made it even more special. But what really stuck with me wasn’t the stunning views—it was the unexpected camaraderie we witnessed. On our way back to the campsite, a fallen tree blocked the road, causing a traffic jam. Yet, within minutes, a dozen strangers came together to clear the tree. It reminded me that while I sometimes have a cynical outlook on humanity, moments like this prove people are capable of incredible kindness and teamwork when it matters most.

As much as we were loving the adventure, we started to realize that traveling and exploring wasn’t as budget-friendly as we’d initially hoped. To keep things sustainable, I decided to pick up a remote job, and we slowed down our pace a little—not stopping, just adjusting. It allowed us to continue the journey while being mindful of our expenses.

By mid-October, we had a wedding to attend back in Tennessee, and the timing couldn't have been better—it was peak leaf-changing season in the Smoky Mountains. While there, we visited some of my aunts and uncles, which was wonderful, and then made our way up to Ober Gatlinburg for the wedding. Driving the van up those steep, winding mountain roads was nerve-wracking (heights and I are not the best of friends), but to my relief, the van handled it like a champ—even with the 1,500 pounds of materials from the van build weighing it down! Jill’s best friend from Tennessee was getting married, and the ceremony at the top of Ober Mountain was absolutely beautiful. Getting ready for a wedding in the van? Just another unique adventure to add to the list!

In next week’s post, I’ll share all about our first new state and National Park experience in the van. If you’re enjoying our stories, stay tuned—I’ll keep sharing! Talk to you next week!