VanLife When You’re Stressed and Lonely

Yes, I knew this would happen. And I know it will happen again on this trip. But the past few weeks have been harder than the first few that were driven by excitement and adrenaline.

I’ve started and stopped a few posts. But the only person who needs to know the gritty details—of my yellowjacket sting that was swollen for two weeks, or how I ran over my toes with the fridge drawer (damn fridge drawer!!), or that I’ve had an upset stomach for about 3 weeks (likely stress related, but annoying nonetheless)—is me the next time I think about doing a crazy trip like this.

So I’ll file those posts away into a private file that says “Open When Feeling Wanderlust.”

For now, here are photos of the amazing past 3 weeks (click to enlarge photo):

Scenes from Yellowstone. I really hadn’t read enough about what to expect. After Glacier, I found the first several miles of Yellowstone to be rather underwhelming. And then I found myself on a caldera. I didn’t even see Old Faithful or Morning Glory Pool. And yet I was won over.

Just no words

Amazing places I’ve had the privilege to camp, park, and work. It’s been hot. And it’s stressful to be ready to work, with Internet and focus and a reasonable temperature inside the van. If anything about the past 3 weeks has caused the most stress, it’s that. But when I actually step out of the van, I’ve had some astounding 360-degree views from my “home office.”

Grand Tetons and Jackson, WY, where I spent nearly a week. Just breathtaking mountains and a cute (and touristy) town. I spent a lovely evening at a bar meeting other travelers at various points in their journeys, and I was able to park at the home of a friend of a friend, who didn’t know me from… anything! So grateful for the kindness of strangers.

Views from the road as I drove east through Wyoming: Wind River Canyon and the Bighorn Mountains.