Little goofy to do back to back posts but after putting everything on the blog yesterday I really wanted to add the rest of our van trip updates (and some non-van stuff).
More MI (October)
- Realized that I missed a bunch of good Michigan content so I'm backfilling here.
- Things that I left out on the other post: nice Lake Superior campsites, staying on the edge of this badass little pond, trying to flex tape holes in our inflatable kayaks (unsuccessfully), and a sequel to the first vegetable with nose picture.
St Paul, MN (October)
- Briefly back in St Paul, here's some curling :)
Fayetteville, AR (November)
- Went back to Fayetteville to surprise Joe for his birthday! And we ate gumbo. Somehow I don't have any pictures???
Salt Plains State Park, OK (November)
- After leaving Fayetteville we headed through Oklahoma on the way to Colorado.
- On our way to the Salt Plains State Park we got stuck in the mud and a farmer helped tow us out (after we spent the day just working in the mud waiting on AAA... who never came). His mini heifers were very interested.
- Once we got there it was beautiful! Kind of had the whole campsite to ourselves, made some tacos, enjoyed the lake. Didn't know there were lakes in Oklahoma.
- On our way out IT SNOWED and also we drove an hour and a half down a road before it turned to dirt (mud) and we had to turn back and drive annother hour and a half to get on separate highway. Got all the way to New Mexico though... kind of cool.
John Martin Reservoir State Park, CO (November)
- Had this campsite too ourselves but honestly it was so big that it kind of felt deserted and scary.
Colorado Springs, CO (November)
- Made it to Colorado Springs! Super pretty -- unfortunately, seems like Colorado is pretty tough on vanlife. The normal spots like Walmart parking lots and EVEN CRACKER BARREL had no overnight parking, and usually very strictly enforced. Even the RV parks were super expensive. I don't know what the deal is with Colorado.
- Stayed in a couple different spots ranging from Woodland Park to Denver. Didn't find anything we loved.
- Had much better luck with some national forest spots around the area though. Got chains for the tires so we were actually able to go offroad without immediately getting stuck.
Boulder, CO (November)
- Big improvement over Colorado Springs / Denver. More college town vibes, a really fun main strip with lots of restaurants and coffeeshops, and pretty good overnight parking spots.
- Picture is from our fancy dinner at Frasca food and wine! Our verdict: wine is amazing, food is good but pretty overpriced. We would go back but I think if you want bang for your buck the move is to sit at the bar and get a cheese plate and try a bunch of their wines.
St Paul (and Britt), MN (December)
- Back in Minnesota for thanksgiving and christmas. Here's a picture of our curboba and hockey rinks at the cabin.
- Also, I've never seen this before, but we had a few days of rain before a big freeze, so we were able to actually skate around the whole lake! It was very sketchy though: in a lot of places there was a thin layer of ice, then a layer of water, then more ice, so you could skate on cracking ice (see video below).
WE GOT AN APARTMENT (January)
- We are fraudulent vanlifers. BUT IT'S SO TOTALLY WORTH IT. We're still planning on doing van trips but now we have a home base (that isn't Frankie's parents' basement).
- Stayed in St Paul all of January and February to get settled and decorate the appartment. Will post fully decorated pictures at some point but here's our 5 course valentine's day meal (course in picture: steak and poutine!)
- Next picture is Frankie's birthday dinner: another fancy dinner at Demi in Minneapolis. Best fancy meal we've had since Acqurello (also for a Frankie birthday).
- Another life update: Joined a hockey league and Frankie got her first goal! Since this picture she's followed it up with 2 more goals :0
OKAY now the blog is fully caught up! No life updates that haven't been covered in the blog!