In January of 2015, I was living happily with my partner in Mill Valley, CA in a house full with family, dogs, garden and working for an NGO that sent me around the world to photograph water projects. Two months later, I had lost my partner to Melanoma, his daughters had moved out of my home and the director of the NGO I had worked with for five years had moved on. In short, I was grief-stricken, living alone in a house I could no longer afford and my job had ended. What to do?
Life is a journey. Travel, nature and photography are the guiding spirits of mine. But I no longer felt comfortable backpacking alone in the mountains without my partner. And international travel was now too expensive. So I decided to stay closer to home, buy a small camper to tow with my car and go on the road with my dogs. I spent a year and a half traveling up and down the West Coast in my little pop top Aliner Camper, hiking and photographing the drought and wildfires that were plaguing the West Coast, and the wildflowers and beautiful coastlines along the way. I met some wonderful people on my journeys. And slowly I found my path…
As I immersed myself in the world of RV’s and Van Life on YouTube and Social Media, camping and tramping the backroads of California and Oregon, whole worlds started to open up… The Tiny House Movement, Minimalism, Rubber Tramps, Van Dwellers… and of course, the AIRSTREAM crowd. I loved their look and quality but did not want to tow such a big trailer all by myself. One week I found myself in Moro Bay State Campground escaping a thunderstorm, and saw the TINIEST 16' Airstream! The Bambi! It was love at first sight. The perfect answer for a single woman with two small dogs. And I could tow it with a VW Touareg!
In August of 2016 I found the perfect 2008 International Signature Bambi Airstream in Winters, California. Huge panoramic windows on both ends and a bathroom with a shower! Now I could travel anywhere and overnight along the road, Boondock on BLM land or park for free on farmland and vineyards with Harvest Hosts! Plenty of room for me and my two dogs to start a brand new life!
I travel part time, returning to my home in West Marin, north of San Francisco. Mostly 5-7 day trips with one or two month (or longer) jaunts during the year. I am sharing my journey in the hopes that you may find things from my story that inspire you to get out of your “bubble," start your own road trip and discover the secret destinations of your life's story!