Northbeach Campground

The only real holiday shopping we did this year was order a few things online from GoWesty when they had one of their sales during Thanksgiving.  We did get some theatre tickets to see Mary Poppins at the PCPA theatre as well and decided to visit both places the same weekend, since both locations are pretty close.  The play was of course amazing!  This theatre always puts on wonderful productions, but little did we know what characters we were about to meet when we picked up our GoWesty order.  After the play, we camped out at Northbeach Campground in Pismo.  It was awesome… 20 bucks for a quiet and peaceful (FREEZING) night.  The next morning we stumbled into GoWesty and as we proudly shared our cold camping story, we met a fellow van owner who couldn’t believe we picked camping over staying in a family townhouse that’s close by.  He had just traveled quite a ways to pick up his van and was heading towards San Diego.  His van was previously a GoWesty van, so a logo sticker was definitely a necessity.  Another couple was getting their van ready for an overseas journey to Chile.  They were making sure everything was ready to send their shelter on a boat from Long Beach, which they would eventually meet in Chile.  When we questioned them further on their motives for their adventure their answer was perfect… life is short.  As another birthday approaches for me, I am realizing this more and more.  These simple words shared from former strangers makes me thankful for the friends/family in our lives and for those who are only there briefly.  They all impact us and we hold on to the positive and adventurous ones because they help keep us going.  During our visit we had a little time to craft (never leave home without yarn), so we made a couple of foxes and scarves for our GoWesty family and new friends we had just met.  Wishing them happy and safe travels wherever they are headed.  Cheers to 2014 bringing new adventures and friends!    
    

If they can camp, we can camp

Our spot

Our address for the day

Water = a must have... see Where's My Office Now?

Camp Hosts

Loved this tree!

New friend!

The crafts we passed along

Birthday present

More new friends!

Our CLEAN window!

This boat lead us to the freeway

Driver

Not so lush, but necessary

Pit stop

Hippie Holidays!

We hope everyone had a Merry and relaxing Christmas.  Our day was filled with hula hoops, family, and love.  The highlight would have to be the release of Episode 4 from Where's My Office Now?, which we were featured in along with a couple who synchronistically saves the team from being stranded thanks to a dead car battery.  Hope you enjoy watching as much as we did!     

Santa's visit to Gypsea

New bag will hold EVERYTHING

Hula hoopin'

Meet Boscha

Boscha belongs to Corey and Emily from Where’s My Office Now?  We connected with them through email thanks to GoWesty’s blog list, but were even more fortune to meet them in person while they were passing though on their way to Sedona.  Along for the ride and some VANtastic documenting was their friend John from Reel Groovy Films.  We met up in the evening and got to watch the first episode of the web series along with them... how cool!!!  We have been enjoying their adventures online, but to personally get to watch an episode with the team was such a memorable experience.

As a van owner it’s fun to see the little nuances of having a van… setting up the bed, having the produce holder sway during the drive, encouraging the van to make it up the hill, fixing the wires, putting away clothes in a shoebox sized closet, and something as simple as showing the condensation on the window.

You can jump in and watch any of their episodes, but it’s also fun to see older videos connect with newer material.  Those who follow their posts often will be able to make deeper connections, but it’s not necessary to have that background to have it make sense.  For example, when John is at the airport a comment is made about using the PA system to call him over.  Following this is an episode that further explains why there is a PA in the van; which is a neat story and involves cows. :)

The episodes are put together beautifully and flow between music, dialogue, interactions, and scenery.  Each one tells a story and I think that those who aren’t as comfortable with the idea of living and traveling around in a van can appreciate the footage of the destinations.  The images are so clear and vibrant during the episodes and so artistic and beautiful as well… surfing, spinning around, climbing a rock, capturing shadows, and the zooming in of wire.  The simplest actions and objects are some of the most stunning additions.

Those who have experienced this lifestyle or who want to will really appreciate the content being produced because it’s relatable, but everyone can feel as if they were on the journey too because this team really reaches out to people and brings them in.  So “Get in the Van” already and take the adventure alongside Where’s My Office Now?

We had a BLAST sharing stories with Corey, Emily, and John and know that the other people who meet them along the way will have just as good a time.  This is what it’s all about... Van Life!

Boscha's tattoos

Our Gypsea's BVFF, Boscha

Groovy

The other vehicle... feet

PEACEful travles oui! ;)

Couldn't forget a goodie bag

Ready to deliver