Written By: Scott Krycia
“There is something about the momentum of travel that makes you want to just keep moving, to never stop.”
— Bill Bryson
Four years ago, we took the plunge and bought our camper van.
For years, I had been dreaming about van life — not just dreaming but actively researching and thinking about how to make it a reality. We’ve always loved to travel, and the idea of a van promised to take that love to the next level.
The freedom of being able to stop just about anywhere (within reason) without the constraints of hotel check-ins or rigid schedules was a huge plus. As landscape photographer, so much depends on the weather, the light, and the mood of a location, and with a van, we could pivot on a dime. We could chase the light instead of the clock.
It turned out I wasn’t alone in this dream. When we finally decided to go for it, so did a lot of other people. There were waitlists everywhere that were nearly a year-long.
When the time finally came, we flew from Pennsylvania to Georgia to National RV to pick up our Tofino and drive it home.
I still remember our first drive home like it was yesterday. We picked up the keys, snapped a few photos (complete with a big blue bow on the hood) and hit the road.
That first drive was a little nerve wracking. It took a bit to settle into the rhythm of the van but we were off on our first of many adventures.
One of the main reasons I chose the Tofino was because of its size — low-profile, compact, and able to fit in a regular parking space. Though on that drive home, anytime we stopped somewhere, folks wanted to talk and check out the van. They must have felt the newness and our excitement.
Fast forward to four years later and four wheels and a pop top really does feel like home on the road. We have managed a tiny living space for two people without incident, most of the time. We’ve learned patience, especially when the weather turns or the GPS leads us on an unexpected detour.
It is always fun when we run into a fellow Tofino owner on the road. This happened a few years ago when we were in Ct for an Elvis Costello concert. We don’t often see fellow Tofino owners in the wild and we were both in the same camping area. It was neat to see each other’s set-ups and what we did differently and the same.
One of our favorite places to camp is the Adirondacks. Any time of year, the scenery is beautiful, and the crisp mountain air can’t be beat. There are countless places to camp, and nothing tops the sound of the forest at night while snuggled up in the Tofino.
Looking back, we feel so lucky to have visited so many incredible places — from state parks to national parks across the U.S. and Canada. Our two longest journeys so far have taken us to the rugged coast of Maine and the breathtaking peaks of Banff.
There’s so much more road ahead. More places to discover, more nights under the stars, more mornings waking up to a new view out the window. And we can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes us.
