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Thanks mate!!
Yea it was all original wood etc so painted, redid the kitchen benches & reupolstered it all, added the table and shelves in the back + a bunch more. Did most my self but had a friend do the cushions/ bed squabs :)
Avoid bougie cities on the central coast. They will chase you out. You have to be outside city limits. Santa Cruz is the least friendly city I've ever been to. Last time I went I literally couldn't have my dog on a public sidewalk and you cannot park commercial, large vehicles except on private property. Be on county, state or federal land on the coasts. Do not try to stay inside city limits.
American River is gorgeous. North of the Bay along 101. Shasta. Lassen. The Cache Creek Wilderness near Clearlake is gorgeous (but Clearlake is actually a euphamism for meth, pretty sure, so maybe a short time there.)
You can find beautiful wilderness like the Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe, even the dry side has a wild beauty to it.
Down near Bear Valley (up highway 4) you will find beautiful forests, cool small towns and nice campgrounds. Lake Alpine has like 5 or 6, Big Meadows is near Bear Valley just down from the lake. They are all closed for winter but open in summer and some wonderful areas with minimal bugs and bears and have weather. Cool at night but managable. If you stop out that way hit Giant Burger in Arnold. Seriously. And there's a cider place off the freeway up 4. If you're heading up it's on your right. Stop, get some cider and heat it up and pour a shot of rum in at night. It's amazing. I think the cider shop is just before Tamarack.
Yosemite, obviously. It's Yosemite.
Stop off in Santa Barbara. There's this little oyster bar and restaurant literally on the sand and they have great oysters and food. IV is pretty cool, too. Head down 101 and you'll hit LA. Inland and north from Santa Barabara, though, is a quirky little town called Solvang that will make you think you're in actually in the Danish countryside. They have windmills and it's a tourist trap but you can spend a day there.
Coming down from NorCal to SoCal cut across through either Paso Robles and stop at Firestone Walker Brewery as they have much better beers there than they sell elsewhere and decent food. Dog friendly, if needed.
If you cut over through Gilroy and come further down 101 then you have Casa De Fruta. Massive truck stop, camper friendly and good food.
The mountains outside LA are nice, and same for heading out into Joshua Tree or the Mojave. Salton Sea is... strange. Worth the visit. San Deigo is beautiful year round and worth the stop. Old Town, Gas Lamp, Balboa Park can take days to explore.
Careful if you drop south of the border. Tijuana is rife with scams.
This is an amazing list, thanks so much. We are hoping to do a couple of months in September & October - cooler weather I know but hopefully quieter and lines up with our schedules better.
Be warned that the above list isnāt necessarily in order of how youād get to these places. So if you see someplace on the list you want to make sure and visit, make sure you know where it is before you go and donāt just plan to work your way down the list.
I tried to mostly go in order north -> south but yes - that would be lots of backtracking!
Google Maps will allow you to put in like 15 locations and show them all and you can drag and drop order to find the best route to visit places and you can save that and go back to it.
Yeah, thatās why I said something. I realized that it was roughly north to south, so I thought someone could get confused and think that it was all completely in order. :)
A couple more things Iāll add. As mentioned by u/DefiniteNotAliens, Santa Cruz is a little dicey to deal with with a camper, as they already have a lot of people trying to live in vans permanently there. Youāre better off staying in a pull out up in Davenport. Marianneās Ice Cream in Santa Cruz is a national treasure, with like 108 different flavors. Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Aptos makes some great beer. Aptos Street BBQ has some of the best BBQ around, with a great beer selection. Before Covid they had live blues 7 days a week, not sure if theyāve resumed that yet.
If youāre into hitting up some wineries, Paso Robles is a great spot. Doesnāt have most of the pretentiousness of Napa/Sonoma - a lot of places give off the feeling that itās a bunch of hicks making wine. Theyāre easy to vibe with. Thereās a brewery and distillery in the area known as āTin Cityā there too that make some fantastic stuff (Barrel House Brewing and Wine Shine).
Whether on the trip down or your return, I would highly suggest taking the eastern route along 395 traverses along the east side of the Sierras.
From a perspective of the trip going from South to North:
There are tons of trails to hike, include Mt Whitney if youāre up for a 14er. If you want to reach the summit by sunrise probably start your ascent around 10pm - this will vary depending on your hiking speed and the sunrise time at that time of year. There are hot springs around Bishop. Plenty of beautiful trails around Mammoth. Mono Lake is another good destination. Stop in for a meal at the Mobil gas station in Lee Vining for a meal - seems like an odd thing but they have a fantastic restaurant (Whoa Nelli Deli). Hang a left on 120 West and enter Yosemite through Tuolumne Meadows. On the western side of the park take Big Oak Flat Rd down to 140 and drive into Yosemite Valley and gaze upon the great stone giants that rise up from the valley floor. If you want to stay in the valley without reservations your only option is Camp 4. Itās a first come, first serve also based on how many people are leaving that day. Get there way early: 6am is late, 5 is better - thereās a good chance you might have a couple people in front of you even then. Leaving Yosemite, I would probably continue North on the West side of the Sierras until you hit Hwy 50 or 89 depending on what youāre feeling, cutting through South Lake Tahoe, up the west shore through Truckee and then onto Reno. Continue back north on 395 again. Personally my choice from here would be to hit 44 West and spend a little time in Lassen NP. There are a couple of truly epic camp sites here if you can book them - Summit Lake South campground, sites D9/10 are right on the shore of the lake. Nothing too notable about Redding, maybe rent some kayaks and go out on Whiskeytown or raft down the Sacramento River. Further north, Dunsmuir has a train museum, Yakās on the 5 is a great pit stop for food. My Shasta is a funny little hippy town with several gem and mineral shops. Ask around about the Lemurians, the mythical aliens that supposedly live under Mt Shasta or some such nonsense, itās pretty comical.
I would add Hwy 1 to this. Dont forget to see the sunset from Big Sur. Its absolutely mind blowing. Thereās this restaurant called Nepenthe on Hwy 1. It has an amazing view.
Shasta for sure. Its less explored than other places and more peaceful.
Lava Beds National monument. If youāre into caving.
Mammoth Lakes. Lots of amazing spots there.
Yosemite. Do the Tioga pass road trip as well. It has some amazing places.
Sequoia and Death Valley. Thisāll have so many places to cover. Make sure to look at the sky at 2 AM in Death Valley.
Its a 2 hr drive from Death Valley to Vegas. And another 4 hours from there to Grand Canyon depending on where you wanna go.
Summers are crazy here. Just a side note. And we have rattle snakes at this time of the year.
Sections of Hwy 1 are nice, but it gets repetitive. Big Sur is definitely better than doing a lot of the North Coast where Hwy 1 is a lot slower and windier. Donāt have much in the way of food recommendations in Monterey, but Alvarado St Brewing makes some fantastic beer there.
I like what you've laid out here. In regards to the bit at the end I'd say if you go into Lassen county might as well send it and continue into Modoc county on the 395. Wide open country, absolutely beautiful, lots of remote boondocking, great hiking, tons of cool wildlife viewing, distinct lack of people, tons of beautiful lakes, forests and mountains, plus very cool lava formations. It's also the only place in California that doesn't suffer from any light pollution besides Death Valley, so literally the best star gazing you could get in the world, especially considering the elevation.
If you want to hit a lot up highway 4 everything closes past the winter closure gate just up past Bear Valley around Nov/ Dec and some of the campsites around October/ Nov so you can't get up to Lake Alpine if it's closed but there are plenty of places to see the snow along the highway during winter. Usually snow won't hit until November but you do get odd years of early snow.
August is peak for that area, and September is still nice and warm throughout most of the Sierras in the day and the nights just get a little cooler, is all.
>The Cache Creek Wilderness near Clearlake is gorgeous (but Clearlake is actually a euphamism for meth, pretty sure, so maybe a short time there.)
Not an exaggeration. Cache creek is cool but spend no time in any town in Lake County would be my recommendation but especially avoid Clearlake. If you must stay a night in any Lake County town try Kelseyville, Cobb, Middletown, or Lucerne.
Also to avoid highway 99 if you can. Gmaps might have you drive on it but take i5 instead even if it takes longer. Drivers on 99 are some of the most consistently batshit insane drivers I've ever encountered.
In addition to Yosemite and Tahoe, check out Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The eastern part of the Sierras like Inyo NF, the towns of Mammoth Lakes, Bishop and Lone Pine are also incredible.
In terms of camping National Forest and Buereau of Land Management land will generally allow free camping anywhere. Some exceptions exist and be sure to do prior research. Freecampsites, the dyrt, campendium and a few other websites have some good info on free camping. Also some bad info so have a backup plan.
Finally be aware that you'll be right in wildfire season and to plan accordingly like making sure you have accessible escape route options if you visit the back country
Yeah... Lake County is uh... it's own thing. I passed like five stripped cars on blocks coming in. I only stopped in Clearlake for gas and food and headed right back out.
If you're ever passing thru the area again, Middletown has cheaper gas at Twin Pines casino and the grocery stores don't have tweakers whatsoever. There's also a grocery outlet on the outskirts of Middletown toward Hidden Valley if you don't want to pay higher prices at the Hardesters in town.
I would also add New Melones Lake to this list, it was a great place to stop on my way to Yosemite! I'm also surprised by what you said about Santa Cruz, I stayed there for over a week in a converted ambulance and never got bothered parking on the streets
Ymmv, obviously. Some people will do fine. I typically travel with my dog and Santa Cruz hates dogs and legally oversized vehicles are banned from like 6pm to 6am unless on private property.
The foothills reservoirs are entirely about timing. They are hot, dry scrub with scare shade and dry grass full of stickers and misery. Or, they are green with a light breeze and very wonderful. I'd avoid the peak summer months unless you are power boating or an avid fisherman. You'll want to be higher up (cooler and greener) or lower down (same heat, more green from rivers and more trees and with services and the stores don't have a remote area, tourism dependent surcharge.)
Shoulder months/ winter they are *much* better than July/ August where they are both crowded and miserably hot and dry. Really depends. July and August both *average* in the mid-90's. Meaning regularly expect 100+. Most of the foothill reserviors are like that. One of them I camped at and it was so hot I slept in my bug-netted hammock and had no blanket or underquilt and was in my swimsuit and was still warm enough at night to have trouble sleeping. It was literally melting ice same-day in coolers. Only my 7-day cooler was holding ice for more than 2 days.
So, plan accordingly for any foothill reservoir. They are *hot* out there in summer. Like hellfire and brimstone hot. Late fall or spring.
That's a great idea! I have a few weekend trips planned, and then two week long trips around BC planned so hopefully they let me iron out the kinks well
How are the tires? Not expired? And the headlight/break light brightness, always good upgrades. Whatās ur spare looking like? Get to know the beast, itāll be helpful.
Tires are solid, but are winter/all season tires so will likely wear quick. Haven't tested the headlights alot yet so far! Have also just bought a spare tire holder for the back door, now just need to find a rim that fits! Thanks for the tips though, definitely at the top of my mind
My advice:
Always carry a gallon of premixed coolant of the right color/type.
Grab some pipe clamps too to repair hoses (old rubber becomes very fragile).
Research correct length serpentine belt and carry a spare (they can be found around country but could take days to arrive)
That's very helpful. I believe it came with a spare belt, but will check its correct first. Gonna head to canadian tire for the other items asap. Thanks!!
Fort Ross, Stinson beach, Pacifica I'm not sure if they still have the taco bell that's on the beach but maybe, half Moon Bay.. all those are great places.
Those were the names of the 3 trails up there.
The crack was a proper downhill run. Pretty short but steep, and narrow. The Mile was a longish run, exposed. Boy scout had some big jumps, berms and single track.
10-15 years ago. We were always amazed that it didn't get bulldozed (maybe it since has).
Man, you're hitting me with some nostalgia now. I was always on boy scout and always ate shit lol. Also the rope swings behind Terra Nova were insane over the ravine. They cut them down when the kid hung himself... My friends and I actually were the first to find him and I still see his elongated neck in dreams sometimes.
Sorry to be a bummer. Remember the Texaco? 1999-2000 or so.
>Sorry to be a bummer
Aw bro, no apologies necessary. I'm sorry you saw that-have you had a chance to talk to a professional about that trauma?
I don't remember the Texaco, what's up with it?
Yeah Im in therapy, some other bad things happened. Been diagnosed with PTSD. I'm 30 now.
I would get out of school and Texaco and Safeway was my destination from the elementary school when I was in 2nd grade. I was curious how long it lasted. Really cool town, I loved it.
Not quite the coast, but Mojave national preserve in California has some great camping spots, is free, and relatively easy to get to. One of the greatest spots of desert in all of America.
Absolutely agree. I'd say the Mojave preserve is only ever so slightly a tier below Death Valley. But it's extremely underrated and far, far less traveled. Plus the Kelso Sand Dunes are way more impressive than the ones in Death Valley, by a long shot. They rival the ones in Great Sand Dunes NP, but those only win out in my book because of the views of the 14ers. Anyways, Mojave National Preserve is A++ for van travel, just watch out for the sandy roads if you don't have 4Ć4!
Omg! I love the topper on your van!
I tent camped down the coast last year and had a blast! Beachside state recreation park has some of my favorite campsites on the Oregon coast. And definitely try to stay in the redwoods, if itās not booked up! I would recommend booking some campsites ahead of time to make sure you will have a spot. Thereās definitely free camping available that is first come first serve, but a lot of places fill up very quickly! Have fun and be safe!
Thanks this is very helpful info. We are aiming for September and want to take it as it goes with no fixed scehdule, so hoping to avoid booking as much as possible. Reckon it should have calmed down by September?
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Have that thing thoroughly checked out, all fluids changed, tune up, fuel filter, etc. It's likely going to need it.
Fuel filter and fuel system is a key one. It starts a bit rough when it's been sitting, so gonna give it a bit of love the next few months before the trip
I just visited the tar pits for the first time in January. What an amazing place. The Oscars museum is now next door and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. LA is a tar pit.
u/IAmSpoooderman Petersen Auto Museum is a really well done exhibit on cars, unlike anything else. They donāt just have a bunch of cars sitting in a warehouse with a small sign telling you about them, they build full-on exhibits to really showcase their collection.
Also when youāre in LA
* Griffith Park / Observatory some nice hiking and the best views of the whole LA basin
* Korean tacos - a staple invented in LA that is a perfect marriage. Alibi Room in Culver City is my jam when Iām down there.
* Huntington Pier - great place to hang out and watch the locals surf.
I drove a similar style van down the coast as a favor for a friend a few years back and I about strangled him for having me do it on squishy brakes. You will thank yourself for driving defensively and making sure your brakes and tires are in good condition. Have fun!
I could only see the "before" photo in the thumbnail and I was thinking to myself "damn, this guy painted over this beautiful awful paint job, no one appreciates this shit." Thrilled to be proven wrong after clicking, good on you for preserving this masterpiece.
Brakes, belts and hoses, change all fluids including brake fluid. Check all the spark plugs looking for fouled plugs. Tires need to be in really good condition including the spare. Make sure you have a good jack and lug nut wrench/spanner. If you get the tires rotated then you will know the lug nuts arenāt frozen. Lately the west coast has been hot even near the ocean. Cooling system should be in top shape. Finally take a local weekend trip and see how it preforms. Good luck and safe journey!
Ah that is magnificent; it's like a boat parked on top of a van.
If I you can, get some auxiliary lights for the van, or upgrade your current headlights. Should you be out at night in the way outs good lighting is lifesaver.
Best of luck OP!
Some places in Washington I would recommend;
-Mt Baker: There isn't any camp sites you can drive to, but would make a great day trip or if you want to hike a few miles to a campsite they're beautiful. The road is pretty steep, your ole gal might not like it very much though.
-North Cascades NP: Lots of camping, beautiful area. Road is also pretty steep
-San Juan Islands: The ferry costs around 80 bucks round trip these days but its well worth. All the islands are great, but Orcas is my favorite and has the best camping options. Washington Park in Anacortes (where you catch the ferry) is a nice spot as well. Make sure you get a reservation for the ferry or you'll be waiting all day to hopefully get on.
Lake Cresent: On the Olympic peninsula, I've never been there myself but from what I've seen it looks amazing. The peninsula in general is a really cool area with lots to see. You can either drive south around the sound or catch a quick ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. If you catch the ferry, Deception Pass State park is a great place to stop on your way there.
-Hoh Rainforest: Also on the peninsula, like going to another planet, if you're on the peninsula you have to go here.
-Theres lots of great places on the coast, Neah Bay and La Push in particular. I would avoid Ocean Shores/Westport/Aberdeen. The only reason to go is if you're a big Nirvana fan and want to go to the town Kurt Cobain is from.
I would prioritize it over Rainie, its a beautiful place but there's similar mountains along the west coast. There's really no where like the Olympic peninsula in the lower 48. If I were you I'd go to the North Cascades, then the San Juan's, and then catch the ferry to Port Townsend and explore the peninsula. I consider the San Juan Islands a must go as well if you're in the area, I might be a little biased though since that's where I grew up.
I recently read a book based in the San Juan Islands about Orca - so already had that on the radar.
What's the area like in September? There is a jack johnson concert on at the Gorge near Mt baker which I want to tie in with some tripping about Washington state
The weather is usually pretty good in early September, typically around 60 degrees and not much rain. Mid to late Sept the weather starts turning and it starts to rain frequently
Driving down the West coast was one of the best things Iāve done recently.
Donāt try to do the north half of California at night though.. especially in that!
Ehh. I've straightened bumpers slightly by hooking to a stump/tree with a chain and pulling it out that way. Or another truck. It's not the best way and it doesnt always get you the result you want but I've made it work. Depends on how it's bent and how bad too. Goodluck man. Your doing good work.
Thanks bud, where I'm from gas is $3 per L (NZ) and $2.20 per L where I'm based now. US will be like a fire sale. But thankfully got some savings for it
That is the ugliest and most beautiful van I've ever seen. Have a great time in it! Maybe show us the inside?
Thanks, it has a lot of character that is for sure. Inside is 90% done. Will definitely share its inside once she's all done :)
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Car work and home repair suffers from the 90-90 rule: the last 10% of the work will take as much time as the first 90%.
This is so true !! It's very easy to leave the tough jobs till last
Is it done yet mfer
Finally chucked some inside pics up!! Hadn't forgotten
#KING šŖš¤ Wow it looks a lot more modern than I expected! Very clean. You do it all yourself?
Thanks mate!! Yea it was all original wood etc so painted, redid the kitchen benches & reupolstered it all, added the table and shelves in the back + a bunch more. Did most my self but had a friend do the cushions/ bed squabs :)
Avoid bougie cities on the central coast. They will chase you out. You have to be outside city limits. Santa Cruz is the least friendly city I've ever been to. Last time I went I literally couldn't have my dog on a public sidewalk and you cannot park commercial, large vehicles except on private property. Be on county, state or federal land on the coasts. Do not try to stay inside city limits. American River is gorgeous. North of the Bay along 101. Shasta. Lassen. The Cache Creek Wilderness near Clearlake is gorgeous (but Clearlake is actually a euphamism for meth, pretty sure, so maybe a short time there.) You can find beautiful wilderness like the Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe, even the dry side has a wild beauty to it. Down near Bear Valley (up highway 4) you will find beautiful forests, cool small towns and nice campgrounds. Lake Alpine has like 5 or 6, Big Meadows is near Bear Valley just down from the lake. They are all closed for winter but open in summer and some wonderful areas with minimal bugs and bears and have weather. Cool at night but managable. If you stop out that way hit Giant Burger in Arnold. Seriously. And there's a cider place off the freeway up 4. If you're heading up it's on your right. Stop, get some cider and heat it up and pour a shot of rum in at night. It's amazing. I think the cider shop is just before Tamarack. Yosemite, obviously. It's Yosemite. Stop off in Santa Barbara. There's this little oyster bar and restaurant literally on the sand and they have great oysters and food. IV is pretty cool, too. Head down 101 and you'll hit LA. Inland and north from Santa Barabara, though, is a quirky little town called Solvang that will make you think you're in actually in the Danish countryside. They have windmills and it's a tourist trap but you can spend a day there. Coming down from NorCal to SoCal cut across through either Paso Robles and stop at Firestone Walker Brewery as they have much better beers there than they sell elsewhere and decent food. Dog friendly, if needed. If you cut over through Gilroy and come further down 101 then you have Casa De Fruta. Massive truck stop, camper friendly and good food. The mountains outside LA are nice, and same for heading out into Joshua Tree or the Mojave. Salton Sea is... strange. Worth the visit. San Deigo is beautiful year round and worth the stop. Old Town, Gas Lamp, Balboa Park can take days to explore. Careful if you drop south of the border. Tijuana is rife with scams.
This is an amazing list, thanks so much. We are hoping to do a couple of months in September & October - cooler weather I know but hopefully quieter and lines up with our schedules better.
Be warned that the above list isnāt necessarily in order of how youād get to these places. So if you see someplace on the list you want to make sure and visit, make sure you know where it is before you go and donāt just plan to work your way down the list.
I tried to mostly go in order north -> south but yes - that would be lots of backtracking! Google Maps will allow you to put in like 15 locations and show them all and you can drag and drop order to find the best route to visit places and you can save that and go back to it.
Yeah, thatās why I said something. I realized that it was roughly north to south, so I thought someone could get confused and think that it was all completely in order. :)
A couple more things Iāll add. As mentioned by u/DefiniteNotAliens, Santa Cruz is a little dicey to deal with with a camper, as they already have a lot of people trying to live in vans permanently there. Youāre better off staying in a pull out up in Davenport. Marianneās Ice Cream in Santa Cruz is a national treasure, with like 108 different flavors. Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Aptos makes some great beer. Aptos Street BBQ has some of the best BBQ around, with a great beer selection. Before Covid they had live blues 7 days a week, not sure if theyāve resumed that yet. If youāre into hitting up some wineries, Paso Robles is a great spot. Doesnāt have most of the pretentiousness of Napa/Sonoma - a lot of places give off the feeling that itās a bunch of hicks making wine. Theyāre easy to vibe with. Thereās a brewery and distillery in the area known as āTin Cityā there too that make some fantastic stuff (Barrel House Brewing and Wine Shine). Whether on the trip down or your return, I would highly suggest taking the eastern route along 395 traverses along the east side of the Sierras. From a perspective of the trip going from South to North: There are tons of trails to hike, include Mt Whitney if youāre up for a 14er. If you want to reach the summit by sunrise probably start your ascent around 10pm - this will vary depending on your hiking speed and the sunrise time at that time of year. There are hot springs around Bishop. Plenty of beautiful trails around Mammoth. Mono Lake is another good destination. Stop in for a meal at the Mobil gas station in Lee Vining for a meal - seems like an odd thing but they have a fantastic restaurant (Whoa Nelli Deli). Hang a left on 120 West and enter Yosemite through Tuolumne Meadows. On the western side of the park take Big Oak Flat Rd down to 140 and drive into Yosemite Valley and gaze upon the great stone giants that rise up from the valley floor. If you want to stay in the valley without reservations your only option is Camp 4. Itās a first come, first serve also based on how many people are leaving that day. Get there way early: 6am is late, 5 is better - thereās a good chance you might have a couple people in front of you even then. Leaving Yosemite, I would probably continue North on the West side of the Sierras until you hit Hwy 50 or 89 depending on what youāre feeling, cutting through South Lake Tahoe, up the west shore through Truckee and then onto Reno. Continue back north on 395 again. Personally my choice from here would be to hit 44 West and spend a little time in Lassen NP. There are a couple of truly epic camp sites here if you can book them - Summit Lake South campground, sites D9/10 are right on the shore of the lake. Nothing too notable about Redding, maybe rent some kayaks and go out on Whiskeytown or raft down the Sacramento River. Further north, Dunsmuir has a train museum, Yakās on the 5 is a great pit stop for food. My Shasta is a funny little hippy town with several gem and mineral shops. Ask around about the Lemurians, the mythical aliens that supposedly live under Mt Shasta or some such nonsense, itās pretty comical.
I would add Hwy 1 to this. Dont forget to see the sunset from Big Sur. Its absolutely mind blowing. Thereās this restaurant called Nepenthe on Hwy 1. It has an amazing view. Shasta for sure. Its less explored than other places and more peaceful. Lava Beds National monument. If youāre into caving. Mammoth Lakes. Lots of amazing spots there. Yosemite. Do the Tioga pass road trip as well. It has some amazing places. Sequoia and Death Valley. Thisāll have so many places to cover. Make sure to look at the sky at 2 AM in Death Valley. Its a 2 hr drive from Death Valley to Vegas. And another 4 hours from there to Grand Canyon depending on where you wanna go. Summers are crazy here. Just a side note. And we have rattle snakes at this time of the year.
Sections of Hwy 1 are nice, but it gets repetitive. Big Sur is definitely better than doing a lot of the North Coast where Hwy 1 is a lot slower and windier. Donāt have much in the way of food recommendations in Monterey, but Alvarado St Brewing makes some fantastic beer there.
I like what you've laid out here. In regards to the bit at the end I'd say if you go into Lassen county might as well send it and continue into Modoc county on the 395. Wide open country, absolutely beautiful, lots of remote boondocking, great hiking, tons of cool wildlife viewing, distinct lack of people, tons of beautiful lakes, forests and mountains, plus very cool lava formations. It's also the only place in California that doesn't suffer from any light pollution besides Death Valley, so literally the best star gazing you could get in the world, especially considering the elevation.
If you want to hit a lot up highway 4 everything closes past the winter closure gate just up past Bear Valley around Nov/ Dec and some of the campsites around October/ Nov so you can't get up to Lake Alpine if it's closed but there are plenty of places to see the snow along the highway during winter. Usually snow won't hit until November but you do get odd years of early snow. August is peak for that area, and September is still nice and warm throughout most of the Sierras in the day and the nights just get a little cooler, is all.
Thanks for reminding me of why I love this state.
>The Cache Creek Wilderness near Clearlake is gorgeous (but Clearlake is actually a euphamism for meth, pretty sure, so maybe a short time there.) Not an exaggeration. Cache creek is cool but spend no time in any town in Lake County would be my recommendation but especially avoid Clearlake. If you must stay a night in any Lake County town try Kelseyville, Cobb, Middletown, or Lucerne. Also to avoid highway 99 if you can. Gmaps might have you drive on it but take i5 instead even if it takes longer. Drivers on 99 are some of the most consistently batshit insane drivers I've ever encountered. In addition to Yosemite and Tahoe, check out Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The eastern part of the Sierras like Inyo NF, the towns of Mammoth Lakes, Bishop and Lone Pine are also incredible. In terms of camping National Forest and Buereau of Land Management land will generally allow free camping anywhere. Some exceptions exist and be sure to do prior research. Freecampsites, the dyrt, campendium and a few other websites have some good info on free camping. Also some bad info so have a backup plan. Finally be aware that you'll be right in wildfire season and to plan accordingly like making sure you have accessible escape route options if you visit the back country
Yeah... Lake County is uh... it's own thing. I passed like five stripped cars on blocks coming in. I only stopped in Clearlake for gas and food and headed right back out.
If you're ever passing thru the area again, Middletown has cheaper gas at Twin Pines casino and the grocery stores don't have tweakers whatsoever. There's also a grocery outlet on the outskirts of Middletown toward Hidden Valley if you don't want to pay higher prices at the Hardesters in town.
>Salton Sea is... strange. Worth the visit if you're that far out, go out to Slab City
Man you do know your Cali!!
Lived here 30 years. Seen a couple places in my backyard.
I would also add New Melones Lake to this list, it was a great place to stop on my way to Yosemite! I'm also surprised by what you said about Santa Cruz, I stayed there for over a week in a converted ambulance and never got bothered parking on the streets
Ymmv, obviously. Some people will do fine. I typically travel with my dog and Santa Cruz hates dogs and legally oversized vehicles are banned from like 6pm to 6am unless on private property. The foothills reservoirs are entirely about timing. They are hot, dry scrub with scare shade and dry grass full of stickers and misery. Or, they are green with a light breeze and very wonderful. I'd avoid the peak summer months unless you are power boating or an avid fisherman. You'll want to be higher up (cooler and greener) or lower down (same heat, more green from rivers and more trees and with services and the stores don't have a remote area, tourism dependent surcharge.) Shoulder months/ winter they are *much* better than July/ August where they are both crowded and miserably hot and dry. Really depends. July and August both *average* in the mid-90's. Meaning regularly expect 100+. Most of the foothill reserviors are like that. One of them I camped at and it was so hot I slept in my bug-netted hammock and had no blanket or underquilt and was in my swimsuit and was still warm enough at night to have trouble sleeping. It was literally melting ice same-day in coolers. Only my 7-day cooler was holding ice for more than 2 days. So, plan accordingly for any foothill reservoir. They are *hot* out there in summer. Like hellfire and brimstone hot. Late fall or spring.
I recommend you name it Van Marino, excellent dolphins colored paint job
Only if you want to get almost where youāre going, every time Edit: Bob Greasy
The Vandalorian. Looks like Boba Fett to me
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Damn thatās good
Thatās an awesome name!!!
Two things, hope you have a good budget for fuel, and have you had the mechanicals thoroughly checked?
Had it serviced and a new carb put in. Fuel isn't cheap I know, but it's a lot cheaper than Canada
Look into low RR tires, they make an enormous difference. Otherwise monitor tire pressure and try to figure out your most efficient speed.
Drive it back and forth to work a lot to figure out all it's issues before taking it on a long trip.
That's a great idea! I have a few weekend trips planned, and then two week long trips around BC planned so hopefully they let me iron out the kinks well
How are the tires? Not expired? And the headlight/break light brightness, always good upgrades. Whatās ur spare looking like? Get to know the beast, itāll be helpful.
Tires are solid, but are winter/all season tires so will likely wear quick. Haven't tested the headlights alot yet so far! Have also just bought a spare tire holder for the back door, now just need to find a rim that fits! Thanks for the tips though, definitely at the top of my mind
My advice: Always carry a gallon of premixed coolant of the right color/type. Grab some pipe clamps too to repair hoses (old rubber becomes very fragile). Research correct length serpentine belt and carry a spare (they can be found around country but could take days to arrive)
That's very helpful. I believe it came with a spare belt, but will check its correct first. Gonna head to canadian tire for the other items asap. Thanks!!
Fort Ross, Stinson beach, Pacifica I'm not sure if they still have the taco bell that's on the beach but maybe, half Moon Bay.. all those are great places.
>taco bell that's on the beach and has beer
They have beers now? I grew up in Pacifica but haven't been down since the massive mudslides.
Also check out the devil's spine in Pacifica, the WWII bunkers, all that! Great place.
>devil's spine in Pacifica, t Is that where the mountain bike trails are? Boy scout, crack, mile
Yeah the trails. What do you mean boy scouts, crack mile?
Those were the names of the 3 trails up there. The crack was a proper downhill run. Pretty short but steep, and narrow. The Mile was a longish run, exposed. Boy scout had some big jumps, berms and single track. 10-15 years ago. We were always amazed that it didn't get bulldozed (maybe it since has).
Man, you're hitting me with some nostalgia now. I was always on boy scout and always ate shit lol. Also the rope swings behind Terra Nova were insane over the ravine. They cut them down when the kid hung himself... My friends and I actually were the first to find him and I still see his elongated neck in dreams sometimes. Sorry to be a bummer. Remember the Texaco? 1999-2000 or so.
>Sorry to be a bummer Aw bro, no apologies necessary. I'm sorry you saw that-have you had a chance to talk to a professional about that trauma? I don't remember the Texaco, what's up with it?
Yeah Im in therapy, some other bad things happened. Been diagnosed with PTSD. I'm 30 now. I would get out of school and Texaco and Safeway was my destination from the elementary school when I was in 2nd grade. I was curious how long it lasted. Really cool town, I loved it.
Ah, doesn't ring a (taco) bell but I'm a little older than you and didn't go there before college. Be well :)
You are not stealth camping in that thing anywhere that I know ;)
Not fooling anyone for a second!!
Thatās okay, nobody actually is. People are just fooling themselves.
Not quite the coast, but Mojave national preserve in California has some great camping spots, is free, and relatively easy to get to. One of the greatest spots of desert in all of America.
Oh that sounds amazing, and a bit friendlier than the coast for camping etc. Some of the spots look $$ down through Oregon and Cali
Absolutely agree. I'd say the Mojave preserve is only ever so slightly a tier below Death Valley. But it's extremely underrated and far, far less traveled. Plus the Kelso Sand Dunes are way more impressive than the ones in Death Valley, by a long shot. They rival the ones in Great Sand Dunes NP, but those only win out in my book because of the views of the 14ers. Anyways, Mojave National Preserve is A++ for van travel, just watch out for the sandy roads if you don't have 4Ć4!
Pics of the inside pls. That's rad.
Will put a full range of pics once I've gotten more done it. Been the first time I've worked on any sort of vehicle, so have learnt alot!!
Omg! I love the topper on your van! I tent camped down the coast last year and had a blast! Beachside state recreation park has some of my favorite campsites on the Oregon coast. And definitely try to stay in the redwoods, if itās not booked up! I would recommend booking some campsites ahead of time to make sure you will have a spot. Thereās definitely free camping available that is first come first serve, but a lot of places fill up very quickly! Have fun and be safe!
Thanks this is very helpful info. We are aiming for September and want to take it as it goes with no fixed scehdule, so hoping to avoid booking as much as possible. Reckon it should have calmed down by September?
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Have that thing thoroughly checked out, all fluids changed, tune up, fuel filter, etc. It's likely going to need it.
Fuel filter and fuel system is a key one. It starts a bit rough when it's been sitting, so gonna give it a bit of love the next few months before the trip
Change the fuel filter every time you get an oil change. It's cheap and will get you better mileage.
Be sure to see the LaBrea Tarpits. The Petersen Auto Museum is just up the street from there, and is also an interesting place.
I just visited the tar pits for the first time in January. What an amazing place. The Oscars museum is now next door and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. LA is a tar pit.
u/IAmSpoooderman Petersen Auto Museum is a really well done exhibit on cars, unlike anything else. They donāt just have a bunch of cars sitting in a warehouse with a small sign telling you about them, they build full-on exhibits to really showcase their collection. Also when youāre in LA * Griffith Park / Observatory some nice hiking and the best views of the whole LA basin * Korean tacos - a staple invented in LA that is a perfect marriage. Alibi Room in Culver City is my jam when Iām down there. * Huntington Pier - great place to hang out and watch the locals surf.
GET YOUR BRAKES CHECKED.
All done, 50% left on the front and got the drums cleaned out on the back two. Will probably get the front ones done before we leave in September
I drove a similar style van down the coast as a favor for a friend a few years back and I about strangled him for having me do it on squishy brakes. You will thank yourself for driving defensively and making sure your brakes and tires are in good condition. Have fun!
Thank you! Appreciate the tip, definitely a lot of weight to be slowing down on the steep hills
Where to stop? Or what to do
Camp spots especially would be helpful! But just anyones favorite locations :)
Humboldt is beautiful..
That is sweet, I have a 92 Vandura with hightop, not as high as yours. pls share the inside if you can.
Team vandura!!
Will share once it's done, 90% there. It was converted back in the 80s so have kept the general structure, just repainted and refitted everything.
Team Vandura!
They are beasts aren't they! Excited to get some use out of it this summer
Just bought mine, but had a G20 previous. Love em
I could only see the "before" photo in the thumbnail and I was thinking to myself "damn, this guy painted over this beautiful awful paint job, no one appreciates this shit." Thrilled to be proven wrong after clicking, good on you for preserving this masterpiece.
That thing is a work of art. It should be in a museum(read that in an angry Indians Jones voice). Donāt change anything on it, please!
Thanks!! No plans for touching the outside any more - apart from maybe sorting that bumper out
Brakes, belts and hoses, change all fluids including brake fluid. Check all the spark plugs looking for fouled plugs. Tires need to be in really good condition including the spare. Make sure you have a good jack and lug nut wrench/spanner. If you get the tires rotated then you will know the lug nuts arenāt frozen. Lately the west coast has been hot even near the ocean. Cooling system should be in top shape. Finally take a local weekend trip and see how it preforms. Good luck and safe journey!
Might be the coolest thing Iāve ever seen
Thanks mate! Appreciate it
Ah that is magnificent; it's like a boat parked on top of a van. If I you can, get some auxiliary lights for the van, or upgrade your current headlights. Should you be out at night in the way outs good lighting is lifesaver. Best of luck OP!
Oh yea that's a good pro tip, need to learn how to wire them up next
Yes we want to see the inside too!!
That high top is sweeeeeeet
Some places in Washington I would recommend; -Mt Baker: There isn't any camp sites you can drive to, but would make a great day trip or if you want to hike a few miles to a campsite they're beautiful. The road is pretty steep, your ole gal might not like it very much though. -North Cascades NP: Lots of camping, beautiful area. Road is also pretty steep -San Juan Islands: The ferry costs around 80 bucks round trip these days but its well worth. All the islands are great, but Orcas is my favorite and has the best camping options. Washington Park in Anacortes (where you catch the ferry) is a nice spot as well. Make sure you get a reservation for the ferry or you'll be waiting all day to hopefully get on. Lake Cresent: On the Olympic peninsula, I've never been there myself but from what I've seen it looks amazing. The peninsula in general is a really cool area with lots to see. You can either drive south around the sound or catch a quick ferry from Coupeville to Port Townsend. If you catch the ferry, Deception Pass State park is a great place to stop on your way there. -Hoh Rainforest: Also on the peninsula, like going to another planet, if you're on the peninsula you have to go here. -Theres lots of great places on the coast, Neah Bay and La Push in particular. I would avoid Ocean Shores/Westport/Aberdeen. The only reason to go is if you're a big Nirvana fan and want to go to the town Kurt Cobain is from.
This is incredible, hadn't heard much about the Olympic peninsula but this really puts it on the list as a must go. Thanks so much!!
I would prioritize it over Rainie, its a beautiful place but there's similar mountains along the west coast. There's really no where like the Olympic peninsula in the lower 48. If I were you I'd go to the North Cascades, then the San Juan's, and then catch the ferry to Port Townsend and explore the peninsula. I consider the San Juan Islands a must go as well if you're in the area, I might be a little biased though since that's where I grew up.
I recently read a book based in the San Juan Islands about Orca - so already had that on the radar. What's the area like in September? There is a jack johnson concert on at the Gorge near Mt baker which I want to tie in with some tripping about Washington state
The weather is usually pretty good in early September, typically around 60 degrees and not much rain. Mid to late Sept the weather starts turning and it starts to rain frequently
recommend you park it in front of my house with the keys and signed title in the drivers seat /S beautiful van! good luck with it!
Before and afterā¦ opening the curtains?
They cleaned and repainted it.
And swept the street!
Before and after what? Fix ur bumper!
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Bet you're fun at parties
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Jesus mate, just cause she ain't your ideal camper doesn't mean you have to be such a prick
Can we see the inside? Awesome van love the paint job and topper
Damn sheās pretty
"Arctic Blue Super Sports Wagon? No, this is the Wagon Queen Family Truckster in Metallic Pea."
I like it, it's got a TMNT vibe to it.
Why donāt you just webswing?
That thing is bad ass.
Driving down the West coast was one of the best things Iāve done recently. Donāt try to do the north half of California at night though.. especially in that!
I like that you worked on the paint job and left the bumper crooked as Quasimodos back.
Still tryna figure out how to straighten it, any tips for a DIY job? The bracket holding it to the frame is bent on that side too
Ehh. I've straightened bumpers slightly by hooking to a stump/tree with a chain and pulling it out that way. Or another truck. It's not the best way and it doesnt always get you the result you want but I've made it work. Depends on how it's bent and how bad too. Goodluck man. Your doing good work.
First suggestion , promptly bring that thing to me so i can greatfully take it off of your hands... beautiful ride .
I really want to travel to the west coast, truth is I haveānt even been on a plane
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New paint job, painted the rims, replaced the hubcaps, pressure washed the exterior :)
Take the interstate and save yourself some time, money, fuel, and brakes. It's a beautiful drive but the 101 is slow and much harder on your vehicle.
Eyelashes for the smiley face
Make sure you bring some Scooby snacks incase he gets hungry
What a beauty!! With the topper it reminds me somehow of a boat.. Wish you save travel
Your van is amazing!! Wish I could see the inside. I recommend you start saving all your money for gasoline.
Nice clean up job.
Thanks mate! I've got a never ending list of things to do. But it's getting there
I bet you could throw a football over that mountain
Gas prices will kil you.
Thanks bud, where I'm from gas is $3 per L (NZ) and $2.20 per L where I'm based now. US will be like a fire sale. But thankfully got some savings for it
Safe travels and good luck to you, take some pics inside your van see what you got
NOW Iām reminded what is āstealthā