On the Road Again: Unexpected Joys and Detours

As we continue our journey in LeRoy, we're embracing the charm that each new day brings. Van life, we've discovered, isn't just about the travel; it's about the experiences and people we meet along the way, the unexpected joys.

We kicked off our day at sunrise with a cup of freshly roasted and freshly brewed coffee in hand and ready to head out for the day’s journey. Unless we're visiting friends or family, it's not often that we get to see people more than once in a trip, but we managed to see the friendly neighbor walking her dog again that I metnioned in my first blog post on our way out! When deciding where to go, our road map led us to a small town called Rising Sun, Indiana, a place brimming with it’s own unique character and only an hour or so away from my son’s place in Cincinnati. It sounded like the perfect spot – PLUS, camping overnight in the state would allow us to add another sticker on our US map! It's not just the places we visit that make our journey worthwhile and memorable; it's the myriad of people we cross paths with that truly enrich our adventure.

In that small town, we stopped by the Visitors Center and met a local gal who embodied the spirit of the community. From sharing stories of the town's quaint history to recommending hidden gems for us to explore, she reminded us of the joy of human connection that is so often overlooked.

We found a place to park for awhile on the waterfront and began to explore.

With a couple of errands to run that would include going to the local library to print out a return label and the post office for shipping that package, it made for a nice stretch of our travel legs! There was no local coffee shop, as the town was still bouncing back post COVID, so after our errands were done, we were back in the van heading towards our next destination.

We’ve got a small wooden plaque on the dashboard that reads “Life is about the journey, not just the destination.” Well, it was a journey alright! We headed towards Madison, Indiana hoping to find a spot to have dinner. The road we were on followed the Ohio River which was breathtaking, but we were soon met with a detour. No big deal, right? THINK AGAIN! That detour led us on a wild goose chase to yet another detour and four hours later we finally arrived to what would have been less than an hours travel, but didn’t find a spot for dinner. If we suffered from destination expectations, we would have been miserable. Instead, we enjoyed every country mile of winding road that was ahead of us – even the blacktop road that turned to washboard gravel and dirt, and then back to blacktop again which strangely enough reminded us of the seasonal roads in Northern New York and spots we had encountered in Northern Maine. In a strange way, it felt familiar.

After stopping at a local grocery store, we found Clifty Falls State Park Campground, nearly empty. We settled into our spot with no neighbors in site and got out the two burner gas stove to heat up the cast iron fry pan for some delicious rib-eye steaks I bought. A wonderful way to end up the day.

Most every evening as we nestle into our tiny home on wheels hiding from the mosquitoes, we reflect on the day's experiences. The funny anecdotes, the scenic routes, and even the hiccups along the way. These are the moments that make our van life story so uniquely ours.

The reality of van life may not be as glamorous as picture-perfect Instagram feeds might lead you to believe. There's the ever ending hunt for the perfect parking spot, the days when the weather isn't on your side and of course, detours. But in the end, it's these unforeseen challenges, the unexpected joys that make the journey more rewarding.

Van life, in its core, isn’t just a form of travel. It’s a lifestyle and a continuous learning experience. Most importantly, it's home for us right now. It’s about realizing that sometimes, you need to take the detour to discover the beauty hidden away from the world’s hustle and bustle.