As I write this, we are somewhere between Colorado and Montana, watching the road stretch farther north in front of us. For the past several weeks, we had been moving through Texas, Mississippi, and Florida, spending time with family and stepping away from our usual travel routine. It was good to be home for a while, but by late July, the summer heat had settled in, and we were ready to move again. One of the best parts of living in a van is knowing that when the weather becomes too hot, we can point our home toward the mountains. So that is exactly what we did.
Our first stop back in Colorado was Alamosa. We had stayed on public land outside town several times before, which made it an easy place to arrive after dark. There was no pressure to explore or figure out a new campsite. We already knew the road, the trailhead, and where we could safely settle in for the night. It was only a one-night stop, but it felt like the beginning of something familiar.
The next morning, we continued toward Lake City. The road into our campsite followed Henson Creek deeper into the mountains. It passed old mine entrances, weathered buildings, and pieces of Colorado history tucked between the hills. At times, the road ran close enough to the creek that we could look straight down at the water. Other times, it climbed above it, opening into wide views that made us want to stop every few minutes for photos. Farther down the road, we found a place to park beside the creek and decided to stay for the next four days. During the day, ATVs passed by our campsite, sending clouds of dust into the air. It was not the quiet mountain road we had pictured, but the creek kept moving beside us, and the trees offered enough shade to make the spot feel peaceful between passing groups.
By Wednesday afternoon, it was time to continue north. We packed up the van and drove toward Breckenridge, where we found another free campsite for the night. A short walk from the van led to an overlook above the trees. From there, our home looked tiny, sitting alone above a sea of green. We did not stay long enough to explore much of Breckenridge. It was simply a stop between Lake City and Boulder, but that did not make it feel unimportant. Life on the road has taught us that a place does not need to be the final destination to become part of the story. Sometimes a single night gives us a view we never expected to see.
The next day, we drove into Boulder to pick up a package and see a movie. That night, the mountain views were replaced by the lights of a Home Depot parking lot. We parked, slept, and moved again early the next morning before rush hour filled the streets. There is a strange balance to this life. One night, we are sleeping beside a creek in the mountains. The next, we are parked beneath a glowing store sign, listening to shopping carts roll across the pavement. Both are part of getting where we are going.
After a quiet week of working and moving, we headed toward Winter Park to meet a new group of friends. Most of the group planned to spend the day mountain biking. We decided to take the gondola up the mountain instead and hike the two miles back down to the base. From the gondola, the town slowly disappeared beneath us. The higher we climbed, the farther the mountains seemed to stretch. At the top, we stepped out into the cooler air and began making our way down the trail. By the time we reached the bottom, we were ready for lunch and a few drinks. We found a place near the base and waited for the mountain bikers to return. The rest of the day was simple. We talked, laughed, shared stories, and slowly got to know everyone.
Now, we are moving again. Montana is ahead of us, followed by Washington, where more friends are waiting. The next part of the trip will require us to travel roughly 1,330 miles in five days while continuing to work along the way. For now, the van is pointed north, the road is open, and we are back where we belong. Getting back into vanlife was not about doing everything at once. It was about settling into the small routines that make this life feel normal again.
