Off we go…
On a Friday night, we hopped on a red eye flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles to Denver. We checked into our hotel and took in a Colorado Rockies game. The next day was all planning and prep.
We slept in — jet lag — got brunch and headed to REI. A few hundred dollars later, we felt like we had our equipment squared away. Next stop was Whole Foods to buy a week’s worth of food, drink, and snacks, plus staples for the whole trip.
We focused on lunches that could be packed (i.e. sandwiches and wraps) and simple, but nutritious dinners. Tacos and chili are both favorites. We also love to sauté vegetables and eat it over couscous. Hamburger Helper usually finds its way into our menu once or twice — nostalgia from family camping in the 80s. Mac and cheese is another that can be a quick, hot lunch or dinner, and there’s a nice dish we make with kielbasa and garbanzo beans. Of course, we can’t forget about the campground staples: brats + baked beans and s’mores! We also grabbed plenty of fruits, nuts, and energy bars for snacks and hikes.
We now had plenty of food options for our great adventure. The girls even helped sling the groceries back to the hotel, since we didn’t have the van yet. The rest of the day was dedicated to packing and organizing in the hotel room.
Right off the bat, I could tell that one of the best early purchases we made was two large, semi-rigid packing cubes at REI. We used them for food storage. These 6”x12”x18” rectangular cubes could each fit about two grocery bags worth of canned and dry goods. Because they were rigid, they could also accommodate fruits and vegetables that don’t need refrigeration (e.g. bananas, avocados, etc.) More importantly they were stacked with a see-through top for easy access. And, when we empty one, it’ll fold flat to save space. This is a game changer for food storage.
[Update from 9/10/21: The REI 25L adjustable pack-away was discontinued by REI. What a shame!]
On Monday morning, we took possession of our van. First off, we can’t say enough nice things about the folks at Rocky Mountain Campervans. Boyd, Erin, and Steve were all incredibly helpful in our preparations. When we got to their place in Denver, Boyd walked us through everything in the van. Our home for the next month would be “Green Apple,” a 2002 Eurovan Weekender with a Westfalia pop-top. Older VWs can have some idiosyncrasies, which is what makes them great! Knowing what to expect from this vehicle allowed us to set off with confidence.
Back to the hotel, load up the van, and we’re off. The first drive wasn’t too long. Denver to Estes Park — the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. We pulled into our motel and spent the evening organizing and re-organizing gear and supplies.
Everything fits well in the back. The food storage and duffel bags stack atop one another. We found a spot for the pillows, sleeping bags (for the kids), and bedding. The cooler accommodated all our cold stuff with room to spare. We also snagged a small (12-pack size) cooler from Rocky Mountain Campervans for chilling beverages. We rigged the jerry can with a bungee so it wouldn’t slide or tip, and our personal water bottles fit snugly into a small cardboard box between the front seats.
This van is outfitted with a larger-than-standard, aftermarket camper battery, as well as a solar panel on the roof that runs another auxiliary battery. That battery is used mostly for charging our devices, and a backup for the fridge.
I think we’re ready to go. Tomorrow morning we’ll rise early, fill the gas tank, and enter the park. Hope we can get some sleep tonight!