Camping With A Chance Of Drinking

At the end of August, my favorite ladies and I went on another Pinecrest camping trip, our favorite place we go to every summer.

It was a little smoky due to all the fires burning in California but overall a fun 5 days of time at the lake with friends. There were a lot less people than in July, so the beach wasn’t crowded and the campground wasn’t full. The weather was perfect, not too hot nor cold.

As usual, I swam in the lake every day and my cat Maverick hung out in his backpack on the beach with us. Due to less activity of people and dogs, Maverick actually went on walks with me near the beach and did really good exploring.

My friend’s son learned how to climb up my van’s side ladder and enjoyed hanging out on my roof rack. He was so happy up there that he climbed up daily. You’ll see him chillin’ up there in the van photos.

Last time I was at Pinecrest I decided to go skinny dipping in the lake late at night. I enjoyed it so much that I did it again this time! There’s something exhilarating and very freeing being in the lake naked and alone in the darkness of night. The moonlight and stars just add an ambiance you don’t feel during the day; the water looks slick black, almost like oil, and feels refreshing against the skin. I’m pretty sure that late night skinny dips are a new tradition.

More photos from the camping trip up on my Instagram!

First Van Trip Was A Success!

First van trip was a success! I went to Pinecrest Lake with my friends and enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have to set up a tent, canopy, air mattress, etc. I parked on fairly level ground and got situated quickly!

I used my induction stove for the first time that night. At first I was getting an error message and had to figure out what it was without having internet. Figured out that you have to have your pan on the stove for it to make the magnetic connection before it will turn on. It’s a smart safety feature, but since I forgot my manuals at home, it took me a few minutes to figure out.

I slept well in the van. I fit perfectly from head to toe and the bed is very comfortable. I cut a queen fitted sheet so it fits the u-shape bed in order to keep the upholstery from getting all furry and dirty from my cat Maverick. I generally sleep hot, but with the windows open and the cooler nights, I was perfect with just a blanket.

Maverick did really well in the van. He got comfortable quickly, laying on my lap on the drive up (as he usually does), then laying on the counter and induction stove so he could look out the sliding door. He also loves hiding on the drivers seat under the zebra table, which I had swiveled to the right of the kitchen counter for additional surface area.

I had the screens up and they worked great for keeping the bugs out and making Mav feel safe inside. That extra barrier gives my cat the feeling that he’s protected from the noise and people outside.

On the third day, I accidentally overloaded my lithium ion battery. Since I was parked under trees, my battery wasn’t getting a full charge from the solar. When I went to cook, I forgot to turn off the fan which was on high. Between the fridge, the fan, the water heater, and the stove, I had too many appliances draining the battery so it shut down. But with a quick charge from the engine, I got it back online.

Overall, I learned a lot on how I use the space and where everything should go. I love the placement of the fridge as I can easily get drinks while standing outside the door. Swiveling the seats in is very convenient as it opens up the space. I love my van!

For more photos, check out my Instagram post!