Hello

RichardL · Dec 12, 2024

Hello fellow van lifers! I just reached my seven month anniversary living in my 2004 Ford Econoline 150 van. I moved from the Boulder Colorado area to Northern California this past summer and camped in the Mount Shasta area until it became uncomfortably cold, then I drove down to the Monterey Bay area where the climate is far more friendly. I’m spending my days at a state park next to the Pacific Ocean. It opens near sunrise and closes near sunset, has bathrooms where I can empty my porta potty and use during the day. At night I park in various places, including a Walmart parking lot. So far so good. I just want to say hi to you all who are living on wheels, and I look forward to learning from you.

eDJ_ · Dec 12, 2024

Welcome to the Van Living Forum Richard ! I'm in the sticks and bricks for now but have lived in my first rig in the past and now in my second from time to time.
Good luck and safe travels to you. Lots here to learn from and benefit by.

bullfrog ! · Dec 12, 2024

Welcome!

INTJohn · Dec 12, 2024

rruff · Dec 13, 2024

RichardL said:
.... camped in the Mount Shasta area until it became uncomfortably cold, then I drove down to the Monterey Bay area where the climate is far more friendly. I’m spending my days at a state park next to the Pacific Ocean.

Cool, sounds like you got it figured out!

How was the camping around Shasta? I've spent some time around there, but not lately.

twomountainlions · Dec 13, 2024

rruff said:
Cool, sounds like you got it figured out!

How was the camping around Shasta? I've spent some time around there, but not lately.

Shasta used to be my favorite haunts. My understanding is that now, to find real privacy, need to use your high clearance and sometines 4x4 and go very far to get away from tourists anywhere around it. Last year SF Chonicle had called for Yosemite and Tahoe crowds to move onto Mt Shasta...
So last summer, once I saw it, "lone as God, white as a winter moon start up sudden and solitary from the heart of the great black forests of Northern California" I knew its time to turn off hwy 89 and head for the hills as far away from it as possible...to find some peace. I will never visit it again (unless I get the time machne...that's the only next rig I want).
If you got high clearance you should be able to find good site but check regulations some places only allow camping 1 car length from road there like around Sand Flats