VOLKSWAGEN WESTFALIA

After living in my first home on wheels, The Silver Bullet (a 2006 Honda Element adventure-mobile), I was ready to “upgrade” to the quintessential #VanLife mobile. In March of 2015 I moved into Tantor, a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia, which served as my home in Santa Barbara until I figured out how to create a freelance income stream, quit my job, and took off in Tantor to explore the open road. We spent the next 3 years crisscrossing North America, visiting both oceans, driving the Trans-Canada Highway, camping in the Florida Keys, and getting to know a few tow truck drivers due to breakdowns. Tantor may not have been as dependable as the Honda Element, but the living space, indoor amenities and general hippie vibes made up for the occasional tow.

North America Map

Volkswagen Westfalia Videos

Tour Of My VW Home On Wheels

VanLife Shower

How I Get Water


Volkswagen Westfalia Highlights

Tour of my VW Van

Tour My Home On Wheels

Published: June 5, 2015

Broken Down In Bighorn

Broken Down In Bighorn

Published: November 3, 2015

Why I'll Sleep In Your Driveway

Why I’ll Sleep In Your Driveway

Published: December 4, 2015

Getting Pulled Over In Big Bend

Getting Pulled Over In Big Bend

Published: December 16, 2015


All Volkswagen Westfalia Posts

Western Ramblin'

Western Ramblin’

Published:
The summer kicked off with Born To Run and was quickly followed by Race Across America. I enjoyed both, but was looking forward to hitting the open road with less…
Read More Western Ramblin’
Sedona VanLife

Winter Ramblings

Published:
The best way to ring in the New Year is to run a beer mile with your closest friends at midnight! Well, I’m not sure if that’s actually the best…
Read More Winter Ramblings
Westward Westy

Westward Westy

Published:
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Canada and driving through New England, but my heart, and Tantor’s motor, were both yearning for the place we feel most at home, the Southwest. Before…
Read More Westward Westy
Nuevo England

Nuevo England

Published:
I approached a federal border crossing one last time to bring an end to my Great Canadian Road Trip. I’d enjoyed bouncing between the United States and Canada all summer,…
Read More Nuevo England
2015 Around America

20,000 Miles

Published:
24,901 Miles – The distance around the earth 20,000 Miles – The distance I traveled in my van around the United States in 2015 In March of 2015 I bought…
Read More 20,000 Miles
Arizona Vans

Arizona

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I could almost hear a sigh of relief from Tantor as we slowed to a park in front of Grandpa’s townhouse. 20,000 miles in 5 months was a lot to…
Read More Arizona
Go Westy Young Man

Go Westy Young Man

Published:
Leaving Florida I had 10 days until I needed to be in Arizona for Thanksgiving. It wasn’t a lot of time, considering that I wanted to see new cities, visit…
Read More Go Westy Young Man
Florida

Florida

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I woke up sweating in a truck stop gas station just a mile north of the state line. The overnight temperatures hovered near 80, meaning I had a warm balmy…
Read More Florida
Georgia

Georgia

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My first stop in Georgia was Hiawassee to see Jim and Maggie, our first “Trail Angels” on the Appalachian Trail in 2012. They had met us the day that we…
Read More Georgia
Appalachia

Appalachia

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The day that I left Indiana I woke up on a couch in my buddy’s basement, which was good because it was below freezing inside my van in his driveway….
Read More Appalachia
VanLife Shower

VanLife Shower

Published:
I often get asked how I shower while living in a van. The best way to answer is to show you. Don’t worry, the video below is PG. #VanLife Shower…
Read More VanLife Shower
The Great Plains

The Great Plains

Published:
With Tantor back in running condition we were ready to cover some miles. I had a few more places I wanted to see in Wyoming and South Dakota, but then…
Read More The Great Plains
Broken in Bighorn

Broken in Bighorn

Published:
Sunday morning I woke up at 3:00 AM in a Walmart parking lot in Cody, Wyoming. “Am I moving too fast?” I pondered. “Should I slow down and enjoy this…
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Yellowstone Take 2

Yellowstone Take 2

Published:
On a crisp autumn morning I drove toward Yellowstone National Park through patchy clouds below snow capped peaks. My first visit to Yellowstone had been just one month ago, but…
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Washington

Washington

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I was looking forward to my visit to Seattle, partly because I had never been to the city, but mostly because my cousin Brad had just arrived in town for…
Read More Washington
Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast

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It was late August and I’d been FunEmployed and living on the road for just over 2 months. Most of that time I’d been staying with family, sleeping indoors, with…
Read More Oregon Coast
Ashland Oregon

Ashland, Oregon

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I drove east along the Oregon Trail and got lost in the nostalgia of sitting in the middle school computer lab, shooting pixilated deer, and praying that I wouldn’t drown…
Read More Ashland, Oregon
Yellowstone

Yellowstone

Published:
I left Breckenridge and drove north through Colorado and into Wyoming, covering 500 miles in a single day. It was more driving than I like to do in one stretch,…
Read More Yellowstone
Colorado

Colorado

Published:
My first month of FunEmployment was spent based in Arizona, as well as traveling to Michigan and the Appalachian Trail in New England. I had not slept in the van…
Read More Colorado