After living aboard our 36 foot Trawler Cat Bella Gatto for six years and traveling ~20k miles, it was time to to transition to a new season in life. This involved selling our beloved floating home and moving back to a dirt house. We settled in the mountains of Western North Carolina and soon thereafter started getting the travel bug again. I guess it's in our bones.
We started looking at camper vans because we wanted to be nimble travelers just as we were in our boat. Once we saw the layout of the Winnebago Travato 59K, we narrowed our search to this particular model. After looking at a few that were either too expensive or a bit too tired we finally found Bella Vato, a well cared for 2020 59K. On February 28, 2025, we took delivery. She will take us where Bella Gatto could not and we will be exploring the West and the Pacific Northwest along with Canada and Mexico. Let the adventures begin!
Our first night aboard at Francis Marion National Forest in McClellanville, NC.
Looking out over the ICW we traversed many times on Bella Gatto. In fact we anchored in Five Fathoms Creek, a favorite, right in the direction of this rising sun.
What we love about this floor plan is that the twin beds can be joined to make a king! During the day while they are separated they act as 2 couches with a nice walk through all the way to the head making the space feel so roomy. There is also a stowaway dinette table that can be deployed.
The front seats swivel around making for comfy seating with tray tables on each side for dining or workspace.
Bella is now 11 and a half and thankfully still spry and adventurous. We are starting to see some signs of slowing but the same can be said for us.
Greetings and thank you for reading our blog. We embarked upon our Van life adventure to the Pacific NorthWest (PNW) on Tuesday June 17. Working steady in the weeks leading up to our departure was a lot so pulling out of the driveway was celebratory and a big relief. Unlike boat life, we'll be able to literally stop anywhere we want for anything we need so whatever we may have forgotten will not be a problem. 8 am and its off we go on our Van life adventure to the PNW. Bella has found her preferred spot between the two front seats on the floor while we're underway. It's an odd space to us because she can't see out the windows but she insists on it so we try to make it as comfy with her bed and a fan. June 17 & 18 - Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky a Unesco World Heritage sight with over 400 miles of mapped continuous passages making it the longest cave in the world is our first stop. We have reservations for 2 nights in the campground because there is muc...
July 1 - Wind Cave National Park This is our last stop in South Dakota and home to the 6th longest cave in the world. This site has great significance for the Lakota People who believe that it's where their emergence from the spirit world began. The National Park Service honors their heritage. When we arrive at the visitor center it's mid-day, crowded, and hot. We talk to the ranger who gives us some tips for some good hikes nearby. We drive to the campground a mile up the road within the park boundary. There is no electric so we situate Bella Vato in the only small patch of shade, put out the awning to create our own and relax in the breeze. Not bad. Later in the evening we attend a talk by the ranger about prairie lands. In the morning we leave the site by 6:30 to a hike that takes us by the Lakota sacred cave site then out to the prairie. As we drive out of the park to head to Wyoming we see one last lone bison. State Park camp grounds frown upon unleashed dogs and ...
North Cascades National Park to Whidbey Island Washington on the Olympic Peninsula This week our stops include Colonial Creek Campground (2 nights), Bay View State Park Campground (2 nights), and Deception Pass State Park Campground (1 night). July 13 & 14 Colonial Creek South Campground, North Cascades National Park, Washington We get on the road and stop in the town of Winthrop to grab a few last minute items at the ACE hardware before going into the wilderness for a few days. The closer we get to the NP the bigger the mountains get with rugged peaks, glaciers, and thickly wooded with pines. The wow factor here is big. And the feel is very different from the more touristy NPs. It's wilder and less structured with an abundance of hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and kayaking opportunities. And many trails allow dogs! Click any picture to enlarge and X out to return) A quick breakfast for a speedy departure. The town of Winthrop is the last bit of civilization before ...
Comments
Post a Comment