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.
August 1st to August 3rd - San Francisco August 1st Today we travel to San Francisco to stay with some friends we met on the Great Loop back in 2019. A bit of logistical wizardry is in order to figure out where to park the van for a few days. Bella Vato is too tall for any parking garage in SF proper and street parking is scarce with a steep premium and no security. Add to that an extra 170k+ people in town for the 3-day celebratory 60th anniversary concert of the Grateful Dead rendering all nearby camping options full leaves almost no options. Alas! For 25 bucks a night with 24 hour security we go to the SFO Airport Park and Ride. From there we take their shuttle to the San Francisco airport. All mass transit options are low cost but dogs must be crated so it's Uber Pet for the ride to Nob Hill. All buttoned up in a secure parking lot with 24/7 security. Bella finds her spot on the luggage rack in the Park and Ride van. Walking through SFO airport to the Uber pickup spot. It'...
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 ...
July 24 Bruceport County Park, South Bend, OR Today we enter Oregon after a glorious 2 weeks in Washington State. Our destination is just outside of South Bend, Oregon, about 160 miles south of Forks, WA. We are traveling on US 101 South, a two lane road that parallels the shore. Jonathan reserved a site in a county campground right on Willipa Bay where we are essentially boondocking with no water or electric but we have plenty of lithium, solar, and generator power for all the creature comforts. We quickly get settled and set out on a walkabout grazing on ripe thimble berries and blackberries as we stroll along the water. Willipa Bay is a major oyster production area primarily made up of aquaculture farms. The tide is low and we can see the oyster harvest underway. It's been a long day so after an early dinner we watch a little TV and lights out. The wildflowers are still blooming away. There is a lot of construction on 101 South making the trip a little slower than planned...
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