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.
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 ...
After a week on the road we're settling in to a loose routine and fine tuning the organization of our stuff. Tight ship! June 23 & 24 Clear Lake State Park, Clear Lake, Iowa In the morning Jonathan puts our destination into Google Maps and applies the 'avoid freeways' filter. This has us taking the back roads and routing us through some pretty interesting small towns. Then I plug the route information into ChatGPT and ask for highly rated lunch restaurants and quirky tourist attractions. Mason City, Iowa is first up and here we visit the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright designed hotel and his Stockman House. Though he never lived in Mason City the town's architectural history celebrates Wright's work with its artsy downtown square and many neighborhoods and houses of the architect's Prairie School design. After our self guided tour it's time for lunch. There is a Hy-Vee just around the corner and it is fried pork cutlet sandwich Tuesday. Score! On to ...
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