An interview with John and Jasmine of The Cabin Camper, a seasoned campervan couple from Australia who explored the American Southwest via Escape Campervan.
Here at Escape, we get renters from all over the world with all different levels of experience in the art of campervan living, from first-timers to veterans. Our friends John and Jasmine (also known as
The Cabin Camper) are the latter. The seasoned campervan couple recently took a break from their van home in Australia and explored the American Southwest in an Escape Campervan. They’ve written about their escapades on their blog, but we wanted to share their story and tips with the Escape community as well!
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned as a result of vanlife?
We’ve learned to lower our expectations and focus on the journey. To not compare our experiences to others experiences. The very essence of vanlife is the freedom and simplicity it provides, and comparison can detract from that fulfillment. Above all, we’ve learned how little we really need to be happy. We got rid of most of our possessions when we moved into our van, and even now, after a few years of van dwelling, I look around and realize we could probably live without half the things that made the initial cut. It has really made us slow down and focus on the here and now.
Tell us a story about one of your favorite vanlife adventures.
Last year we attended our first vanlife gathering hosted by @vanlifediaries – it was on a property in the Byron Bay hinterland, only a few minutes from the ocean. It was an amazing weekend spent making friends with like-minded people, telling stories around a bonfire, picking and eating fresh fruit, jamming out to some awesome local van dwelling musicians, cleaning up the beach and discussing important social and environmental issues. We really valued the sense of community there and felt right at home, and we still bump into people we met there on the road from time to time.
What are your top tips for people who have never rented a campervan before?
Have a loose plan, but let your surroundings and circumstances guide your adventure. Allow for detours and extra stops – you never know what the scenic route might hold. Perhaps a fresh fruit stall, a hidden hot spring, or a glimpse of an animal you’ve never seen in the wild before? Life in the slow lane doesn’t have to be boring!
Practical tips – learn to be comfortable doing things that you’d normally do inside, outside. For example; brushing your teeth, cooking, and washing dishes. Trust me, it’s way more fun to stare into a national forest when brushing your teeth than your own face in a mirror. Mundane tasks like that can turn into beautiful rituals!
Tell us about your recent trip with Escape. How is vanlife different in the US than in Australia?
John’s a US citizen and his family all live in Indiana, so we visit America as often as we can. This time, we were coming back for a wedding so decided to spend a couple of weeks afterward exploring the southwest, starting and finishing in Denver. We knew we wanted to travel in some kind of RV or van, and when we found Escape Camper Vans online we instantly knew they would be perfect. They’re not huge and bulky like a lot of RVs, and they come with everything you need to get straight into your trip. Having lived in a van for quite some time, we needed no time to adjust and hit the road feeling completely at home in the Rocky Mountains.
The biggest difference we found to vanlife in Australia was the abundance of free camping – it was incredible! We never had to go out of our way to find a free campsite, they were everywhere and we really appreciated that.
What’s next for you?
Travel is our main focus. We absolutely love exploring new places and cultures. India is at the top of our list for 2018, and we’re even considering another road trip in the US as we’ve never explored the west coast and really want to explore it via van.
