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Steve & Audra | Van Adventures

@steveandaudra

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🚐 Full-time #fordtransit #vanlife #cheaptravel
📷 Exploring + sharing adventures
🎥 New YouTube videos every Sunday
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Our official ✨VAN TOUR✨ is up on our YT channel and we hope you'll check it out! Wow, does it feel good to be to this point after over 2.5 plus years of building it out! It's been quite the process but so rewarding to see it "finished" and we are so looking forward to getting back on the road to do more traveling!

👉 You can now watch the full van tour and time lapse videos on "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel! (See link in bio.)

#vanlifediaries #vantour #vanlifecouple #vanlifeyoutubers #fordtransitcamper #fordtransitconversion #vanlife #fordtransitvanlife #vanlifeusa #offgridliving #vanlifemovement #vanlifeliving #vanlifers #vanlifevirals #vanliferscommunity #vanlifedistrict #ProjectVanLife #VanlifeJournal #vanlifegoals #vanconversion #vanlifestyle #vanlifebuilds #campervan #vanconversion #vanlifeideas #selfbuildcamper #sprintervantour #camperconversion by @steveandaudra

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4 years ago

After two and half plus years and approximately $7K, we have finally finished our van build! We had no prior experience when we started this tiny home conversion but we’ve always enjoyed working on projects together, coming up with creative and resourceful ways to transform used and discarded things. Our goal with this transformation was to keep our costs low, repurpose used materials as much as possible, and create a space that would work well for us and our cat as we travel.

It's been quite the process and we've learned a lot along the way - including the realization that every single step would take much longer and be way more difficult than we expected! And now we can take a bit of a breather and bask in the feeling of accomplishment. It’s been so fun to look back at the transformation and all we’ve accomplished - and we're so excited to share it with you.

👉 You can now watch the full van tour and time lapse videos on "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel! (See link in bio.)

#vanlifediaries #vanbuildtimelapse #vanbuildstarttofinish #vanconversiontimelapse #vanlifeyoutubers #fordtransitcamper #fordtransitconversion #vanlife #fordtransitvanlife #vanlifeisawesome #vanlifeusa #alternativeliving #offgrid #offgridliving #vanlifemovement #vanlifeliving #vanlifers #vanliferscommunity #vanlifedistrict #ProjectVanLife #VanlifeJournal #vanlifegoals #vanlifevirals #livingtinyproject #homeontheroad #vanconversion #vanlifestyle #vanlifebuilds #campervan #vanconversion by @steveandaudra

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4 years ago

We love van life. It's as simple as that. Even when the weather is crummy or the destination is a bit of a flop, we still love it. We love that we can just hop back in the van and hang out in our little home on wheels or turn the key in the ignition and try a new spot. We're so thankful for the opportunity this self-converted campervan provides to travel and explore the country together on an affordable budget. The van is our happy place. Can you relate? Where's your happy place?

After a day of dodging bad weather and then being disappointed after driving out to the middle of nowhere to check out a new state park, we thought we'd make the best of the situation. A road with no fellow travelers? We are usually so focused on the nature and wildlife around us we forget to get pictures of us and our van. We figured this was the perfect opportunity for a quick little photo shoot before the rain came again!

✅ Follow us for van life, adventure, nature, and wildlife sightings! We're converting a Ford Transit cargo van into a tiny home on wheels to travel the country and are sharing our build and travels along the way - all while trying to do everything on the lowest budget possible. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride! (Links in bio) taken in Middle of Nowhere by @steveandaudra

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5 years ago

For the first time ever in our six plus years of van life, we bailed on a place before being able to experience what we came for! While the search for an overnight spot in the San Juan mountains was incredibly beautiful, it was the most difficult and frustrating search we've ever had. From Telluride to Ouray we encountered overrun dispersed camping, full campgrounds, overnight parking restrictions, and closed areas (due to recent wildfires).

After approximately six hours of driving and searching and nine failed attempts to find somewhere to spend the night, we began to wonder if we'd ever find a place to park. Van life affords us some incredible freedom and experiences as we travel, but sometimes it can also be very challenging and stressful. Even with research and planning, sometimes things just don't go as planned. But wow, are the views incredible along the way!

📺 Join us for this crazy adventure in our latest video on YouTube (via link in bio)

👉 This was definitely one of our most challenging van life experiences. We'd love to hear what some of yours have been!

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#telluride #offgridliving #coloradovanlife #dispersedcamping #travelcouple #ouray #vanliving #vanlifediaries #vanlifechallenges taken in Telluride, Colorado by @steveandaudra

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10 hours ago

It's always a delight to discover the beauty of nature at botanical gardens we visit as we travel the country! This one was small but had lots of beautiful blooms and busy bees! (There were also elusive hummingbirds!)

📺 See more of this beautiful botanical garden in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗vin bio)

🌺 Located in the high-desert landscape of western Colorado, the @montrosebotanical gardens offer a peaceful place to explore how plants can thrive in a dry climate. The idea for the gardens began in 1995, when local residents came together to create a botanical garden for the community. Today, the gardens feature a variety of spaces, including native and water-wise plantings, a cactus garden, a rock garden, and the Valley Garden, with views toward the San Juan Mountains. The gardens also focus on education, helping visitors learn about local ecology and ways to garden in Colorado’s challenging climate. It’s a lovely spot to slow down, enjoy the plants, and discover how even a landscape that starts out looking dry and rugged can be transformed into a colorful, welcoming garden. The gardens are open daily from dawn until dusk, and admission is free, although donations are appreciated.

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#botanics #botanicals #botanicalgarnden #montrose #montrosecolorado #montrosebotanicgarden #colorfulcolorado #sunflowers #pollinators taken in Montrose Botanic Gardens by @steveandaudra

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2 days ago

A beautiful sunset and moonrise at Black Canyon of the Gunnison

📺 See more van living and this beautiful Colorado scenery in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride! taken in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park by @steveandaudra

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3 days ago

Views from the dramatic Painted Wall overlook, our favorite spot at the Black Canyon. (And pictures just don't do it justice, especially cropped for Instagram!)

📺 See more van living and this stunning place in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

📍 The Painted Wall is the tallest vertical cliff in Colorado at 2250 feet and is among the highest in the United States. People have built few structures that rival these natural heights. If New York's empire State building stood on the canyon floor it would only reach slightly more than halfway to the top of the cliff.

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#colorado #visitcolorado #nationalparks #blackcanyon #travelusa #travelcouple #blackcanyonofthegunnison #blackcanyonofthegunnisonnationalpark #bucketlist #underratedparks #worldtravel #paintedwall #paintedwalloverlook #paintedwallblackcanyon taken in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park by @steveandaudra

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4 days ago

This place took our breath away with some of the steepest cliffs and deepest, narrowest carved canyons in North America - that are hard to appreciate until you’re standing right at the edge. And wow, when you look down... 😳 In addition to the dramatic canyons, the park also has some incredible mountain views. This may be one of the most underrated national parks. Have you been to the Black Canyon? If not, have you heard of it before now? So many people haven't!

📺 See more van living and beautiful Colorado scenery in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

📍 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is home to one of the most dramatic landscapes in Colorado, known for its incredibly steep, narrow walls and dark, nearly black rock faces. In some places, the canyon plunges up to 2700 feet below the rim down to the Gunnison River, and the narrow walls leave portions of the canyon in deep shadow for much of the day - earning the park its name.

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#colorado #visitcolorado #nationalparks #blackcanyon #travelusa #travelcouple #blackcanyonofthegunnison #blackcanyonofthegunnisonnationalpark #bucketlist #underratedparks #worldtravel taken in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park by @steveandaudra

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5 days ago

Beautiful scenery along the Gunnison River and Blue Mesa Reservoir including the most brilliant rainbow we've ever seen and another sweet dispersed camping spot!

📺 See more van living and beautiful Colorado scenery in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#colorado #rainbow #gunnison #gunnisonriver #bluemesareservoir #roadtrip #travelusa #offgridliving #beautyinnature #vanlifediaries taken in Gunnison County by @steveandaudra

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6 days ago

What this landscape lacked in color, the gorgeous skies made up for with a show of vibrant colors including a unique rainbow not rainbow! (Does anyone know what that's called?)

📺 See more van living and beautiful Colorado scenery in our latest video on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

📍 Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is a vast outdoor playground covering more than 14,000 acres of public land just a few miles southwest of Gunnison, Colorado. The landscape is a striking contrast to the forested mountains nearby, with rolling sagebrush-covered hills, unusual granite rock formations, and wide-open views of the Gunnison Valley and the distant San Juan Mountains. The area is especially popular for mountain biking, with about 45 miles of singletrack trails, but visitors also come for hiking, rock climbing, off-road adventures, and wildlife viewing. Hartman Rocks also offers free, primitive dispersed camping at designated sites, making it a great option for travelers looking to enjoy the outdoors without paying for a campground. With its rugged scenery, extensive trail network, and easy access from town, it's a popular destination for both adventure seekers and van lifers.

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#coloradovanlife #dispersedcamping #hartmanrocks #hartmanrocksrecreationarea #offgridliving #fulltimetravel #vanliving #youtubevanlifers #gunnison #coloradoadventure taken in Hartman Rocks Recreation Area by @steveandaudra

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7 days ago

I've been experimenting with night photography. Unfortunately I haven't had success yet with my Canon R50 but these shots were with my cheapo Motorola cell phone. I'm going to keep experimenting! It's really fun to see how shots turn out and we've had such great dark sky nights out west!

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride! taken in Colorado by @steveandaudra

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9 days ago

This is real, full-time, low budget van living! It's not often we stay in one spot for several days but we absolutely loved Crested Butte and the dispersed camp spot we found in Washington Gulch. Highlights 👇

✔ FREE camping
✔ Awesome mountain views & wildflowers
✔ Relatively close to town & a library (FREE unlimited wifi & power)
✔ Pit toilets (pretty important with how we do van life)
✔ Cows and a variety of wildlife
✔ Cat-approved (although she wasn't sure about the cows)
✔ Dramatic weather (but enough sun to keep us charged up)
✔ Time to get work & chores done
✔ Laundry doubling as a shade from the sun 🤣
✔ Lots of van cooking
✔ A stream to walk to
✔ A campfire & s'mores for the perfect ending

📺 See more van living and beautiful Crested Butte scenery in our latest videos on YouTube (via 🔗 in bio)

🚐 Follow us for full-time #vanlife, #cheaptravel, nature, wildlife sightings, and some humor! In 2020, we bought an empty 2019 Ford Transit cargo van and spent the next 2.5 years working to convert the van into a tiny home on wheels while also traveling whenever we could. In 2023, we sold our home and went full time! We've been sharing our experience as we travel the country on a low budget with our cat Lady Gray Gray Gillespie Pinkerton. Subscribe to our "Steve & Audra" YouTube channel and join us for the ride!

#vanliving #offgridliving #offgrid #dispersedcamping #coloradovanlife #delicates #fulltimetravel #travelwithcat #vancat #reallife taken in Crested Butte, Colorado by @steveandaudra

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10 days ago