Adventures and Midnight Mishaps

We are pleased to get a new update from @thetreehouseonwheels (formerly @perdidaVanVida) where she provides a look back on how and where she began her life exploring the world in a Van.

Adventures and Midnight Mishaps in Norway: The Beginning of Van Life

By @thetreehouseonwheels

So there I was, stumbling off a delayed flight into the wee hours of the morning in Oslo. Normally, this would mean a straightforward Uber ride to a cozy hotel, right? But I had a slightly different plan or, more accurately, no plan at all.

Instead of a hotel, I was renting a van. Since it was past the rental office’s hours, the van was left in the airport parking lot with the key in a lockbox. No instructions, no walkthrough. It was like being handed a treasure map and then left alone in the dark. My learning curve that night was steeper than the Grand Teton!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back home, I’d just owned my van, Van Vida, for a mere seven days, and I’d never even taken it out for a spin. Adding to the challenge, my Norwegian rental was a diesel, manual transmission beast with none of the comforts of home, no composting toilet, not even a regular one!

Finding a spot to park wasn’t too hard. Norway is incredibly friendly to nomads thanks to “allemannsretten” or the right to roam. This law, from way back in 1957, lets you camp or park almost anywhere in the countryside, as long as you stay 150 meters away from buildings and don’t block roads.

The trickier part was finding a store open for provisions, including water. But hey, what’s an adventure without a few bumps along the way?

The next morning, bleary-eyed and jet-lagged, I woke up by a tranquil lake. It had a pit toilet and I had the place all to myself. The freedom of having no set plans was exhilarating. I drove aimlessly, stopping when something caught my eye or when I felt hungry or tired.

At one point, I stopped at a grocery store in a ski town. After parking the van, I went inside to shop. When I came out, I saw a van at a 45-degree angle, partially blocking the street and nearly crashing into a planter. My first thought? Someone had a van just like mine. My second? Someone was stealing my van!!! Then, it dawned on me, it was my van! Did I mention it was a manual? If you’ve never driven a stick shift, let me tell you: there’s no “park” gear, only the handbrake. In a ski town with slopes!

A few locals were snapping photos, probably sharing their amusement on Instagram. Thankfully, no one or nothing was damaged, just my ego was bruised. I definitely got lucky!

I visited Norway in May, and while it was fantastic, next time I might pick a different month. Here’s the scoop:

May Pros: Fewer tourists, open roads, and cheaper prices.

May Cons: Many hotels, cafes, and activities are closed, especially in the mountains. Summer is great for hiking, winter for cross-country skiing, and of course, the Northern Lights. May nights are too short and bright to catch those dazzling lights.

One of the highlights was hiking up to the famous Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen). It’s a relatively easy hike from a large paid parking lot. It was a bit wet and foggy, but still a breathtaking experience.

Norway’s waterfalls were everywhere, some by the road, others requiring a short walk or a bit of a hike. Lakes and sheep were plentiful too, but my absolute favorite? The fiords. Their beauty, coupled with the winding drives and ferry rides, was unforgettable.

 

 

Also Skare

During my drive through these stunning fiords, I hit some roadwork. Naturally, the traffic controllers struck up conversations. Partly curious, partly flirtatious, and always in broken English. They’d ask where I was from, and when I said Argentina but living in the US, they’d gape and exclaim, “Are you travelling all By YOURSELF?!”

I only scratched the surface of Norway, completing a seven-day loop that left me craving more. The natural beauty, the thrill of spontaneous exploration, and the warmth of the locals made every moment worthwhile. I even got two free meals at rural hotels, which, despite not staying there, were kind enough to let me eat for free.

Everyone, and I mean everyone, speaks English, and I felt safe and welcomed throughout my trip, even starting at 2 AM in an unfamiliar country. Beyond the beauty I got to experience, the -mental- health benefits of troubleshooting, rapid learning, and conquering challenges, especially when traveling alone, are profoundly amplified.

But stay tuned! My adventure isn’t over yet. Next up: Svalbard on a sailing boat.

 

We at The Mountain Exp are so happy to have Tango and @thetreehouseonwheels sharing their wonderful experiences with us. We will be asking them to test some of our product offerings and provide reviews in the future as well. If we can figure out where they are going to be next, we’d love for @perdidavanvida to test out one of our new backpacks in our product catalog.

Designed to take pressure off of shoulders and back, we believe this is a great product at a great price. Up next: The much anticipated update on the attempted Mt. Rainier summit from the Peakbagger mountaineering group, as well as a late track cycling season update from our friend Hyun!
We hope that these real life shared experiences from some of our community friends inspire all of you to Get Outdoors for the Health of it!!!

If you would like to share your experiences, please just send a note to TheMountainExp@gmail.com. We’d love to help tell your story of how you and your friends are benefiting from getting outside to help inspire more people.

Stay Tuned!!!