I love before-and-after stories, so I’ve decided to write one of my own.

This is our before story of not one, but two big adventures.

The Packing Begins

Today we are piling more than we’ll ever need into our camper van, except for the few things we are sure to forget to pack (it’s a camping tradition after all—we’ve left pillows, the dog’s bed, toothpaste, ice, and an extra set of van keys behind on trips past). I’m happy to say that we never turn back; we just "make do," which has become one of our specialties while traveling.

Tomorrow, we head two and a half hours south and a little east to what is being touted as the largest camper van gathering in Colorado.

We registered as soon as we heard Peace Love and Vans was coming to Colorado. Then we looked a little deeper into what we had signed up for, mostly by searching YouTube for videos of the four previous Florida events. And we were wowed.

From Friday afternoon to Monday morning, we’ll boondock (camp without water or electric hookups) among rows and rows of more than 500 other camper vans. Promotional emails and posts promise food trucks, live music, a Tiki bar, yoga, camping presentations, a pet parade, and more.

Ready for the Pet Parade

Did they say pet parade? Yes. And we are ready to strut our stuff with our marvelous mutt in costumes that are sure to draw the judges’ eyes. All I can say now is that Banjo looks great in his costume, and Ron and I aren’t half bad in ours. Stay tuned.

Last-Minute Preparations and a Hiccup

Ron has been busy getting the van in tip-top shape for the trip to ensure our fire extinguisher is certified, our water lines don’t leak, and our batteries hold a charge. Check. Check. Fail.

The brand-new underhood generator we got in May may be on the fritz. So we’ve added a stop at the RV dealer on the way down tomorrow to check it out. Hopefully it’s just a loose wire, otherwise Ron may blow a fuse, figuratively speaking.

Meanwhile, I’ve been making detailed packing lists for meals, groceries, all-weather clothing (mountain camping in June can span three or four seasons in 24 hours), and various odds and ends we’ll need, like Banjo's bed and my van keys. Maybe this will be the first time nothing gets left behind. One can always hope. One can also make do.

One Idea After Another

The other big "before" is this website and all the associated media we launched this week for One Adventure After Another.

It actually started with a flag.

I wanted something to display next to the van with our names and a friendly phrase to encourage folks to stop by for a visit.

Since Ron and I often comment how our travels are one adventure after another, I decided that should be our motto. I ordered a flag as a surprise for Ron. Ironically, while I was waiting for it to arrive, he suggested we get a flag or banner for the van. I laughed and told him one was already on its way.

After it arrived, we decided to create an even larger banner featuring our caricatures and our new motto. Thankfully, Walgreens was running a sale on same-day printing, and a few hours after submitting the design, we drove over to pick it up.

One Adventure After Another

Loving the look of our new flag and banner (check the banner image for this blog), my creative brain would not turn off. I wondered aloud about the availability of the URL for One Adventure After Another. Ron checked. It was available (obviously or this site wouldn't exist), so he snagged it.

I told him it felt like a sign to finally start sharing our stories, photos, and videos with the world. Ron is a bit of an overacheiver, and by the end of the day, we also had a YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts set up. Check them out with the links in the footer, and give us a follow so that when we do start posting, you'll be in the know.

We haven’t shared any of it with the world up to this point, or even our family and friends. But may this blog post serve as a record of how it all started.

And since every before story deserves a follow-up, I can’t wait to write ours. Something tells me it will be one (wonderful, amazing, and, at times, frustrating) adventure after another.