Vanlife — A Cruise to the Beach

A typical day in the world of Dan the Van Man.

View from Mt. Tam

Written by: Dan Osterman

The drive to Fort Cronkite was stunning just now —it had the stereotypical fog blowing in — but let me tell you, my stereo was loud and it was anything but typical.

I left the DMV after getting my California’s driver license — it only took 2.5 hours — most people are working and I’m at the beach — this vanlife thing isn’t so bad after-all.

The place I left just six miles down the road was sunny and beautiful.

After passing through the Robin Williams tunnel the Golden Gate bridge welcomes you as the red giant she is — the fog bellowed forward like a rolling pasture through the standing giant.

While driving up the headlands my van was braced by the wind — forcing Kamala one way she pressed back in a wobble — the climb was steep as we downshifted to engage the gears; cars and bikers joining the climb .

The change in weather can be described as San Francisco — sunny one moment and blanketed the next.

Today with increased elevation and the nose faced toward the ocean, it meant I was saying good bye to the sun and hello to the fog —but I didn’t mind.

It’s bitter sweet sitting here; back pressed firm against the bed, with my feet extended out and left heal resting atop my other foot comfortably.

The waves are crashing and the wind blows continually — the lighting is dim behind the tinted windows and foggy sky — Im reminded of childhood as I sat inside a blue boxed house on elm Street — looking through the old pane glass, wedged together by it’s wooden frame, white paint and years of transparency.

Life beyond the window has always intrigued me.