Galactic Adventures | Big Sur Retreat | Love Story in a Van, Built by a Community

ISSUE 38  |  april 9, 2026

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 38th issue of Galactic Adventures: our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.

 

This issue's featured photo comes to us from MODE Owner, Jill Nederlof


If you would like to see your photo or story featured in Galactic Adventures, please send an email to daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com. We love to hear from you! 

Big Sur Retreat

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Jill Nederlof – MODE Owner

I just returned from a few glorious days with a group of female Storyteller Overland owners (plus a Revel owner). We collectively decided on a more "bougier" retreat than the last meet up a few months ago. So, we enjoyed an afternoon at Refuge Spa in Carmel, CA followed up with a delicious seafood dinner at a local restaurant north of Monterey, where we camped by the dunes the first night. The next morning we hit the pavement and caravanned into Big Sur and even stopped mid way for a hike to the Ocean at Andrew Molera State Park before pulling our rigs into Julia Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground (note: weekend reservations must be booked months in advance for this park).The women navigated brilliantly, all following along with radio communication en route. While there was no off- roading, this was not a drive for the faint of heart, weaving along the sharp curves of highway 1. 

Although I spearheaded the trip, somehow homemade scones and warm biscuits magically appeared in the mornings by the campfire. Things just got done and no one consulted, we just DID IT! Around every corner, I was in awe of the spirit and generosity from this group. Rather than share my reflective thoughts, I prefer to share a few from the group:

 

"There's something really powerful about women from all walks of life coming together, slowing down, and just being present-where strangers start to feel like they were meant to meet. That's exactly what this weekend in Big Sur felt like for me. Surrounded by the beauty of the coastline, I stepped away from the usual pace of life and into something more intentional. What began as a group of women with different backgrounds and stories quickly turned into something deeper- conversations flowed, walls came down, and there was an unspoken understanding that connected us."

"What I found was a circle of women who were thoughtful, inspiring, and welcoming. I didn't even have time to reach for distraction because I was too busy being in awe of these mighty women moving through every moment with such vibrancy. Like any good field observation, the longer I stayed, the more wonders revealed themselves. We are all so different, and yet so alike in our strength-not unlike the machines we drive, eh?

 

I was genuinely surprised by all the joy I felt. Crossing the Bixby Bridge together felt like a metaphor for the whole experience. We are each other's bridge over troubled waters, I suppose. Sometimes the adventures we skip are the ones that changed us the most. I'll cherish this trip forever and the friendships I've found here as well."

"I know that I left this get-together with so much more than I expected, and a warming feeling that however alone we may sometimes feel, there is a world of exploration, camaraderie, wonder, and inspiration among others. Thank you all for filling my cup-it truly takes a village and together we are better for it."

Love Story in a Van, Built by a Community

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Rich & Cara – MODE Owners

Some love stories start with a ring. Ours started with a key.

 

Cara and Rich did not stumble into van life. Together they carry fifteen years of working remotely as digital nomads and six years of living and working from a van. They began in a van they built themselves, learning the rhythms of life on the road and earning every mile. When they got the keys to their Storyteller Overland Beast Mode 4x4, they stepped into something different… a van built for full time life, adventure ready, and perfectly matched to the lifestyle they had already been living.

 

After tying the knot in October 2024, a weekend honeymoon was never going to be enough. So they moved in full time. No fixed address. No apologies. Just a year together exploring, learning, and living life on their own terms, comfortably, safely, and fully in a van built for exactly that.

 

They eventually slowed down to part time for a season. But the pull of the road, the freedom, and the community never faded. In 2026 they returned to full time van life with fresh energy, a clearer mission, and an even deeper appreciation for what this life makes possible.

What made the journey unforgettable was not just the van. It was the PEOPLE.

The Storyteller community is kind, independent, adventurous, and deeply intentional. These are people who know what they want from life and go after it, exploring the country, connecting on the road, sharing hard won wisdom, and inspiring each other to keep going. Meeting them, learning from them, and becoming part of their world became the heart of the entire experience.

 

Inspired by that community, Cara and Rich created Start Your Someday, a social media brand and YouTube channel dedicated to helping others take the leap, find their people, and build a life they do not want to escape from.

What made the journey unforgettable was not just the van. It was the PEOPLE.

The Storyteller community is kind, independent, adventurous, and deeply intentional. These are people who know what they want from life and go after it, exploring the country, connecting on the road, sharing hard won wisdom, and inspiring each other to keep going. Meeting them, learning from them, and becoming part of their world became the heart of the entire experience.

 

Inspired by that community, Cara and Rich created Start Your Someday, a social media brand and YouTube channel dedicated to helping others take the leap, find their people, and build a life they do not want to escape from.

One of the ways they bring people together is through their Rigs and Coffee Meetups, informal gatherings in cities as they travel and campgrounds across the country where van lifers, overlanders, digital nomads, and all kinds of rigs show up for coffee, pastries, and genuine connection. No agenda. Just community showing up face to face.

They also host a monthly Digital Campfire, a free virtual gathering for van lifers, digital nomads, and anyone circling a big decision they have been putting off. A campfire without the smoke. A community without the distance.

This fall they are bringing it all together for their first ever in person hosted event, because adventure is always better shared.

 

Their 2026 mission is one of the most honest things they have ever put on camera.

 

Rich and Cara are teaching themselves to fly fish. From scratch. On some of the most legendary wild trout waters in the American West. With zero professional training, a fly rod they are still figuring out, and a camera rolling the entire time.

 

The plan is simple. Follow the fish and follow the road. Colorado's Gold Medal rivers to start. Then north through Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Into the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Chasing wild trout across some of the most spectacular fly fishing country on the continent, all from the Beast Mode, all documented in real time, and all shared with their growing community every Sunday on YouTube.

 

Every cast. Every catch. Every tangle. Every humbling moment of two complete beginners falling in love with the hardest sport in the world. Raw and real and exactly what Start Your Someday has always been about.

Subscribe to their YouTube channel at @startyoursomeday and follow the journey from the very first cast. New episodes dropping every Sunday.

 

Find them at gostartyoursomeday.com and on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook at @startyoursomeday.

 

The van started as a honeymoon. The community made it a life. And the road, as it always does, keeps showing them what is possible when you finally stop saying someday.

 

With love and wanderlust,

Rich, Cara, and Huckleberry (aka Huck)

Spring Break 2026: The Road, The Ride, and the People Along the Way

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Jeff Page

Spring break started the way many van trips do — a full tank of fuel, two vans packed with families, and the kind of excitement that only comes from knowing the road ahead is wide open. This trip even began on my birthday, which felt fitting. For me, there’s no better way to celebrate than loading up the van with the people I care about most and heading toward somewhere new.

We set out west from Colorado for a shared appreciation for the freedom that van life brings. Our route would take us through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and back through the mountains of Southern Colorado — weaving through some of the most incredible landscapes in the Southwest.

But while the landscapes were unforgettable, the most meaningful part of the trip wasn’t a destination — it was the people we met along the way.

I own a vehicle graphics company and one of our specialties is van-themed stickers, wraps, decals, and graphics. Over the years, I’ve developed a little tradition: whenever I see a van at a trailhead, campground, parking lot or even a gas station, I leave a small gift of a few stickers for the owners. Sometimes I meet them, sometimes I don’t. There’s no sales pitch, no expectation — just a simple gesture meant to say, “Hi, we’re part of the van community.”

The van world is unique in that way. It doesn’t matter if your van is brand new or twenty years old, professionally built or self-converted. The vehicles may all look different, but the mindset is the same: curiosity, adventure, and the desire to explore.

I own a vehicle graphics company and one of our specialties is van-themed stickers, wraps, decals, and graphics. Over the years, I’ve developed a little tradition: whenever I see a van at a trailhead, campground, parking lot or even a gas station, I leave a small gift of a few stickers for the owners. Sometimes I meet them, sometimes I don’t. There’s no sales pitch, no expectation — just a simple gesture meant to say, “Hi, we’re part of the van community.”

The van world is unique in that way. It doesn’t matter if your van is brand new or twenty years old, professionally built or self-converted. The vehicles may all look different, but the mindset is the same: curiosity, adventure, and the desire to explore.

While visiting the Grand Canyon, we parked in a lot with several other vans. Before heading out, I left a few stickers on a couple windshields. Later that evening, someone in a van community group shared a post about finding the stickers, saying it had made their day. Two days later, at a gas station in Sedona, a van pulled in behind us. The driver asked, “Were you the ones who left the stickers?” Out of all the miles between, we had crossed paths again. We ended up meeting a wonderful couple, exchanging stories, taking photos, and sharing a moment that perfectly captured what van life is really about.

 

Moments like that happen often on the road: conversations at trailheads, waves from passing vans, quick chats in parking lots that turn into shared recommendations or even friendships. The landscapes may awe you, but it’s the people who make the trip unforgettable.

Along the way, we stayed everywhere from BLM land and National Forest sites to Harvest Hosts locations, quiet farms, and even a friend’s driveway overlooking the mountains. That flexibility is part of what draws us to van life — waking up somewhere new, slowing down, and experiencing places in a more personal, connected way.

Traveling with close friends adds another layer to the adventure. Some places were new to one family, while others saw them again. Watching our kids take in towering rock formations, endless desert views, and star-filled skies is something no photo can fully capture. In these moments, you can actually see memories being made in real time.

 

Our first major stop was Utah’s red rock country, where Bryce Canyon greeted us with towering hoodoos that look sculpted by hand. That night, we camped just north of Mount Carmel Junction under a sky full of stars — the kind of quiet that reminds you how far you’ve come from city noise.

The next morning, we explored the Belly of the Dragon, a massive sandstone tunnel that feels like stepping into another world. From there, we headed into the backcountry outside Zion for a guided canyoneering experience near Orderville. Descending roughly 150–200 feet into a narrow slot canyon shaped by water and time, this required teamwork and trust, as we navigated tight walls, steep drops, and multiple rappels.

The following day brought one of the most anticipated stops of the trip — The Wave. Permits are extremely limited, and only six of us in the group could hike the nine-mile trail to the famous formation, while my son and I explored the Great Chamber and Peek-a-Boo Canyon by ATV. Massive walls of sculpted sand and narrow passages were just as awe-inspiring in their own way.

 

Page, Arizona, delivered more unforgettable moments. Horseshoe Bend revealed the Colorado River curving perfectly below, and Antelope Canyon amazed us with beams of light filtering through smooth sandstone walls, shapes and colors constantly shifting as the sun moved above.

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon is something that never gets old. No matter how many photos you’ve seen, the scale is hard to comprehend until you’re actually there. Conversations pause, and everyone simply takes in the view.

Sedona offered a much-needed reset day — exploring local trails, visiting art shops, doing laundry, sharing meals, and letting the kids enjoy time outside the van. Even downtime becomes part of the journey when you’re traveling together.

 

We then visited Meteor Crater, a reminder of nature’s raw power, and Winslow, Arizona, where standing on the corner is simply part of the Route 66 experience. A short drive later brought us to the Wigwam Motel, with vintage cars parked beside teepee-shaped rooms — a roadside attraction that feels preserved from another era.

Continuing along historic Route 66, we explored Petrified Forest National Park, where ancient trees transformed into stone over millions of years, scattered across the desert like an outdoor museum. The Painted Desert added layer after layer of color, reminding us of the landscape’s diversity. Traveling through Navajo Nation, we visited Window Rock, the Navajo Nation Museum, and the Navajo Nation Zoo sanctuary, deepening our appreciation for the land and its history. Shiprock, known as “rock with wings” in Navajo tradition, rose dramatically from the desert horizon. Then onto the Four Corners.

Back in Colorado, Durango welcomed us with alpine views of the San Juan Mountains. A night parked in a friend’s driveway reminded us that sometimes the simplest stops create the most meaningful memories. Our final adventure took us to Great Sand Dunes National Park, where running, climbing, sand sledding, and laughing turned the dunes into a natural playground. Like always, sand somehow finds its way home, tucked into every pocket, shoe, and bag.

Trips are often measured in miles or destinations, but what stays with you most are shared meals, early mornings, late-night conversations, and unexpected encounters. Giving away stickers may seem small, but it often leads to connections, stories, and reminders of how welcoming the van community truly is.

 

At the end of the trip, we were reminded once again that the most memorable part of any journey isn’t just the landscapes — it’s the people you travel with and the people you meet along the way. The road takes you to incredible places, but it’s the community that makes the experience unforgettable. And if you ever happen to find a sticker waiting on your van windshield somewhere along the way, it’s simply an invitation — a small reminder that you’re part of something bigger than the road itself.

Happening At HQ: Chad Caruso Skating Across America with a Little Help From Our CREW

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There are road trips… and then there are odysseys.

 

This May, Chad Caruso is attempting something that sits firmly in the latter category: skating across the United States in just 30 days. Coast to coast. No shortcuts. Just miles, momentum, and a mindset that refuses to let off the gas.

From San Diego to Jacksonville, Chad is taking on one of the most physically and mentally demanding endurance feats imaginable—on a skateboard.

And this time, he’s not just chasing distance. He’s chasing time. 

Chad may be the one on the board, but this is far from a solo mission.

He’s rolling with a tight crew of two—filmmakers, support, and lifeline—all operating out of a Storyteller Overland CREW MODE.

And that changes everything.

 

Instead of losing miles hunting for hotels or scrambling for food, the CREW MODE becomes:

  • A mobile basecamp – sleep, reset, repeat
  • A rolling production studio – capturing every mile, every moment
  • A fuel station – meals, hydration, and recovery on demand

It’s the difference between surviving the journey and optimizing it.

No detours. No wasted energy. Just alignment between effort and efficiency.

 

This isn’t just about skateboarding.

It’s about what happens when someone decides the previous limit wasn’t the real one.

Chad’s journey sits at the intersection of:

  • Endurance sport
  • Storytelling
  • Exploration
  • Human potential

But this time, it’s also about something bigger than the miles.

Chad is using this 30-day push as a platform to raise awareness and funds for Natural High, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and empowering youth to live drug-free by finding their natural highs—those passions and pursuits that give life meaning, energy, and purpose.

Want to read and see more of Chad's journey? Check out our full article on this historic event here and see more of Chad's videos at his YouTube channel here.
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Life's Greatest Luxury is saying YES to
the Next Grand Adventure!

We'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures from the road!
Send to Daniel at:

daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com

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