Tag: solo female traveler
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I Planned a $1,500 Road Trip. It Cost Me $5,875.
I thought I could spend six to eight weeks exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in my Toyota 4Runner for about $1,500. The actual cost? $5,875. 😳 What started as a budget-friendly adventure with Blaze turned into a much more expensive lesson in trip planning, camping gear, and knowing when it’s time to change plans. In this…
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After 2 Weeks Living Out of My 4Runner, I Was Done.
After weeks of living and working out of my 4Runner, I was tired. Tired of constantly packing and unpacking, tired of searching for places to camp, tired of the mosquitoes—and honestly, ready to go home. But I still had one very important reason for being in Michigan: a family reunion in the Upper Peninsula. So…
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We finally made it to Michigan. Then things got complicated.
We finally made it to Michigan! After weeks of planning, preparing the 4Runner, and a few unexpected delays along the way, Blaze and I finally get the kind of adventure I came here for. We spend Memorial Day weekend car camping at Ludington State Park, explore some beautiful trails along Lake Michigan, and take on…
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I Planned the Perfect Road Trip, Then Everything Changed
I spent weeks planning the beginning of this road trip—researching trails, forest roads, campsites, overlooks, and all the places Blaze and I wanted to explore on our way to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Turns out, the trip had other plans. After days of delays and last-minute 4Runner prep, Blaze and I are finally on the road.…
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Ready or Not… We’re Leaving
I’ve been trying to leave for Michigan for days… and somehow, I’m still here. 😂 After months of planning, weeks of preparing the 4Runner, delayed parts, missing hardware, and one missed departure date, I’ve reached the point where I just need to GO. There are still a few hours of work to finish, groceries to…
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I Have 4 Days to Prepare My 4Runner for a Month on the Road
In four days, Blaze and I are supposed to leave for Michigan. The problem? My 4Runner isn’t ready. Over the next few days, I’m transforming the back of this SUV into a place we can live, work, and sleep while exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is the first episode in that journey—and things don’t exactly…
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I Fixed Everything That Frustrated Me About My Car Camping Setup
In this video, I walk through every modification, why I made it, how much it cost, and whether I think it was actually worth the investment. Whether you’re building an overlanding rig, planning a long road trip, camping out of your SUV, or simply looking for practical 4Runner ideas, I hope my experience helps you…
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I Replaced My 400W Solar Blanket With Roof-Mounted Solar Panels
After selling my van and switching to a 2025 Toyota 4Runner, one of the things I missed most was having (almost) unlimited power. During my first month-long road trip through Colorado and New Mexico, I relied on a combination of a Bluetti AC70, a 12V charger, and a 400W Renogy solar blanket to keep my…
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I Got My Van Stuck. I Wasn’t Making That Mistake Again.
Last year, I got my van stuck in a snowdrift. I was able to get out, but it taught me an important lesson: it’s better to have recovery gear and never need it than need it and not have it. In this video, I’m installing traction boards on my 2025 Toyota 4Runner before my next…
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I Have No Idea What I’m Doing… So I Built This Anyway
I’ve never built a drawer before. During the van build, I helped my dad with cabinet building and woodworking projects, but I was always the assistant. This is the first piece of furniture I’ve ever built completely on my own… and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. After traveling out west last…