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Vanlife Gatherings 2025

November 19, 2024

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2025

I have compiled a list of vanlife and overlanding events, gatherings, expos, and tours in the USA, Canada, Europe, and beyond! I have tried to be as thorough as possible, so there are events that are VW specific, club membership specific, and even some that are more exhibition style in order to be a fully inclusive list that has something for everybody.

Since a lot of events have been announced for 2025, I am posting this now knowing there will be many events that still need to be announced with exact dates and locations. I will continue to update this as these get announced and encourage everyone to keep checking this post for updates. If you know of any events that I am missing, please let me know so I can add it to the list.

Feel free to share this list, post it on social media, and let’s all get together and keep building this amazing nomadic community! Thank you.

January
Tourisma & Caravaning — Jan 4-6 | Magdeburg, Germany
New Year Nomad Reunion — Jan 5-8 | Kingmen, AZ
Women's RTR — Jan 8-10 | Quartzite, AZ
Vanlife Pride — Jan 9-13 | Quartzite, AZ
Reisen & Caravanning — Jan 10-12 | Chemnitz, Germany
TRIBE Bohème Rendezvous — Jan 10-17 | Ehrenberg, AZ
Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) — Jan 11-16 | Quartzite, AZ
Xscapers Annual Bash — Jan 11-19 | Lake Havasu, AZ
Buses By The Bridge — Jan 16-19 | Lake Havasu City, AZ
Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Show — Jan 16-19 | Manchester, UK
Caravan Freizeit Reisen — Jan 17-19 | Oldenburg, Germany
Q25 RV Rally — Jan 17-27 | Quartzite, AZ
Skooliepalooza Ungathering — Jan 17-31 | Ehrenberg, AZ
Tiny Home Show Canada — Jan 18-19 | Virtual/Online
CMT Tourism & Leisure Expo — Jan 18-26 | Stuttgart, Germany
Escapees Party on Plomosa — Jan 22 | Quartzite, AZ
Escapar A La Baja — Jan 29 - Feb 3 | San Juan de la Costa, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Caravana — Jan 29 - Feb | Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Reisemesse Dresden (Travel Fair) — Jan 31 - Feb 2 | Dresden, Germany

February
Revel In Southern Baja — Feb 1-10 | Baja, Mexico (Whale Watching)
Coddi-Aid/Van-Aid — Feb 1-14 | Quartzite, AZ
Caravaning Hamburg — Feb 6-9 | Hamburg, Germany
Scottish Caravan Motorhome & Holiday Home Show — Feb 6-9 | Glasgow, Scotland
VanFest: LIFTOFF — Feb 6-10 | Melbourne, FL
Skooliepalooza — Feb 7-14 | near Quartzite, AZ
Arizona Ironwood Meet Up — Feb 7-10 | Marana, AZ
Truck Camper Adventure Rally — Feb 12-16 | Quartzite, AZ
Anfaş Kamptalya Outdoor — Feb 12 -16 | Antalya, Turkey
ABF Motorhome & Camping Fair — Feb 12 -16 | Hannover, Germany
Caravanfrühling (Car Travel Expo) — Feb 15-16 | Münster, Germany
Reise + Camping Essen — Feb 19-23 | Essen, Germany
F.RE.E 2025 (Travel Expo) — Feb 19-23 | Germany
Daphne’s 8th Annual Sleepover — Feb 21-23 | Wellton, AZ (VW Campout)
Skoolie Swarm — Feb 21 - Mar 2 | Melrose, Fś
Beijing International Motorhome & Camping Convention (RVCC) — Feb 27 - Mar 2 | Beijing, China
Southeast Adventure Vehicle Expo — Feb 28 - Mar 2 | Starke, FL

March
Caravantur 2025 - Mar 7-9 | Irun, Spain
Peace Love & Vans — Mar 7-10 | Dade City, Florida
TinyFest California — Mar 8-9 | San Diego, CA
Freizeit, Touristik & Garten (Motorhomes & Campers) — Mar 12-16 | Nuremberg, Germany
Jasper Jeep Jam — Mar 13-16 | Jasper, AR
Stockholm Husvagn Husbil (Everything For Road Trips) — Mar 13-16 | Stockholm, Sweden
The Yorkshire Motorhome & Campervan Show — Mar 14-16 | Harrogate, UK
Camper Expo — Mar 14-16 | Utrecht, Netherlands
Revel In Southern Baja — Mar 15-24 | Baja, Mexico (Whale Watching)
Overland Expo SoCal — Mar 16-18 | Costa Mesa, CA
Boot & Angeln Camping & Caravaning — Mar 21-23 | Rostock, Germany
CamperFest — TBD | Chester, Chestershire, UK

April
OCA (Ostschweizer Camping- und Freizeit-Ausstellung) 2025 — Apr 9-13 | St. Gallen, Switzerland
Caravan Tiny House ve Doğa Sporları Fuarı — Apr 9-13 | Istanbul, Turkey
Camping & Caravanning Expo — Apr 11-13 | Sofia, Bulgaria
Vee Dub Family Birthday Weekender Camp Out — Apr 12-14 | Brean, Somerset, UK
Red Rock 4-Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari — Apr 12-20 | Moab, UT
California Overland Adventure & Power Sports Show — Apr 12-13 | Pomona, CA
A Roam Of Our Own — Apr 17-21 | Fallbrook, CA (womxn only)
Van Jam Campout — Apr 17-21 | Jacumba, CA
Moore Expo — Apr 25-26 | Springfield, MO
Alive & Kickin — Apr 25-27 | Haughley Park, Suffolk, UK
Camper Van Week-End — Apr 25-27 | Angers-Brissac, France
Escapees Best of Nashville HOP — Apr 27 - May 2 | Nashville, TN
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Scottsdale, AZ
Dubs At The Mill — TBD | Crewkerne, UK
Georgia Tiny House Festival — TBD | Madison, GA
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Austin, TX

May
VW Camp Out — May 2-5 | Budle Bay, Northumberland, UK
Derbyshire Dubs — May 8-11 | Wardlow, Derbyshire, UK
VanWest — May 9-11 | Somerset, UK
GlampFest — May 9-11 | Scotton, Knaresborough, UK
Camp Carpe Diem — May 15-18 | Salida, CO
Overland Expo West — May 16-18 | Flagstaff, AZ
VW Breakout — May 16-18 | Wellingborough, UK
Dubs In The Middle — May 22-25 | Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, UK
Volksfling — May 23-25 | Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
ClubFest — May 23-27 | Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire, UK
NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show — May 24-25 | Christchurch, New Zealand
Vanlife Festival — May 30 - Jun 1 | West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury, UK
Music City Motorhome Expo — May 31 - Jun 4 | Lebanon, TN
RendezVan — TBD | Mt Bachelor, OR
Syncro-Fest — TBD | Hollister Hills, CA
Campervan Campout — TBD | Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | San Juan Capistrano, CA
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Santa Rosa, CA
Westest VW Fest — TBD | Pembrokeshire, UK

June
Alive & V-Dubbin — Jun 5-8 | Haughley Park, Suffolk, UK
Vanfest 28 — Jun 5-8 | Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
Volksfest Bristol — Jun 6-8 | Bristol, UK
Randi’s Adventures ‘Wanna Camp Together’ Meetup — Jun 6-8 | Custer, SD
Overland Adventure Expo — Jun 6-8 | Stockholm, Sweden
Campers & Coffee — Jun 7-8 | Hellingly, Hailsham, UK
The Caravan — Jun 8-12 | Naturita, CO
Mighty Dub Fest — Jun 13-15 | Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, UK
Vanlife Iceland Midsummer Edition — Jun 15-22 | Iceland
Vee Dub Family 2025 Weekender Campout — Jun 20-22 | Brean Sands, Burnham on Sea, UK
The Bus Fair — Jun 20-22 | Oakridge, OR
VanJamboree — Jun 20-22 | Kelham Hall, Newark, UK
VanLife Fest — Jun 20-22 | Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire, UK
Overland Expo PNW — Jun 27-29 | Redmond, OR
Camperlife @ Stratford — TBD | Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
FWC Owner’s Rally & Campout — TBD | Tygh Valley, OR
Northwest Overland Rally — TBD | Plain, WA
VanLife Michigan — TBD | Hemlock, MI
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Hood River, OR
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Boise, ID
OverlandNTH The Rally — TBD | Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

July
Vans In The Valley — Jul 3-6 | Reeth, North Yorkshire, UK
Camper Jam — Jul 4-6 | Weston Park, Shropshire, UK
52nd National Truck-In — Jul 9-13 | Albert Lea, MN
Volks Power — Jul 10-13 | Redcar, UK
Holy Toledo — Jul 10-14 | Toledo, OR
Dorset Volksfest — Jul 11-13 | Wareham, Dorset, UK
Tiny Home Show Canada — Jul 11-13 | Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Dubs At The Castle — Jul 17-20 | Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire, UK
Vanlove — Jul 18-20 | Elvington Airfield, York, UK
Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo — Jun 20-22 | Yellowhead Country, Alberta, Canada
Vanlife & Overlander Celebration — Jul 25-27 | Thatcham, Berkshire, UK
Bug Jam — Jul 25-27 | Santa Pod Raceway, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants, UK
Dubs South Campout — Jul 25-27 | Hampshire, UK
Dinky Dub Fest — Jul 25-27 | Druridge Bay Country Park, Northumberland, UK
Camp Pride — TBD | Camp Lane In Walton, OR
Colorado Tiny House Festival — TBD | Brighton, CO
BC Overland Rally — TBD | Kelowna, BC, Canada
Urban Van Festival — TBD | East Sussex, UK
Dubbed Out Festival — TBD | Cheshire, UK
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Evergreen, CO

August
Kamper Fest — TBD | Dover, UK
Skoolie U.P. — Aug 1-11 | Upper Peninsula Michigan
Slumber on the Humber — TBD | Cabourne Parva, UK
VW Festival — Aug 8-10 | Harewood House, Leeds, UK
DubNess Gathering of the Vans — Aug 8-10 | Inverness, Scotland
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #1 — Aug 9-15 | Lofoten, Iceland (SOLD-OUT)
Vanlife Iceland August — Aug 9-16 | Iceland
Volksfest Wales — Aug 15-17 | Watton Show Fields, Brecon, Wales, UK
V Dub At The Pub — Aug 15-17 | Dorset, UK
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #2 — Aug 15-21 | Lofoten, Iceland
Annual Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Club Invasion — Aug 21-23 | Pigeon Forge, TN
Overland Expo Mtn West — Aug 22-24 | Loveland, CO
Vanlife Eats — Aug 22-24 | Dummer Farm, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Beach Gathering — Aug 22-25 | Budle Bay Farm, Northumberland, UK
Descend on Bend — Aug 29 - Sep 1 | Yamhill River, OR
Caravan Salon — Aug 29 - Sep 7 | Düsseldorf, Germany
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #1 — Aug 30 - Sep 6 | Iceland
Cranium Campout — TBD | Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, UK
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Ballston Spa, NY
Northwest MogFest — TBD | Sheridan OR
VanFest New England — TBD | Northeast US
Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival — TBD | Huntingdon County, Central PA
OverlandNTH The Gathering — TBD | Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada

September
Van Vibes Festival — TBD | Surrey, UK
Druridge Bay Campout — Sep 4-7 | Northumberland, UK
Volkswagen-Klassiker auf der Postalm — Sep 5-7 | Abtenau, Austria
Camp Carpe Diem — Sep 11-14 | Cascade, ID
VanWILD — Sep 11-14 | Montrose, CO
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) — Sep 11-14 | Copper Harbor, MI
Busfest — Sep 12-14 | Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
Overland of America — Sep 12-14 | Jay, OK
California Overland Adventure & Power Sports Show — Sep 13-14 | Sonoma, CA
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #2 — Sep 13-20 | Iceland
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #3 — Sep 21-28 | Iceland
Big Iron Overland Rally — Sep 26-27 | West Mineral, KS
Dubs In T’Dales — Sep 26-28 | Thorp Perrow, Bedale, North Yorkshire, UK
Chattanooga Overlanding Expo — Sep 28-29 | East Ridge, TN
Vanquinox — TBD | Grandjean, ID
Northwest Nomads — TBD | Fort Rock, OR
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | North Lake Tahoe, CA
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Enumclaw, WA
Campers & Coffee — TBD | Hailsham, UK
Salone Del Camper — TBD | Parma, Italy
Revel Club Meetup 2025 — TBD | Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Retro Dub Suffolk VW Festival — TBD | Suffolk, UK
VanFest NE Region — TBD | New England
Red Clay Rally — TBD | Lexington, KY to Johnson City, TN
Teton Overland Show — TBD | Idaho Falls, ID
Panhandle Overland Rally — TBD | Sandpoint, ID
Off-Road Expo — TBD | Pomona, CA
Adventure X Fest — TBD | Circleville, WV
Toyo Tires Trail Pass Overland — TBD | Big Bear, CA

October
The Pilgrimage — Oct 2-5 | South Royalton, VT
Overland Expo East — Oct 3-5 | Arrington, VA
Oktoberfest UK — Oct 3-5 | River Dart Country Park, Devon, UK
Moonlanding — Oct 9-13 | Pinehill, NM
National Overland Show — Oct 10-12 | Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Salón Internacional del Caravaning — Oct 11-19 | Barcelona, Spain
Van-O-Ween — Oct 30 - Nov 3 | Southwest US
Texas Avid Outdoors Fall Expo — TBD | Llano, TX
Rendezvous in the Ozarks — TBD | Ozark, AR
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Big Bear Lake, CA
C.H.A.S.M.Fest — TBD | Lake Havasu City, AZ
Adventure Van Expo — TBD | Ventura, CA
Skooliepalooza — TBD | Moab, UT
Copperstate Overland — TBD | Northeastern AZ
Overland the Red — TBD | Red River Gorge, KY
Roof Top Tent Rally — TBD | Gladstone, VA

November
Florida Tiny House Festival — TBD | Gainesville, FL
Outdoor Adventure Rendezvous — TBD | Bedford County, VA

December
Nomadic Creatives — TBD | Northwest, AZ

Other
Crossroads App — Community Based Events
Sēkr App — Community Based Events
Good Vibe Collective — Various Events Throughout The Year
Seattle Vanlife Meetup — Monthly Seattle Meetup
Vanlife & Nomadic Living — San Diego Meetups
Vanlife Campgrounds — Community Oriented Homebases For Nomads
Project Van Life — Yearly Online Summit
Xscapers — Yearly Events For Members
Trail Wolves — Regular Events including Rodeo X Rigs
Backcountry Discovery Routes — Regular Rallies, Off-Road Schools, and Adventures
Nomads Unite — East Coast Field Trips & Gatherings
Vanlife & Nomads (USA) — Facebook Group w/ Events Posted
Arizona Love Gathering — Regional Rainbow Gathering
Overland BC — Overlanding Enthusiasts in British Columbia, Canada
Home On Wheels Alliance — Virtual Caravan Connections
Black Nomads Meet — Black Nomadic Community Gatherings
Buddhist Boondockers — Regular Meetups Throughout The Year

If you know of any events that aren’t listed, please leave a comment with link so I can add it!

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Vanlife Gatherings 2024

November 12, 2023

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2024

*Escapar A La Baja photo courtesy of The Journal of Lost Time*

Some events have already been announced for 2024, therefore, I am posting this now. But many dates are still to be determined for events in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I will continue to update this as these get announced. Also, if you know of any events that I am missing, please let me know! Thank you.

January
New Year Nomad Reunion — Jan 5-8 | Kingmen, AZ
Women's RTR — Jan 11-13 | Quartzite, AZ
Vanlife Pride — Jan 11-14 | Quartzite, AZ
Buses By The Bridge — Jan 11-14 | Lake Havasu City, AZ
Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) — Jan 14-19 | Quartzite, AZ
Xscapers Annual Bash — Jan 13-21 | Lake Havasu, AZ
Skooliepalooza — Jan 15-22 | Ehrenberg, AZ
The Ungathering — Jan 19-30 | Ehrenberg, AZ
VLC Girls Go Baja Caravan — Jan 20-28 | Joshua Tree to Baja
VanFest Florida — Jan 26-28 | Viera, FL
Van Life Yard Meet: The Bowl — Jan 30 | Houghton Conquest, UK

February
Escapar A La Baja — Jan 31 — Feb 5 | Playa El Tecolote, Baja, Mexico
The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show — Feb 1-4 | Glasgow, Scotland
Revel In Southern Baja — Feb 10-19 | Baja, Mexico (Whale Watching)
Truck Camper Adventure Rally — Feb 14-18 | Quartzite, AZ
Peace Love & Vans — Feb 16-19 | Withlacoochee River Park, Florida
Daphne’s 7th Annual Sleepover — Feb 16-19 | Wellton, AZ (VW Campout)
Skoolie Swarm — Feb 16-25 | Melrose, FL
Reise + Camping Essen — Feb 28-Mar 3 | Essen, Germany

March
The Yorkshire Motorhome & Campervan Show — Mar 15-17 | Harrogate, UK
TinyFest California — Mar 16-17 | San Diego, CA
A Roam Of Our Own — Mar 21-24 | Palm Springs, CA (womxn only)
Camper Expo — Mar 15-17 | Utrecht, Netherlands
Red Rock 4-Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari — Mar 23-31 | Moab, UT
CamperFest — Mar 28-Apr 1 | Chester, Chestershire, UK

April
Revel Total Solar Eclipse In The Ozarks — Apr 5-9 | Ozarks, AR
Clubs Unite at the Beach — Apr 7 | Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, UK
Vee Dub Family Birthday Weekender Camp Out — Apr 12-14 | Brean, Somerset, UK
Revel Volcanic Overland Experience — Apr 12-14 | Oregon/California (w/ Backroad Van Adventures)
Adventure Van Expo — Apr 13-14 | Scottsdale, AZ
Weird Wild West — Apr 18-22 | Bisbee, AZ
Moore Expo — Apr 19-20 | Springfield, MO
Alive & Kickin — Apr 19-21 | Woolpit, Bury Saint Edmunds, UK
Dubs At The Mill — Apr 19-21 | Crewkerne, UK
Revel Club Big Bend Backroads — Apr 24-28 | Big Bend, TX
Revel Mojave Road Experience — Apr 25-28 | Mojave Desert, CA ( w/ Backroad Van Adventures)
Georgia Tiny House Festival — Apr 27-28 | Madison, GA
Adventure Van Expo — Apr 27-28 | Austin, TX
Camper Van Week-End — Apr 26-28 | Angers-Brissac, France

May
RendezVan — May 2-5 | Mt Bachelor, OR
Syncro-Fest — May 2-5 | Hollister Hills, CA
Campervan Campout — May 3-5 | Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK
VW Camp Out — May 3-6 | Budle Bay, Northumberland, UK
Adventure Van Expo — May 4-5 | San Juan Capistrano, CA
Derbyshire Dubs — May 9-12 | Wardlow, UK
VanWest — May 10-12 | Somerset, UK
GlampFest — May 10-12 | Scotton, Knaresborough, UK
Adventure Van Expo — May 11-12 | Santa Rosa, CA
Revel Flagstaff to Prescott — May 14-16 | Arizona
Camp Carpe Diem — May 16-20 | Hot Springs, AR
Overland Expo West — May 17-19 | Flagstaff, AZ
VW Breakout — May 17-19 | Wellingborough, UK
Revel & Vines — May 20-24 | Central Coast, CA (only 6 vans)
Dubs In The Middle — May 23-27 | Evesham, Worcestershire, UK
Volksfling — May 24-26 | Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
ClubFest — May 24-28 | Shropshire, UK
Revel In Baja — May 26-30 | Baja, Mexico
Vanlife Festival — May 31-Jun 2 | Shrewsbury, UK
VanJamboree — May 31-Jun 2 | Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln, UK
Westest VW Fest — May 31-Jun 2 | Pembrokeshire, UK

June
Camper Tour England — Jun 2-16 | England & Wales
The Caravan — Jun 6-10 | Naturita, CO
Fort Desolation — Jun 6-8 | Torrey, UT
Volksfest Bristol — Jun 7-9 | Bristol, UK
Campers & Coffee — Jun 9 | Hailsham, UK
Revel 4x4 Off-Road Training Adventure — Jun 11-13 | Vancouver Island, BC, Canada (Fundamentals)
Revel 4x4 Off-Road Training Adventure — Jun 14-16 | Vancouver Island, BC, Canada (Intermediate/Advanced)
Mighty Dub Fest — Jun 14-16 | Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, UK
Camperlife @ Stratford — Jun 15 | Warwickshire, UK
Vanlife Iceland Midsummer Edition — Jun 15-22 | Iceland
The Bus Fair — Jun 21-23 | Oakridge, OR
FWC Owner’s Rally & Campout — Jun 21-23 | Tygh Valley, OR
VanLife Fest — Jun 21-23 | North Yorkshire, UK
Revel Coastal Oregon Experience — Jun 21-23 | Oregon
Adventure Van Expo — Jun 22-23 | Hood River, OR
Overland Expo PNW — Jun 28-30 | Redmond, OR
VanLife Michigan — Jun 28-30 | Hemlock, MI
Adventure Van Expo — Jun 29-30 | Boise, ID

July
Camper Jam — Jul 5-7 | Shropshire, UK
Vans In The Valley — Jul 5-7 | Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK
Camp Pride — Jul 9-12 | Camp Lane In Walton, OR
51st National Truck-In — Jul 10-14 | Greenfield, MA
Volks Power — Jul 11-14 | Redcar, UK
Dorset Volksfest — Jul 12-14 | Wareham, Dorset, UK
Colorado Tiny House Festival — Jul 13-14 | Brighton, CO
Dubs At The Castle — Jul 18-21 | Monmouthshire, UK
Holy Toledo — Jul 18-22 | Toledo, OR
Vanlove — Jul 19-21 | York, UK
Urban Van Festival — Jul 19-21 | East Sussex, UK
Dubbed Out Festival — Jul 25-28 | Cheshire, UK
Vanlife & Overlander Celebration — Jul 26-28 | Thatcham, Berkshire, UK
Bug Jam — Jul 26-28 | Wellingborough, UK
Dubs South Campout — Jul 26-28 | Hampshire, UK
Dinky Dub Fest — Jul 26-28 | Northumberland, UK
Adventure Van Expo — Jul 27-28 | Evergreen, CO
Revel Club Iceland/Norway — TBD | Iceland & Norway
Revel Club The Road To Alaska — TBD | Alaska

August
Kamper Fest — Aug 2-6 | Dover, UK
Skoolie U.P. — Aug 2-12 | Upper Peninsula Michigan
Slumber on the Humber — Aug 9-11 | Cabourne Parva, UK
VW Festival — Aug 9-11 | Harewood House, Leeds, UK
DubNess Gathering of the Vans — Aug 9-11 | Inverness, Scotland
Vanlife Iceland August #1 — Aug 10-17 | Iceland
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #1 — Aug 10-17 | Lofoten, Iceland
Revel Olympic Peninsula Experience — Aug 15-18 | Washington (w/ Back Road Van Adventures)
Volksfest Wales — Aug 16-18 | Brecon, Wales, UK
V Dub At The Pub — Aug 16-18 | Dorset, UK
Cranium Campout — Aug 16-18 | Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, UK
Vanlife Iceland August #2 — Aug 18-25 | Iceland
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #2 — Aug 18-25 | Lofoten, Iceland
Overland Expo Mtn West — Aug 23-25 | Loveland, CO
Beach Gathering — Aug 23-26 | Northumberland, UK
Vanlife Eats — Aug 23-26 | Hampshire, UK
Adventure Van Expo — Aug 24-25 | Ballston Spa, NY
Northwest MogFest — TBD | Sheridan OR

September
Descend on Bend — Aug 30 - Sep 2 | Yamhill River, OR
Caravan Salon — Aug 31-Sep 8 | Düsseldorf, Germany
Busfest — Sep 6-8 | Malvern, Worcestershire, UK
Van Vibes Festival — Sep 6-8 | Surrey, UK
Volkswagen-Klassiker auf der Postalm — Sep 6-8 | Abtenau, Austria
Adventure Van Expo — Sep 7-8 | Enumclaw, WA
Campers & Coffee — Sep 8 | Hailsham, UK
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) — Sep 12-15 | Copper Harbor, MI
Druridge Bay Campout — Sep 13-15 | Northumberland, UK
Adventure Van Expo — Sep 14-15 | North Lake Tahoe, CA
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #1 — Sep 14-21 | Iceland
Adventure Overland Show — Sep 15-16 | Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
International Campervan Show — Sep 15-16 | Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Revel Club 4X4 Van Training — Sep 15-17 | Moab, UT
Camper Tour Appennines — Sep 15-19 | Apennines & South Italy
Vanquinox — Sep 19-22 | Grandjean, ID
VanWILD — Sep 19-22 | Montrose, CO
Northwest Nomads — Sep 19-23 | Fort Rock, OR
Revel Club Meetup 2024 — Sep 19-22 | Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Retro Dub Suffolk VW Festival — Sep 20-22 | Suffolk, UK
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #2— Sep 22-29 | Iceland
Dubs In T’Dales — Sep 27-29 | North Yorkshire, UK
Big Iron Overland Rally — Sep 27-28 | West Mineral, KS
VanFest NE Region — TBD | New England

November
Revel Texas Hill Country Tour — Nov 8-10 | Mason, TX
Florida Tiny House Festival — Nov 18-19 | Gainesville, FL
Touristik & Caravaning Leipzig — Nov 20-24 | Leipzig, Germany
Guangzhou International Motorhome Expo — Nov 21-24 | Guangzhou, China
VanLife Campers — Nov 22-23 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Auto Camping Caravan: Boot & Fun — Nov 28 - Dec 1 | Berlin, Germany
Poekhali (Let's Go Exhibition) — Nov 29 - Dec 1 | Moscow, Russia
10th Annual Chengdu International Caravan Festival — Nov 29 - Dec 1 | Chengdu City, China
Revel Club 4x4 Van Training — TBD | Ellenville, NY (w/ Northeast Off-Road Adventures)

December
Travel Turkey İzmir Outdoor — Dec 5-8 | Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
Doe Lake Swarm — Dec 6-12 | Ocala, FL
Karavanist (Caravan and Equipment Fair) — Dec 14-22 | Istanbul, Turkey
Revel Death Valley Experience — Dec 29 - Jan 1 | Death Valley, CA
Nomadic Creatives — Dec 31 | Northwest, AZ

Other
Sēkr App — Community Based Events
Good Vibe Collective — Various Events Throughout The Year
Buddhist Boondockers — Regular Meetups Throughout The Year
Seattle Vanlife Meetup — Monthly Seattle Meetup
Vanlife & Nomadic Living — San Diego Meetups
Nomads Unite — East Coast Field Trips & Gatherings
Vanlife & Nomads (USA) — Facebook Group w/ Events Posted
Project Van Life — Yearly Online Summit
Xscapers — Yearly Events For Members
Black Nomads Meet — Black Nomadic Community Gatherings
Home On Wheels Alliance — Virtual Caravan Connections

If you know of any events that aren’t listed, please leave a comment with link so I can add it!

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Mermaid Mythology & Ocean Ecology

October 10, 2023

As mentioned in my previous blog post, while visiting the International Mermaid Museum in August, I really enjoyed all their informative signs about mermaid mythology tied in with ocean ecology teachings. As the museum’s mission statement says, “All oceanic countries have mermaid lore thus providing a thread of connectivity and commonality between and through both community and culture.” As a thalassophile, I am drawn to mermaid beliefs and was fascinated by so many different cultures’ lore. It took me quite some time, but I transcribed all the signs for those that don’t have an opportunity to visit the museum, as well as for myself to remember the wonderful experience I had there!

Mermaid Mythology:
Adaro are malevolent creatures from the Makira part of the Pacific Ocean’s Solomon Islands. They are dangerous as they are a result of a person’s spirit that is an evil ghost after a person dies. They look like mermen with ear gills, a tail, a dorsal fin, and a swordfish bill on its forehead. Often found traveling in waterspouts and near rainbows, they use flying fish as a weapon to kill innocent fishermen.

Ocean Ecology:
Swordfish are fast open-ocean billfish reaching lengths of up to 16 feet and weighing over 14oo pounds. They use their bill to club and stun prey. Found migrating through warm tropical waters, they are a popular sport fish. Sawfish are part of the ray family that reach up to 25 feet long. They are a critically endangered species found only in shallow waters of North Australia and Florida where they shake their ROSTRUM or bill through the sand to find prey.

Quote: “Beauty is power, a smile is its sword.“ ~John Ray

Mermaid Mythology:
Kananaka was a mermaid who lived offshore of Lahaina, Maui. It is believed that when foam is near the seashore or the mouth of a stream, the mermaid is present. If the mermaid was in the loko (fishpond), fish would be bitter and not good to eat. This is Kananaka’s hula.

Ocean Ecology:
Butterflyfish pair off and become territorial on a section of reef. There are 129 species of butterfly fish with 25 species in Hawaii. The dark spot on their tail is a false eye, an example of AUTOMIMICRY, thought to confuse predators on their direction of travel, by one part of the body looking like the other.

Quote: “If your thighs touch, you’re closer to being a mermaid.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Wahine Hi’ u i’a in Hawaiian translates to woman with a fish tail. Namaka is the Hawaiian goddess of the sea. She creates surf, tides, currents, waves, swells, and even tsunamis. Her younger sister is Pele, the fire goddess. As opposites they clash, which is why Pele lives high atop the volcanoes and Namaka threatens her with huge waves. When Pele’s lava reaches the sea, it is Namaka who puts out the fire.

Ocean Ecology:
Sunfish or Mola mol is the heaviest bony fish in the world, weighing up to 2200 pounds. The fish is found in tropical and in TEMPERATE, or occurring in the middle latitude, waters around the world, but it is sometimes seen along the Washington Coast. It is an odd shape with its head and tail contiguous. Its main body is flat, which is why it may be confused for a mermaid.

Quote: “How would you like to stand like a god before the crest of a monster billow, always rushing to the bottom of the hill and never reaching its base, and to come rushing in for a half a mile at express speed, in graceful attitude, until you reach the beach and step easily from the wave?“ ~Duke Kahanamoku

Mermaid Mythology:
Neptune, the Greek god of the sea, became jealous when mermaids—known for guiding ships to safe passage—fell in love with sailors. In retribution, Neptune banished the mermaid to the depths of the ocean. As the mermaids wept in exile, their broken-hearted tears crystallized. Eventually, the waves would push them to shore so their lost love could keep them as tokens. This is the reason beloved sea glass pieces are often called Mermaid Tears.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Glass is made from broken glass that is tumbled along the ocean floor where the sharp edges rounded. The high alkaline nature of the sea adds to the frostiness of the glass through HYDRATION—a process where soda and lime leach out. Fresh water beach glass has a shiny patina compared to saltwater sea glass. It can take between 25-50 years for a piece of glass to develop a frosty and smooth edge. Much of the sea glass found today dates to when the ocean was used as a dump. Beachcombers know that the low tide is the best time to hunt. The color, size, and shape you find determines its rarity and value.

Quote: “A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea.“ ~Honore de Balzac

Mermaid Mythology:
Thessalonike was a Greek princess from Macedonia. Legend says she was the sister of Alexander the Great. When he died, she tried to drown herself but instead became a mermaid. After, she would ask sailors she met if Alexander was alive. If they said “He lives and reigns and conquers the world” she would let their ships safely travel. If their answer was wrong, the seas would become rough, she would turn into a gorgon and try to sink their ships. Medusa with her hair of snakes was one of the three gorgon sisters. In Latin, Medusa means jellyfish.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Jellies, once called Jelly Fish, are found all over the ocean from shallow to deep waters. Most have stinging cells on the TENTACLES—a flexible mobile organ—that trail behind their bell-shaped bodies. The stinging cells may paralyze their prey. On humans, they can cause mild irritation to complete anaphylaxis and death. A group of sea jellies is called a smack.

Quote: “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore, she suffers so much more.“ ~Hans Christian Andersen

Mermaid Mythology:
Selkie in Irish, Scottish, Icelandic, and Scandinavian folklore, are women of the ocean who live inside a seal skin. When they come up to the rocks, they slip out of their skin or shapeshifts, to dance or bask in the sun. If a man steals her skin while she sleeps, she is forced to become his wife and live on land. If she already has a family in the ocean, she never gets to see them again.

Ocean Ecology:
Seals have over 33 species, including sea lions, walruses, fur seals, and true seals (known as earless seals since they don’t have ear flaps). Known as PINNEPEDS, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic marine mammals. The freshwater Siberian Baikal seal is the smallest. The largest is the southern elephant seal with the male’s prominent trunk-like nose. Walrus are the only seals without fur, although they have mighty whiskers and tusks.

Quote: “The difference between a miracle and a fact is exactly the difference between a mermaid and a seal.“ ~Mark Twain

Mermaid Mythology:
Ben-Varrey are beautiful mermaids from the Isle of Man. The homely males are called Dinny-Mara. Both are kind to humans. In one story, a young mermaid stole a doll from a girl. When her mer-mother discovered the theft, she gifted the little human girl with a pearl necklace in apology.

Ocean Ecology:
Oysters are the most consumed BIVALVE in the world with a shell divided front to back into left and right valves connected at a hinge. The Olympia oyster is native to the Northwest and was mostly wiped out during the gold rush. Most local oysters are grown in the mud and harvested using a dredge. Westport’s Brady Engvall developed suspended culture to farm oysters on wire above the mud. Oysters take 2-3 years to grow to market size.

Quote: “All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography.“ ~Federico Fellini

Mermaid Mythology:
Aphrodite was born from sea foam and shown in a scallop shell. She is not technically a mermaid, but is the Greek goddess of seafaring, love, beauty, and pleasure.

Ocean Ecology:
Scallops symbolize love and beauty. They swim using jet propulsion by clapping their shells together. This animal is mostly farmed, or raised in aquaculture, versus wild caught. Scallops are aquatic MOLLUCKS—a family that includes slugs, snails, and octopus—with compressed bodies in hinged shells.

Quote: “When mermaids sleep in oceans deep inside their coral caves, they lay their heads on seaweed beds, rocked softly by the waves.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Finfolk were mermaids from Ireland and Scotland’s underwater kingdom of Finfolkaheem. As shapeshifters, Finfolk could appear and disappear changing from fish to human, or in between as merfolk. Proof of their existence is sought by CRYPTOZOOLOGISTS—those who search for legendary animals. No matter their shape, they were beautiful and attractive to humans, which was not good since they could capture their youth for their own immortality.

Ocean Ecology:
SCUBA is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. In 1942, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan designed the Aqua-Lung. Westport Winery and Lahaina Divers founder Blain Roberts, received the Scuba Schools International Platinum Pro Award alongside Cousteau in 1991.

Quote: “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.“ ~Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Mermaid Mythology:
Pania, on New Zealand’s northern island, swam with the sea creatures by day and rested in a stream at night. One night she cast a spell on Karitoki, son of a Maori chief. They then married in secret and she returned to the sea each morning. No one believed he has a beautiful bride. An elder told him that women from the sea could not return to the ocean if they ate cooked food. So he placed food in her mouth as she slept. When an owl screeched a warning, Pania rushed to the sea, never to see Karitoki again. People say the sea near Napier is protected by their son whose name is Moremore. He disguises himself as an octopus, shark, or ray.

Ocean Ecology:
Sharks date back 420 million years. There are over 400 species from the 8 inch dwarf lanternshark to the 60 foot whale shark. Tiger, great white shark, mako, thresher, and hammerhead sharks are APEX predators or at the top of the food chain without natural predators of their own.

Quote: “Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots of them, that means that you’re in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are in the ocean and don’t see sharks.“ ~Sylvia Earle

Mermaid Mythology:
Millalobo was the mythical king of the sea in Chile. Rather than being a species of its own, it is the offspring of a human mother and a sea lion father. Millalobo married a woman, fathered a son and two daughters, Sirena Chilota and Pincoya. His son Pincoy was a merman who brought lost sailors back to land. Pincoya with her long blonde hair and blue eyes was said to be the most beautiful woman on earth. When she sits on a rock looking towards the ocean, it is a sign of great fishing, while there is a death of fish when she faces the land.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Lion have ear flaps which makes them pinnepeds. There are 33 species of EXTANT—in existence—sea lions and 50 extinct species. The largest is the Steller sea lion which is a near-threatened species in the north Pacific. Females weigh 700 pounds and males up to a ton, or 2000 pounds, about the weight of a hippo. Sea lions have a lifespan of up to thirty years.

Quote: “She is a mermaid but approach her with caution. Her mind swims at a depth most would drown in.“ ~J. Iron

Mermaid Mythology:
La Pincoya is the mermaid of abundance and plenty in Chile. A golden-haired beauty, her fair skin contrasts with a glistening fish tail from the waist down. She sings haunting love songs in the evening that mortal men find irresistible. She is beloved by fishermen since she fills the sea with fish and shellfish when she dances on the beach facing the ocean. When she dances to the land, the fish disappear. Residents of the island of Chiloé sing and dance to share their joy since La Pincoya is attracted to happiness and favors them with good fortune.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Rose is the egg skein of the Spanish Dancer, a NUDIBRANCH. Nudibranchs are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shells after their larval stage. As a Spanish Dancer crawls, its mantle curls up creating a blistered edge. Its scientific name, Hexabranchus sanguineus, means blood-colored six-gills. In the water, it flutters like a Flamenco dancer’s skirt.

Quote: “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.“ ~Anais Nin

Mermaid Mythology:
Sirena were famously reported by Christopher Columbus in his journal on January 9, 1493. He details seeing three mermaids while sailing near the Dominican Republic. He wrote that they are “not half as beautiful as they are painted.” It is commonly held that sailor’s sightings of mermaids were wishful thinking, poor eyesight, or false identifications of a variety of sea creatures.

Ocean Ecology:
Dugong & Manatee are in the order of Sirenia. They are the only marine mammals that are vegetarian. They are in danger of extinction. The moment of EXTINCTION is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species. Dugongs stay in saltwater while Manatees reside in both saltwater and freshwater. Dugongs mate for life and Manatees are polygamists. Manatee live up to 40 years and Dugongs up to 70 years. Manatees have horizontal, paddle-shaped tails like beavers. Dugongs have a fluke tail like a dolphin.

Quote: “One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.“ ~Christopher Columbus

Mermaid Mythology:
Siyokoy are vengeful mermen from the Philippines with scaly green skin, fins on their arms, and webbed fingers or tentacles. Unlike most merfolk, they have feet instead of tails, with gills on their torso. Siyokoy are particularly horrendous creatures of the sea with a penchant for dragging humans into the deep to devour them. Their most unique skill is their ability to control water. They can turn tides, dissolve clouds, change water to ice, and calm or disturb the sea. Their female counterparts, Sirena, are beautiful, friendly, and nurturing to humans. Both are members of the Bantay Tubig, the Filipino version of merfolk.

Ocean Ecology:
Cowry shells are called porcellana in Italian, which is the basis for the word porcelain, due to the shells glossy appearance. The cowrie has a mantle it can deploy to cover its shell or withdraw inside when threatened. Hawaii’s tiger cowry is known for devouring invasive species, especially soft corals. Long used as a form of CURRENCY or money, the shell was used in trade around the world.

Quote: “One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.“ ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Mermaid Mythology:
Morgens are Welsh water spirits that drown men, luring them to their death with their sylphlike beauty or glimpses of underwater gardens and buildings made of gold and crystal. The morgens are eternally young. In Cornwall, the mermaids were said to walk on land as easily as swimming at sea, allowing them to entice men to join them in the ocean. In one story, a fisherman adopts a morgen baby, only to lose her when she grows up and returns to her parents’ underwater cathedral.

Ocean Ecology:
Caverns make scuba diving in Hawaii popular. This exciting underwater geology is formed by PYRODUCTS or lava tubes, a natural conduit formed by flowing lava beneath a hardened lava surface. One well-known dive site is First Cathedrals, aptly named for the light filtering through the upper" window and the rock alter in the center.

Quote: “Always be yourself unless you can be a mermaid. Then always be a mermaid.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Li Ban was Irish. After her family drowned, she lived in an underwater cave for a year. As a result of THERIANTHROPY—the ability for a human to change into an animal—when she came to the surface, she was half woman and half salmon. Her dog took on the form of an otter. Together they roamed the seas for 300 years. Her lovely voice caused her to be found and brought to shore by a boat. On land she was baptized and named Muirgen, which means “sea born.” Unfortunately, she was not meant to live on land and died, forfeiting her life to have a Christian soul. In old Irish, Li Ban translates to beautiful woman. Muirgheilt is another word for Li Ban. It means sea wanderer.

Ocean Ecology:
Otters in a group are called a romp. An otter’s den is called a couch. They are found in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. As they mature, they learn to open shells on their stomachs while they swim on their backs.

Quote: “Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your soul.“ ~Khalil Gibran

Mermaid Mythology:
Iara was a smart, courageous young woman living in Brazil. Because she could fight better than her brothers, they murdered her and dump her body in the river. The goddess of the moon, Jaci, brought Iara back to life as a mermaid with a dolphin’s tail. As a mermaid, Iara would sit on a rock by the river, combing her hair, lazing in the sun. When she sensed a man nearby, she would sing, luring him into the water. Once she cast her spell, a man would give up everything to join her. She was blamed for many men who disappeared. When Jaraguari fell in love and joined her in her underwater world, her vengeful spirit found peace.

Ocean Ecology:
Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are cetaceans. Ancient Greeks knew CETACEANS breathe air, give birth to live young, produce milk, and have hair—all features of mammals. Yet because of their shape, they were grouped with fishes. There are six species of dolphins called whales. The smallest is the Maui dolphin at just over five feet long. The largest is the killer whale or orca at over 30 feet long.

Quote: “Some of the greatest minds on Earth live in the sea.“ ~Anthony Douglas Williams, Inside The Divine Pattern

Mermaid Mythology:
Jiaoren (蛟人) were not simply mermaids in Chinese mythology. They were believed to weave dragon yarn, a beautiful ivory fabric that could never get wet. In the Jin Dynasty, a mermaid was said to sell her dragon yarn to humans whenever they treated her with kindness. Rich people claimed they owned the precious commodity. The story was told that when Jiaoren cried, her tears turned to pearls. To show appreciation, she might cry into a jar to fill it with pearls.

Ocean Ecology:
Pearls are created in concentric layers of calcium carbonate, the same material as the shell. Two objects are CONCENTRIC if they share the same center axis. The perfect pearl is round and smooth. The highest valued and rare pearls are found in the wild and are known as natural pearls. The term baroque refers to pearls with irregular shapes.

Quote: “The pearl is the queen of gems and gem of queens.“ ~Anyonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Ningyo (人魚) means “human fish” in Kanji, a form of Japanese writing that uses Chinese characters. A ningyo is part human female and part fish. Catching a ningyo was an omen of foul weather and fortune’s lost, so fishermen released them. Finding one on the beach was a sign of war or bad luck. However, eating a ningyo resulted in long life. The most famous story is of Yao Bikuni, the daughter of a fisher, who was fed ningyo. When she grew up, she stopped aging. She survived many husbands, then became a nun, eventually taking her own life at 800 years old.

Ocean Ecology:
Manta Rays are filter feeders. They are well known for their MUTUALISTIC relationship—where each has a benefit—with remora, sometimes called a suckerfish. Eagle Rays have a face like a dog and are not filter feeders. They swim along the bottom to electronically sense animals hidden on the bottom of the sea to find prey. Skates and rays are also cartilage fish. The egg pouch of the skate is called a “mermaid’s purse.”

Quote: “Mermaid, a water woman who chooses imagination over fear.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Merrow, of Irish-English origin, need a magic cap or cohuleen druith to move between water and land. The green-haired merrow is half human, gorgeous from the waist up, with a fish tail complete with green scales. She even has iridescent white webs between her fingers. They are gentle and generous, capable of close relationships with humans. Yet even if they marry a human, eventually they will return to the ocean, which is why their husbands sometimes hide their magic cap.

Ocean Ecology:
Shrimp and prawns are the same animal with 1000 species around the world. Some are PHOSPHORESCENT and glow in the dark. The commercial shrimp industry is sustainable and worth over a billion dollars a year. They can be farmed, but the best tasting are caught wild from the ocean. Pink Shrimp fisheries based out of Westport, are a model for the future of environmentally sustainable shrimping.

Quote: “Mermaids don’t lose sleep over the opinions of shrimp.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Kelpie are Scottish water spirits that transform from horse to human. The most famous kelpie lives in Loch Ness. They are given away by their hair being made of water weeds. Although they are not mermaids, Kelpie mythology is closely linked. In the early 1900’s, some artists began depicting the kelpie as sea woman or mermaid. Like many mermaids, Kelpie has a tendency to drown humans.

Ocean Ecology:
Seahorse live in shallow tropical or temperate waters. They are slow swimmers and use their PREHENSILE tails to hold in one place as their tails are adapted to grasping. Male seahorses give birth to up to 2000 babies at a time. A group of seahorses are called a herd. Sea dragons are the most flamboyant seahorses.

Quote: “Like a mermaid in seaweed, she dreams awake, trembling in her soft and chilly nest.“ ~John Keats

Mermaid Mythology:
Sedna loved her Inuit family home and refused to marry. One man took her away to his island where he revealed he was a bird. When her father found her unhappy, he killed the birdman. They got into his kayak to go home but her husband’s bird friends flapped their wings to create a violent storm. He father, fearful his kayak would sink, threw her overboard. As Sedna clung to the boat, her father cut off her fingers. From these, fish, seals, walruses, and whales were formed. Sedna sank to the bottom of the ocean and became a powerful spirit. Her home is now on the ocean floor. Because she has no fingers, she is happy when others comb and braid her hair.

Ocean Ecology:
Lingcod, sometimes known as buffalo cod or cultus cod, are in the greenling family. They are found from Shumagin Islands in the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Commercially they are caught by TRAWLERS—boats that drag nets along the bottom of the sea—with the largest fish weighing at 130 pounds. Twenty percent of lingcod have turquoise flesh that turns white when cooked.

Quote: “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.“ ~Henry David Thoreau

Mermaid Mythology:
Meermin is the Dutch word for mermaid. In a story from 1403, a dike in the city of Kampen in the Netherlands had a crack in it, opening the river to the sea. After making repairs, people claimed that they saw a mermaid in the river, swimming without bothering anyone. They decided to capture her and bring her on land, where she transformed into a human with two legs. She tried to escape by jumping back in the water.

Ocean Ecology:
Tsunami is a seismic sea wave. It develops as a result of shifts in the earth’s crust or underwater landslides. These waves move at up to 500 miles per hour. When they arrive at land, their speed creates a giant surge of water like sloshing in a tub. Instead of a clean wave, it is like a flood of fast moving flotsam, including plants, vehicles, and buildings along in its wake. FLOTSAM is debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck, accident, or flood. Jetsam is trash thrown overboard, often to lighten the ships load, or jettisoned.

Quote: “Be a mermaid and make waves“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Ceasg (kee-ask) is a Scottish mermaid that is half woman and half salmon. The seafarer who captures her receives three wishes. Unfortunately, the Ceasq, like some other sea sirens, were known to lure sailors to their death. They were hard to kill since they placed their soul in a shell to hide it from humans. When a mermaid fell in love with a sailor, she would leave the sea and transform into a human. Rather than granting her husband three wishes, she would give him good luck for the rest of his life.

Ocean Ecology:
Salmon are ANADROMOUS, meaning they live in the ocean but migrate to fresh water to breed. There are five native species of salmon on the West Coast: Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, Sockeye.

Quote: “I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the nature of his deep inner soul... we're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream.“ ~Neil Armstrong

Mermaid Mythology:
Nibiinaabe, the Chippewa water spirit, are females with fish tails from Anishinabe folklore and said to be frightened by loud noises. They are also a clan symbol of the Ojibwe tribe. Lumpeguins are little mermaids of Wabanaki mythology. If someone steals their magical garments, they are under that person’s power. They have the ability to create food by turning a crumb into a infinite meal or bread from snow. Sabawaelnu are Mi’kmaq mermaids who control storms. Mi’kmaq people who understand their songs can forecast weather. They are known as water people or Halfway People.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Turtles are reptiles with CARAPACE—shells that serve as their rib cage. Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their head and limbs. The seven species are Green, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, and Flatback.

Quote: “Try to be like the turtle, at ease in your own shell.“ ~Bill Copeland

Mermaid Mythology:
Tlanchana was a woman with a serpent or fish tail. She adorned her crown, necklace, and belt with creatures of the sea, from starfish to shells. Originally, she was an Otomi goddess known as Acapaxapo, said to have divine powers who delivered omens. The Aztecs later named her Altonanchane, which became Tlanchana. They are known as the highest altitude mermaids living in fresh water lakes in the mountains of Mexico. If rejected, she would wrap her tail around a man and drag him underwater to his death. They say she was often lonely and jealous of humans, so locals left her offerings to appease her malevolent nature.

Ocean Ecology:
Sea Star are plentiful with 2000 species from the arctic to the tropics, in a wide variety of colors. Most have five arms and can REGENERATE or regrow lost limbs. Sunflower sea stars are the largest and can have up to forty arms. Sea stars may live up to 35 years even though they have no brain and no blood.

Quote: “Write your secrets in the sand and trust them with a mermaid.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Mami Wata, or Mother of the Water, are water deities of Africa and the Caribbean. There is even a religious group called to praise the goddess, where an individual follower is called a “Mami Wata child.” This mermaid goddess is a compassionate healer and mother to all aquatic creatures. She can transform into a woman, fish, or mermaid, depending on her mood. She is often seen holding a water snake or eel around her shoulders.

Ocean Ecology:
Eels snap their jaws as they swim, but they are not threatening to bite. It is how they breathe. There are 40 species of moray, three species of conger, and two dozen snake eels in Hawaii. A group of eels is called a swarm. Wolf eel, common in the North Pacific, are fish and not true eel. They mate for life and grow to almost 8 feet long. The species is MONOTYPIC, meaning there is only one species in the group.

Quote: “The funniest thing about comedy is that you never know why people laugh. I know what makes them laugh but trying to get your hands on the why of it is like trying to pick an eel out of a tub of water.“ ~W.C. Fields

Mermaid Mythology:
Suvannamaccha translates to golden mermaid in a Hindu story from the 6th century. She is a daughter of Ravana, who appears in the Cambodian and Thai versions of the Ramayana. As a mermaid princess, she tries to spoil Hanuman’s plans to build a bridge to Lanka, but falls in love with him instead. Hanuman stays underwater with her until he is called back to complete the bridge. Once complete, Hanuman is needed by the king’s side and never sees his mermaid again. Her image is seen as a sign of good luck. She is known to wear a crown of gold and jewels.

Ocean Ecology:
Crown-of-Thorns is one of the world’s largest starfish. It preys upon and destroys coral reefs. While most common in Australia, it lives worldwide in warm waters from the Red Sea to Hawaii to the Caribbean. It is named for its venomous spines that are said to resemble the biblical crown-of-thorns. Starfish can reproduce by AUTOTOMY or self-amputation and regenerate the lost body part later, usually as a self-defense mechanism.

Quote: “I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.“ ~T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Mermaid Mythology:
Rusalki are some of the most beautiful water spirits found in Russia and Ukraine. In the spring and summer, they embellish themselves with flowers and green garlands. In the fall and winter, they transform to zombie-like corpses with hollow eyes, shallow skin, and adorn themselves with weeds. They are known to be more dangerous in June when they sing in the night to lure young men to the water as part of their vengeful nature. A famous opera by Antonín Dvořák tells the story of a Rusalka who is in love with a human prince. She drinks a potion to become human. The prince knows if he does not love her that he will die. They are happy for awhile but eventually his love fades and her kiss kills him.

Ocean Ecology:
Coral are the flowers of the sea. They occupy 0.1% of the ocean but are responsible for 25% of the habitat for marine life. Each COLONY—a group of identical polyps—create structure and beauty for divers, habitat for other marine life, and protection for land masses. Each polyp is a sac-like animal typically only a few millimeters in diameter and a few centimeters in height. A set of tentacles surround a central mouth opening.

Quote: “If you sign to the mermaids, they come when you’re drowning.“ ~Tori Amos

Mermaid Mythology:
Parthenope was a siren in Greek mythology. He name translates to “maiden-voiced.” The daughter of the god Achelous and the muse Terpsichore, she cast herself into the sea and drowned when her songs failed to entice Odysseus. Her body washed ashore in Naples, Italy. When people settled there, they named their city Parthenope in her honor. In a nineteenth-century myth, she was a mermaid in the Neapolitan gulf. One day, she met a centaur named Vesuvius. They fell in love, but Zeus, jealous and possessive, turned the centaur into a volcano. Parthenope could only see her beloved without being able to interact. The coast assumed her features so she could rejoin Vesuvius in a love pact.

Ocean Ecology:
Black Coral is typically white, red, green, yellow, or brown, and rarely black. Only after is is harvested, cut, and polished, do you see the black luster. As the state gem of Hawaii, it is used in jewelry. It is a soft, deep water coral that is SUSTAINABLE—able to exist continually—as a harvested product.

Quote: “Dive deep for the treasure that you seek.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Amphitrite was the eldest of fifty Nereids who toured the oceans riding tame sea creatures in Greek mythology. As Poseidon’s wife, she was queen of the sea, and the mother of Triton, a merman. The three-pronged spear called a trident was the symbol of Poseidon, while Amphitrite wore a crown of crab claws.

Ocean Ecology:
Crab are CRUSTACEANS, a group of 45,000 species including lobster, shrimp, and wood lice. Dungeness Crab, local to Washington State waters, are considered the best tasting. They are caught in crab pots using bait. The Brown Box Crab is a type of King Crab. For protection, it folds its legs in to look like a box. A group of crab is called a cast.

Quote: “You’ve got your own style, now let it shine through and remember no matter what, you got to be you.“ ~Sebastian, the crab, King Triton’s advisor

Mermaid Mythology:
Triton was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. His lower body is a fish, while human on his top. He was said to blow a shell like a trumpet to tame or inflame the sea. Legends say if sailors got lost of the lake, Triton helped them by creating the island of Thera to prevent drowning. Not all accounts of Triton were positive. When cattle were missing, or a storm killed sailors out at sea, many assumed that Triton was to blame. People knew that they wouldn’t stand a chance if they tried to go head-to-head with a god, so to appease his wrath, they would leave a chalice of wine for him at the shore as a peace offering.

Ocean Ecology:
Triton’s Trumpet, known scientifically as Charonia tritonis, is one of the few predators of the Crown-of-Thorns starfish. This giant GASTROPOD—snail or slug—reaches up to two feet in size, making it one of the largest mollusks on the coral reef.

Quote: “No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.“ ~Agnes de Mille

Mermaid Mythology:
Nayada is a Russian form of naiad, or water nymph, associated with fresh water fountains or springs as depicted in one of John William Waterhouse’s paintings in 1872. As part of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of painters, he had a fascination with Greek mythological creatures including undine, mermaids, and nymphs, as well as characters from Arthurian legends. MYTHS are a type of folklore in various societies with creatures that are usually gods, demigods, or supernatural humans.

Ocean Ecology:
Agates can be found along streams, old riverbanks, and gravel shoals on beaches. They are also found on mountains and in the desert like the famous Ellensburg Blue Agates. Sizes range from tiny pebbles to large rocks. A microcrystalline form of quartz, agates are semi-precious gemstones formed millenia ago. They are considered to bring good luck and subsequent happiness.

Quote: “She is a mermaid on dry land and the world is her ocean.“ ~J. Iron

Mermaid Mythology:
Cecaelia have the head, arms, and torso of a human and the tentacles of an octopus. They are known as either mermaids or sea witches. In The Little Mermaid, the character of Ursula is a cecaelia who once lived in the royal palace of King Triton, the king of the underwater kingdom of Atlantica.

Ocean Ecology:
Octopus appear in legends as sea monsters. There are 300 species of octopus. The largest is the giant Pacific octopus weighing up to 600 pounds with an arm span of 30 feet. Like most cephalopods, octopus release ink as a defense mechanism. They regulate their color and texture as camouflage. Octopus are SEMELPAROUS, which means they only reproduce once before death.

Quote: “The fact that three-fifths of an octopus’ neurons are no in their brain, but in their arms, suggests that each arm has a mind of its own.“ ~Sy Montgomery

Mermaid Mythology:
Ursula, in the Disney versions of The Little Mermaid, is portrayed as a sea witch with tentacles instead of a tail. In Hans Christian Andersen’s story, the character doesn’t have a name but she is indeed a mermaid, albeit one with a bad reputation. In the movie, the nautilus necklace is where Ariel’s beautiful singing voice is kept after she trades it for legs.

Ocean Ecology:
Nautilus shell chambers are in the Fibonacci Sequence. The Fibonacci Sequence: 3, 5, 8, 13, is where each number is added to the previous. Music reflects that series of numbers. In a scale, the dominant note is the fifth note, which is the eighth note of all thirteen notes that make up an octave. There are six species of nautilus. Each can withdraw into its shell and close the opening with a leathery hood formed from two specially folded tentacles. They are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean as deep as 380 FATHOMS. A fathom is six feet.

Quote: “The Nautilus was piercing the water with its sharp spur, after having accomplished nearly ten thousand leagues in three months and a half, a distance greater than the great circle of the earth. Where were we going now, and what was reserved for the future?” ~Jules Verne

Mermaid Mythology:
Ariel is based on a character from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Little Mermaid written in 1837. Disney adapted the story in 1989 for their animated film. The most famous Little Mermaid sculpture is in Copenhagen, Denmark. There are thirteen replicas around the world.

Ocean Ecology:
Flounder, Ariel’s best friend in the movie, is a Royal Angelfish, not a flounder. The Flounder family includes a variety of flatfish. At hatching, a flounder has an eye on each side of its body. Through METAMORPHOSIS—abrupt body change after birth—one eye migrates to the other side of its body. The largest flounder, the Pacific Halibut, weighed 482 pounds, about the same weight as a black bear.

Quote: “Who says that my dreams, have to stay, just my dreams?“ ~Ariel, The Little Mermaid

Mermaid Mythology:
Mélusine was written in 1393 by Jean d’Arras. In the story, Pressine married the king of Albany, Scotland. Her only rule was the he never see her or their daughters bathe. In excitement at Mélusine’s birth, he breaks his promise. In fury, Pressine puts a curse on Mélusine making her a mermaid. When Mélusine marries, she exacts the same promise from her husband. Sadly, he sees her bathing. At that point her arms become wings and she disappears. Her story inspired the Starbucks logo. The Starbucks’ name comes from a character in the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

Ocean Ecology:
Pufferfish are poisonous with enough tetrodotoxin in its organs to kill thirty adults. The poison is 1200 times more deadly than cyanide. There is no known ANTIDOTE or substance to counteract the poison. Puffing up is the fish’s primary defense since their normal slim body becomes too big to bite. It takes the fish over five hours to deflate.

Quote: “Be a mermaid. Swim fast, wear a crown, and dream big.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Lorelei is from a poem written by Heinrich Heine in 1822. It tells of a beautiful maiden who waited for her lover on a rock cliff on the Rhine River. When he failed to meet her, heartbroken, she jumped to her death. They say her spirit remains, seeking revenge as she sits on the rock, combing her long hair and singing softly. Sailors, so enchanted by her beautiful song, run aground trying to find her. In German, the name Lorelei translates to “murmuring rock.”

Ocean Ecology:
Venus Comb or murex pecten is a snail with spines on both sides of its shell. It is said that mermaids use this shell to comb their hair. Over one hundred spines provide its protection from predators and from sinking into the soft mud on the sea floor. To eat, the animal excretes a softening fluid onto the shells of clams and barnacles, then scrapes it with its hundreds of tiny teeth. BARNACLES are sedentary crustaceans and attach to boats, docks, rocks, and even other animals like whales.

Quote: “Rainbows and mermaids are proof that imagination and beauty go hand in hand.“ ~Anonymous

Mermaid Mythology:
Madison was the mermaid in the 1984 movie Splash, starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. Hanks’ character, Allen Bauer, walking the streets of Manhattan with the mermaid, asks her name. She looks at the nearby street sign and reads Madison. This was the movie of the era that brought mermaids to the masses and launched a trend in baby names. The underwater scenes, filmed in the Bahamas, did not show much of the flora or fauna, and instead focused on a wreck as the stage. Hannah said that it took about eight hours to put on the tail before filming. She said the tail was so fragile, certain parts decomposed in short order.

Ocean Ecology:
Wreck Diving is recreational diving where the wreckage of ships, aircrafts, and other artificial structures are explored. Some vessels are SCUTTLED—deliberately sunk—to create artificial reefs. The boats in photos displayed in the museum were sunk by Lahaina Divers when filming episodes of Charlie’s Angels and Hart to Hart in the 1970’s. Blain Roberts, founder of Westport Winery, and his staff, were stunt doubles in the filming of both shows.

Quote: “All my life I’ve been waiting for someone and when I find her, she’s a fish“ ~Allen Bauer, Tom Hanks’ character in the movie Splash

Mermaid Mythology:
Moclips’ mermaid was revealed on May 27, 2012, when the Animal Planet released Mermaids: The Body Found. In the show, a young person allegedly finds a mermaid on the beach in Moclips, Washington. The premise was the scientists seek to learn more about these mysterious marine animals, but the government hides the evidence. The nearby Naval Station in Pacific Beach acts as a backdrop to the story. Many people were fooled by the movie as the disclaimers were few. The producers even went to far as to create a website that was “taken down by the government.” The show was called a MOCKUMENTARY, which is a fictional film, versus a documentary which is factual.

Ocean Ecology:
Razor Clams are found from Pismo, California, to the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. The underwater canyon off of Moclips is one of the best breeding grounds for razor clams. Clams are located by looking for dimples or donut shapes in the sand. Razor clam digging is allowed during certain low tides using clam guns or shovels. There is a 15 clam limit in Washington and diggers must have a license.

Quote: “A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being. On the power of another hangs her eternal destiny.“ ~Hans Christian Andersen

Mermaid Mythology:
Feejee was made famous in 1842, when a Dr. Griffin arrived in New York with a mermaid he claimed to have captured in Fiji to display at the American Museum of Barnum. Flyers of a mermaid with the body of a young and beautiful woman were in stark contrast to the creature on display. In his autobiography, Barnum said it was “ugly, black, and dry…” It was a monkey body sewn to a fish tail. Griffin’s real name was Levi Lyman, and he was an accomplice of Barnum in one of history’s most famous hoaxes.

Ocean Ecology:
Lionfish are native to Fiji and the Indo-Pacific. They are one of the most INVASIVE species—animals places in a non-native environment that they harm—on Earth. One lionfish can reduce juvenile reef fish populations by 79%. Goldfish released into the wild are another example of invasive fish.

Quote: “Fortune always favors the brave, and never helps a man who does not help himself.“ ~PT Barnum

Mermaid Mythology:
Hannah Fraser is the first mermaid working as an underwater performance artist, and model for film, events, focused on environmental activism. By using her unique link to the ocean, she inspires and educates people on the importance of marine life. Hannah is a role model of self-empowerment for young women across the globe who see that she has made her dreams a reality, no matter how unlikely the odds!

Ocean Ecology:
Whale Sharks are the largest fish on earth. They are up to 62 feet long. The skin on an adult whale shark is 4 inches thick and topped with rigid, triangular scales called denticles. They have a lifespan estimated up to 130 years. As plankton feeders they pose no threat to humans. PLANKTON are organisms that are too small or weak to swim against the current and exist in a drifting state. Nekton are tiny strong-swimming organisms that move freely and are not controlled by currents.

Quote: “A mermaid’s gift is to inspire people to rekindle their relationship to nature and a way to communicate the environmental issues that face us at this point. The ocean is the birthplace of life on Earth, and if I can be a visual link to inspire other humans who have become disconnected from this amazing world, I feel I have done something worthwhile.” ~Hannah Fraser

Mermaid Mythology:
Una The Mermaid is the Northwest’s first in tank underwater performer. Her 900 gallon tank was inspired by vintage circus wagons. Una is the founder of the Portlandia Mermaid Parade and Festival. In 2023, she was the protagonist in the docu-fiction art film Siren’s Call. She studies CONCHOMANCY (konk-oh-man-sea)—a form of divination using shells—to read the future or gain insights. As a shell oracle, the Geoduck (also known as the King Clam) represents digging deep into matters, longevity, and fortitude.

Ocean Ecology:
Geoduck (pronounced “gooey-duck”) are large clams found along the West Coast. They are also known as Elephant Clam due to their long siphon or “neck.” They are harvested in the wild and via aquaculture, mostly in Washington State. The longest lived geoduck on record was 168 years old.

Quote: “The Ocean is the mother of us all, and she represents nurturance of life, and cycles.“ ~Una the Mermaid

Mermaid Mythology:
Olive The Alchemist —a person who transforms through a seemingly magical process—is a PADI certified mermaid instructor and founder of the Seattle Mermaid School, the Pacific Northwest’s exclusive portal to experiencing the underwater world of mermaids firsthand. The Alchemist has years of experience in a rigorous, professional-level role as a mermaid character performer with Walt Disney World Entertainment and was 2021-2023 Miss Mermaid Washington.

Ocean Ecology:
Tiger Sharks are solitary and nocturnal apex predators with females reaching 15 feet. They have the largest food spectrum of all sharks with diets that include whales, crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, snakes, turtles, squid, dolphins, and other sharks. Tigers are second only to Great Whites in attacks on humans, although these are rare. They are sometimes preyed upon themselves by orca pods.

Quote: “Without sharks, you take away the apex predators of the ocean, and you destroy the entire food chain.“ ~Peter Benchley

Mermaid Mythology:
Rachel The Sailing Siren is a certified freediving and mermaid instructor who owns Aquanauts Freediving LLC in Las Vegas. Rachel joined the 2023 US National Team for the CMAS Freediving Depth World Championships. She was named Fire Entertainer of the Year 2016, Miss Mermaid Nevada 2022, and Miss Sea Queen of Nevada 2023. She was in Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever, on American Ninja Warrior, and in the Netflix documentary MerPeople. Rachel is lead performer at the annual International Mermaid Museum Festival and is dedicated to teaching ocean ecology.

Ocean Ecology:
Scorpionfish look like the surface where they perch, so via camouflage they can ambush their prey. The titan scorpionfish is ENDEMIC or native and only found in Hawaii. Its Hawaiian name is nohu, which is also the name of the puncture vine. Their dorsal spines have a powerful hemotoxin that when injected is similar to the bite of a rattlesnake or black-widow spider.

Quote: “The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.“ ~Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Mermaid Mythology:
Nikolai was built in the late 1790’s by King Kamehameha’s shipbuilders. It was the second schooner built in Hawaii, and named Tamana after the King’s favorite wife. In 1805, he traded the 45 tons ship for a larger boat. That owner then sold it to Russian Captain Pavl Slobodchikov, and it was renamed the Sv Nikolai. On November 1, 1808, Nikolai was sailing from Sitka to establish a colony on the Oregon Coast. In a squall, the boat wrecked on a reef near Destruction Island. The crew, including the captain’s wife, survived the wreck, thus making her the first non-native woman on the Washington Coast. Some research says the couple were captured by the natives and died in captivity. Other stories suggest upon rescue she opted to stay with the tribe while the captain left in shame.

Local History:
Stan Kurylo was working on a fishing trawler off of Westport in the 1990’s. When they pulled their net, Stan’s side was difficult to lift because of an anchor. Stan and his wife Patricia decided to keep it as a memento on their deck. After touring the International Mermaid Museum they donated it along with the chart marking where the anchor had been found. The museum’s executive director researched and found this anchor to be from the Nikolai. Museum team members built the shipwreck for its display.

Quote: “What an anchor is to a ship, hope is to the soul.“ ~June Hunt

One mermaid that I noticed was missing from the museum is one I discovered locally in Northwestern Washington when I first visited Anacortes in 2019. Known as the “Maiden of Deception Pass,” Ko-Kwal-alwoot, was a young girl of the Samish Nation who was transformed into a sea spirit at Rosario Beach in Deception Pass State Park. Watch and hear the story as told by Samish Indian Nation manager Leslie Eastwood or continue reading one version I found online.

Samish Legend:
According to Samish tribal tradition, Ko-kwal-alwoot (pronounced “Kwuh-kwal-uhl-wut”), a beautiful Samish Indian girl, lived in a village in a protected cove at Rosario Head near Deception Pass, between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. Her raven-black hair shined like obsidian and reached below her waist. She was gathering seafood one day, near where visitors sit on the shore, when a young man from beneath the sea saw her. He was very handsome and his skin shone like silver. His eyes were large and luminous. He immediately fell in love with the young woman. But when this man of the sea asked her father for her hand in marriage, he refused for fear she would try to follow her suitor and drown. The young man warned Ko-kwal-alwoot's father that he held great power and that the seafood would disappear unless permission was granted for his daughter to marry. Her father was a chief and not disposed to succumb to threats, especially from a fish. He refused. Sure enough, clams, crabs and the succulent goose tongue that grew on the rocky shore became scarce. The nearby sweet spring water dried up and no longer trickled down the beach. Villagers protested that they were hungry for seafood. Under pressure, Ko-kwal-alwoot's father granted permission for the marriage. They were married at the sea’s edge. The bridegroom wasted no time returning to the water. He had only to beckon to his bride and Ko-kwal-alwoot followed, slipping beneath the waves without a backwards glance. Once again seafood became plentiful and icy, clear water gushed from the nearby spring. Ko-kwal-alwoot returned to her people once a year for four years. Barnacles disfigured her once lovely hands and arms. Her long raven hair was intermingled with long, stringy kelp. Chill sea winds followed wherever she walked and she seemed unhappy out of the sea, away from her husband. Seeing her unhappiness, Ko-kwal-alwoot's people told her she did not need to return to them each season. Since that day, she has been the Samish Tribe's guiding spirit, and through her protection there has always been plenty of seafood and pure, sweet spring water. It is said that if you sit on nearby Rosario Head and stare out across Rosario Strait long enough, and if you believe the legend, you may glimpse Ko-kwal-alwoot's long, black kelp-filled hair streaming in the current just below the surface.

Native Heritage:
A 23-foot-high story pole, a joint project of the Samish Tribe and the Skagit County Centennial Commission, was carved from red cedar (donated by the U.S. Forest Service) by Tracy W. Powell of Anacortes, working under the careful guidance of Samish elders, and erected in 1983. The statue has two sides, one portrays Ko-kwal-alwoot as she lived on land, while the other shows her as she lived in the sea, with kelp for hair and scaly skin. There are story posts around the statue that tell this traditional story with wonderful images, honoring the Coast Salish people. I highly recommend visiting the park, especially Bowman Bay and Rosario Beach on the north end of the Deception Pass State Park. I also encourage you to read about the importance of kelp forests and how warming oceans are shrinking them up and down the West Coast.

I’m sure there are many other merfolk and water spirits missing from this list, though I have to give the International Mermaid Museum a lot of credit for all the research they did and what they put together. I already know of a few more just from the research I did for this blog post, including Amabie, Nyai Roro Kidul, Shinjiki, Jengu, and Undine, but there are so many more mermaids, mermen, merfolk, water spirits, sirens, and mythological sea creatures just from what I found on Wikipedia. Therefore, I would sure love to hear from my readers about any others that are missing. Please leave a comment with the name(s) of these mesmerizing creatures of the sea and tell me what you know about them, or their origins, with link(s) if possible. Thank you!

I also really enjoyed this beautiful artwork called “Timorian” by Marshelle Backes from Montesano, WA, that was hanging in the museum. While looking online for more information on it, I accidentally stumbled upon an article about the Wawata Topu, known as the Mermaids of Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste, or East Timor, is a Southeast Asian nation occupying half the island of Timor, situated near Indonesia and Australia. The island is ringed by coral reefs teeming with marine life. The incredible story of these women fishers and divers is the subject of an award-winning documentary.

I hope you enjoyed this post on mermaid myths, folklore, and people, as well as learning about some of the fascinating creatures that live in our oceans. I always knew I was intrigued by mermaids and water, so getting immersed in all this was fun for me, and the knowledge acquired something that I will treasure forever!

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Going From A Bar Rat To A Vanlifer

April 3, 2023

When my parents died in 2013 and 2015, I realized that I had been wasting a lot of my life at work and drinking at bars. After two failed marriages, I spent my mid-thirties to mid-forties at bars a lot. Drinking was my coping mechanism, a way to get out of the house and be social, forget that I was actually unhappy. I went to the bars 3-6 nights a week, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, bonding with various people (some acquaintances, some friends), many of which were lonely people like myself that were escaping their lives as well. I easily had 5+ drinks/shots each time I went out! It didn’t help that I decided to build a side business in music, booking shows at venues with alcohol. The benefits of doing business in that environment meant lots of free drinks, either the venue hooking me up or people buying them for me. One venue even let me drink free every time I went there, even when I didn’t have a show, and I took advantage of that. I still have a receipt from them that shows my whole tab for the year and then that amount “written off” to a zero balance — I’m pretty sure it was close to $3K! It’s not easy to admit to all this, it is definitely something that I justified to myself thinking I didn’t have a problem. Looking back, I know that this behavior led to many bad decisions, as well as weight gain. Between drinking at bars and shows, going to my day job in hi-tech (often hung over), and sitting on my couch watching tv, I didn’t really do much else. I led a sedentary life. To think that I could have explored all the beautiful areas around me and throughout California during those years is disappointing!

Losing my parents changed me, A LOT! I realized that life was short — I became very aware of our mortality and that one could easily die at any moment. I couldn’t keep going down the same path of destruction. It still took me a few years to fully get out of that cycle, but one thing that changed pretty quick in late 2013 was the amount of time I spent at bars drinking. I stopped being a “bar rat” and going out drinking in excess. That doesn’t mean I stopped drinking, but it was easily reduced by half. Instead of bars, I hosted people at my house, but not nearly as often as I was going to bars. I still sat around and watched tv a lot though, still not going out to explore and enjoy the surrounding nature areas. Then in 2016, I discovered vanlife through a guy I was dating that year. It changed my life forever!

When I first met Jesse and he told me he lived in his van, I thought something was wrong with him — who would want to live in a van intentionally?!? He explained to me that he didn’t want to pay the exorbitant monthly rent in the Bay Area and that by living in the van, he saved 80% of his paycheck, which he put into his retirement savings. He also showed me how the transient lifestyle meant seeing all the beautiful areas around, spending the night by the ocean or in the forest, taking trips on the weekend to some place new. I realized at that moment that there were so many wonderful areas within an hour or two of where I lived that I never visited in the 25+ years I lived there! He also took me to Oregon and Washington on a week long road trip, which really opened my eyes as I had never explored these two beautiful neighboring states.

Even though Jesse and I didn’t work out as a couple, he left an impact on my life. In our 8 months together, I learned a lot from him — how to find overnight spots, what apps/websites to use, what to do and not do, and other valuable tips. Jesse also encouraged me to travel solo since I was convinced that traveling with a partner or friend was the only way I could travel. I knew that I wanted to continue this lifestyle, so I started researching vans and RV’s to see what I could afford. About a month and a half after our breakup, I bought myself a 20 ft. Thor Majestic 19G Mini-Class C RV for $25K. I started exploring California and learned that traveling by myself with my cat Maverick was actually quite fun.

Being that I’m super social, I set up my road trips with stops where I could visit various friends along the way, plus I went to a lot of local meetups with vanlife enthusiasts and nomads to make friends and learn from them. I also learned about bigger vanlife gatherings in Oregon and Southern California, which I started to attend to meet like-minded individuals and fully immerse myself in this wonderful community. My first Descend on Bend in 2018 was so impactful, spending three days in the Oregon high desert with 1000 other part-time and full-time vandwellers, enjoying food, drinks, activities, music, and bonfires together! Then in January 2019, I went to San Diego to a monthly meetup on Fiesta Island, where I met the ladies that started the Sēkr app and continued to grow my vanlife connections. Some of the people I met at these events have become close friends and some of the nicest people I have met in my life!

In 2019, I decided to sell my RV as I didn’t really love driving it. The over-cab bed was small and bit claustrophobic, the vehicle wasn’t very aerodynamic and shook a lot while driving, and the gas mileage was terrible at around 10 mpg. Seeing so many great custom build vans at all the events I went to and hearing how much easier they were to drive, I decided that I wanted a van of my own, especially knowing what I needed and didn’t need in the small space from the RV. I researched the various types of vans, as well as all the van builders I could find on the West Coast, and after 6 months of manifesting the van of my dreams, I found a 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter cargo van with all specs I wanted and had it custom built out in late 2019/early 2020. That van was ready for pick up in early April 2020, right after COVID-19 hit. I encourage you to read my van build story for more details on that!

In the last 6.5 years, I have traveled over 40K miles solo with my cat Maverick. I’ve been to 7 states, mostly on the West Coast, and continue to attend as many vanlife gatherings as I can. I love the freedom of traveling in my home-on-wheels, being able to spend the night in beautiful places, and exploring nature! Instead of sitting at home watching tv or going to a bar drinking, I drive to new places, learn about the history, and walk around to see as much as possible. I hike trails to waterfails, through old growth forests, and along oceanside cliffs, I take dips in watering holes, hot springs, and rivers, and I swim in lakes, bays, and ocean waters. I enjoy parks, beaches, museums, and local restaurants and shops. I meet people everywhere I go and have wonderful conversations with them. I feel like I’ve learned so much, met so many interesting humans, and overall I’m leading a much healthier lifestyle. What a difference a decade can make once you make better choices of how to spend your time! I have a lot of fond memories of my bar days — I’ve hosted and managed some talented bands/artists and made some great friends in the process — but I don’t miss the excessive drinking and side effects of that lifestyle. I don’t believe in having regrets since all the decisions in my life have shaped the person I am today (whom I’m very happy with), but I can tell you that the quality of life I have now is dramatically better, and sometimes I wish I had discovered it sooner. I know my parents in heaven approve of the changes I made and they walk with me every day, with every step, in this amazing life I have!

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Vanlife Products That I Love

March 30, 2023

I know there’s a lot of vanlifers out there that promote products. Many do it because they rely on the kickbacks to earn money on the road. I fully respect and understand that and try to support as many of them as I can because it’s their livelihood and I want people to succeed. I also like to promote products that I believe in and use when I’m in the van on the road. Here are some of those products:

MoonShade — I didn’t want to be restricted with an expensive awning that was affixed to one side of the van, so when I heard that a San Francisco company came up with a more versatile and cheaper awning, I was stoked. I was one of the first buyers of the MoonShade and absolutely love it! It packs up small to the size of a yoga mat, fits in one of my back drawers in the van, and sets up fast and easy. Use code 'barbrocks' for $30 off! They launched a Kickstarter for the new MoonShade XL, which I supported, so I can’t wait for the new 12’x9’ awning with over 100 sq ft of shade! Once I get it, I’ll probably sell my original size one, so stay tuned if you’re wanting one that’s barely used at a discounted price!

Quest Overland — I have the Sprinter blackout window covers for the front cab and back windows and they fit perfectly with strong magnets holding them up. They are well constructed in a neutral color, and last years and years; mine are from 2019 and they don’t show any wear and tear. The company also makes bug screens for the sliding door now, which install into the rubber gasket so they stay secure, though they sell out and aren’t always available. Use code “barbrocks5” to save 5% in their shop!

UPDATE: Hally & Ian the founders of Quest Overland sold the company in September 2023 and the new owner Josh is not fulfilling orders, nor replying to emails. I sadly can no longer recommend this company to people unless the new owner gets his business affairs in order and customer service improves.

Ripplewear — I bought these easy to put up bug screens on eBay and am overall happy with them. They attach with magnets and stay up decently, though if you pull too hard, they do come down. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on van screens, these are a good solution, plus they pack up small when you don’t need them. I only put mine up when I’m in an area with mosquitoes.

Kula Cloth — I love my Kula pee cloths and use them at home and in the van. Kula is an anti-microbial cloth made from advanced silver-infused textiles that saves the environment and is the perfect item for women that are into outdoor activities like hiking, mountaineering, camping, fishing, etc, as well as for people living the nomadic lifestyle. This well-designed reusable pee cloth wipes after squatting, attaches to backpacks with a snap, snaps closed after use, and keeps toilet paper from littering nature. I have a bidet at home, so I use it to avoid getting toilet paper fuzz on me, and I keep one in my purse for those occasions when public bathrooms don’t have anything to wipe with. Practice “leave no trace” and keep your genital area clean, all while using a practical, eco-friendly item with pretty art on it!

SandCloud — These towels dry quickly and fold up small, which is essential in a small space, plus they have some cool patterns/designs, and 10% of profits goes to marine conservation. They have a Disney collaboration now and have released Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Micky Mouse designs, and continually release other cool marine designs with various preservation organizations. For my home I own two sets of the Pantone bath bundle (in French Blue and Bluing), and the Mud Cloth bath bundle (in black). In addition, I have the Harmony, Sundown, Mandala, and Vista (zebra print) towels (some of these designs are no longer available), which I use for beach, lake or pool excursions. I also have the Cyperus kitchen towels bundle for the van since they match my interior colors so well.

Rumpl — I love their puffy blankets as they keep you super warm with cool designs, which are available in different types (original, nano, down), plus they have an indoor line (sherpa, hemp, wool), as well as towels, mats, and other gear. I own 4 puffy blankets them now and I have the Lake Tahoe Everywhere Towel, which is super soft! The company does limited edition artist collaborations (I own 2 of those) and they have a super cool National Parks collection, and even an NFL collection! I love how there’s a clip on the puffy so you can wear it outside to stay warm.

Amazon — I have a few different Amazon lists with products that I use and think are good. The lists are divided up into Vanlife Essentials, Van Build, Cat Products, Household Items, Sports & Fitness Gear, Good Books, Beauty Products, and Fashion. My favorite thing to promote for ladies living vanlife is the female urination device which fits perfectly between the legs so there’s no mess! I also have all the items from my van build that are available on Amazon up, as well as other practical items for vanlifers.

Sticker Mule — I love giving out my vanlife & cat stickers at gatherings and events, but not all stickers last in the elements. I highly recommend getting good quality vinyl ones that will last on the outside of a vehicle. These ones are made from thick and durable vinyl which protects the stickers from scratches, water and sunlight. Plus they regularly have a sticker deal where you can get 50 stickers for just $29, which is $0.58 a sticker! With my link you will get a $10 store credit!

Curie — I’ve tried many natural deodorants out there but many don’t fully work for me because I sweat easily. I discovered this brand on Shark Tank and decided to try it after seeing the founder get the investors to smell her armpits after a hike and scoring a deal. Guess what? This clean, aluminum-free deodorant really works! Even after hours of salsa dancing, my armpits still smell good despite all the sweating. In addition to the deodorant, I also use the deodorant & body spray for a refreshing spritz, and the armpit detox mask for a deep cleaning when needed, which also works on your face if you have problem areas. I recommend getting the Pit Kit as a starter packet.

Paka — An amazing apparel line founded in Peru that makes all-purpose clothing for people who love the outdoors with alpaca fiber and other materials that are healthier for people and the planet. I personally love the Breathe Zip-up and The Hoodie, as well as the baselayers and socks. These garments keep you so warm and are so soft to the touch! Not only does this company ethically source the alpaca fibers, they employ Peruvian weavers and multiply their daily income by 8x. Some of the garments are even hand-signed by by the woman artisan who wove it!

SkinADX — Clean beauty is important, especially for the ladies out there. A friend of mine started this company and they are the best skincare products I’ve ever used. I have the best skin of my life now thanks to her 5 steps cleansing and moisturizing system made from quality essential oils and absolutely no fillers. I highly recommend the Azulene Cleansing Oil Concentrate, Harmony Cleanser, Quench Hydrating Toner, Defi Vitamin C&E Age Defying Serum, Radiance Blue Tansy Serum, Green Godess Repair Serum, Nutrish Day Cream, iBrite Eye Cream, and Body Guard Hand Cream. I use all of these and refuse to try another skin care line now. Use code “SkinADX4U” to save 20%!

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Vanlife Gatherings 2023

December 6, 2022

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2023

January
Women's RTR — Jan 7-12 | Quartzite, AZ
Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) — Jan 13-20 | Quartzite, AZ
Xscapers Annual Bash — Jan 14-22 | Lake Havasu, AZ
Florida Suncoast Tiny Home Festival — Jan 21-22 | Pinellas Park, FL
Skooliepalooza — Jan 23-29 | Ehrenberg, AZ
Arizona Outdoor Adventure Fest — Jan 28-29 | Scottsdale, AZ

February
Escapar A La Baja — Feb 4-6 | Playa El Tecolote, Baja, Mexico
The Florida Vanlife Gathering — Feb 3-6 | Dade City, FL
Truck Camper Adventure Rally — Feb 9-12 | Quartzsite, AZ (SOLD OUT)
Project Van Life Summit — Feb 17-19 | Online Event
Skoolie Swarm — Feb 18-27 | Melrose, FL

April
Red Rock 4-Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari — Apr 1-9 | Moab, UT
CamperFest — Apr 6-10 | Chester, Chestershire, UK
Rendezvous — Apr 19-23 | Mt Bachelor, OR
Back To Baja With Flarespace — Apr 20-23 | Sea of Cortés, Baja, Mexico (CANCELED)
Moore Expo — Apr 21-22 | Springfield, MO
Weird Wild West — Apr 20-24 | Bisbee, AZ
Moab Magic — Apr 21-23 | Moab, UT
Revel Club Big Bend Backroads — Apr 23-26 & Apr 27-30 | Big Bend, TX (2 SESSIONS)
Georgia Tiny House Festival — Apr 27-28 | Madison, GA
Camper Van Week-End — Apr 28-30 | Angers-Brissac, France
Adventure Van Expo — Apr 29-30 | San Juan Capistrano, CA
Camp Quirky — Apr 28-May 1 | Kelmarsh Estate, Northamptonshire, UK

May
Adventure Van Expo — May 13-14 | Sonoma, CA
Overland Expo West — May 19-21 | Flagstaff, AZ
Descend on Pinnacles — May 26-29 | Pinnacles, CA

June
Small Home Expo — Jun 3-4 | Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Randi’s Adventures — Jun 2-4 | Munising, MI
Fort Desolation — Jun 8-10 | Torrey, UT
Wind River Rally — Jun 15-18 | Hudson, WY
Outdoor Adventure X — Jun 17-18 | Huntsville, UT
Vanlife Iceland Midsummer Edition — Jun 17-24 | Iceland (SOLD OUT)
Adventure Van Expo — Jun 18-19 | Hood River, OR
Rose Fest — Jun 23-25 | Salida, CO
Buena Vista Brouhaha — Jun 23-25 | Buena Vista, CO
The Bus Fair — Jun 23-25 | Oakridge, OR
FWC Owner’s Rally & Campout — Jun 23-25 | Grass Valley, CA
Colorado Tiny House Festival — Jun 24-25 | Brighton, CO
Georgia Tiny Home Festival — Jun 24-25 | Madison, GA

July
50th National Truck-In — Jul 5-9 | Sterling, CO
Camper Jam — Jul 7-9 | Weston Park, Shropshire, UK
Revel Club Wings & Wheels Alaska — Jul 7-9 | Alaska
Overland Expo PNW — Jul 7-9 | Bend (Redmond), OR
Adventure Van Expo — Jul 8-9 | Evergreen, CO
People's Tiny House Festival — Jul 16-17 | Loveland, CO
Holy Toledo — Jul 20-23 | Toledo, OR
Black Nomads Beach Weekend & Campout — Jul 23-25 | Georgetown, SC
Adventure Van Expo — Jul 29-30 | Topsfield, MA
Open Roads — No Event in 2023 | McCall, ID (Returning 2024)

August
Skoolie U.P. — Jul 31-Aug 7 | Upper Peninsula Michigan
Revel Club 4X4 Van Training — Aug 10-11 | Ellenville, NY (Session 1)
Vanlife Iceland August #1 — Aug 12-19 | Iceland
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #1 — Aug 12-19 | Lofoten, Iceland (SOLD OUT)
Northwest MogFest — Aug 17-20 | Sheridan OR
Vanlife Iceland August #2 — Aug 20-27 | Iceland
Vanlife Iceland Lofoten #2— Aug 20-27 | Lofoten, Iceland
Overland Expo Mtn West — Aug 25-27 | Loveland, CO
Leadville Lollygag — Aug 25-27 | Leadville, CO

September
Descend on Bend — Sep 1-4 | Bend, OR
Revel Club 4X4 Van Training — Sep 9-10 | Ellenville, NY (Session 2)
Black Nomads Hammock Hang — Sep 9-11 | Villa Rica, GA
VanWILD — Sep 14-17 | Montrose, CO
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) — Sep 14-17 | Copper Harbor, MI
United Tiny House Off-Grid Workshop Camp — Sep 15-17 | Eatonton, GA
Project Van Life Summit — Sep 15-17 | Online Event
Adventure Van Expo — Sep 16-17 | Palisades Tahoe, CA
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #1 — Sep 16-23 | Iceland (SOLD OUT)
Vanquinox — Sep 21-24 | Grandjean, ID
Northwest Nomads — Sep 21-25 | Fort Rock, OR
Vanlife Iceland Northern Lights #2— Sep 24-Oct 1 | Iceland
Big Iron Overland Rally — Sep 29-30 | West Mineral, KS
Camp Carpe Diem — Sep 28-Oct 1 | Kalispell, MT
Adventure Van Expo — Sep 30-Oct 1 | Bend, OR
Midwest Vanlife — Sep 23-26 | Makanda, IL
Revel Club Rocky Mountain Meetup — Sep 28-Oct 1 | Estes Park, CO

October
Overland Expo East — Oct 4-6 | Arrington, VA
The Pilgrimage — Oct 3-6 | South Royalton, VT
Skooliepalooza — Oct 5-10 | Moab, UT
Vanlife Australia — Oct 6-8 | Bundjalung Region, Gold Coast, Australia
Adventure Van Expo — Oct 7-8 | Chattanooga, TN
Moonlanding — Oct 12-15 | Sky View, NM
Ring of Fire — Oct 14 | Valley of the Gods, UT
Adventure Van Expo — Oct 14-15 | Big Bear, CA
Nomadic Creatives — Oct 19-22 | Northwest, AZ
VanFest USA — Oct 27-29 | Hurricane, UT
C.H.A.S.M.Fest — Oct 27-30 | Lake Havasu City, AZ

November
Vanarky In The Ozarks — No Event in 2023 | Ponca, Arkansas (Returning 2024)
Florida Tiny House Festival — Nov 18-19 | Gainesville, FL
Revel Club Northeast Off-Road Adventure — Nov 19-20 | Ellenville, NY

December
TinyFest Southwest — No Event in 2023 — Phoenix, AZ (Returning 2024)

Other
Sēkr App — Community Based Events
Good Vibe Collective — Various Events Throughout The Year
Seattle Vanlife Meetup — Monthly Meetup
Xscapers — Yearly Events For Members
She Explores — Women On The Road Gathering
Home On Wheels Alliance — Regular Caravans
Wandering Footprint — Date Pending | Saanichton, BC

If you know of any events that aren’t listed, please leave a comment with link so I can add it!

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Vanlife Gatherings 2022

February 17, 2022

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2022

January
Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) — Jan 14-23 | Quartzite, AZ
Skooliepalooza — Jan 21-31 | Parker, AZ
Florida Suncoast Tiny Home Festival — Jan 29-30 | Pinellas Park, FL

February
Escapar A La Baja — Feb 2-4 | Playa El Tecolote, Baja, Mexico
Truck Camper Adventure Rally — Feb 9-12 | Quartzite, AZ
Skoolie Swarm — Feb 19-28 | Melrose, FL

March
Camper Expo — March 18-20 | Utrecht, Netherlands
TinyFest California — March 12-13 | San Diego, CA
Buena Vantura — March 24-26 | Ventura, CA

April
Moore Expo — April 8-10 | Springfield, MO
Red Rock 4-Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari — April 9-17 | Moab, UT
CamperFest — April 14-18 | Chester, Chestershire, UK
Rendezvous — April 20-24 | Mt Bachelor, OR (SOLD OUT)
Back To Baja With Flarespace — April 21-24 | Laguna del Diablo, Baja, Mexico
Weird Wild West — April 22-24 | Bisbee, AZ
Southern Xpeditions Overland Challenge — April 29-May 1 | Uwharrie, NC
Camper Van Week-End — April 29-May 1 | Angers-Brissac, France
Adventure Van Expo SoCal — April 30-May 1 | San Juan Capistrano, CA
Georgia Tiny Home Festival — April 30-May 1 | Macon, GA

May
Camp Quirky — May 13-15 | Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, UK
Overland Expo West — May 20-22 | Flagstaff, AZ
Descend on Lost Sierra — May 20-23 | Portola, CA
Vanlife Iceland Spring Edition — May 25-29 | Iceland

June
Black Nomads Meetup — June 3-6 | Wrightsville, GA
Adventure Van Expo NorCal — June 4-5 | Placerville, CA
Small Home Expo — June 4-5 | Abbotsford, BC, Canada
FWC Owner’s Rally & Campout — June 10-12 | Lake Tahoe, CA
Vanlife Iceland Midsummer Edition — June 17-24 | Iceland
Summer Solstice Van Camp — June 17-19 | Mt Shasta, CA
Tennessee Tiny Home Music Festival — June 18-19 | Nashville, TN
Adventure Van Expo Hood River — June 25-26 | Hood River, OR
Wind River Rally — June 23-26 | Hudson, WY

September
Adventure Van Expo Bend — Sep 3-4 | Bend (Redmond Expo), OR
TinyFest California — Sep 10-11 | San Jose, CA
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) — Sep 15-18 | Copper Harbor, MI
Adventure Van Expo LT — Sep 17-18 | Lake Tahoe, CA
VanFest USA — Sep 22-24 | Hurricane, UT
Vanquinox — Sep 22-25 | Grandjean, ID
Northwest Nomads — Sep 22-26 | Fort Rock, OR
Revel Van Rally — Sep 29-Oct 1 | Moab, UT

November
Vanarky In The Ozarks — Nov 3-6 | Ponca, Arkansas

December
TinyFest Southwest — Dec 3-4 — Phoenix, AZ

Monthly Meetups
Seattle Vanlife Meetup

Other
Sēkr App — Community Based Events
Home On Wheel Alliance — Regular Caravans
Off-Road Safety Academy — 4x4 Training Courses & Various Tours

To Be Announced
Vanstock Alaska
Good Vibe Collective
Asheville Van Life Rally
Midwest Vanlife
Kentucky Skoolie Fest
Wandering Footprint
Teton Valley Vanlife Gathering
Gutted
United Tiny House
Vanl ife Diarie Australia
Women On The Road Gathering

If you know of any events that aren’t listed, please leave a comment with link so I can add it!

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Guest Blog: Live the Dream, Become a Digital Nomad

January 3, 2022

Live the Dream: Become a Digital Nomad

Being self-employed and having the flexibility to work anywhere at any time is more achievable than ever. With a good Wi-Fi connection, a laptop, and a passport, your dreams of becoming a digital nomad are within reach.

You may wonder how these remote, self-employed folks break into the business. How can you go from a traditional work setting into this enviable style of self-employment? Here are some tips on how to make the transition, guides you through the process, and helps you land your first client.

Getting Established

First things first: you’ll need to choose what type of structure you’ll be operating as. You also may choose to run your operation as a DBA (“doing business as”), which is beneficial as part of your marketing and branding strategy. A DBA name is essentially a pseudonym for your registered, legal business name. Many business owners use it to avoid using their own surname (if the business entity includes their name) or, for corporations, an assumed name makes expansion easier, as it’s not necessary to create a completely new corporation.

Once you’re up and running as a legal entity, as a digital nomad you’ll need to build a ubiquitous online presence. This requires a solid understanding of the skills you can offer and the ability to convey those services to potential clients. Expert-Market notes that branding is an important part of the process of establishing your online business. It is an opportunity to show the world what you can offer and how it differs from what every other freelancer provides.

Freelance work can be unpredictable, so it is important to establish your business in a way that affords you multiple income streams. This may mean that, rather than offering one service, you diversify the skills within your wheelhouse. Start to establish yourself with a few regular freelance clients by offering your services for less or even for free, then take on more paid work as you build a reputation.

You may even consider being a “one-stop shop” for your clients, offering more than just one service. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer producing primarily web content, branch out and offer website hosting and design services. Assuming you’re not proficient in these additional areas, collaborate with others who are, bringing them under your business’s operational umbrella.

Staying Afloat

As a beginner freelancer, you are bobbing around in a rubber raft in a sea crowded with other freelancers — some in yachts, others in canoes. Starting out in your raft, it may feel as though you could sink at any moment or get tossed overboard. You can work your way from the raft into a schooner over time with some hustle and perseverance. To stay afloat as you begin freelancing, consider reducing unnecessary expenses such as subscriptions, reduce your entertainment budget, and consider cooking meals at home rather than dining out.

Amp up your social media presence to get the word out about your availability — these free marketing opportunities are priceless. You may also be able to access funds to help support yourself as a self-employed person impacted by the pandemic. Freelance unions offer access to affordable insurance benefits and advocacy resources, according to MoneyMiniBlog. As a digital nomad, you can opt to live in a location that offers a lower cost of living, which can save you a ton of money.

Staying on budget is key, especially to those who hope to support loved ones back home. Many people immigrate to the US and start their freelance journey with the intention of helping those left behind. This can be critical to populations like Brazilian immigrants — a group that has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Using fast and secure wire transfers is a smart way to ensure funds are received in the homeland. Those sending remittances should also consider whether the service they hire guarantees funds will be received within a certain time frame.

Survival on the Move

A crucial aspect of survival as a digital nomad is tech-friendly rental space to conduct business. As you investigate rentals in varying locations, first ask about high-speed internet and Wi-Fi access. You may be able to negotiate rental fees by bartering services such as maintenance or, better yet, offering your freelance skills to boost their rental business.

You are likely to have a fair amount of travel expenses as a digital nomad, but these can be reduced through business deductions and by selecting reduced-cost airfare. As a freelancer, you are available to travel during varying times of the year and at any hour of the day or night, which means cheaper airfare. Also consider rideshare services and even traveling by train as you make your way to new destinations. With these ideas in mind, you’ll be living the dream in no time!

Big thanks to Lance Cody-Valdez of Free-Lance-Now for this great guest blog!

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Vanlife Gatherings in 2021

March 29, 2021

Here is a list of Vanlife Gatherings that are happening in 2021:

Smoky Mountain Overland Rally in Crosby, TN on April 20 to May 2

VanFest in Hurricane, UT on May 8

TinyFest in San Diego, CA on May 14-16

Descend on Lost Sierra in Portola, CA on May 28-31

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Rendezvous in Missoula, MT on June 3-5

Black Nomads Meetup in Warthen, GA on June 4-6

Adventure Van Expo in Hood River, OR on June 19-20

Camper Jam in Shropshire UK on July 2-4

Adventure Van Expo in Logan, UT on July 31 - Aug 1

Revel Rally in Durango, CO on Aug 20-22

CamperFest in Chester, UK on Aug 26-30

Overland Expo in Loveland, CO on Aug 27-29

Descend on Bend in Bend, OR on Sept 2-6

Adventure Van Expo in Redmond, OR on Sept 4-5

Asheville Van Life Rally in Asheville, NC on Sept 16-19

Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat in Copper Harbor, MI on Sept 16-19

Adventure Van Expo in Lake Tahoe, CA on Sept 18-19

Overland Expo in Flagstaff, AZ on Sept 24-26

TinyFest in Austin, TX on Sept 25-26

Adventure Van Expo in Chattanooga, TN on Oct 2-3

Overland Expo in Arlington, VA on Oct 8-10

Adventure Van Expo in Big Bear Lake, CA on Oct 17-18

4 Wheel Pop-up Camper in Ocotillo Wells, CA on Dec 4-5

For 4x4 Overlanders, check out these gatherings:

Southern Xpeditions in Uwharrie, NC —> Spring Overland Challenge is April 23-25 & Fall Overland Challenge is Nov 5-7

Off-Road Safety Academy —> they have 4x4 training courses and various tours all around the USA & Baja

Red Rock 4-Wheelers —> labor day campout in Moab, UT

There are also a few festivals that have not announced 2021 dates, but may announce 2022 dates:

Open Roads Fest in McCall, ID

Vanstock Alaska in Summer 2022

Midwest Vanlife Gathering in Makanda, IL

Vanlife Diaries in Australia

Women On The Road Gathering in Taos, NM

The Oregon Love in Sisters, OR

If you know of any gatherings, festivals, and meetups not on this list, please let me know! Also, check out Sēkr (formerly known as The Vanlife App) for more gatherings people post!

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Washing Ardanwen The Van

September 28, 2020

I washed my van Ardanwen on September 11th during that crazy week when the California sky looked like nuclear winter due to all the wildfire’s smoke. Despite the eerie apocalyptic sky, I really like how my van still shines bright and clean. I figured it would be dirty covered in ash within a few days, but luckily Ardanwen is still sparkling and ready for our next adventure.

On Thursday September 24th, my cat Maverick and I left on our month long road trip to Oregon and Washington. We are caravanning with a vanlife friend and taking our time exploring various towns to see which ones appeal to us the most. In the last few years, the idea of moving up north has weighed heavily on my mind, but I haven’t made up my mind whether the colder climate is ideal for me. This will also be the longest trip in a vehicle for me, so I want to test out whether I will miss being in a house or whether life on the road suits me. I have considered going full time, therefore, I need to see if my cat and I can handle it.

If you’re in Oregon or Washington please DM me so we can meet up! I want to see all my friends living in the Pacific Northwest and make new friends along the way!

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Traction Board Roof Rack Setup

September 21, 2020

I’ve been trying to find a practical solution to store my traction boards on my van. I didn’t want the system where they hang on the side of the roof rack because they’re so obvious then and it’s less aerodynamic. After doing some research online, I found a great mounting system from Equipt which allows them to lay flat on my Aluminess roof rack!

The mounting brackets fit into the perforated roof rack floor and then the mounting pins go into those brackets. The traction boards then fit onto the pins and you put a padlock on one for extra security.

The only problem was that I thought I had MaxTrax brand traction boards, but it turns out I have a cheaper brand that I purchased off Amazon. So the mounting pins don’t fit in the corner holes because they aren’t the specific shape MaxTrax has. But my handyman friend figured out a way to utilize the handle slots instead and secure them with pins and a padlock. It’s not the perfect system but it’s been holding up!

What I like most about it is that you barely see the traction boards on top when you look up. If they were black and not orange then I doubt you’d notice them at all. You can only see them when standing on my passenger side, so I’m happy with the mounting system.

Check out more photos of the mounting job in my Instagram post!

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How To Reclassify Your Van Conversion To A Motorhome In California

August 24, 2020

I recently went through the process of reclassifying my new Sprinter van conversion as a motorhome at the DMV in California. When you buy an empty cargo van, the VIN # is generally classified as a commercial cargo van. Once you convert the cargo van to a living space, the value of what you put into the conversion is not covered under the original insurance policy for the cargo van. That policy basically only covers the vehicle shell and engine block. Therefore, the process to reclassify your vehicle is very important so you can get insurance coverage for the full value of the vehicle with the conversion and all the upgrades. There are a lot of things that the DMV website doesn't explain well, so I figured it would be good to give you all a step-by-step process on how to do this.

1) I recommend reading this overview on the DMV website, especially the part about Camper Recreational Vehicle Definitions, which can be quite helpful.

2) Download form REG 256A on the DMV website. You fill out the top section (license plate, VIN, year/make), and then Section E. Do not fill out Sections A-D as they do not apply to this. Then you answer which of the three conversion choices if applicable to you. I selected the third option, ‘this vehicle was permanently modified,’ checked ‘converted to motorhome,’ and entered the modification completion date. Then you enter the cost of the complete vehicle before it was modified (I entered what I paid for the new Sprinter), the cost of changes, including labor (I entered my whole build cost), and the total value of the vehicle now (cost of vehicle, all the upgrades, all the labor, etc.). Lastly, you sign, date, and write in your phone number.

3) Make sure you have your Title! If you are financing your van, you may not have your title because the lien holder has it. If that is the case, you will need to contact your lien holder and have them mail the title to the local DMV office you will be going to. Sometimes this can take a few weeks or even a month. In my case Mercedes Benz said they mailed it the day after I requested it, but the DMV didn’t get it until a month later. I’m assuming that is because they are short staffed and it takes awhile for all the mail to get sorted.

4) Bring your Title, Registration, filled-out Form REG 256A, and copies of all the build receipts to the DMV with your converted van and go to their Vehicle Inspection lane. This is usually next to the drivers test lane. Someone from the DMV will come out and you can tell them you converted the van and want it reclassified as a motorhome and give them your documents. They will check out the conversion and check your mileage. Then they hand you another form that shows inspection was done and conversion confirmed.

5) Go inside the DMV with all the paperwork and wait to get a number. Once you get called, you give the DMV employee all your paperwork and explain you are there to reclassify your vehicle from a commercial cargo van to an automobile motorhome. Don’t be surprised if they ask for guidance from another DMV clerk as this is not an every day request. But don’t worry, they will reclassify your vehicle VIN # in their system, even if this takes longer than you expect. Since you are increasing the value of your van, you will need to pay more registration fees because those fees are based on the vehicle's total value. If you just renewed your registration, you will only have to pay the difference, but if your registration is about to expire, you will have to pay the full amount. Until recently, the DMV only accepts cash, check, or debit card as payment, but now they also take credit cards. I would bring your checkbook just in case though as that might vary by DMV office. There is a fee for using debit or credit, which I believe is 2.75% of the amount, so if you are looking to save money, bring cash or check. You will be issued a new registration and the process with the DMV is now complete.

6) Next thing you should do is call your van insurance. They will need to change or update your van insurance to reflect that it is a motorhome, which is very different from being a cargo van. Many insurance companies will not insure a van conversion. For example, Progressive and AAA in California will not insure it (based on my phone calls with them in August 2020). State Farm will insure a van conversion and my rep completely understood what that entailed so that everything is fully covered in case of an accident. They do require build receipts as well as build photos as proof of the conversion. I've also heard that Allstate, and USAA will insure van conversions, so I also recommend getting quotes from them as well. Make sure you select enough coverage in bodily injury, liability, uninsured motorist, etc., so you are financially covered in case of a tragic accident. Van conversions do a lot more damage than a regular car due to their weight, so you want to keep that in mind when selecting your liability ranges. Also keep in mind your wealth/assets as someone could go after you for damages. Umbrella insurance policies could also come into play. Talk to your agent and make sure you get what you need so you are covered in every way.

I hope this break down is helpful and simplifies the whole process for you! If you are looking for some more information on insurance, I highly recommend Bearfoot Theory’s module on choosing an RV insurance policy for vanlife, as well as R.O.W. with Mick and Chick's insurance blog posts, which are both very informative!

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All You Need Is A Cat And A Van!

July 26, 2020

All you need is a cat and a van! I’m so lucky to have both, and even better, that my cat enjoys going on the road with me.

This week we leave for our first official van trip! I was so happy to see Maverick explore the inside of the van tonight and get comfortable in it while I was doing some packing and measuring. Mav rubbed his head all over everything to make sure he claimed it as his. I’m pretty sure he approves of the wonderful craftsmanship from Johnson Custom Van Solutions. As you can see, he’s a very happy cat!

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Vanlife Blog

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2025

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2024

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2023

Vanlife & Overlanding Events 2022

Live the Dream: Become a Digital Nomad

Getting Established

Staying Afloat

Survival on the Move