When we heard about Diane’s story of her solo female road trip up the California coast, we couldn’t help but share! Read her inspirational interview below.
Tell us about yourself.
S.T.U.C.K. That word alone perfectly described where I was this time last year.
I was S.T.U.C.K doing a job that was beneath me and that literally s-u-c-k-e-d the living soul right out of me, just so that I could “fit in” with societies definition of “success.”
I was S.T.U.C.K with having to choose between dating again—after 4 glorious years of being alone— to please my parents or remain single.
I was S.T.U.C.K with having to put my happiness aside so that I could focus on “adulting.”
But, in May 2017, something out-of-the-ordinary happened to me. After I graduated with my Master’s degree, I booked a one-way ticket to Europe and aimlessly wandered around various countries… solo. I marveled in awe at the beauty of Iceland. I devoured authentic fish & chips amongst strangers in Ireland. I ate lush gelato in Italy. I saw the breathtaking views of Greece and fulfilled my dreams of horseback riding on an Arabic horse and sailing the Aegean Sea on a sunset cruise. I booked a ticket to the Middle East and found myself laughing and crying tears of joy while indulging in Turkish delights and sharing stories amongst the Islamic community.
My solo-trip last year led to a transformative experience. I began that journey in search of self-discovery and I found that and so much more. I saw the true beauty of this world, not only in nature but in strangers too. I forged relationships and built bridges of peace and hope. After that adventure, traveling quickly became a way of life for me. It became a priority, which led to my second solo adventure of spending an entire month backpacking down the West Coast from Washington, to Oregon, to California.
So, that is my backstory, just an average girl hungry to see the world.
What led you to book a trip with Escape Camper Vans?
After my wild adventure in May, I. wanted. M-O-R-E. I wanted to see more nature. I wanted to travel more. I wanted to meet more people. I just wanted to do M-O-R-E.
But there was one problem. I was broker than broke.
So, I excitingly looked for ways to make extra money (photography ? ) to save for my next BIG adventure. Upon doing that, I stumbled upon Escape Camper Vans.
I marveled at the advertisement and eagerly swiped through all of the glorious images which depicted colorful vans in the coolest locations. For months, I literally dreamed of booking the campervan; I did all I could to save up enough coins to make my dream a reality. I even listed my photography services 50% off so that I could collect enough change to give myself the experience of a lifetime.
Finally, as my 26th birthday was approaching, I decided to give myself the best birthday gift E-V-E-R.
On January of 2017, I eagerly purchased my 1-week campervan rental from Escape Camper Vans.
What were some of your highlights from the trip?
Some of my favorite locations included:
Highway 1/ Big Sur Area: Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, Pfeiffer Big Sur SP, Andrew Molera SP, Calaveras Big Tree State Park, and Coyote Hills Regional Park (San Lorenzo). The BIGGEST Highlight for me was having the freedom to visit my best friend who I hadn’t seen in over 10+ years. Escape Camper Vans made this possible for me and it was such an emotional and happy moment in my life.
Thanks, Diane! You can read the full blog post and see photos from Diane’s trip on her website and Instagram. And if you want to go on a similar Northern California trip, book your campervan from our San Francisco depot.