5in29: Day 1
2024-12-11. Syracuse to Las Vegas
Van Life:
Even though we watched the videos on the company’s website, there is still a lot of learning and practice on so many controls for so many things. Key aspects are:
The van battery (or car battery) is for the engine to run.
The house lithium battery is for the lights, outlets for devices, and the fan for the heater, and water pump (for running water). It can be charged by the engine, solar panels, or the generator.
The propane is for the heater, cooking, and hot water. It needs to be refilled.
An emergency generator can be used if the van battery is dead. We pay extra for it if we use it.
Clean water for washing is limited to 20 gallons and needs to be filled once close to being empty.
The gray water (or used water) needs to be emptied.
The toilet uses clean water and needs to have special pods or tablets for breaking down waste and odor control. It needs to be emptied.
The open space inside the van is very limited. It is as if a one-way bridge if two people need to pass each other.
The van has limited storage space. No convenient access to any necessary items. We need to keep our luggage occupied because there are not enough compartments to keep various items including changing clothes.
Finding free parking space to spend the night can be tricky. We want to be in a safe place that is not too far from our planned route. Fortunately, my relative in Vegas invited us to spend the night on the street in front of his house. After putting on the window shields, we had complete privacy and others from outside may not even tell if anyone is in the van. The picture above is of the van parked in front of his house in North Las Vegas.
The company provided pillows, covers, and some cooking stuff but I do not plan to use them. I brought my blanket, bed sheet, shower, and hand towels. Roman brought a pillowcase and towels. We bought many items from Dollar Tree, Walmart, and local grocery stores for sleeping, showering, snacks, cooking essentials, and fresh produce.
Eureka Moments:
“Oh! My WiFi!” My T-Mobile portable WiFi device is a godsend. I plug it into any power outlet, including in the van and at the restaurant during lunch, and I am connected to the world—if there is a signal on my phone, then there is an internet connection for my computer.
A humidifier is an essential item here in Vegas. The air is so dry that my hands started to crack within one day of arriving! I’d have severe nose bleeding at night and in the morning if not having the humidifier running.