Van Life 2.0: The MacGyver Era and the Gated Mystery

On the Monday after the Super Bowl, Baxter and I embarked on Van Life: Part Two.

I still didn't have functioning plumbing, but I wasn't about to let a little thing like that hold me back. I’ve officially moved into my "MacGyver phase," using a five-gallon water jug and a USB-powered faucet as my primary system. It’s not glamorous, but it works—and honestly, after the ditch incident, "it works" is my new favorite phrase.

I’ve learned my lesson about winging it. My calendar app is now my best friend, logging every planned stop to ensure I don’t end up in another midnight "icy ditch" scenario. For this leg—a four-day trek to Phoenix—I leaned heavily on Harvest Hosts. It turned out to be the perfect way to find safe, reliable spots while I regained my confidence.

Our first night was at Black Mesa Winery between Taos and Santa Fe. As I pulled in, I had a strange sense of deja vu—I’d been here a couple of years ago with friends. Their wine is just as good as I remembered, and I highly recommend a stop if you’re in the area.

Black Mesa Winery

The next morning, we headed to Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque. I always talk to the Visitor Center volunteers. The gentleman who volunteered there gave me a treasure trove of brochures that will come in handy on future trips to New Mexico. He also let me in on a pro-tip that changed my hiking plans: "Don't do the Rinconada trail as a loop. Walk it as an out-and-back." He was right. By doubling back, I saw several petroglyphs I’d missed on the way in. Check out the reel of the hike here!

My next Harvest Host stay was with Starr Brothers Brewery. Their Mexican Lager is a winner, but I’m a sucker for a Mexican Lager so take my advice with a grain of salt.

The drive through El Malpais National Monument on the way to Show Low, AZ, was stunning. I’m still working on a good system to capture the "windshield cinema" while I drive, I have a system that kind of works so I was able to capture some of that journey, but I wouldn’t recommend my method. I’ve got some equipment coming that should help with this.

I stopped for the Ventana Arch hike—a gorgeous, ADA-compliant trail that proves you don’t have to scramble over boulders to see something spectacular.

Ventana Arch in El Malpais National Monument

Then, I tackled the Lava Falls hike. This one earned its "moderate" rating. There are sections where you’re scrambling over lava rock and jumping over deep cracks that feel like mini-abysses. You can see the my visit to this monument in my reel here.

I arrived at my next Harvest Host tired and ready to park. It was a bar near Show Low, but as I pulled up, things got weird. The bar was closed. Empty. And gated.

There was a chain across the entrance, but no lock. I called the host—no answer. I left a message: "I can see the gate isn't locked, I have a reservation, so I’m coming in. Call me if this is a problem." I unchained the gate, drove Bob Seeger through, and closed it again behind me. It felt weird - like maybe I was trespassing? I picked a spot, texted the host again, and... crickets. I never heard a word. I spent the night in total, gated silence. Honestly, it was the best camping spot I got on this leg of the trip.

A mystery bar outside of Show Low, AZ

The drive into Phoenix provided the ultimate "small world" moment. At a gas station in Show Low, I ran into a former coworker, Nick, who had been laid off at the exact same time I was. What are the odds?

On the final stretch into Phoenix, I took my uncle’s advice and stopped at the Salt River Canyon overlook on Route 60—absolutely breathtaking.

Salt River Canyon Overlook, Rte 60, Arizona

I also made a last-minute detour to Tonto National Monument. It’s a steep 600-foot climb over half a mile, but standing in those ancient cliff dwellings makes every drop of sweat worth it.

Tonto National Monument, Roosevelt, Arizona

These few days were the van life reset I needed. I’m still a little wary of dispersed camping after the New Mexico incident, Harvest Hosts provided the safety net I needed to remember why I started this in the first place.

After a few days of shenanigans with family and friends in Phoenix, Baxter and I are hitting the road again. Next stop: The Gila National Forest. 🐾 🌲