Lily and the DayTripper

My name is Lily, and I am a 37-year-old outdoor lover, a marathon runner in training, and someone on a journey of self-discovery. As a Korean adoptee and cancer survivor, I’ve struggled with my identity, and largely my self-worth. Growing up in Minnesota when there wasn’t a lot of diversity wasn’t easy, and dealing with a cancer diagnosis in 2016 seemed to have taken over my personality. I struggled to be the perfect person I thought everyone wanted me to be, whether that be a daughter, a wife, or a friend—always thinking about what I should be in relation to others. This meant that I wasn’t really looking inward as much, checking in on how I feel, and often second-guessing myself. Running and training for a marathon became a minor escape, a way to process my thoughts and feelings. But despite these efforts, these big efforts, I still felt adrift.This past year has been tough – with lots of counseling and therapy sessions. Turns out, being adopted can affect your relationship with others, even when you try and stuff those feeling so far away that not even a black hole could swallow them. In the midst of all this, I’ve felt pretty lost. But I found my way, in a place I did not expect—in my first journey with a DayTripper.

One day in therapy, I realized I needed a break. The Women’s Vistabule Meetup was coming up quickly; it was the perfect excuse to escape and, even more enticing, I would get to bring the DayTripper. I would also get the pleasure of bringing Cindy (who works at Vistabule) and her wife, Julia, with me to Maryland!

My first adventure with the DayTripper was a road trip from Minnesota to Maryland for the inaugural Women’s Vistabule Meetup. I was in a bad mood, I felt like I had overdosed on therapy, I was sick of learning about feelings, how to express feelings, how to take in other people’s feelings, and just physically tired from training. Arriving at Cindy and Julia’s, I saw they were both smiling from ear to ear.  It’s hard to stay in a bad mood when your two traveler companions are so excited. It took us five minutes to pack plus another two minutes to chat with the Minneapolis city workers stopping by to share how much they love Vistabules, and Cindy’s awesome old-school Toyota truck. We took photos, said our goodbyes, and we were off.

We made some unforgettable stops along the way: my first visit to a Cracker Barrel, and a stop at the RV hall of Fame, which had me and Cindy laughing throughout the entire giftshop. We ran around thinking of the different gifts that would match each employee’s personality. Mike, yours was a lime green RV Hall of Fame golf polo…you’re welcome.

We stopped at the Century of Progress Homes Tour, in Beverley Shores, Indiana. We went horseback riding in Maryland. I watched the Minnesota Timberwolves play on my laptop in the middle of nowhere while relaxing in the DayTripper. We went trail running, and so much more.  All these beautiful moments began to chip away at some of the walls I had built around myself.

The DayTripper really shines in its simplicity. Setting it up takes just five minutes. I vividly remember one evening in particular, when we arrived at a campsite as the sun was setting, all of us tired from the road; a day filled with stop-and-go traffic from road construction, and the cicada swarms starting to emerge. I recall opening the back of DayTripper–moving a few bags from the trailer to the car, unrolling my sleeping bag, turning on the fan, and viola, I was set up for the night. No more complicated than checking in to a hotel room for the night. I even had energy to help Cindy and Julia as they set up their tent. There was no stress or fuss–just pure simplicity when it came to the DayTripper.  It gave me the time to think about everything else in life that was going on. I had time to journal, to meditate, to relax!

The spacious interior was a revelation. I sat with my back against the headboard with my legs outstretched, or with my back on the bed with my legs hanging onto the archway – getting the best stretch, which felt really nice on my legs after so many months of marathon training. I daydreamed about how it would be with my two dogs in the trailer: just the right size. Every time I jumped in, I felt a deep sense of contentedness and peace. I felt safe in my own little world.

The DayTripper was an absolute breeze to tow. It handled like a dream through a storm, heavy traffic and road construction. Even though I have not been camping much, the DayTripper gave me a true feeling of independence, which in turn filled me with happiness. My self-esteem seemed to get a small boost with every new journey we took that trailer on. When the Women’s Gathering was in fully swing, it was the cherry on top to be around other women seeking and finding that same independence and confidence with their own trailers.

Throughout this trip, I began lowering some of the walls that I had built up around me over the years,  and started to find my voice and confidence again. I started to understand my own feelings, needs and desires, separate from the expectations of others. This was my time, my space, and I was surprised how genuinely liberating it was. There is nothing inherently magical about a teardrop trailer, but it honestly felt that way. It provided a space for me to grow more into myself.

One unexpected, but beautiful outcome of this journey, was a deeper connection with my dad. I remember when he was first designing this trailer, we had talked about how I might never be able to afford a Vistabule, and didn’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles found in our flagship trailer. That first night in the DayTripper, I saw the passion he put into this trailer, and that he had truly listened to me. He built a trailer that was minimalistic, simple, easy. I felt his arms around me, telling me that he loved me, his daughter, and I was beaming with pride and love. I often struggle to hug or show affection to my parents–I blame adoption–but at this moment I felt the closest I have to my dad in probably 10 – 15 years. I certainly don’t expect anyone to have that same reaction or experience during their own first night in a DayTripper (or a Vistabule), just know that these trailers were genuinely designed with love.

Here are a few things I learned from my journey that might help fellow solo travelers: