#VANLIFE: MEET KENDALL AND HER CONVERTED VW, VANCE
A SPOTLIGHT ON #VANLIFE WITH KENDALL BAGGERLY
A note from the Editor, Lindsay Vacek:
When I first moved to Australia, I took a few months to drive around and explore the country. I had rented a 4x4 SUV and converted it into something I could easily camp in while on the road. Along the way, I met so many amazing people - some who lived permanently in their vans - and some who utilize their little home on wheels for road trips and extended holidays. Regardless, all these people had one thing in common: a passion for adventure. I became obsessed with spending nights by the campfire, hearing about their journeys and I knew I needed to bring their stories to all of you.
van•life: a rapidly growing lifestyle where people all over the world are converting vans into rolling homes to explore more, connect with nature and the people who live in small towns, and spend more time on their creative passions while lowering the cost of accommodations on longer road trips.
What’s your name? Kendall Baggerly
Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself! I'm originally from San Diego, California. I studied abroad in Sydney in 2015 which is when I met my now boyfriend, Glenn. We did a lot of long distance at the start of our relationship until I officially moved to Australia in 2017, and we've been here ever since! We've spent the last year living in our van Vance travelling the country – hands down the best decision we've ever made.
What’s a typical day look like for you? No two days are the same on the road, but we do like to keep our morning routine the same every day. We wake up with the sun, make a yummy coffee and then plan our day out. Sometimes it's spent exploring new places – hiking, swimming, surfing, rock pool hunting. But other times it's a lot less fun – doing laundry, running errands, going to the mechanics. It's all a big balance but we love it!
When did you first get your home on wheels? We bought our Vance about two years ago initially just as a weekend van to take on trips out of the city. Safe to say we fell in love with the lifestyle and quickly made plans to turn him into a full-time home on wheels.
What was the build-out like and how long did it take? Any difficult challenges you faced? We did our build at a community workshop that had all the tools and space necessary to get the job done. We paid for a month's use of the space, so we worked every single day until it was done in about a month's time! We didn't have any major challenges, but a lot of the time our days were spent problem solving. Working with such a tiny area like a van means every little space matters, so every decision (e.g. how far out to make the bench top, how to maximize underbed storage, etc.) had to be really thought out. It can be really overwhelming but it's also so empowering!
What’s your favorite part of your home? Hands down our favorite part is our pull-out kitchenette that allows us to cook out the side of Vance. It doubles as our pantry storage as well, and we love it! Other than that I'd say our next favorite is our pop-top. Being able to stand up inside the van is a luxury I'll never take for granted.
Where to next? We're planning on heading to Western Australia next and will most likely spend about a year there. After our entire trip is done, we want to also do a trip in Vance to NZ once the borders open. I'd also love to do vanlife over in the states in a few years time. So many places to explore!
Best advice or tip for those wanting to choose #vanlife? Be prepared for things to not go to plan. Between breakdowns, bad weather and good ol' covid, we've had to change our plans a lot more than we thought. But that's okay! The more you're able to go with the flow, the better. This lifestyle is full of ups and downs, and that's all part of the adventure.
What is the most difficult challenge you’ve faced living in your van or on the road? We had a really bad breakdown at the beginning of our trip, which was a massive headache (and bill!). And right after we got it fixed, we were hit with travel restrictions due to covid and got stuck in a small town for three months. It was a really hard time, but in retrospect it taught us to slow down and never take our time on the road for granted. There's always a silver lining!
What song is a “must” for the road trip playlist? You can never go wrong with a little Bohemian Rhapsody! We always add that song to our road trip playlists for a little mood booster. Aside from that, we're big fans of Rufus, Ziggy Alberts and Crooked Colours :)
What’s the most memorable moment you had while traveling? We recently travelled to Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia with some friends. One afternoon we went exploring to a hidden beach to escape the crowds, and as soon as we got onto the beach we were greeted with around 30 dolphins that came near the shore. We all went running in to swim with them and instead of swimming away, the dolphins stayed around and hung out with us for a bit. It was one of the most magical experiences getting to see so many of them in their natural habitat, playing in the waters with us. We were all completely speechless. Definitely a moment that we'll forever cherish!
How do people find you/connect? (list your social media/website/etc) My Instagram is @kendallbaggerly and we're also on YouTube under Kendall and Glenn, which is where we share a little more in-depth content of our travels around Aus, including that memorable dolphin swim! :)
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Contributed by estCA staff, Lindsay Vacek