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Now, we’re setting off on our biggest journey yet: a 5-month road trip through North America in a 4×4 Truck Camper.
Join us as we chase adventure, forge unforgettable memories, and make new friends along the way.
I was just finishing writing about how we were about to fly to the States in one week and still hadn’t found the 4×4 Truck Camper we needed for this adventure. That’s when Alecu, my partner in everything, stumbled upon something technically and specifically promising on Facebook Marketplace. It was in L.A., and our friend Bogo—an incredible help in getting us started and without whom this trip would have been far harder to organize—was already checking it out as I typed.
I desperately wanted to believe that this was it, that we had finally solved the crucial mystery of finding our home for the next few months. So, I dared to put the thought out into the universe: This is the one. It’s going to be ours.
And then, it happened.
But let’s rewind a little…
Never before had we taken such a long time off work to travel. With Markus starting school in just a year, it felt like our window for big, extended adventures was narrowing. These thoughts swirled in our minds as we returned from Morocco last November. Even before the trip had ended, we were already dreaming of the next one—or several, to be honest.
A series of events pushed us to make some life-changing decisions. We sold our apartment, moved to a country house that needed renovating, and set aside a significant portion of the funds for a larger journey—one we probably wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.
South America was calling us back with its mesmerizing landscapes, towering mountains, and warm people. Having been there before, we longed to return, but the logistics of traveling through multiple countries, combined with the challenges of acquiring a suitable car, made the idea more complex. Plus, we were acutely aware of how harsh the high altitudes of the Andes could be on Markus, not to mention the unpredictable mountain weather. Adding North America into the mix, with its visas and border crossings, felt overwhelming for the time frame we had in mind.
This time, we wanted something different—a trip where we could slow down and truly immerse ourselves in the experience, not race from one place to the next like we had so often before.
North America became the more practical choice, in large part thanks to Alecu’s good old friend Bogo. From organizing logistics to helping on the ground, he made everything seem so much more manageable. At first, we were a bit disappointed; North America wasn’t our dream destination. But we reminded each other of its own stunning landscapes, throwing Canada, Alaska, Denali, the North Pole, the Aurora Borealis, and even the Alaskan Railroad in the mix. Slowly, the idea of an ambitious road trip from Alaska to Mexico started to take shape.
Every change to our plans brought mixed emotions—frustration, hesitation, and sometimes doubt. Neither of us handled giving up ideas well, and we struggled to embrace new ones fully amidst the daily avalanche of decisions. It often felt like we needed time to convince ourselves to find joy in the ever-evolving adventure, even when last-minute adjustments seemed to be the norm.
The months leading up to the trip were exhausting. We sold the apartment and renovated the house mostly ourselves. Alecu spent his days working in the workshop and evenings laboring on the house until late at night. I was juggling work, wall painting, caring for Markus, managing the household, and keeping up with everyday events and the never-ending planning. By June, we moved into the house—well, sort of. Our belongings were still in boxes, we slept in our Sprinter van parked in the yard, and it took weeks before we even had a bed in the bedroom. Through it all, Markus was a star. Despite leaving behind friends, his childhood home, and having limited access to his belongings, he adapted with incredible resilience.
We leaned heavily on each other and on the support of friends who helped, encouraged, and loved us through it all. Love you guys! Weekends became sacred escapes—climbing, meeting friends, enjoying live music, and taking off-the-beaten-track adventures to places like Albania and the Dolomites. These mini getaways kept us sane during those months when we thought the dust would never settle, when things seemed to go off track more often than not, gave us fresh air, time to enjoy each other, and reminded us why we were pushing so hard for this dream.
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