The VanDerk

​While I was working early this summer, I bought some camera equipment and realized that travelling in the fall with only two backpacks to carry our stuff would be super difficult (at the time I was already living out of a backpack and I was like WOOOOOOAH! I cannot even fit my tent, sleeping bag and camera in my bag, let alone all the other things that we will accumulate for our trip). So I confided in Derk: "This is going to be realy hard," said I. "Yes, I was thinking that too. It is stressful, I think I will buy a van," she said. "Ok," I said. 

And thus Derk hit up the good old internet, found a man named Gino, and met him at his deli. With Gino, all of his sons, and his wife watching her, Derk inspected the vehicle that he had for sale: A 2000 GMC Savannah with approx. 140 000 km on it. The visible rust has been painted over to make it no longer visible, and the front shocks had been recently replaced. The A/C didn't work, so Derk said "Hey Gino, would you be able to fix the A/C and get the vehicle E-tested and certified?" And Gino, who appeared to like Derk quite a lot to the point where Derk's mother stated, "Gino is quite dazzled by you, that will make things easier," said "Ok, for sure." 

Before the official purchase, a family friend who is quite familiar with automobiles and all that comes with them, went with Derk to check the van and make sure she wasn't getting ripped off. "No issues, it looks fine, you won't get a better deal for that price," he said. So she bought it and did all of those things that you do after you buy a vehicle (all of those things).

She then outfitted it so that we can live in it for three months. This means a vent in the ceiling, a bed for the both of us, a fridge to keep our food cold, and space to keep all of our things. There is also a passenger bench for Megan and Allie to comfortably drive across the country in the back of the van. And thus, we have the VanDerk. The interior is made of wood, but Derk believes that eventually the interior will deteriorate (just due to use). So when our trip is complete, she is going to rip it all out, and use her welding skills to redo it all in metal. Woow, metal. 

Peace and love, 
Korry

***below is a photo of the VanDerk in front of a giant mining truck, which was behind the Walmart in Hinton, AB.