Surprise Destination: Dead Lakes Recreation Area, Florida

Thanks to Campendium!

After the holidays visiting with our families in Georgia, the plan was to head west to Arizona. Bah! Silly us! Plans- why do we make them? They always change!

With our Ford Explorer hauling our Casita, if Google Maps says 10 hours to get somewhere, it will take us double time to get there. We plan for a 20 hour trip. With tax season in full swing, for Adam that wasn't the best decision. 

We re-routed ourselves and headed south to Florida. We never expected 2017 would keep us in the Southeast.

A photo posted by Adam & Lindsey Nubern (@nuventuretravels) on Jan 17, 2017 at 4:05pm PST

Yes, we're 30 and snow birds already. We're claiming it!

Our destination in Florida: Camel Lake Campground in Apalachicola National Forest.

Why? It was a green spot on the map and only $10 per night. 

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Morning Fog at Camel Lake Campground, Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, USA

We've learned too much research and too many decisions burn us out. So,  we make a decision and are flexible. Anything can happen along the journey.

We arrived at dusk and learned- no Verizon coverage. We never thought of ourselves as being "those" people attached to the internet when we're out in the woods. To live this lifestyle, we are. That's the reality.  

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Dusk at Camel Lake Campground in Apalachicola National Forest, FL

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Next Destination: Dead Lakes Recreation Area, Wewahitchka, Florida

Success! Four bars of Verizon. And, only $14 per night for water, power, fire wood, and laundry.

Lesson learned: Check out coverage at campsites before you arrive on Campendium! And, we called to triple check.

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It's the perfect spot out in the middle of "nowhere." (It's only thirty minutes to Panama City, Florida if you want to get some activity.) It's the perfect spot to land for a lot of quiet time and little distraction. And- for photographers and fishermen/women.

The Apalachicola River changed course killing the trees in this area reasoning the name Dead Lakes. The bird watching is amazing here! Haven't seen gators- yet! 

The folks in the campsite have welcomed us as family and have been wonderful to us. Thankful for this gem near the Forgotten Coast of Florida.

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Check out more photos from our Florida adventures here.

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Watch a video of a Friday morning on the dock. 

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Your turn! What are camping lessons have you learned the hard way? We all live and learn, eh?

Camper Turned Glamper: Tiny House Remodel Before & After

You ready for this before and after? Woop woop! Let's do this! I've been so excited to share!

We took a video touring our new camper the day after we bought our 2009 Casita Spirit Deluxe Travel Trailer. You'll see my excitement! 

We had just come from five months living out of a campervan (ahem, minivan) in New Zealand. The bed served many purposes: bed, couch, kitchen counter, and as the kitchen table many days.

Living Tiny in New Zealand

Our campervan, Bernie, in New Zealand.

My Aunt Janet visiting our camper. She was a great sport!

Adam cooking on the bed frame.

Our campervan bathroom situation? Public showers and campsite drop toilets. Yuck! After five months of this-- you'd be this excited about your own bathroom, too!

The bathroom logistics aside, campervanning New Zealand changed our lives. So much so, I wrote a book for other travelers on how to do it: How to Buy a Campervan in New Zealand.  

Our lifestyle was on the move every day seeing NZ's beautiful sites. We were living tiny, with only what we needed, and the outdoors became our extended living space. By being pushed outside, we saw the southern lights and an eclipse at random! We loved it and we were hooked.

When we returned to the US, we wanted to continue this nomadic lifestyle-- as long as I had my own toilet and shower. I was firm on this and stood my ground against Adam's "truck stop shower" solution.

The arguments over the bathroom situation were real! You can watch how it went down on our episode of HGTV's Tiny House Hunters as Backpackers Go Tiny here.

Okay, you ready to see the before and after? Here we go!

Before:

Here's a tour of our 2009 Casita Spirit Deluxe Travel Trailer the day after we bought her. Welcome to Bernadette! Her name comes from being lovelier and classier than Bernie our NZ campervan. 

Now, nine months later... a few things have changed!

After: Camper Turned Glamper

Check her out! 

The view when you walk in.

The bed area.

The breakfast table nook.

View from the bed in the back toward the front door and bathroom door.

The bathroom door open... the toilet and shower are still in there:)

View of the kitchen with the sink, stove top, and refrigerator.

Our kitchen sink with two burners.

Aerial view of the kitchen space between the front door and bed.

She's our home! Photo credit: Charlie K Media.

What Really Happened Between Before & After?

1. Bed Space

We initially thought we'd use both tables a lot. Since making the bed for the first time (by collapsing the big table down), the table's never been back. It's too much effort. So, we keep the big table down as our bed and couch, and use the little side table for all the meals, working, and craft making. 

Breakfast in Bernadette- our favorite part of the day!

2. Tow Vehicle

We're towing our Casita with our 2002 Ford Explorer. Her name's Shugs, because for her condition (200,000+ miles and she's on her fourth transmission) she's been super sweet to us. 

Sunset in Texas. Daggum!

3. Making Her Our Cozy Home

My mom came to the rescue. How was I going to turn carpeted walls and faux wood cabinets into our home? Well, we did a lot of brainstorming, crafting and shoppin' til we were droppin' together! Thank you, Mom! 

My study guide? Glamping with Mary Jane. It was gifted to us from our friends, the Thompson's. I read this book front to back.

Gosh! It was so nice to be validated that what I really want is okay. To live nomadically, but still feel like a lady with my own toilet, shower and decorative pillows and bunting!

I gave roughing it a valid go. On our #nuventures, we've lived in a tent for five months; a minivan for five months; and we backpacked for six months. We did everything as low budget as we could to keep traveling. Many of you even hosted us on our journey. Thank you!

In our camper, we can travel in comfort and we have everything we need. 

Now, that we have our own space in the world, we can host folks. Aw, she's not too tiny. 

Please come on over! You're always welcome and we'd love to have you!

4. A Change from "Experiment" to "This Feels Right" 

When we first bought our camper, we knew this was an experiment. We had no idea if this was the right lifestyle for us or even the right size camper. We're living in about 100 square feet.

Our tentative plan was to live a year living this lifestyle. If it didn't work, we were ready to adjust and make a change. Honestly, we had no idea what we were doing (emptying tanks, getting water, how to get electricity), but we were curious and excited (obviously).

After nine months of living in Bernadette, she's our home. We've even started planning what Year 2 will look like traveling and living in her.

Through just going for it and experimenting, we figured out we love this lifestyle! 

Cheers to more glamping #nuventures! Come on over and join in!

On the road again...

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Travel Woes

Introduction to the Past Week

They say, "Everything comes in threes."

But, they also say, "When it rains it pours."

This last week, the challenges have been pouring on us

Because, it hasn’t been three it’s been four. 

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1. Where's the Car?

5:51 PM. August 18, 2016. Bay Street. San Francisco, CA.

Where’s the car?

I don’t see it. This is bizarre.

Tow Zone

No Stopping

No Standing

4 to 6 PM

My heart is racing.

Now I can’t stop pacing.

This was the place.

The pin and pics he sent show this space.

6:01 PM

Where’s the car?

I don’t see it. This is bizarre.

“Excuse me, Mr. Towman.

Is my car in your tow can?”

“Why yes, we have it.

It’ll be $520 to get the outfit.”

“What? I cannot believe

I need that kinda money to retrieve…”

6:05 PM

“He said it’s at 450 7th Street.

Wasn’t there stuff in the backseat?”

“How do you use Uber?”

This has gotta be a blooper.

My phone’s dying.

I wanna start crying.

6:28 PM

Where’s the car?

I don’t see it. This is bizarre.

“Are you Marko?

We’ve had a big sorrow.”

“Oh, I know where to go.

I take so many, I’m a pro.”

“Heck, I’ve even been towed.

Get ready, cus they take all your dough.”

7:34 PM. AutoReturn. San Francisco Police Department. San Francisco, CA. 

“Here’s the $520.

This has gotta be plenty.”

“There’s your car in the metal thicket,

And an additional $95 parking ticket.”

“What? A thirty-minute mistake.

Please give us a one-time-offense break.”

“I don’t have authorization

To relieve you from this citation.”

Well this just takes the cake

Now I gotta tension headache

Now, where’s the car?

I don’t see it. This is bizarre.

8:07 PM

Well, my wallets $650 lighter.

Now I’m a certified nail biter.

SF parking ain’t no disco.

Looks like its time to go.

San Fran this is how you treat your guests?

You’ll be getting our protests.

Now, where’s the plane?

The Nubern’s are on that train.

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2. Intruder! Intruder!

I pulled out a box to reorganize odds and ends.

Brown pellets? When did this become a trend?

Oh, no, we have new friends!

I spent four hours following the trace.

So many pellets all over the place. 

This was real. I was on an official mouse chase.

Unpacking, scouring, cleaning and scrubbing.

There’s so much poop. On what was he grubbing?

My anger is boiling. I’m ready for a slugging.

Discovery- Oh no! He made a nest.

Not in our flannel sheets in the winter chest!

Oh, that little pest!

I have to say, he does have good taste.

But, those sheets have to be replaced.

This is too much, his piled toxic waste!

Mouse poop is nothing to play.

Didn’t they carry the bubonic plague?

“Let me find him!” I prayed.

I’m after this intruder!

These aren’t old walls of a tudor.

This is a tiny RV and absolute pest excluder!

I scoured every nook and cranny.

Could it be an Annie or a Danny?

He’s lucky I couldn’t find his little fanny.

Well, did we ever find the little bugger?

Why yes, it was an ease catching this mugger.

That stinky, dumb, little sucker.

Through our laughter watching Sisters and the noisy AC

I heard a scrambling beneath me.

“Could this be him?” I thought with glee!

We turned everything off.

I held my breath not to cough.

I knew we were about to have a mouse standoff.

I silently put my ear to the cupboard

It was loud like a ruckus of buzzard!

Watch out, boy! We’re not Mother Hubbard!

I opened the door slowly not to induce

The beast to run off and be let loose

But, all we found was a cute, fury, little goose

poking his head up to see “Hey, what’s the news?”

Adam carefully took the trash box out

and quickly tied the plastic bag like takeout.

We couldn’t hurt the little sprout.

Adam let him go like a good boy scout.

I sighed relief. Done was the pursuit.

Gosh, he was so cute!

How could I have harmed the fury little newt?

I had been ready to prosecute.

“Where’d he run to, our newest pet?”

Adam pointed to the big rock next to our kitchenette.

“I’ve seen him hiding there by his tiny sillouette.”

“Oh, no,” I said “He’s still a threat.”

“He’ll be back.” My hopes crashed.

So away I went stationing a trap next to the trashed.

It’s been three days now with peanut butter and metal clashed.

I hope I won’t find him smashed.

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3. Moldy Fridge

I opened the fridge with a blast to the nose

The smell of rank hit me like a blow

I saw spots of mold growing all over in trios

Thankfully there were only condiments to go

But I cleaned down those splotchy walls

Bernadette can't be smelling like bathroom stalls!

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4. The Leak is Looking Bleak

We need a professional plumber

These rains from the summer

Are making us crazy.

No, we haven’t been lazy.

We can’t find the leak.

We’ve taken more than twenty peeks.

It’s not just a slow pitter patter.

It’s a serious matter.

There’s a lake forming at the the door.

To wait there is such a bore.

We gotta fill the invisible hole.

Or our heads are gonna blow.

We need a professional plumber.

These rains from the summer

Are making us crazy.

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Conclusion

Poetry can be healing

When the emotions are up to the ceiling

And your brain won’t stop wheeling.

It’s joy your thoughts are stealing.

Challenges will come up spontaneously

Making hot anger your radiancy. 

If you take a step back

From the anxiety attack

You see your blessings way over stack

All the current negative whack

So protect your joy and don’t let it be easily hijacked.  

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True stories of #nuventures. Who knew deep frustrations would lead to an outburst of poetry? I guess the pursuit of making it rhyming comedy is my coping mechanism.  

How do you handle the tough moments when you feel like everything's crazy and out of control?

Peek into our HGTV Tiny House Hunters Experience as Backpackers Go Tiny

Watch our Show

HGTV's Tiny House Hunters filmed us as we searched for our our tiny house on wheels. It was quite a series of #nuventures finding something cozy enough for me and practical for Adam. You can watch our show on Amazon here:

what was it like being on HGTV's TINY HOUSE HUNTERS?

We’ve been getting heaps of questions about our experience on HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters and some friendly harassment of Adam’s “truck stop” shower solution and “Choose yo battles, Shuga!” And folks have told us, “Ya’ll are crazy! I would’ve picked the other one!”

We wanted to share the experience with you. It was one full of surprises and not what we expected at all. We signed up for a brand spankin’ #nuventure without having a clue what we were really getting ourselves into.

Take a peek into our Tiny House Hunters experience. Here goes!

What was your most embarrassing moment while filming you were hoping wouldn’t make the final cut?

That’s easy! The very first scene. 

The first morning of filming, we met the crew at a campsite. We’ve never been on TV before and had no idea how things go.

For the first scene, our producer placed us in front of the lake. Then she handed us a cast iron skillet, eggs, bacon, and a metal grate. The grate was intended to put the skillet on over the fire.  Then, she said, “Now, build a fire, make breakfast, and talk about New Zealand.”

“Okay! Lights, camera, ACTION.” Then, the crew fell silent, the camera was rolling, and all eyes were on us.

Cricket. Cricket. Blink, blink. We stood there like two deer in headlights. 

What she didn’t realize is asking the Nuberns to make a fire is a tall order, without the breakfast or talking requests.

To understand the complexity of this, you have to first understand how we function as a couple.  First, Adam and I are pretty outdoorsy and camp all the time. We even lived out of a tent for five months together when road tripping the US. However, we each have streaks of competiveness. Over the years, we’ve learned to build campfires in silence.

We approach building fires differently. I start with the teepee. Adam starts with the box. So if the fire being built isn’t successful, the other person always has critiques to give. Did I mention we were competitive? So after years of the fire causing arguments and snapping at each other with “I got it! No- I got it!” silence and giving each other space has become our golden ticket to enjoying the campfire.

So, we were already being tested with the first request.

Second, how were we going to build this fire? There wasn’t a fire pit. We were standing on flat, pine-needle covered ground. Thoughts started racing in our heads. "Where’s the kindling? We don't want to catch the whole forest on fire! How are we logistically going to lay this metal grate over the fire to cook the bacon?” Adam's mom was with the crew motioning to us, "Rocks! Rocks! Make a fire ring!" Well, we didn’t have time to talk it out. The camera was rolling and New Zealand was our topic.  

Oh, New Zealand. Where do we start talking about New Zealand? We were there for five months with so much to say. Where do we begin?

My coping mechanism with the overload of requests was finding the path of least resistance. So I stood there and just started talking. Adam followed suit and started sniffing for some fat lighter to get this fire going.  

What a bomb! The scene failed with patchy conversation of me talking and talking and then asking Adam questions without a reply. He wasn’t hearing me.  He was focused on not looking like an idiot in front of our Colorado friends and getting this fire built right.

Sounds like thrilling entertainment, eh?

First scene: FAIL.

I guess the editors knew how bad it was, so they tossed it! Whew! Thankfully that never saw the light of day! You can only see snippits of the campsite in the very first 20 seconds of the show.

So thankful the camp fire scene is over!

How was it? What was it like?

Exciting! And totally exhausting. 

We had no idea how hard it would be. We were on set filming for five 14-hour days totaling 70 hours of filming. All these hours of filming resulted in an episode of only 21 minutes! That’s mind blowing!

We totally have a new respect for folks working in the television industry. They have to wear so many hats at once. The creativity was constantly flowing on set. They have to think on their feet, constantly communicate their ideas, and collaborate with each other to problem solve and capture each scene just right. Lastly, they had to work with us. Three rookies who smile and shrug, “Uh. We donno what we’re doin’.”

Our producer, Tiff, said, “My friend describes my job as a circus director babysitting kittens while spinning plates on my head.” I see the parallels!

We couldn’t keep up with the crew’s endurance, but their high energy was contagious and kept us going.

What were you most surprised about?

1.     How hard our crew worked.

On the show, everyone always seems so relaxed while looking at the houses. Behind the scenes, the crew is working hard, long hours to get the right angles, making sure the story flows, and is constantly listening for barking dogs and planes overhead. We were amazed by all the hard work that goes into a 21 minute episode. 

2. The waiting game to get perfect audio. 

We had never thought about background noise when watching TV.  We bet a quarter of our time filming was—“Wait, wait. A dog’s barking. Hold on- the motorcycle. Oh, here comes a plane. Oh, wait. Another plane.” For the clips to work smoothly in the editing process, the background noise has to be consistent. This means you have to stop filming to wait for the random fits of barking to stop. We didn’t know this! We’re always a-learnin’.

3.     We didn’t realize how long it takes to film a tiny house.

For example, we spent 4.5 hours filming the outside of this cute shaker-shingle cottage. In reality, it only takes 20 seconds to walk around the whole thing.

However, if you think about watching the show, you're constantly seeing different angles of a scene: A wide angle of all three of us walking up to the house, then a view of our faces as we talk in front of the house, to a close up of Adam’s hand hitting the shingles, then back to a shot of all of us together, then onto one of me listening to my mom. One camera man has to get all of those angles. It’s amazing! 

We got to know Josh the builder! You can find his tiny house designs at urbancottagebuilders.com

4. How many outfits we needed.

This was the most stressful part for us. We came from living out of our backpacks while traveling. Adam only had two t-shirts in his backpack (you can see our packing lists here).  So, we had to be creative to have new outfits for each new scene of the show. I had to re-use my shirts and made a new "outfit" by changing my scarves. We had to get creative, because when living tiny, your wardrobes are tiny!

How did we get on the show?

We applied. We were sitting in our apartment in Thailand dreaming about finding a little camper to live in when we got back to the US. We were ready to return home to the states, but we wanted to keep traveling. Adam dreamed big and thought, “Hey! Maybe Tiny House Hunters can help us research what’s out there.” So, we filled out an application and pitched ourselves as going from “teeny backpacks to a tiny house.” We sent in our application on a Sunday night in Thailand and by Monday morning LA time, we were contacted and started an interview process. Our expectations of getting help with the research didn’t pan out, but we were pumped for a new adventure!

What were the coolest parts of the experience?

1. Working with the production crew.

Everyone from start to finish was so friendly and relaxed, but super on-the-ball and worked their tails off on the details. Their professional experience blew my mind. Our producer, Tiff, had worked on the Amazing Race, the Bachelor and on different Travel Channel series. The camera man, Shawn, had worked on COPS and National Geographic. I was star struck feeling like I was amongst television legends. So cool!

2. My mom’s decorating skills being showcased on HGTV!

My mom's an amazing interior designer and a HGTV fanatic. The first part of the show was in my parent’s house. It was pretty awesome to see her decorating work on HGTV!

3. Sharing the #nuventure with our families.

My mom was our real-estate agent and my dad jumped in with his “Oh, you are planning to have kids?” Baha! Dad, you're still embarrasing me!

Adam’s mom traveled to be on set for the first day with us, too. She was there watching us fail at building a campfire. And, Adam’s extended family threw a party to watch the show together.

After traveling for two years, it's been so special to spend time with our families. 

Wooo! Wooo!

How do we feel after the show aired?

So thankful!

In the moment of crawling into the loft with my butt towards the camera, all I could do was hope for the best. I had no idea what the final product would be like. Yikes!

The editors did an amazing job. We feel like the production team really captured us as us- our imperfect selves.

We hope you have a good laugh at our expense and have fun watching the show! You can get it anytime on Amazon. 

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You can watch it on Amazon here:

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We'll continue sharing our adventures of life living out of a 100 sq. foot camper. Stay updated below. 

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We're curious what you think! Were you surprised which tiny house we chose? Which one would you have chosen? Tell us by leaving a comment below!