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It all began when the world started spinning in 2020. Eric and Izzy had been coworkers at a hotel for a few years, often talking about their outdoor adventures and envying the travels of their hotel guests. When the staff was suddenly cut down by 66% (down to "essential workers only") Izzy was kept on, but Eric was let go. During this time, no one knew what the world was going to look like, but everyone knew that life was changing.
While Eric was isolating at home, he spent hours researching Vanlife and was ready to hit the road, but didn't know how to make it happen yet. Izzy was at work, finishing her Communications degree online, and had just bought her famous FJ Cruiser, Jessica.
Izzy was building a rooftop tent for her FJ, chasing a dream of frugal travel. When the rooftop tent proved to be challenging to build, she began searching for a mini trailer to tow for an adventure home on wheels. As the months went by, Izzy was still at work without her teammate, Eric. Izzy began to recognize just how important Eric was to her life, and how much trust she had built in him as a colleague. She convinced her boss to rehire him after 4 months out of work, and the duo was back together, leading their night crew.
Months later, Eric is looking up National Parks on the work computer, and Izzy jokes, "let's go there". Eric replies by saying, "you would be a great copilot", and the rest was history. Izzy and Eric rocked the boat and cleaned up loose ties, and prepared their families for some big changes. The Copilots were in love and ready to take on the world together. Izzy said goodbye to her huskies, and got to say hello to Eric's pitbull mix, Freyja. Little did they know, the story of the huskies would continue years later...
In the early months of 2021, Izzy and Eric drive from Spokane, WA to Portland, OR to buy their first of 4 travel trailers. This was an A-Frame trailer with decent bones, sold as is, and ready for a renovation. Soon after, the Copilots were ready to Explore, and decided they would capture their adventures to be shared online. With the original goal of visiting all of the US National Parks in 2 years, they changed their plans after the A Frame was nearly totaled in a wind storm on day 4 of their adventure. Despite this huge wrench being thrown in their plans, the Copilots ditched their trailer at Camping World and spent the next 41 days in a tent traveling the Southwest Desert of the US, visiting National Parks in Utah, California, and Arizona.
Once they picked their trailer up from diagnostics in Las Vegas, NV, they cruised back toward Spokane for Izzy's graduation party in June of 2021. Still carrying a passion for travel, the Copilots prep for Leg 2 of their travels by saying goodbye to the A frame, and buying a 1965 15ft vintage canned ham trailer.
The Copilots depart for Oregon and California. Cruising the 101, they finding new adventures each day and unique sleeping arrangements each night. It was during this late summer trip that Eric proposed to Izzy on Mount Hood, vowing to dedicate themselves to living life to the fullest, and she said Yes.
The Copilots return to the Northwest for the fall, celebrating their engagement, and preparing for their first winter in Arizona - or so they thought...
About 500 miles into their trip south, the Copilots experience mechanical failure. They had upgraded to a larger, heavier trailer, which quickly wore on the FJ. They turned back, and decide to take a break from Nomadic living for the winter, and begin planning their wedding at Farragut State Park. Even though they were not traveling, the wheels were still turning. During this break, Eric sought out a VW Vanagon and was ready to take on this project to fulfill his Vanlife fantasies. He rebuilt the entire wiring harness and revamped the whole van. After bringing the van to life, the Copilots gave it the name "Gobi" to reflect it's desert beige color and play on "go-bi-yond" (Go Beyond).
Their Honeymoon is Gobi's debut trip and brings them to the Washington State National Parks: North Cascades, Olympic, and Mt Rainier. During this trip, Eric brings Izzy to a town he has always adored, Port Townsend. With some incredible architecture, coastal wildlife, and excellent food, Izzy grows fond of this town. In fact, years later, they would end up buying property in Port Townsend, but that is getting ahead of ourselves. That summer and the next, they took the Vanagon camping nearly every weekend, Freyja's long brown ears flapping in the open windowed breeze. Eric also begins refitting his aluminum boat, and the pair spend many sunsets on Lake Pend Oreille.
Still craving exploration, Eric and Izzy begin working on their next trip, and it will be a long one. They prepare for 6 months in Arizona after signing paperwork for their new trailer. For the next 2 winters, the Copilots would successfully live in this 22ft trailer 10 miles from Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ. They visit Bisbee and Tombstone, explore caves and caverns, and experience Mexican food like never before. In the spring each year, they brought their RV back to Sandpoint, ID, kayaking and berry picking, with Van trips with friends in between. Before their last trip to Arizona, they are called back to Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Festival where they end up purchasing a project boat.
In 2025, Izzy and Eric decide they are going to try something completely different - they go back to school. Izzy is now completing her Master's in Communication and Leadership with an emphasis in Digital Media Strategy, and Eric is slaying the game at his dream Wooden Boatbuilding school. To make this happen, they bought their property in Port Townsend, WA, and are enjoying various state parks while taking their dogs on walks because *plot twist* the huskies came back to Izzy after an unexpected loss.
Now finishing their first winter in the Pacific Northwest, the Copilots are serving up all their travel moments and getting ready for what is next.
So... what is next?
Well, a lifetime of adventure is next. We have the trailer, the van, we have the boats, and we have the initiative to keep going. There are hundreds if not thousands of places we desire to reach, and we don't see much stopping us. In the next few years, I don't doubt you will see us sailing to Alaska or even the Mediterranean. The van will carry us to new places and loved places. We have overcome so much and always have a blast doing so. Every bump teaches us a lesson, and every curve gives our adventures purpose.
This is the life of Copilots Explore.
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