We ’ve all hear the tale before : corporate dude ditches the courtship ‘ n ’ standoff for a life story on the road , dude escort some beautiful scene , perhaps smokes a joint , find himself , and endure happily ever after . Without specific characters , this tale can fleet into the fanciful . But , then , you add up across people like Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely and realize : oh , right , this really does happen . And better yet if you had your druthers about it , you could make it hap , too .
I reached Vought in Anchorage to talk to him about the duo ’s travels , which have been well - document on their site , The Bus and Us , and on theirInstagram accountof the same name .
They quit their jobs…
“ In 2014 , after a few yr as workings professionals – I was working in an post for a logistics company and Tessa was a teacher – we were feeling a petty antsy , ” Vought begins . “ We both mat up we were n’t yet ready to make up down into the typical monotonous life society pitch everyone towards , and the change of location bug was twitch at our blackguard . ”
Fixed up a cheap van…
The two buy a “ run - down , junkyard ” 1975 Volkswagen motorcoach for $ 500 and wholly reconstruct it from the outside - in . “ With intimately zero mechanically skillful experience , ‘ in over our promontory ’ is an understatement , ” he say . “ But when , nine calendar month after our estimated original culmination date , we were ready to off the route , we were ecstatic with the goal production . love we did all the work ourselves was the ice on the patty . ”
… and headed from Alaska to Patagonia
Over the next yr - and - a - half Vought and Ely drove from their hometown of Anchorage , Alaska to Ushuaia , Argentina , complete that leg ’s goal of roll from the top of North America to the southern crown of South America . “ We camped , surfboard , fished , hiked and explored region that I never thought I would see outside of magazines , ” he says . “ We absorb ourselves in strange cultures and advance insight into local issue and how U.S. policies impact people all over the world . We mostly stay off the beaten path . And we would n’t have it any other way . ”
The best spots
When inquire what the top high spot of the trip were , Vought says , “ It is improbably hard to answer . " Still , he jibe off three smear .
Baja , Mexico : He says there are “ endless distant beach with well sportfishing and surfriding , ” and the bivouacking there is ‘ “ unmatched . ” essentially imagine California before the bunch .
Colombia : Vought acknowledges that Escobar ’s backyard is still “ shrouded with a stigma of danger , ” so tourists be given to shy away . But look again . “ Both culturally and with its natural beauty this country throw you the most bang for your long horse , ” he says . “ It is quite tatty decent now : the least expensive land of our trip . ”
Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Patagonia : This one is reasonably straightforward , Vought say . “ On the bucketful list for most people , this is possibly the most beautiful place on the planet , ” he say . “ The longer you look to go the more highly-developed and less angry it will become . Go now . ”
But what does it cost?
" We budget $ 15,000 each for the intact trip , include plane ticket and the whole shebang , " Vought explains . That ’s a muscular price tag , but then , they had to make it stretch . flatulence was pricier than they bargained for , and the pair tried to keep their casual budget – outside of fuel – to only $ 30 . " living is cheap on the road , " Vought state , " but not intimately as cheap as backpacking . "
They also had to discover as they went : with no itinerary or experience in the countries they headed for , the budget was just a park . " We did n’t know how farseeing that would last us , or how long we wanted to stay on on the road , ” Vought says . “ A twelvemonth and a half so far is prospicient than we initially thought we would have been travel . At this point we have run out of the trip-up money . "
So , there you go : about 30 1000 for a duo traveling for less than two years . Not terrible , but by all odds not free . In fact , Vought and Ely sent the autobus to Florida and returned to Alaska to work seasonal gigs to economize up for their next journeying ( more on that below ) . " Although we considered seeking out forms of income on the route , we decided we would be able to revel the trip intimately without worrying about it , " Vought says .
Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
How do you pack for such a journey?
When ask about boxing , Vought tell , “ Less is certainly more . ” He adds , “ We sample to keep items that have multiple purpose like our pelting jackets that will double as metropolis jackets or our Rumpl blanket that is designed for habit as a outing and dormancy mantle . ”
The road isn’t always pretty
Any route stumble this long , you ’re bound to find some trouble . For Vought and Ely , it came as they come near a toll booth in Puebla , Mexico . " Normally we would n’t give much attending to the various vendors as they aggressively attempt to sell you items , " he recalls . " But this humans in his blue jean brace was different , posture next to a large scraps bag fill with what looked like stuff brute . As he got up , he reach in his bag and made his mode to our rolled down number one wood ’s window . We realized the ugly accuracy when the puppies in either hand commence to cry as he squeezed them and thrust them one at a time through the window possibility . "
They , of course , declined the man ’s offer . He put the pup back into the bag , which Vought says was " erupting with cries . " The moment served as a reminder to the couple that route trips are n’t always all about beautiful panorama and calm starlit night . " Throughout this misstep , we understand that these bit do n’t define the individuals doing them as high-risk hoi polloi with malicious design , ” Vought aver . “ They ’re just humanity trying to make enough to patronise their families with the unfortunate hand they were dealt . ”
So should you do it, too?
“ We commend life on the route ; there ’s no way to replicate the experience , ” Vought sound out . “ You have unadulterated control of your Clarence Shepard Day Jr. - to - day life and you always have your home on wheels with you . That being said , it ’s by all odds not as glamorous as it might appear on social media . ” He also read that the biggest issue are “ money and mechanical power . ” He urge using fomite that are pop in the areas you ’ll be crossing . “ Choosing a fomite that is n’t mutual will have you doing your own employment all the time , ” he says . “ You ’ll be pack a lot of tools and free parts and it will bestow more tension to your journeying . ”
What now?
Vought and Ely are pleased to report that they ’re going to keep it proceed . “ We latterly shipped the charabanc from Buenos Aires to Florida , ” he says . “ Now we will proceed the route stumble through the US and Canada and drive to the northern tip of Alaska . ” Keep your oculus peel off for a ‘ 75 VW wander through your town .
Oh, and about that bus
“ It sure would have been nice to have more way and A / C but there was no other vehicle for us , ” Vought says . They named the Volkswagen “ Rita , ” and she became an honorary third member of the work party . “ vehicle often have personalities , but there ’s only certain ace which will gain you friends around the humankind , ” he say . “ It seems like in nearly every large town someone would see us and get into touch . That often leads to a cultural experience we would n’t otherwise have , and it was nearly always because of our fomite , not our Alaska plate . Now we have friends and contacts throughout the world , and because of our social medium , we are often adjoin by bus travelers who are in Alaska . presently , while home , we are hosting a couple and their ‘ 75 bus . They are working on their brakes in our drive as we talk . ”
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Camping in Baja, Mexico|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Garden of the Gods, Colorado|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Beagle Channel, Tierra Del Fuego|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Barichara, Colombia|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Tierra Del Fuego|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Torres del Paine, Chile|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia|Courtesy of Dillon Vought and Tessa Ely
