Summer is always peak travel season, whether they’re big vacation kinds of trips or local and regional weekend excursions. I’ve lost track of how many overnight trips I’ve taken in Nacho the Van over the past few months. When I road trip in Nacho, whether for mountain bike adventures or trail-building events, there are several non-negotiable items that I bring … my bike and gear (helmet, shoes, etc.), plenty of water, and stuff to make coffee. Here’s what I’ve learned about making good coffee while traveling …
There’s something about backcountry trail work. Out of cell service, away from the crowds, and rough and raw trails that see very little use. That was what the Orogenesis Klickitat Sisters Stewardship Campout was all about. Two days of trail work on the remote Kilckitat Trail. What’s the goal? To piece together the longest mountain bike trail in the world. That is the vision of Gabe Tiller and Orogenesis.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of when the moka pot was invented. When using the moka pot, there are usually two distinct camps: those who swear by it and those who swear at it. You’re either hot or cold about it, with very little middle ground.
For all of its criticisms, social media is a lot of fun. How many things have we learned or discovered by mindlessly scrolling through Reels or TikTok? Having plumbing issues? Need lawn care help? Want to find new life hacks for almost anything? There’s a funny video out there that will help you. The same goes with coffee and finding new ways and places to brew coffee … including in (or on) a Stanley Classic lunch box.
My dream of buying, living out of, and serving coffee in a swank Sprinter van was upended the day I was offered to buy a 1995 Chevy Sportvan for $200. My $100k dream Sprinter van would have to wait. Thus the legend of Nacho the MTB Van was born.
Interestingly, the older I get, the more I opt for convenience. Guilty as charged. Back in the day, if I had to relocate, whether, across the country or town, I’d recruit an army of friends, and we’d pack a U-Haul truck and do it ourselves? Now? I wouldn’t move without hiring a moving company. I used to love camping … you know, leaky air mattresses, the hard cold ground, and all the work of setting up camp and then breaking it down. I’ve become weak. Soft.
