When Travis Burke‘s grandmother bought a 1994 Dodge Ram van years ago, she had no idea that it would kickstart a lifetime of adventure for her grandson. After seeing the van sit unused in his grandma's front yard, Burke, a 28-year-old from Oceanside, California, decided to convert the old vehicle into a mobile home fit to travel cross-country. Nearly $8,000 and five months of work later, the van was customized with solar panels, a sink, a fold-out bed, a mini fridge, and storage space. Armed with his camera and newly revamped house on wheels, Burke hit the road, and hasn't looked back since.
For the last 16 months, Burke has been living his dream by driving around North America and photographing the amazing sights that the land has to offer. He's covered over 60,000 miles across the United States and parts of Canada, dividing his time between documenting the great outdoors, editing the images on his laptop, and working with different sponsors and brands to support his career as an adventure photographer. Although there are many challenging aspects to his lifestyle–making financial ends meet, for example, or missing his family and friends while having to deal with flat tires and very few showers–Burke wouldn't have it any other way. The “van life,” as he calls it, is ultimately an incredibly rewarding experience that has allowed him to see countless natural wonders, sleep under the stars, and share his wanderlust-worthy journey with others through social media.
“I really hope to inspire people to get out and explore their own backyard,” Burke told Daily Mail. “You don't need to plan an elaborate vacation to wind up in a beautiful and unique landscape. I constantly try to push myself to the next level and I hope that I can creatively encourage others to do the same.”
Travis Burke: Website | Instagram | Facebook
via [Design Taxi, Daily Mail]
