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We’re Daniel and Kristin and we are excited to share our love for all things vegan and camping. Plus, follow along as we build our passive house, share recipes, and offer suggestions on daily life and pet care.
Our Epic Trip
We sold our home in Michigan and started traveling full time in our camper in November 2023. Follow along as we explore this great country. We love the quirky and obscure things and we’ll share what we find.
- Days #647-652 of Our Epic Trip
8-10-2025
H: 78ºF L: 55ºF
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe drove the entirety of the Going-to-the-Sun Road today. You do not need a timed entry reservation from Recreation.gov if you enter from the east at St. Mary Visitor Center in St. Mary, MT.
We started at Goat Lick Overlook where you may see Mountain Goats gathering to get sodium from the minerals in the dirt. We didn’t see any goats (so disappointed!) but we did see a neat train trestle. We learned that the Great Northern Railway built a railroad on the boarder of the park in the 1890s and pushed for this area to be a national park because they saw the opportunity to increase passengers through tourism. The railroad company built lodges and other structures once the area was designated Glacier National Park in 1910.
Goatlick Overlook and train trestle Driving further we saw Silver Staircase Waterfall which looked manmade but wasn’t. It was trickling when we saw it but flows heavily in the spring.
Next we stopped at Glacier Park Lodge which was built in 1913 by the Great Northern Railway. It was beautiful with full tree trunk pillars in the lobby and gorgeous views from a covered bridge that connected the lodge to the hotel rooms.
Glacier Park Lodge Next, we tried taking the boys for a walk off-leash but Peter was very naughty by not staying with us and Marcel ran through mud and got everyone dirty. So it ended up being a short walk. We found some pretty lichen though.
On the Road-to-the-Sun, we enjoyed beautiful views of the mountains, lakes, and glaciers during our drive. We saw evergreens, probably Subalpine Fir, with black pine cones. We enjoyed seeing two Bighorn Sheep close to the road watching the traffic go by.
Views from Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
8-11-2015
H: 89°F L: 58°F
Bretz RV & Marine, Missoula, MontanaUnfortunately, we experienced some aggression toward our Cybertruck. A woman at the Apgar Visitor Center unplugged our truck and then ran way. I guess it’s not widespread knowledge that Teslas have cameras in various locations and will record any movement while in “Sentry Mode”. No damage was done but actions such as this seem pointless and mean.
We drove south past Flathead Lake which is Montana’s Lake Tahoe. It is so pretty and big! There were a couple islands and the whole area is covered in evergreens.
We also drove past more mountains with glaciers. I wonder if the people who live in these areas ever take the beauty for granted?
We are staying the night at an RV dealership, Bretz RV and Marine, which offers free camping. We were lucky enough to get a site with electric and water plus there is a dump station.
8-12-2025
H: 94ºF L: 54ºF
Bridger Brewing, Three Forks, MontanaUnfortunately, we had another aggressor try to unplug and break into our Cybertruck last night. We had the woman on video but I accidentally downloaded the wrong camera angle and then deleted the video from the truck’s memory. This is the second incident in less than 24 hours. I’m starting to think Montana folks and some of the visitors to this state have undesirable characteristics.
We traveled southeast today and stopped in Helena, MT to charge the cars. The free chargers were by a really cool building which contained a brewery, bank, and coffee bar. We had a drink there at Headwaters Crafthouse and discussed plans for our Tennessee house. The bank had a cool industrial vibe.
Hallway in building (left) and bank (right) During our drive to the downtown area, we saw a funny sign (we know it was a sign for ‘Information’ but we still found it funny).
We explored the downtown area. It’s a nice, clean town with some mining history. We found a store, The Man Store, with a certain clientele in mind.
We went in the Cathedral of Saint Helena and found it is on par with the grandeur of European churches.
Cathedral of Saint Helena in Helena, MT We found Helena, MT to have a very walkable downtown which included a pedestrian only portion. It was artsy and inviting.
Views of Helena, MT We also stopped at Reeder’s Alley. The buildings were built between 1873-1884 as one room tenant housing for mine workers The alley led up a curved hill and included shops such as an import store and pastries shop.
Reeder’s Alley in Helena, MT We are staying the night dry camping at a brewery which has free EV chargers. The drive into Three Forks, MT as the setting sun lit up the wheat fields and mountains was breathtaking.
Views near Three Forks, MT
8-13-2025
H: 80ºF L: 54ºF
Boondocking, Travetine Rd, Gardiner, MontanaOn our way to our next destination we stopped in Bozeman, MT. We saw a homeless man holding a cardboard sign that said “Too ugly to prostitute”. I admired the creativity and self deprecation.
We walked around downtown Bozeman and found a store, Wild Wisdom Collective, where we had a great conversation with Theresa, a fellow vegan. She grew up in Wyoming on a ranch and chose to go vegetarian as a teenager and later went vegan. It was a true pleasure talking to her.
We also enjoyed an art gallery with some great art.
We are boondocking in Custer Gallatin National Forest near Gardiner, MT and the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We saw an elk walking on the sidewalk through downtown Gardiner looking in yards presumably for something tasty to eat. Our campsite offers the most amazing views – we even saw a rainbow after a storm rolled through the area.
Custer Gallatin National Forest northeast of Gardiner, MT
8-14-2025
H: 79ºF L: 50ºF
Boondocking, Travetine Rd, Gardiner, MontanaWe stayed home and did laundry while enjoying the views.
Peter enjoying the view of Gardiner, MT and the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park We took the boys for a walk down a dirt road on National Forest land. We walked past a travertine mining area and watched the sunset. We enjoyed unique pink, wispy clouds which glowed and then dropped lower over the mountains.
Sunset in Custer Gallatin National Forest near Gardiner, MT When we got back to the camper, we heard coyotes and elk in the distance. Later while letting Marcel out, I saw the Milky Way and a shooting star. This is a magical place!
8-15-2025
H: 80°F L: 52°F
Boondocking, Travetine Rd, Gardiner, Montana
Marcel enjoying the view of Gardiner, MT We saw elk just outside of Gardiner, MT.
Elk near Gardiner, MT We went into Yellowstone National Park and drove past the Roosevelt Arch. It is made of local columnar basalt and was completed in 1903. It was never intended to be a monument to President Theodore Roosevelt but he just happened to be vacationing nearby in the park and agreed to lay the cornerstone. We liked the two small pedestrian arches on either side of the big arch.
Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, MT Not far from Gardiner, MT is Mammoth Hot Springs. The area is rather large and full of many hot springs. It seems the hot springs gradually shift locations over time as the hot water rises and takes the path of least resistance, similar to sand dunes shifting location. Given the signs warning of hot water, we were surprised to see birds running through the water as it flowed downhill.
Mammoth Hot Springs and surrounding area in Yellowstone National Park Next, we stopped at the Golden Gate waterfall.
Golden Gate Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park We finally saw a buffalo! Or rather an American Bison. Apparently, early settlers exploring the western United States mistakenly thought the bison, continuously living in the Yellowstone area since prehistoric times, were buffalo commonly found in Asia and Africa. With this knowledge, “Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam” (lyrics from Home on the Range) feels a little different.
American Bison in Yellowstone National Park We saw the basalt columns known as Sheepeater Cliffs. A pretty river ran by the area.
Sheepeater Cliffs in Yellowstone National Park I was so excited to stop at Obsidian Cliffs. The parking lot for the area had large boulders full of shiny, black obsidian which is a rock formed when lava cools quickly. I was hoping the cliffs would be full of it too but they just looked like regular walls of rock. The meadow next to the cliffs with a small stream flowing through it was very pretty.
Obsidian Cliffs in Yellowstone National Park Next, we stopped at Frying Pan Spring. I loved the bubbling pool of mud. The water was so hot you could hear it sizzling.
Frying Pan Spring in Yellowstone National Park We stopped at an overlook area which gave us a view of the Yellowstone Caldera. The Yellowstone Caldera was shaped by three, distinct, massive volcanic eruptions that occurred over the past 2.1 million years, which caused the ground to collapse and form a giant, caldera complex. These, along with numerous smaller eruptions, created the current 28 x 53 mile wide depression. As we looked out over the miles making up the caldera of volcanoes, this raven was really drawn to Daniel.
Yellowstone Caldera in Yellowstone National Park The stop at Tower Falls was amazing. The waterfall was pretty but the hoodoos and stripes of basalt columns were most spectacular.
Tower Falls and surrounding hoodoos and stripes of basalt columns in Yellowstone National Park We saw the most beautiful scenery while driving the northern loop in Yellowstone National Park.
Views from the northern loop in Yellowstone National Park
Stats
Expenses:
- Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $0
- Tesla Model X fuel: $0
- Campsite: $3
- Camping memberships: $32.80
- Food: $278.42
Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 471.5 (325.6 kWh)
Tesla Model X miles driven: 744 (192.2 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
#WestGlacierMT #StMaryMT #HelenaMT #BozemanMT #GardinerMT #GoingToTheSun #GoingToTheSunRoad #GoatLickOverlook #SilverStaircaseWaterfall #Montana #GlacierParkLodge #FlatheadLake #CathedralofSaintHelena #ReedersAlley #WildWisdomCollective #CusterGallatinNationalPark #SunsetsAndRainbows #Dogs #YellowstoneNationalPark #RooseveltArch #MammothHotSprings #GoldenGateWaterfall #AmericanBison #Buffalo #SheepeaterCliffs #ObsidianCliffs #FryingPanSpring #YellowstoneCaldera #FriendlyRaven #TowerFalls #FullTimeTraveling #FullTimeCamping #FullTimeRVing #TravelingTheUS #CamperLife #VeganLife #RetiredLife #FIRELife #HealthyVegan
- Days #640-646 of Our Epic Trip
8-3-2025
H: 84ºF L: 54ºF
Firemans Park Campground, Libby, MontanaWe had a nice walk down to the Pend Oreille River this morning before packing up.
We drove into Montana and are dry camping at a small campground right in the town of Libby, MT. Our site is next to a cemetery and it’s really peaceful. After setting up, we went to downtown Libby and the Amtrak station. Daniel loves trains and has taken four cross country train trips.
8-4-2025
H: 81°F L: 52°F
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe left Libby, MT and headed east. The town of Libby was listed as a must see place by the Good Sam magazine. While Libby is in beautiful surrounds with rolling mountains covered in evergreens, I don’t feel this is a great vacation spot unless you’re only interested in doing outdoor things. The downtown area was sleepy and lacked the restaurants and quaint shops you’d expect to find in a tourist town. In fact, Libby has a history of mining and produced 80% of the world’s supply of vermiculite. Unfortunately, vermiculite from this area was contaminated with asbestos. The mine closed in 1990 and the town and surrounding areas have become a Superfund site being decontaminated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since 2000, the EPA has removed over a million cubic yards of contaminated dirt, investigated 7,600 homes and businesses, cleaned 2,600 homes and businesses, and now is focused on the mine site. [source]
Montana is gorgeous! The hills and mountains, the evergreens and vistas – all fantastic. Montana residents, however, seem keen on keeping old cars and equipment in their yards. Daniel likes Canada’s laws which are harsher on people with yards full of junk.
We have also never been in a state that has posted daytime and nighttime speed limits.
We arrived at Glacier National Park and found a good boondocking spot. There is a free EV charger about 5 minutes away. We have privacy and can hear the Middle Fork Flathead River running far below us.
8-5-2025
H: 72ºF L: 54ºF
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe enjoyed coffee time outside this morning. Our campsite is secluded in the woods between a road and a steep drop off which leads to the river and train tracks. Peter liked watching the trains go by.
We drove the Going-to-the-Sun road in Glacier National Park today. Starting the drive from Lake McDonald requires a $2 reservation for a timed entry because it’s very popular (make sure you screenshot your reservation because there is no cell service at the checkpoint). The road is 50 miles long and was carved into the mountains in the 1920s and 1930s.
We started with the beautiful Lake McDonald which is surrounded by mountains and is a crystal clear blue.
We love checking out the old lodges in national parks as many were made in the 1930s by the Work Progress Administration (WPA) or Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Lake McDonald Lodge was built by an entrepreneur in 1913-1914 but it did not disappoint in grandeur.
The drive was very pretty and offered views of the lake, rivers, forests, waterfalls, and glaciers.
When we got home, we took the boys for a walk down to the train tracks which are near the Middle Fork Flathead River.
8-6-2025
H: 72ºF L: 51ºF
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe went to Whitefish, MT and walked around downtown. It’s an expensive tourist town.
We went the Green Power House in Columbia Fall, MT. We learned about this place from the documentary Need To Grow. It’s an off-grid clean power generator which also produces nutrient-rich soil additives. We highly recommend watching the documentary.
Green Power House
8-7-2025
H: 64ºF L: 50ºF
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe stayed home and took the boys for a walk down to the train tracks. Daniel walked through the two tunnels on the tracks.
8-8-2025
H: 59°F L: 47°F
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaIt rained a lot today so we stayed home and relaxed.
8-9-2025
H: 71ºF L: 51ºF
Boondocking, Flathead National Forest, West Glacier, MontanaWe drove around Glacier National Park to the west side where there is Flathead National Forest land in hopes of finding a place to walk the boys off-leash. We had to drive for quite a while but we finally found the perfect place to walk. We even found some wood for a fire we’ll have later tonight. We also noticed that Montana residents use their National Forest land more than any other state we’ve been in. We learned that over 57,000 acres were burned in a forest fire in 2003.
After dropping a car off at the charger (free at the park Apgar Visitor Center), we drove to Quarter Circle Bridge. We really enjoyed seeing this old, wooden bridge and liked that it was curved.
Stats
Expenses:
- Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $36.53
- Tesla Model X fuel: $3.08
- Campsite: $28 (cancel fee for campground)
- Camping memberships: $38.26
- Food: $194.84
Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 314.7 (221.6 kWh)
Tesla Model X miles driven: 502.7 (131.8 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
#LibbyMT #WestGlacierMT #ApgarMT #WhitefishMT #ColumbiaFallsMT #Montana #AsbestosContamination #GlacierNationalPark #MiddleForkFlatheadRiver #FlatheadNationalForest #GoingToTheSunRoad #LakeMcDonald #LakeMcDonaldLodge #dogs #TrainTracks #TrainTunnels #GreenPowerHouse #NeedToGrowDocumentary #QuarterCircleBridge #FullTimeTraveling #FullTimeCamping #FullTimeRVing #TravelingTheUS #CamperLife #VeganLife #RetiredLife #FIRELife #HealthyVegan
- Days #638-639 of Our Epic Trip
8-1-2025
H: 82ºF L: 60ºF
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, Washington
Have you ever wondered how we have found some of the esoteric things we have found during our travels? Like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in a tiny Kansas town or the world’s last remaining Blockbuster store or the real-life replica of The Simpson’s House? We mostly use an app/website called Atlas Obscura which provides information on oddities from all over the world. It’s crowd sourced so you can help add locations or update information. We have also used the website Roadside America which sometimes has more offerings than Atlas Obscura. What neat things are listed for your area?
8-2-2025
H: 83°F L: 59°F
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, WashingtonWe did laundry all day in preparation for traveling to Montana and a lot of boondocking. We will be leaving behind one of our favorite states: Idaho. If you have been looking for a travel destination, we recommend Idaho. It offers diverse activities and climates, clean towns like Boise and Coeur d’Alene, and friendly people.
Stats
Expenses:
- Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $0
- Tesla Model X fuel: $0
- Campsite: $21.94
- Camping memberships: $10.93
- Food: $0
Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 0 (0 kWh)
Tesla Model X miles driven: 0 (0 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
#AtlasObscura #RoadsideAmerica #Idaho #FullTimeTraveling #FullTimeCamping #FullTimeRVing #TravelingTheUS #CamperLife #VeganLife #RetiredLife #FIRELife #HealthyVegan
- Days #634-637 of Our Epic Trip
7-28-2025
H: 87ºF L: 51ºF
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, WashingtonWe drove part of the International Selkirk Loop which is a 280 mile drive that goes through Washington, Idaho, and Canada. We drove the Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway which is Idaho’s section of the International Selkirk Loop. We stopped in Bonners Ferry, ID and talked to some nice ladies at a thrift store.
We also hiked a trail at Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. We had the trail to ourselves so we let the boys off-leash and they loved it.
We also learned something interesting today. At the thrift store I bought a cookbook, Of These Ye May Freely Eat by JoAnn Rachor, which was published in 2005. On the back were some reviews of the book including one from a former dean and professor of the School of Home Economics at Eastern Illinois University. I honestly had no idea that you could get a college degree in homemaking. So, of course, I wanted to see if that was still an option. It’s technically not as it has morphed into the degree program Family and Consumer Sciences which encompasses a bit more and can lead to typically low paying jobs like childcare and the service industry.
The really shocking part is that it was common to have actual homes on campus where college students could practice being wives and that included having a real, live baby to care for. Universities across the country would take babies from orphanages, use them to teach students for a year, and then move onto the next orphan. Babies were a part of the curriculum and not just for daycare; it was 24/7. This article explains how Eastern Illinois University received nationwide attention for taking an unwed mother’s baby: they called him David “North”.
On a side note, I did find a free online home economics course, babies not included.
7-29-2025
H: 91°F L: 53°F
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, WashingtonWe drove back to Coeur d’Alene, ID to explore the area some more. We drove by Fernan Lake and into Idaho Panhandle National Forest. It was really pretty.
7-30-2025
H: 92ºF L: 62ºF
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, WashingtonWe stayed home today.
7-31-2025
H: 92ºF L: 64ºF
KM Resorts Old American RV Resort, Newport, WashingtonI had my hair cut at a small salon in downtown Newport, WA. I witnessed the ladies at the salon come together to protect one of the stylists from an overly interested man. It was uncomfortable and I felt bad for both the woman and man for different reasons.
Stats
Expenses:
- Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $0
- Tesla Model X fuel: $0
- Campsite: $43.88
- Camping memberships: $21.86
- Food: $60.30
Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 0 (0 kWh)
Tesla Model X miles driven: 255 (71.7 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 1
#NewportWA #BonnersFerryID #CoeurdAleneID #InternationalSelkirkLoop #WildHorseTrialScenicByway #KootenaiNationalWildlifeRefuge #dogs #HomeEconomics #FernanLake #IdahoPanhandleNationalForest #FullTimeTraveling #FullTimeCamping #FullTimeRVing #TravelingTheUS #CamperLife #VeganLife #RetiredLife #FIRELife #HealthyVegan
Epic Trip Details
We share the details on our camper and tow vehicles. Plus, ever wonder how much it costs to travel full time in an RV? We share our monthly expenses.
Campground Recommendations
We stay at various campgrounds in each state. We review the campgrounds and give you our honest opinion. We also share recommendations for nearby activities.
Recipes
We love good food. We love good, healthy food even more. We share some of our favorite whole food, plant-based recipes which you’ll be sure to love too.
FREE Health Guidance
Daniel Dubay, MD is passionate about helping people heal their bodies and better their quality of life. If you are interested in quitting the American diet along with all the inflammation and damage it causes to your body, Dr. Dubay is here to help. He is happy to help with support, advice and direction. There is a much tastier and healthier alternative which will benefit your health and quality of life!
Our Passive House
We have property in Tennessee and plan on building a passive house and doing most of the work ourselves. Follow along as we build our dream home.
Latest Posts
Check out some of our latest posts below or go to Epic Trip, Recipes, Campground Recommendations, Pragmatic Magic, or Honey Bee Pet Care for a full list of posts on those topics.
- Days #647-652 of Our Epic TripWow! Montana has a lot to offer. We beheld the most amazing views, including a rainbow and many sunsets, but also experienced misplaced aggression.
- Days #640-646 of Our Epic TripWe traveled into Montana and explored the beautiful Glacier National Park. We also got to see the Green Power House – so neat!
- Days #638-639 of Our Epic TripWe share our secret for finding cool stuff to see and do. Plus, we reveal our favorite state (so far).
- Days #634-637 of Our Epic TripWe learned about stolen babies used in college courses, we went back to Coeur d’Alene, and we drove part of the International Selkirk Loop.
- Days #627-633 of Our Epic Trip
We were honored to be on PCRM’s Mission Critical video podcast. We also saw the most amazing chainsaw and had dinner with one of our followers. - Days #620-626 of Our Epic Trip
A garbage eating goat, more Mega Flood landscapes, and cool vintage trucks.
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Contact Happy Vegan Campers!
Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email:
happyvegancampers@gmail.com
