Back to Van Life + a big announcement!

PLUS you'll receive a FareDrop goodie bag, AND you'll be entered to win a free all inclusive trip to the Dominican Republic! 😍

Episode 934 | Filmed July 2024 | Nashville - Dallas - Leadville, CO

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Who are Kara and Nate?!

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, we got married 2013 and were super “normal.” I was a teacher and Nate started a small printing business from the spare bedroom of our apartment.

We discovered the world of “travel hacking” while planning our honeymoon & became addicted ;)

So after 2 years of obsessively saving $35k and over 2 million miles and points, we sold our cars and apartment and left home January 10, 2016 for a “one year” trip around the world.

Our goal was to see as many places as possible before we ran out of money and went back home to “normal life.” We started this channel to share our experiences with friends and family, but quickly fell in love with living on the road and found a new passion for capturing our travels through video. So we did everything we could to keep going.

4 years later, we achieved our new goal of visiting 100 countries and all 7 continents. We had no plans to slow down, until 2020 forced us to ;) Which is when we bought a converted van to start exploring our own country for the first time!

After ~2 years of van life, we are back to full time international traveling! And now we are in our 9TH YEAR of finding the best adventures the world has to offer :)

We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing something we love every day. 😊🎥🌎 Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey!

00:00 back to van life!!!🚐
00:40 Day 1: moving in
03:49 Day 2: Nashville to Dallas
04:21 Blow out in Memphis
09:46 comment 💜 if you love Dots as much as we do
11:55 Day 3: neurologist appointment
18:24 Day 5: Dallas to Leadville
19:36 Q&A
30:46 Back in CO
32:26 Day 6: Nate’s big announcement!!!!
37:38 Bloops

[TJandAmandaTravel]

Team “We Will Watch Whatever It Is” reporting for duty! 📢

[Taurusbaby]

My mom had epilepsy and had 5 kids. None of us inherited it and she was able to participate in our lives and raise us like a boss 🙂

[paulcraven]

To be clear, I don’t watch this channel for the travel or the challenges, I watch because of Kara and Nate. I find the spirit, the kindness, the happiness and the honesty just up lifting, it’s good for my mental health. Do what ever videos you want, I’ll keep watching.

[ThePlaneterra]

I’m a senior (73) citizen who used to be an avid “solo female traveler.” I have watched your adventures since the beginning. I even watch reruns back to the time when your background music was let’s say “experimental” I have been grounded by cancer (which is well into remission) and taking care of my 95-year-old dad who is living his best life. However, one never knows what turns life may take, so do what inspires your passion. In doing that, then I am charged up vicariously. Love and light always, Terra

[leetcodeking]

I'm 97 years old lady. Never driven a car before. I live through you guys.

[TheSchoellerFamily]

I'm so glad your neurologist appointment went well Kara! You guys are right, doctors are people doing their best to help but it's always great to get multiple opinions. Also, I ran my first ultra marathon last year and it was a blast. It was only a 50k, the Leadville 100 is going to be so challenging and rewarding!

[morganleverence]

I’m the audience that watches EVERY video that you guys post because I enjoy YOU BOTH no matter what the video is about. I’m glad you guys do whatever makes you happy! The real fans will always stick around.

[darrengibbs]

My wife had a stroke at 28 that paralyzed her on her left side, 10 years later she developed Epilepsy. With the proper medication, she has very few seizures (no seizures in the last 5 years). we've been able to travel with no problems (Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico and New Braunfels, Texas). You got this.

[kerrimoore]

Kara ❤️I've had Epilepsy for 20 years, and I am currently 30 weeks pregnant! I switched to taking Lamotrigine 12 years ago, which via. my neurologist is one of the safest medications to take while pregnant and has the same chance of birth defects as an average woman without Epilepsy or if so, it's a VERY small increase in chance. The biggest difference is monitoring the dosage throughout a pregnancy as it increases until giving birth to maintain the levels in your brain. I wanted to share because this was a fear of mine until I found an uplifting neurologist who told me women with Epilepsy have healthy babies every day and are possible with the right medication and monitoring. I hope this provides some reassurance, but of course, everyone is different, and I can only speak to my experiences. I encourage a conversation with your neurologist if the idea of having kids becomes more real.

Also! My husband and I love every video you make, especially the physical challenges! Can't wait to watch!

Love you guys!

[cche]

Kara & Nate, I’m a 78 year old female who watches you daily as I do my treadmill. You two are like family and I so enjoy all your videos. Your respect for each other is beautiful. Sending you both good vibes and loving thoughts. ❤️❤️

[WarDamnEagle]

As someone who has run a 100 in CO, best wishes ! I really loved my experience.
My best tips.
1. Run high, rest LOW. Get lower than Leadville some weekends if you can after running up there.
2. Itwas 75% mental. Your body can put up but sometimes your brain can’t.
3. Practice your nutrition. This is mission critical.
4. Don’t expect any part to be easy. This will be important for the mental game.
5. Even if you’re not running, spend weekends doing “long runs”. Being on your feet in the mountains for 20 hours is difficult. Train those feet, even if you’re walking early morning to night.

[JMicheleS]

I’m a veteran retired pediatric nurse and must say, have children when you’re BOTH ready, get out all your traveling now though going to as many places as you’ve wanted to see now, you never know what the future holds and traveling with children is hard, much harder than you can even imagine, especially leaving the USA!

[cheryldenerichardson]

Love you guys.
I'm a 70 year old woman, who lives in Ohio. I don't even have a car. I live vicariously thru you 2.❤❤❤

[samuelokelly]

Don’t sweat the small stuff or small people who are negative !!!
I’m 72 my wife is 66 and we love you guys !! You bring laughter and so much joy, to so MANY people always think about that !!!! Especially how you two crack us up 😂😂😂 !!! Thanks

[markfoster]

A couple comments:
1) I love the physical challenges you take on with increasing difficulty.
2) I am the son of and Epileptic Mother and none of us 4 children have Epilepsy.
3) People leaving negative comments are either jealous of your lifestyle or projecting their own deficiencies, etc. They should "just get a life" and enjoy your videos. I do!
Thanks & Love to you guys and your entire Team!!

[allisonbarr]

You can have it all! We traveled full time, waited until 40 to have our beautiful daughter, and now we travel 6 months of the year with her along for the ride! ❤🎉😊

[emilymehta]

My son suffered a massive seizure at age 1, with daily uncontrolled seizures since, and we have been on the same exploratory journey as you both regarding epilepsy. Kara’s comment about how her diagnosis changed her entire world view and perspective rang so true as a parent of a child with epilepsy. It never quite leaves your mind, no matter how blessed and grateful you are for “the simple things”. Thank you, Kara, SO much for sharing your experience and your positivity. It has given this worried and heart-sick mother some hope that, even if my son doesn’t outgrow his epilepsy, his life can still be full, joyful, and boundless. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I think of you often, Kara, and hope your medication continues to control your seizures. ❤

[audreyfuqua]

EEG TECH HERE! I am an eeg technologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center! I work in the epilepsy monitoring unit and completely understand what you may be experiencing. It sounds like your care team is being super thorough and are taking care of you beautifully ❤️ it sounds like they have you on the right meds and are able to help you, the side effects are real and understandable and can change but if your able to manage the side effects that’s good! There are other medication options that may work differently for you fyi; Keppra, Lamotrigine, etc. I think it’s amazing and brave that you share your experience with this because it’s so important and can help others! Thank you and wishing all the positive energy on your journeys ahead, I’m glad your safe and getting back to yourself ❤

[justinemclaughlin]

Guys, I hope you don't get another flat tire but two tips if needed in the future:
Like Nate said, always unscrew the bolts before lifting the van, its weigh will make it a lot easier
Second, once you remove your flat tire, slide it under the van. This way, if ever the jack fails while you are changing it or retrieving the spare, the tire will keep the van up and away from you! Learned this from a nice garagist and passing it along <3 keep safe

[HughandBro]

Kara and Nate seem like the best people to ask advice about camping and van life because of all they’ve been through. Also even though Kara has been diagnosed with epilepsy she has still been confident and still shows her bravery. I enjoy Kara and Nate’s love for each other and just being willing to do fun things they enjoy and they hope we will enjoy it with them all through their journeys in life.