Van Renovations in the Oddities of Spring - VIDEO

The summer trip with the van is approaching. In a few weeks, E and I will first head north, then probably make our way down through Norway, and perhaps cross the sea to return to Finland. The plan is to travel, cook, sleep, and work in the van, just like last year.

Our travel plan is—well, as you know—very loose and free, but the excitement and anticipation are high.

The van needs some planning and modifications. Last year, its interior and setup were perfect for one person and a dog, but now there's no way two people and two dogs will fit without some changes.

Last summer, I lived and traveled in the van for the entire season. If you missed those stories, they start from the van build and continue through the summer-long journey.

This time, the trip won’t be as extensive. It’s lovely to stay put during the summer, at home, observing the changing nature and the wonders of summer nights from one place. We’ll still spend a few weeks on the road, and if the mood strikes, maybe even longer. While the summer in Lapland isn’t known for its length, there’s enough of it to both travel and enjoy staying in one place.

It feels strange to be working on the van and planning a summer trip when one moment brings warm, soul-soothing sunshine, and the next, a snowstorm returns everything to winter. Snow flurries blow into the van through open doors and windows, burying tools, the renovators, and even the dogs.

When the snowstorm takes a breather, the work continues. The piled-up snow is brushed out of the trunk, tools are spread on the ground, and the building begins.

I originally thought we’d make as few changes as possible compared to last year, but in the end, it was easier to dismantle the entire setup and start from scratch. The same excitement for brainstorming and problem-solving kicked in the moment the van was empty again, and the planning could begin.

The biggest challenge was the bed, which was perfect for one person but far too narrow for two. This meant reworking the entire layout. The bed was dismantled, and its parts were used to create a slightly odd-sized, but perfectly usable, bed across the back. Along with that, the kitchen was also shifted across behind the front seats, which surprisingly opened up more space in the van.

The renovation is still ongoing, and I’ll share more photos later when everything is in place. In the meantime, you can check out the video to see the nearly finished setup and get a glimpse of what it’s like to build a summer van in Lapland’s peculiar spring weather.

I wish you a wonderfully strange spring, filled with warmth and light ☀️

<3 Sanna