Van Life | I Had to Leave
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2024
- Things took a turn and I had to leave...but I wound up in a paradise of golden aspens and changing leaves so I guess it worked out? Thanks for being here ♡
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Hey :) I’m Christian Schaffer, and I’ve lived on the road full-time since May 2018. This journey began in 2013 when I left the corporate world to build my career as an outdoor adventure & travel photographer. After 14 months of SUV living - I bought the van I now call home. Van life enables me to experience and document the beauty of our natural world, while also having my home and office nearby. My hope is that by sharing my own personal highs and lows along this (sometimes) wild journey, you might be inspired to hit the road or spend more time outdoors. Maybe one day I'll see you out on that open road 🚐
*My van is a 2019 Ram ProMaster 1500 High Roof, 136" WB with 57K miles*
#vanlife #solofemale #autumn
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Despite your unwanted pests, you came through with more stellar videos of nature at her finest. You just can't keep a great van lifer gal down!
There’s a small removable cover on the floor to the right of your driver’s seat on the Promaster. Open that, then unscrew that round metal cover. Under that is the top of your gas tank. This is where I found a nest. If you reach in there and feel around towards the rear of the van you’ll find a rather large gap where cables feed through to the outside bottom of your van. It’s a very big, easy entry point for mice or other pests. Once inside that floor space they can pretty much travel anywhere… Up inside the side pillars and into your roof cavity, or easily pop out from under the seats. I stuffed a bunch of copper mesh in the gap and sprayed Great Stuff foam onto the mesh from underneath the van. It may not be the only place they could be entering but it’s a major one. Good luck
Christian, gratitude. I’m not able anymore to go back for the autumn in the aspen groves of my Colorado home, so thanks more than I can say for this video. I recognize many of the places shown, and I’ve been at the “welcome”signs more times than I can count in my 77 year life. I know you have the gift of extraordinary vision, and hope your other senses also take in the whole experience. This video is one I will treasure. The beauty you’ve captured brings mist to my eyes. ❤️🙏🏼🍂🍁
(I do hope those pesky little critters don’t bother you anymore…..%$&#@!)
🥲🙏🏻
There is nothing more beautiful than the colors of season's changing.....
Amazon has these peppermint "bean bags" that you can place around your tires or camping area.
How can a person be so sweet, so nice? You are amazing and very charismatic. Never leave us. I'm your number one fan.
The most likely entry point for the mice is through your firewall between the engine and the cab. There are numerous penetrations there including wiring harnesses, steering column, and for heater/ac equipment located under the dash. Some of them would be hard to observe because they're not readily accessible and may require a mechanic to inspect. You could try putting a bright light in the engine bay at night and observing under the dash to see if you notice any light coming through, particularly at floor level below the steering column. Good luck!
That doesnt get them into the roof as there is no path to travel past the firewall. There certainly is enough damage they xan do under the hood though!
Had that problem. Found a mice nest under the battery holder
Yes movement lights under your van at night. Also, open your hood during the day. This is a campground, boondocking problem.
Never happened before rebuild...hmmm.
Still like better the opening to the outside in the rear quarters below the taillights. It's easier to find in an unlined van from the inside. Note that Mercedes probably intends these openings as your cabin air exhaust. You can foam them, but be aware that you are radically changing the air flow situation.
You have a gift! Your eyes and ears just know how to make great videos. Thanks!
Hi Christian....I've never been so happy about a mouse situation....in my life. As I am about you finally.... haven't heard nor seen "any signs" of other mice in your beautifully renovated home on wheels. Yes, "fingers crossed" and hands together...pray there will be no more. Because it's such an annoying problem in a small space.... any sized enclosed space. And I applaud you for the way you handled it with as much grace and tolerance as you did. Although, the mice are the farthest away from my mind, when watching your videos. Simply awe-jaw dropping beautiful ...beyond mere words. Eye-stunning and magnificent to behold. It's your own Signature...on every shot ... so inspiring and a joy to watch. Thank you for bringing out the best and sharing it with all of us. What a beautiful journey⛰🗻🏞🏜🌄...enjoy it to the fullest. Stay Safe and Happy and Free! 🌞🌠 *Vandie Van🚐 Wings 🦋*
Appreciate you! 🙏🏻
5:26 is beautiful!
Oh, and your eye for photographic composition is absolutely next level. Stunning images as always, Christian! 🤩The soothing voice, the calm music, the phenominal beauty of nautre and the engaging life stories you provide... it's practically a form of mental healthcare for your viewers. I know I personally feel my stress lvls recede any time I watch one of your episodes. And the remarkable way you emrge from your trials of life on the road, is a great example of how perseverence and positivity can carry one thru the obstacles life throws at them. This channel isn't just entertainment, it's a service. 🥰
so glad you enjoy it ☺️🙏🏻
Besides checking all door seals, if you have any tubes or wires going out through the floor, reseal them. Mice can squeeze through narrow openings. Most of all get a trap to catch them to get them out. Good luck and roll on rodent free! 👍
I am so selfish and self centered that as soon as I saw the title of this video my heart sank. What will I do without you, was my first thought. I have been blessed to have found you for all this time. You bring such beauty with you. I have the score at Christian 4, mice 0. Stunning visuals as usual and great story telling. Thank you. Love you. ❤🙏
Christian, once again you've delivered an amazing video. Van life certainly comes with its fair share of trials - from water damage to dealing with mice, but your unwavering resilience shines through it all. It's truly captivating to witness from an outsider's perspective. Your journeys to breathtaking destinations and the way you generously share your remarkable and imaginative skills are deeply appreciated. Please keep them coming, I can't get enough! ❤😉🤙
I appreciate you 🥲🙏🏻
I watch a lot of vanlife vlogs, but the quality you bring to the table is incomparable to the others. Hats off!
Thank you 🥲🙏🏻
Christian, your youtube videos are such a nice reprieve from the rest of the loud and in-your-face clutter on YT. Your stories are like independent short films. All well thought out. With no detail left unnoticed. We all love them!
Borrow a cat for a few days. They actually work. Especially if they are expert micers. The mice get the smell of the cat and leave. But where they get in, as you say, is something you have to plug. Good luck!
So nice to see the beauty you provide us in your travels. Thank you again and again.
Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
What a pain, mice can get in through such small holes. There must be a way to seal holes with screens or something. Your van looks so nice. Good luck Christian!❤
Burnished orange around 11 mins is gorgeous, keep travelling, shooting and reporting, love ya.
This video was a Fall vibe for sure! So beautiful! Thank you for sharing the Fall colors with us. I’m glad you were able to adios your little, furry squatters. 👋👋🐭
You're resourceful and have a powerful inner strength. Something tells me you will figure it out or things will work out. Always enjoy the cinematography!
Like# 11 !!! Woohoooooooooooo - Firewall, any holes made in construction, any grommets missing.
At night, use a super bright light inside and direct it at the firewall and then go to the engine bay and look for leaking light.
You can also use compressed air to scare the mice out of their hiding space, there’s also a dog training compressed air + mountain lion scent that would scare them out!
I like this solution a lot. 👍
Love the overhead at 10:10! Great color, composition, and use of the curve in the road. Really tells a story with the inclusion of your van.
Absolutely dope 😊
Hey Christian,
So glad you got rid of your unwanted guests and finally managed to get a good nights sleep. Nothing worse than being woken from a lovely sleep!
Absolutely loved those sunset shots. Your compositional skills are inspirational.
Look forward to more of your adventures next week... Stay strong and healthy 👍
A number of years ago I worked for the National Park Service in Grand Teton National Park. One summer I lived in an amazing house directly across the highway from the Willow Flats overlook. I had seen mice in the house before but... it's the NPS...that's just part of living in the parks. So I just let them be for a long time. One night, as I was dozing off into sleep, I was jolted awake by a sharp pain on my right ear. As I shot up, realizing I had been bitten, a mouse scampered away down to the floor and behind a piece of furniture. The next day I procured some mouse traps from the park maintenance office and committed a small genocide. I love all creatures but when you bite my ear, I come back hard! Sorry you had to deal with the Teton mice; I know what you're going through.
Welcome to fall in Colorado! Happy to see you enjoying the Aspens . Thanks for being there! PS. So glad you got rid of the little hitchhikers.
Strong, you are strong, so strong!!! You're so okay!!! Love you videos always. So beautiful!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'm with you on the mice I wouldn't be able to rest until they're gone! I've had success with salami in the traps. Thanks for the video. Safe travels!
Love the reds and light brown of the fall as you call it, here in England still very green and wet, the fall lagging very behind .
Beautiful sceneries as always. That sunset light and crickets, the woods and all those colors. God's priceless paintings. Thank you for sharing! I hope you are alright after the experience with the mice family and the little buddies went on their way. Not nice that they chewed on the plant and shirt, but it could have been worse. Take care, be safe!
The plant felt personal 😂 But thankfully they’re long gone now, haven’t seen any since 🤞🏻
@@ChristianSchaffer That's good. They left for a better place, and you got your peace back.😊
Always look forward to watching your videos. Thanks for being here for us.
Always Awesome videos… You’re uplifting even with four mice in your home! be safe out there!!
Mice situation is crazy! You are calmer than I’d be 🙏🏾
I had a mouse invasion several years ago when our small RV was parked. After major cleaning, and trying traps (poison is bad for animals that do eat them and we never know where they will die) - I discovered similar to you the use of mint. My husband is a wood worker so I made small cloth bags with wood chips and sprinkled with peppermint, spearmint, and rosemary essential oil. Then I taped them under my hood (they had gotten in the air filter area), and around essential outside areas. I also discovered the electronic plug in devices - with your solar power you could use an inverter and extension cord and put these under your bed and in areas where you've seen the mice. Fortunately they did NOT get into our food which is kept pretty well sealed in high cupboards in our RV. I would add new oils monthly or as needed. Yep they munch on everything (sorry about your clothing). Fingers crossed...
In the 1800s, a lot of households had problems with rats, (think the Nut Cracker). There was a very successful rat poison. The poison damaged the rat's internal organs and they would leave your house. They would run to the river to get a drink of water, where they would die. But, they didn't die in the walls of your house. Today, this poison is used in much lower doses as a blood thinner. Blood thinners Coumadin and Warfarin are informally called "Rat poison".
Breathtaking drive!
If you are still having problems with mice, I recommend the old-time Victor traps. (The ones with the spring that essentially breaks their necks.) I had good success using peanut butter as bait. They come in packages of two. I set both of them. A day later I heard a loud snap. There was a dead mouse in it. I left the second one because I didn't want to get my finger snapped. Two days later, i heard a loud snap. There was another mouse in the second trap. Thankfully, that was the end of it.
That is exactly what I use is the plastic Victor traps. I used to use peanut butter now I just drop a peanut in the traps. The traps really work and are reusable. I have caught many dozens of mice. I have lost a couple of traps to larger varmints like rats or chip monks getting caught in the traps and dragging them off.
Agreed, this is what has caught the majority of our mouse issues in the past as well! Only once...so far, we heard the trap snap, and the mouse got away somehow!
If the mice are in the van, they can access the engine compartment even easier. They can do thousands in damage and potentially leave you stranded after chewing through wires and harnesses.
@michaelhamerski2168
Yes, I think the engine compartment is the first place they go. It is the most accessible. There is a lot of places to build a nest in the engine compartment.
@@mickeybrumfield764 Agreed, many vehicles use plastics made from I believe corn oil or some other "biodegradable" material. Field mice and squirrels at Denver, Colorado airport(DEN) ate through my sister's car's hoses. There was no food in the car and it was left out in the parking lot for only 3 days. They found out from the attendant there, it happens a lot because the parts are "edible" to the rodents.
The trees, mountains, simply stunning!!
☺️🍂
Joining with other Coloradans in welcoming you to our fall color bonanza. Peak timing, way to catch us at our colorful best. You might catch the Elk buggling, and more! Be aware, First Elk Season started yesterday. It’s a short season, ending the 18th. You’ll have a gap before 2nd Season which starts the 28th. Wear orange if you’re hiking, and realize folks like me are in the woods with the intent of bagging food for the freezer. Also hunters will be camping all over the National Forest and higher BLM Lands, and they’ll likely roll in to set up camp in the gap period. Be safe out there. Looks like Western Colorado to me 😎
yes they are everywhere simple wooden traps work and hear the snap love your work!!
So glad to hear you got the mice out! I make TH-cam videos in a similar spirit as you and just reached a year on the road - also just had my first mouse situation but since I’m traveling with two cats it wasn’t a problem for long. Sending love from my little stretch of road to yours ❤
sounds like you have the perfect built-in mouse defense 🐈⬛🤍
@@ChristianSchaffer just re-read my comment and was like "well that wasn't super helpful of you Gabrielle, it's not like she's going to get a cat" - sorry about that haha - but yes, cats are definitely the uniquely perfect build in for this situation. How funny would it be for someone to start a service for nomads dealing with this issue. You know how they have "rent a goat" to help with lawns? Could do like "rent a kitty." In reality that's a horrible idea... but I mean 🤷♀
@@gabrielleszafir Snakes are even better at rodent control than cats as they can go and hunt them where cats can't. Plus, they don't need any attention and just stay out of one's way.
Speaking from experience as I 'co-habited' with a snake in my kitchen whilst living in Africa. 👍
Luv you choice of music with this stunning fall vibe!!!
Congratulations on your new rebuilt car. I hope the mice haven't destroyed anything.
We lived in a little travel trailer while we built our house. Mice became such a frequent thing and started building nests inside of my guitar. I only realized it because in the middle of the night I’d hear an E string. Lol! I’m so glad we got the house built.
And by the way, I just love the way you put the music to the scenery. It’s so lovely.
I can see a guitar being a nice little mouse house 😅
Christiam, I will tell you what my way is to deal with a mouse without killing it. If you have a jar, e.g. after the jam, not too big, put a stick at the bottom and rest the ends on the edges of the walls to hold them in place, attach a thread with some food to the stick, e.g. a piece of bread, so that it reaches half the height of the jar so that the mouse can reach it, and then you put the jar on a match to balance the bottom up . When the mouse reaches for the bread, the jar will lose its balance and the mouse will be caught. Happy hunting.😄😺
I can't picture what you're describing...just get rid of them permanently
@@mrmotofy Let me explain in simpler terms. Support the open part of the jar with a match on the floor, but you need to achieve a state of balance so that the jar does not tip over. First, insert a stick against the walls of the jar so that you can attach some food to it. What you do with the caught fish is up to you.
Black Cat sticky mouse traps work (put a peanut in the middle of them). Traditional mouse traps (Victor) work well too, use peanut butter or gooey chocolate (Snickers) for best results. Mice typically make about 40 sorties for food every night and they defecate each time. Get the traps out, then get some Critter Ridder pest repellent and spray your tires etc.
OMG Christian! Not to minimize the downsides of rodents and the real damage they can do but this is such a funny/cute video about your fear of mouse hitchhikers! Honking the horn like that would get them out of your rig and building a pillow wall to keep them off your bed is about the cutest thing I've seen in a long time
Stunning America. I will see it soon.
Christian, I think this was a missed opportunity for a Ratatouille type situation. Maybe an extra cameramouse? Mouseatouille haha. Sounds extremely frustrating and I hope they are all out. Dang, those Colorado colors are so vibrant. Great job!
We love your videos and look for them every week!
Christian, Queen of the B roll, truly captures the experience.
Glad you got through the unwanted mice. Capturing the sounds and images of nature this way, was spot on. Your dream catcher, plants, and copper bracelet serve you well.
There will never be anything as beautiful as the Aspen in fall in Colorado. Well, except your incredible videos. Stay safe and keep exploring
Beautiful as ever. Those Aspens!
(I use glue traps and peanut butter. Had used other things but that was the best. Evil little devils.) Glad you are happy and well. 💖🙏
The views you’ve captured are stunning as always. The golden and yellow leaves are so beautiful ❤
The drone clips of your van while driving are so cool.....😊
Ah Christian that sounds so frustrating! I’ve used the humane mouse catchers where you press a plastic door flap onto the end of an empty food tin. A small slice of banana usually attracts the little sods and then you can ‘rehome’ them a LONG WAY away from your van! Lovely film as always 😊
Your World-class Videography.. Excellent choice of precision-tymed music.. and your pleasant smile.. make your videos Worth my tyme..!! Thanks, Christian
this had all the smells of autumn through color and scenery.
Wow awesome footage.
such beautiful scenery
Welcome to Colorado.... Enjoyed your video, very colorful time of year. Safe travels.
your sunset shots are amazing ... with that background sound its sooooooo peaceful !!!
Autumn trees are colorful…nice video film. 🙏🏻😊
Beautiful video! Thanks for sharing!
What stunning drone footage of the Colorado rockies in autumn. Excited to fly down there in January to go skiing.
Glad you got the little hitchhikers out. Usually peanut butter and standard traps, or a live trap will work to evict them.
The quality of your videos and images are exceptionally clearly sharp and picturesque. I love it!
God is Amazing! I love to see the beauty of His creation! ♥️ Thank you for sharing!
You never disappoint with all the colorful shots. For some reason I really liked the shots out of the side window with the plant. Shake Rattle and Roll.
What a beautiful country you live in, but above all, how beautifully you capture it all with your cameras well done my compliments
Hello Christian. Yes, those little critters can be so maddening. Very glad you persevered and captured those wonderful Rockies videos in Fall. I would suggest getting a Transonic ESP audio machine. I used to get mice in my traps every spring and fall, but if I keep my Transonic unit going, I do not have any mouse traffic in my garage. You will likely have to go for a hike or do laundry while it is sending out the sound waves, and the pests find quieter environments - but I know it works. Your creativity and end products are captivating, even when plagued by mice!!!
Hi Christian, as a fan of your work and most of all a fan of God and his nature, I hope you realize, even with the pros and cons that life brings in every aspect, angle and lifestyle, that the way you're living is very pure, clean and harmonious in every sense and is great inspiration for those that are seeking to free themselves from modern slavery,I hope I get there some day, working on it...
The drone work! Wow!!
Spray foam and aluminum tape are your friends minimal expanding ❤😊
I absolutely love your spirit❤
What strikes me deeply about your videos, like this one, is your confident determination to overcome which glows beneath the surface of life’s frustrations. Thank you for another enjoyable glimpse wild spaces and a type of life vastly different from my own. Keep up the good work!
Was just in Santa Fe visiting my son an his wife and we hiked up the mountain to the ski area...the Aspens were so beautiful set against the deep blue sky. Love it there. Keep truckin girl
Christian !!! I think some of your best work yet.... I have been following you for 2 years and have never been disappointed by your artistry, vision and passion , you capture the the most amazing footage to share with those that otherwise would miss out on treasure !!! I am so appreciative of your vision and talent. You are so cool !!! To this day I still laugh at the time you were sleeping outside and the mountain lion or whatever made you wake up and run in=side the van for protection ! No video, but the imagination took over. And when you rolled your van ? Thank god you are still with us !!! As a custom jewelry designer in Tucson, and fellow artisan, I so appreciate what you capture and share ! So cool. Your passion comes through in every vid. Absolutely love your work !!! ( great hair in this vid too ) !!! THANK YOU !!!
Fingers crossed on having no more mice.
Seriously, thank you again on the stunning images.
I came home from a very long day and watching all this, gave life back to me.
Thank you.
Oh the foliage of it all! Simply breathtaking! Ok. The struggle is real! Mice can be so expensive to support. :) The most significant cost is if they chew your wire harness. That can be brutally disruptive and expensive. I took some heavy plastic (3.5'x8") and steel wool and a curling iron and made a 3' long 'wrapper' and wrapped the only portion of my wire harness that was exposed (primary plug in point). I also added an LED with a switch and a motion sensor under the hood. Mice really hate light. To find entry points ( I did this when my Transit was barebones but...) I waited until night time and placed 3 work lights under the van and then jumped inside and closed all the doors. Given the pitch darkness, even the condensation drip holes were visible. There were no points of entry for any sort of rodent or 'bug' with any size. I then made sure to keep rodents in mind for every single hole I made in the van during the build, making sure any plumbing/ventilation holes included wire mesh. Sounds like you've gotten rid of that last bugger. Now you really need to find the point of entry. Check every single place the van shell/floor was 'breached'. Maybe they simply removed something from the old build and never reused the hole or some such... Hang in there and thanks for sharing!!!
Beautiful place and as usual, beautifully produced. I'm watching this as I'm sitting outside of my 5'X10' teardrop under the awning on the Tom Bigsby Waterway in extreme western Alabama. Sorry for your pest problems Christian but you powered through it like a champ. Eagerly awaiting your next video. God's speed in your travels!
Beautiful shots of mountains
The beauty of this video is next level, mice be damned. The sunsets, the trees, your patience, etc. I made a mental note that I need to be in Colorado during October sometime in my lifetime.
Enjoyed the episode. Thanks for sharing.
"Of Mice and Van" John Steinbeck would endorse that! Lovely video 😍
Christian, we used Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent in our camper. We never had any trouble with mice coming in. You can place it in the engine compartment and in the camper itself. I hardly noticed the smell from the Fresh Cab. You might want to check it out.
You've got this mate. Nice work.
I feel your pain! I am personally terrified of the little rodents, and yes i have been laughed at many times!🙄 my little tip is i put fabric softner sheets everywhere in our motorhome. Anything i store in plastic bags, bedding, towels i put fabric sheets in with them. We have those big storage compartments under the coach so i put lots of them in there. I even put them in kitchen cabinets with dishes. Oops, almost forgot under all mattresses and between matress and between maytress and topper! I havent had a problem yet so fingers crossed. It always smells nice and fresh! Lol
Best of all he loved the fall...the fall with the tawny and grey, the leaves yellow on the cottonwoods, leaves floating on the trout streams and above the hills the high blue windless skies. - Hemingway
Love the dinosaur prints. Saw some in Spain last year. So cool.
You're quite possibly my fav TH-camr. Your adventures are extremely fun, and your videography is just fabulous (I'm an amateur photographer that geeks out on that type stuff). Thanks for sharing as your uploads are a viewing highlight!
Love your videos! Just take a nice deep breath and enjoy if you can. The little sticky pads from home improvement stores works great, FYI.
Beautiful as always. Love your photography/videography. The nice family! I would’ve died and wouldn’t be able to sleep either. You are one strong woman. Luv the van!! Kudos
Awesome video of the Aspens
I look forward to watching your videos.
autumn colours Wonderfull
My favorite way of rounding up my weekend: timing my dinner with one of your uploads. Amazing scenery and video, as always! ❤
Sounds incredibly frustrating. I’m holding you in my heart and wishing you moments of peace
Love the second half! Beautiful scenery. 😊 and fingers crossed 🤞
Oh how frustrating! Try to keep your sanity 💕 the fall colors are beautiful. Cheers
Beautiful!❤