Turning Lemons Into Miles: The First Three Weeks on the Lemon Route
When we set off on the Lemon Route, we weren’t chasing a perfect vanlife highlight reel. We were chasing the real thing…the wins, the fails, and the lemon moments. Our rules are simple but brutal-
✅ One night in a van per state
✅ One free boon-dock per state
✅ One lemon moment - whether it finds us, or we find it
Here’s how Episodes 1–3 went down across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado.
Episode 1: Arizona ➝ New Mexico
We launched from our home state of Arizona…nerves, excitement, and a van that’s more unpredictable than a slot machine. The first official boon-dock of the Lemon Route? A Walmart parking lot in New Mexico. Not glamorous, but it checked the box. And the views were amazing.
And for our lemon moment? We leaned into Roswell’s alien theme and grabbed lemon candy in the middle of UFO country. Sour, silly, and exactly what the Lemon Route is all about.
🎥 Watch it all in https://youtu.be/NiDk4sPYmwI?si=wAvMRbb6VLMtZQCo
Episode 2: Texas Trouble in Austin
Texas was… hot. Really hot. But first, we decided to stay right in the heart of downtown Austin at a small RV park. It cost us $80 a night, and let’s just say we quickly learned we were paying for location, not amenities.
We tried to cool off at Barton Springs, only to find out it was closed. Strike two. And then came the real meltdown, literally. Our inverter started acting up, which meant the AC went down for hours in triple-digit heat. We thought the trip might be over before it even had a chance to start.
It was the kind of day that reminded us why this is called The Lemon Route.
🎥 Watch Episode 2 here → https://youtu.be/lTAJDblQJGQ?si=Q0Nuz6ahtiRkjxAL
Episode 3: Buc-ee’s, Bridges, and Colorado Cool
Leaving the Texas heat behind, we crossed the border into Colorado and things immediately felt lighter, cooler air, mountain views, and fresh energy.
But the Lemon Box had other plans. Our penalty? Cook dinner using only Buc-ee’s ingredients. We tackled it at a Harvest Host in Colorado, turning a quirky challenge into a surprisingly fun night. From there, the state just kept giving…Royal Gorge Bridge, gondola rides, Skyline Drive, and even though Mr. Lemon couldn’t resist throwing in a roof leak, Colorado reminded us why we’re doing this.
🎥 Watch Episode 3 here → https://youtu.be/jf3knbsaJgs?si=oSHJQmyHkhwMWFzr
Four States Down - 46 To Go
Three episodes in, we’ve already racked up plenty of stories:
Arizona gave us the launch.
New Mexico gave us candy and a Walmart night.
Texas gave us Buc-ee’s, sweat, and fun gas station stop.
Colorado gave us views, bridges, and a leaky roof.
The lemons keep coming, but that’s the point. This isn’t about perfect vanlife…it’s about real travel, with all the sour moments that make the sweet ones even better.
So far? Sour but still rolling. 🍋