After a long, post-California hibernation (read: many weekends of “meh, maybe next week?”), we finally peeled ourselves off the couch, brushed the dust off the van (literally), and hit the road again for our first van adventure of the season.
The blog’s been quiet, I know. But listen… no adventure, no story. That’s the deal. But now we’re back, ya habibi. And we’re warming up the wheels with one of our PNW faves: Baker Lake. The perfect low-lift, high-reward destination to remember how to be people who do things outdoors.
Quick note before we dive in
I recently switched blogging platforms from Exposure to Substack to streamline my publishing flow and centralize all my writing in one place. The transition should be seamless on your end. Same Karl, same stories, same vibe, just a new home base. Exposure was great to us for years, but since I now have a couple of other publications already on Substack, and I’ll need to write and post more often while on the road, it made sense to consolidate everything. Substack makes it easier for me to publish right from my phone, which means more stories, more often, with less friction.
While you're here, feel free to check out my two other publications:
Her Recipes 🥐 delicious sweet recipes from
, seasoned with stories and a sprinkle of chaos.Ship Happens 🚀 stories from the product trenches, where building stuff gets delightfully messy.
Alright, enough admin. Let's get back to the real story.
The Friday night escape
We left around 8pm. Later than we wanted, obviously, because we’re us, and made a strategic pit stop at Grocery Outlet. If you know, you know. Where else can you find the holy trinity of road snacks: Taylor Farms salad, a bottle of Pinot, and the latest cheese dip that tastes like whipped Boursin blessed by a cloud and cracked peppercorn?
The sunset on the way north was showing off. Orange, pink, and then full-on flame red, like the sky was saying, “Yalla, you made it. Welcome back.”
We landed at Park Creek Campground, site #5, just after 10:30pm. We popped the top, watched half an episode of The Studio, and dozed off to our neighbor’s 90s playlist and a sky full of stars. Honestly, could’ve been worse.
Saturday: Louie the alarm clock
Things started early. Like 5:30am early. Louie decided today was the day to play “I need to pee” every 10 minutes. Snooze-button-style. I swear the dog was trolling us. Thankfully, Alizée took one for the team and walked him, while I, heroically, stayed in bed being useless.
Later, in more caffeinated spirits, we filmed our morning coffee ritual. Me with my new mic and camera setup, Alizée directing. First time I filmed something without a real plan. Felt weird. Felt good. Felt like I might be slowly turning into a YouTuber who says “what’s up guys” before making espresso in the forest.
Then we packed up and drove to Horseshoe Cove, our launch point for the kayak and SUP. Mirror-like water, no crowds, and zero wind. Bliss.
Until I tripped.
Picture this: I’m carrying Louie to place him in the kayak with Alizée (he’s got the legs of a supermodel and the chest of a powerlifter, but zero sense of balance when being carried). I trip. We both fall. Onto my SUP. Classic. But like true men of the mountain, we brushed it off and got on with our day. Alizée even went for a swim. I stayed dry and dignified. Water temp? Less cold than expected. Still… cold enough to make you think twice.
Later, we did a short hike around the lake, came back, and set up for apéro: wine, crackers, and cheese under the sun. Except this time, we had a new toy: the Kelty Highroad awning.
Let me tell you. This thing is a game-changer. Easy to set up. Packs small. Shields you from the sun. And… surprise bonus use case: naked showers. Yes, we embraced full off-grid camping vibes—improvised, practical, and just shy of scandalous. Zero shame, max efficiency. Kelty, if you're reading this, sponsor us. We’re basically brand ambassadors at this point.
Dinner was a “Kevin’s” pouch special (those pre-cooked protein meals) jazzed up with frozen veggies and cauliflower rice. We dined like dehydrated royalty and passed out without even pressing play on The Studio (that show we started the prior evening).
Sunday: a mirror lake and a dog paddle
Another restless night, but this time not because of Louie. Could’ve been the warm temps. Could’ve been the extra blanket. Could’ve just been van life vibes.
We had our coffee (round two of the “morning content creation”), then rolled out to Swift Creek Campground to launch again. Last year, this was our spot. And just like last year, we had the entire lake to ourselves at 9:30am. Everyone else was still messing with their sausage links and hashbrowns.
We paddled out for a 2.5-hour loop. At the halfway point, we all jumped in. Louie included. Well, “jumped” is generous. I… gently encouraged him. He swam, yes. But it looked like only his front paws got the memo. His back half? Frozen in place like an inflatable mattress. It was hilarious, and also the perfect cool-down from the 28°C sun.
One of my favorite things about Baker Lake is the fallen trees in the water, many of which float so far out they become floating islands, sprouting new growth like nature’s weird little comeback story. It’s peaceful. Poetic. And also very photogenic, if you’re into that kind of thing.
After drying off, we devoured a Taylor Farms sweet chili mango salad, then drove to Boulder Creek Campground so I could finally shoot the drone clip I’ve been dreaming of for a year: a flyover of the creek, under the bridge, and into the glory of Mount Baker. Boom. Captured.
Right before taking off, we chatted with two older gentlemen who had just arrived for the week. They asked us for tips, and it made me smile, thinking that one day, inshallah, Alizée and I will still be rolling up to campsites in our 70s, giving our version of vanlife tips to the next wave of campers.
The reset ritual
Drive home was uneventful, save for a sprinkle of traffic that we tamed with a good podcast. And just like every trip, I ended it with the sacred van reset ritual: clean the fridge, vacuum, refill water tanks, wipe down surfaces. Why? Because when the next adventure calls, we want zero friction. Yalla, ready when you are.
🚐 Trip planning jewels:
Campground: Park Creek (Site #5) – quiet, starry, and 90s-music adjacent.
Kayak/SUP launch points: Horseshoe Cove (nice beach and swim) and Swift Creek (spacious, excellent for early birds).
Must-pack: Kelty Highroad Awning – shade by day, shower screen by evening. Inflatable SUP and kayak – perfect for taking advantage of the calm water and unreal views of Mount Baker from the lake.
Snack staples: Grocery Outlet surprise dips + Kevin’s pouch + Taylor Farms anything 🥗.
Dog owner note: Baker is very dog-friendly, but be ready for 5:30am potty loop 😅.
Pro tip: End every trip with a van reset. It’s the difference between “ehh maybe not this weekend” and “Yalla, let’s go!”
Hikes:
Bayview Loop Trail – Easy, scenic loop trail. Dog- and kid-friendly. Great for a mellow leg-stretcher.
Anderson and Watson Lakes Trail – Moderate hike with stunning views. Not ideal for pups or young kids. We hiked it last year. Read our full story here.
Next stop? We’ve got a few big ones lined up… including a cross-country road trip 👀 But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, we’re just happy to be back.
Yalla, bye.
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