Innovative thinking can make your travel goals come true, maybe even change your life!
I am very happy to have a first guest post appearance on my travel blog. I would like to introduce to everyone Andrew Gonzalez owner and co-founder of Pillar Heights eco-friendly and sustainable clothing. I think that Andrew’s latest trip along the west coast of North America was very innovative and exciting. I hope you enjoy reading about Andrew’s inspiring adventure!
Have you ever dreamed of going on a long travel journey but always found a reason not to make this dream reality? Maybe responsibilities such as family, work, a big mortgage or in my friend Andrew’s case owning a business, have kept you from following your dream to travel. These are all huge commitments, and it is understandable that they can hamper a person from pursuing their ambitions to explore the world.
It took Andrew a few years to figure out his getaway plan, but he eventually made his dream trip happen. I believe Andrew, a successful entrepreneur, achieved his goal because of his strong determination to succeed, and his innovative way of thinking.
This trip changed Andrew’s life and his way of thinking forever! This Adventure taught him that innovation and persistence could make dreams come true, and it also helped him discover a passion for creating a new business and making his own products. Read on to find out how Andrew managed to get this all accomplished on a tight budget.
Every spring I would return home to Edmonton, Canada from my winter trip and visited Andrew at the clothing store he owned, Lucid Lifestyle, on Wyte avenue. He would always tell me that he wanted to find a way to make his dream trip to cycle along the North Amerian West Coast a reality.
When I returned to Canada from my winter 2016 trip, I was very excited, and not surprised to find out that Andrew was in California making his dream trip come true. Andrew used his innovative way of thinking to convert his Toyota Matrix into a mini motorhome, and he hired family and friends to take care of his business in Edmonton while he was gone.
The Creation of Capsule Matrix.
I think Andrew’s Toyota Matrix motorhome conversion was very impressive. Besides being very fuel efficient, it had a kitchen with running water, a bed, room for his bicycle and even a pull-out table.
Life In The Mini Motorhome.
Andrew tested out his new creation by spending most of January in Vancouver before making his 2-month trip south. At the time he was contemplating on moving there so he tried living in a different neighborhood each week so he could get a better feel for the city. Easy exploring is one of the big advantages of having a mobile house.
Andrew covered a lot of territory during his two-month trip down the west coast of Canada and the U.S. plus he managed to escape Edmonton’s harsh winter in the process. He drove along the entire U.S coast ending his journey in Tijuana, Mexico.
Being an advocate cyclist, Andrew used his bike during every opportunity he had to explore better the different areas that he visited. He even made a day trip to Mexico spending the day in Tijuana. He biked across the border between California and Mexico with nothing more than his passport, phone, and wallet, solely on a mission to cycle around Tijuana, get lost for a couple of hours and then return to the states after filling up on some tacos.
The further south Andrew drove, the easier living in a mini motorhome got. The weather got warmer making it ideal for biking, and services like public showers were available at major beaches along Los Angeles and San Diego.
This trip eventually ended with Andrew moving to Vancouver where he is currently following another dream to create sustainable clothing specialized for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. You can check out his business website at pillarheights.com. Check it out! It’s inspiring and exciting to see what Andrew has accomplished with his business in a short time!
I enjoyed writing this blog post about Andrew’s innovative adventure across the North American West Coast. It reminded me of the year that I spent in New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa. I bought an old Toyota HiAce van and converted it into a motorhome. I think spending a year living in a van was one of the greatest adventures of my life!
I would like to thank Andrew for sharing his story with us, and I wish him the best of luck with his new business venture!
Do you have an innovative story that you would like to share with our readers? Please tell us about it in the comment section below! Thank-You for visiting travelcanbecheap.com, I hope you enjoyed this post.
Tyler England
Debbie
September 15, 2017 @ 11:19 pm
Fascinating read!
Tyler
September 20, 2017 @ 5:41 pm
Thanks, Debbie!