Summer 2026 • American Southwest
Zulu and Taru's
Adventures
One newly retired human. One beloved 1976 VW Westfalia. Four weeks across the American Southwest.
The Trip of a Lifetime
After 11 years of adventures together, Zulu and Taru are hitting the open road for their biggest journey yet. Fresh out of retirement and with a newly rebuilt engine, Taru is ready for the American Southwest.
Follow along for GoPro footage from the road, journal entries from the campfire, photos from every stop, and the occasional hot spring soak.
The Route
~4,000 miles across five states
Campbell
CA · Home base
Avila Hot Springs
CA · First soak
Tecopa
CA · Mojave Desert
Las Vegas
NV · Friends & lights
Zion NP
UT · Red rock canyons
Santa Fe
NM · Furthest east
Boulder
CO · Mountain air
Moab
UT · Arches & red rock
Great Basin
NV · Remote wilderness
Campbell
CA · Home again
Explore the Journey
Journal
Daily writing from the road — campfire thoughts, desert sunsets, and everything in between.
GoPro Videos
Raw footage from the highway, trails, and hot springs. The Southwest from Taru's perspective.
Photos
A gallery of every stop — landscapes, sunsets, small towns, and Taru in her element.
Taru's Story
How Zulu found a 1976 Westfalia on April Fools Day 2014, and 11 years of adventures since.
The Route
Interactive map of the full journey — every stop, campsite, and detour.
Say Hello
Drop Zulu a note from wherever you are. He reads everything, eventually.