The second morning of van life started early. Eduardo woke up around 6:30 a.m. parked near the beach after spending his very first night sleeping inside the Sprinter van he built. The view outside was peaceful — ocean water, grassy shoreline, and quiet piers stretching into the distance. For the first time, van life felt real.
Things didn’t go perfectly. Eduardo's attempt to make coffee using the Jet Boil turned into a complete disaster, forcing him to laugh it off and head into town without caffeine. Still, he made the drive down to Palacios, Texas, determined to spend the day fishing and exploring new water.
The fishing conditions were rough. Low water, slow movement, closed bait shops, and missed strikes made it one of those frustrating days every fisherman knows too well. After bouncing between multiple spots, he finally managed to catch a small gafftop and later a speckled trout after dark.
This trip became about more than catching fish. Wandering through downtown Palacios, cooking steak beside the van on the Camp Chef Stove, and sitting alone on a quiet pier at night gave him time to reflect. Sleeping in the van still felt strange, but with every mile traveled, the freedom of the open road started to feel more natural.
View this spot on our Fishing Map
Items in this video:
Camp Chef 2 Burner Stove