A cancelled work trip turned into a family road trip… the kind where you don’t really have a plan, just a direction.
We packed up the truck, loaded the Four Wheel Camper Project M, and headed East. The goal was simple: fish as much as possible, explore some of our favorite places in Oregon, and see where the trip took us.
Somewhere between late-night camp setups, desert runs, and chasing trout in small rivers, it turned into one of those trips that sticks with you.
The kind where things don’t go perfectly, but somehow that’s what makes it better.
Trip Highlights
If you want to jump around, here are a few highlights from the trip:
- Before Project M: How We Used to Travel
- How Project M Changed the Game for Us
- Oregon Road Trip with our Project M
Before Project M: How We Used to Travel
Before this trip, most of our family camping looked the same. Roll in late, throw something down, and figure it out in the dark.
After years of last-minute trips to escape the city or bad weather, we actually got pretty good at it. Tarp, pads, sleeping bags… done. If we didn’t have to set up a tent, we wouldn’t.
This is how Dave had always done it, going back to his early river trips with his dad. And it worked. But it wasn’t always smooth. Rolling into camp late, setting everything up in the dark, then packing it all down early to get moving again… it always felt a little rushed.
And then there were the moments that made us question it.
Like the time we rolled into Glacier National Park past midnight, transferred our sleeping kids straight onto the ground, and woke up surrounded by bear signs… with kids still covered in snack crumbs from the drive.
Nothing happened. No bears, thankfully. But still…
Or the trip where our daughter woke up with her eyes swollen shut from spider bites after sleeping outside.
We loved being out there. Sleeping under the stars, being close, talking about constellations and random things as a family. That part never gets old. But over time, it started to feel like we were pushing it. Not always safe, not always comfortable, and definitely not always easy, especially with kids.
And we kept saying the same thing over and over:
“We should probably get a camper.”
How Project M Changed the Game for Us
Then came Four Wheel Camper’s Project M.
We picked it up on a road trip with the kids, driving from Oregon down to California and back along the coast. And right away, something felt different.
We could pull off pretty much anywhere, pop the top, and be set up in minutes! No scrambling in the dark. No “let’s just deal with it.” It just… worked.
That first trip wasn’t about dialing everything in. It was more about realizing what was possible.
We’d stop on random roads, let the kids climb up top, and suddenly “bedtime” wasn’t a whole production anymore. It felt easy in a way our trips never really had before.
The Wisconsin Trip: When It All Clicked
Soon after, we took the Project M to Wisconsin for a fly fishing trip Dave put together for clients. That’s where the setup really started to shine.
We drove through Montana, stopped in small towns like Helena, and started using TroutRoutes to find fishing access points where we could also camp for the night.
And that’s when it clicked. We weren’t just traveling anymore. We were waking up in places we normally would’ve just passed through! It was pretty exciting for all of us.
When the Kids Took Over the Setup
Somewhere along the way, the kids figured it out too.
Our youngest was able to pop the top up and down on her own. After a few reminders about the latches, we started relying on them to help with setup and breakdown.
It turned into a team thing, which made everything faster… and honestly, more fun.
Project M: The One Mistake We Learned the Hard Way
Not everything went perfectly, especially early on.
One night, it was so cold that we sealed everything up tight and went to sleep without really thinking about ventilation. At the time, we didn’t have the insulation yet, and we figured staying warm was all that mattered.
We woke up to condensation pouring down the walls, soaking everything, including our bedding.
It was one of those moments.
The foam pad we were using had already started to mildew, and in full frustration mode, I ended up tearing it apart and tossing it.
That trip ended up being a big learning experience for us.
Project M: Small Upgrades That Made a Big Difference
After that trip, we added insulation to the walls of the pop-up and upgraded to the black sleeping pads, and it made a huge difference right away. Warmer, drier, and just way more comfortable overall.
One thing we made sure to have from the start was the magnetic bug net, mostly because of our daughter’s ability to attract every bug in the area… especially knowing we’d be heading into the Midwest.
It makes a big difference, not just for keeping bugs out, but also as a wind block and a bit of added privacy.
And honestly, I’m still trying to figure out a way to run a double bug net… so if you don’t close it right, there’s still another layer there to stop everything getting in.
Gotta have it.
Oregon Road Trip with our Project M
Let’s get into the most recent trip we took in Oregon.
We kept this one close to home so we could spend more time fishing and less time driving. The plan was simple: head toward the Steens Mountains, fish the Donner und Blitzen, check out the Alvord Desert, and spend time on one of our favorite rivers, the Deschutes.
Like most of our trips, we didn’t have everything figured out ahead of time. And somehow, those always end up being the best ones.
Deschutes Stop + A Good Start
We drove east from the coast, stopping in Bend to grab a few flies where Leila picked out some X Caddis.
By the time we made it to Mecca Flats on the Deschutes, we hadn’t planned to stay there. We were just tired and happened to be nearby, so we pulled in.
We rolled in late, popped the top, and were set in minutes.
In the morning, we skipped the camp kitchen and drove to a small diner on the reservation where Shitike Creek meets the Deschutes.
A tall Native man named Randall took our order, cooked it, and brought out huge plates of breakfast. When Dave asked who was tying flies, he just said, “Me,” and pointed to his truck outside. Turns out he’s also a guide.
A pretty perfect way to start the trip.
Steens Mountain and Fishing the Blitzen
We drove The Beast east toward Page Springs, just outside of Frenchglen. Yes, we call our truck and camper combo “The Beast” because of the black camper top and the license plate with “666.”
We stopped in Frenchglen for snacks, then headed to the campground. Page Springs is first-come, first-served, and by the time we got there, it was full. It was already dark, so instead of forcing it, we drove up Steens Mountain a bit and found a spot to overland camp under a huge, open sky.
Within minutes, the kids were asleep in their cozy beds, and Dave and I were sitting outside, finally still. That’s one of the biggest things with Project M. No setup, no stress. You just stop, pop it up, and you’re done.
In the morning, we made coffee and breakfast, then headed up to explore the Steens. It was a full day of volcanic rock, short windy hikes, and small moments like the kids playing and singing near one of the springs off the “Wet Blanket” trail.
We made sandwiches out of the back of the camper and looked out over these huge gorges that don’t really hit until you’re standing there.
By evening, we made our way back down to the river to fish.
Still no open campsites, so we parked near a day-use trail and walked in. This is where having the pop-up really matters. We didn’t have to choose between fishing and setting up camp. We could just fish and figure the rest out later. Without it, we probably would’ve left.
Dave took Leila, and I went with Juna. I hooked a big redband that jumped and threw the fly. At the same time, we heard yelling downstream. Leila had hooked a huge fish too, played it for minutes… and lost it.
We warmed up in the camper, found another quiet spot off Steens Mountain Road, and called it.
The next day, we finally grabbed a campsite. No shade, just heat, so we used the Four Wheel Project M camper to make our own while the kids fished again and everything started to click. By night, it turned freezing, but with the insulation and better setup, we were good.
Next stop: the Alvord Desert
The Alvord Desert
The goal was simple: get out onto the playa, let the kids drive, run around, and just be out there.
We made a stop along the way and checked out the hot springs, but they didn’t live up to it. So we didn’t overthink it, we just headed out onto the playa and left it behind.
Once we got out onto the lakebed, it felt like another world.
Wide open, bright, and quiet in a way that’s hard to explain.
The girls took turns driving while we ran across the desert, laughing and trying to take it all in. At one point, we stopped, popped up the camper, and made sandwiches right there in the middle of it.
That’s one of those moments where everything just works. No planning, no setup, just being out there.
We drove out toward the edge, where a few shrubs gave some relief from the wind and ended up camping there for the night.
After the sun went down, everything got quiet.
I walked out onto the playa and lay back under the stars for a while. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel small, in a good way. Just you, the sky, and a lot of space to think.
Mann Lake (Quick Stop, Quick Reality Check)
We made a stop at Mann Lake, hoping to fish a place Dave remembered from growing up.
It didn’t pan out.
The trout were gone, and the lake felt different than what he remembered. We stayed for a bit, saw a lone egret and a few ducks, and moved on.
Not every stop hits, and that’s part of it.
Fort Rock and Paisley Caves
We kept going, even though it was a bit out of the way.
Fort Rock rises out of the landscape like something from another time. We hiked into the crater, then around the outside, where the rock formations really stand out. The girls explored while Dave stayed back in the shade of the camper.
Later, we drove out to see the Paisley Caves from a distance. Even from the road, it felt like one of those places that carries weight. Ancient, quiet, and hard to fully explain.
Covered Wagons
By then, we still hadn’t figured out where we were staying.
We looped back toward Crane Hot Springs and lucked into the last available spot, a small wagon setup with a deck.
After days of dust, heat, and moving nonstop, it felt like exactly what we needed.
We had been joking the whole trip that our setup felt like a modern covered wagon. Ending up in one felt kind of perfect.
We soaked, cleaned up, and finally slowed down for a bit before heading home.
Back to the Deschutes… and a bit of drama
We made one last stop at Mecca Flats on the way home, this time to actually fish.
Leila was all in.
New flies, her own setup, and completely focused. Dave took her to the same deep pool Randall, the guide we met earlier, had pointed out. She hooked a fish but didn’t land it.
What mattered was that she was in it.
After years of casting, watching, and being around it, she finally got to step into it in her own way.
I fished a bit too, and landed a native sucker, with the kids running to grab the net, thinking it was a big redside the whole time. Not quite, but still a win.
Not every part of the day went smoothly.
While I was wading near camp, a couple of anglers dropped in right next to me and made things uncomfortable. It caught me off guard, but I stayed calm, finished my run, and let it go.
We got the kids back into the camper and called it early.
That night, we were grateful for the camper. Everyone inside, settled, while things outside felt a little less predictable.
The next morning, we stopped back at the diner and saw Randall again. We told him about the day before, shared a few laughs, and it felt like a good way to close things out.
We headed home with a lot to sit with.
The kids were already writing stories about the trip, replaying everything in their own way. They drove across a desert, hooked fish, and experienced both the highs and the harder moments.
And for us, it was a reminder of why we do this in the first place. Being able to just go, figure it out as we go, and still have a place to come back to at the end of the day… that’s changed a lot for us.
Now it’s just a matter of where we take our Project M next.
Alright, if you want to go deeper on Four Wheel Campers and how this setup works for fishing trips, check out these episodes:
- 701 | The Best Pop-Up Camper for Fly Anglers with Stan Kennedy of Four Wheel Campers
- 749 | Tales of the 48: Fly Fishing Every State with Ryan Burch – Four Wheel Campers
And if you’re thinking about a setup like this, check out Four Wheel Campers here. And if you’ve got questions, just hit me up: dave@wetflyswing.com
