Campervan designs and maps...where next.

Where will we go next and how might we get there?

In between trips around this part of Portugal have been obsessively drawing campervan ideas and and looking at maps. When you stand on a pristinely empty beach with your kids running out across the sand like deer, one thought takes hold,
"How can we do more of this in the future?"

I'm keen to explore my native Scotland and Wales (which has more castles per square mile than any other country in the world!) I've also always had a thing about North Devon. My daughter is desperate to spend time in Paris, we have passed through but not explored.

Looking at the French road map I never realized how well connected we are with France....

We need a Britstop book, to sleep free and legal in the UK, and Aires book for France, and a van, car turned into camper... Here following are my ideas.

Seventeen days to go!

Last night was stormy, rain beat the flowers down and wind rocked the campervan. Inside it was warm and quiet, three cuties slept in the soft light of a string of fairy lights. One was awake! My daughter tells me it is 17 days until we set off for a tour of Spain and Portugal that will last over five months. A pilgrimage in search of education, wildlife, adventure, culture and a lot of ice cream. My daughter has recently made the jump from reading when I tell her to, to reading for fun, and I couldn't be prouder, but there is more to be learned out there in the world, I want to set an example of participating in life, even better throwing yourself at it, but some nights that seems hard. My husband is feeling it too, he came home with enough plasters and antiseptic cream to supply a war zone! Getting nervous dear? Here we go! The kids can read my blog when they are older and go "Oh! They got scared sometimes!"

We may return through France, then we will explore Scotland. My van is ready and my new headlights look spanking! I know that apart from the 24 hours on the ferry I can potter around the coast as slowly as I like but I've never driven this far and I've only spent a handful of hours driving overseas. On the flip side, I've taken to watching videos of beautiful Portuguese coastline and food and thinking, come on 17 days get done!

I'm looking forward to sun silvered palm trees, wide spaces, new people, new words, mountains and medieval towns with castles. I'm not looking forward to missing my family (although my mum is hanging out in a Chateau in France right now) missing the play dates for Jasmine and trying to get the kids to eat strange food, or searching for chicken nuggets in exotic places!

We are also trying to solve the problems of working and travelling. Tim has done splendidly at changing his tutoring from face-to-face to skype. I have a little slot in the van for my art and have to try to paint (as I have a very promising new outlet for my fine art) and design textiles as we go. Tim needs wifi for his lessons. I need time and a flat table. I have to post work to my studio from places along the way. Fortunately for me, my design studio think my travel is inspiring for my design and are very happy to be helpful. 

I'm so very lucky I can fill my life with these self-chosen challenges, I'm not tied to a sick relative, committed to supporting family in a collapsed economy country, or simply not allowed to be an adventurous woman by culture or law. My circumstances and my healthy family are a gift of vast wealth. I'm going to have adequate imagination and courage to take advantage.  

Wish us a smooth crossing to Spain, but you can bet your bottom dollar we will be ok either way!

Heavy Chevy, Europe in a campervan!

Heavy Chevy. Europe by campervan.

I think everyday society might have a short of magical inertia, like the heavy Chevy I now drive, once it's chugging you need to work hard to stop. I'm sure it's a good thing for us all to travel and change our lifestyle too, but I'm struggling with the last of the “break out” we have got rid of almost enough stuff, the van is almost ready, I've almost worked out the taxes and insurances… almost, almost, almost...more bits of everyday society keep coming up… “Oh! We will need to do something about that too!”

I'm calling this Heavy Chevy because I seem to have spent all week driving around garages being told my van is too heavy for their ramps! Luckily the Chevy (Chevrolet G20 Day Van) is in good condition, but it's stalling in reverse sometimes and needs a service and oil change. I booked her into a garage, when I turned up they went “How heavy is that? It won't go on our ramp!” So I drove around looking at the ramps! The next garage was doubtful “I better not put it on my ramp” they recommended a garage “We have a four ton ramp but we can't get parts for that! What is it?”

So I called the campervan garage, “Sure we can service it, sure we can get parts, oh! The ramp is no problem, we don't have one, we will just jack it up! What is it seven tonnes? Only one and a half, no problem!” Just goes to show it's attitude and experience not tools that count!

On the people who bought my previous van, the police advised us that they have no legal leg to stand on and we can ignore it unless they threaten violence, in which case it becomes a police matter.

Hopefully they realise their only options are to fix the van and sell it, to one of the many people who want old motorhomes, and are prepared to do work on them, or fix it and keep it. I made her so nice, sweeping her out and checking everything was spotless the night before she went, even though I already had the money, it is crazy to be accused of some sort of fault.

Anyway my husband has started telling people we are leaving before Halloween! So I guess we are. We can't really do a leaving party, (shame on you if you didn't come to my 40th while I still had the big house for parties!) it's getting on for winter and I don't want to drive right across France in snow so it's going to be like the end of “Good Will Hunting” one day you will call round for us and find us gone! When you do, make sure you do that huge Ben Affleck smile! They made it!

The pictures are the “All the aires” books. Aires are little parking spots for campervans only (no tents or caravans) that cost nothing or only a few euros. Tim’s mum got us the books - thank you. Whenever I am feeling like I'm never getting out of here I play “Who can find the prettiest Aire?” With Tim! These are Aires for campervans, don't mix them up with truck stops which are also called Aire - something or other and are not always safe.

Garages may quail when they see her but I'm getting to love my Chevy, “Sparkle” as my daughter named her. She's built for big American rednecks, or A team members, and I sit on, not one, but two cushions so I can see out to drive. All old vehicles have eccentricities, when you dove my last van over 40 MPH the wing mirror went flat against the side!!! It was open the window and hold it out to change lane (I super glued it!) With Sparkle, the driver side window packs in if it rains! You have to leave it down till it dries out, think before you wind it down? Will it rain? Do I need my van secure?