should I stay or should I go?

The nice lady at Tomlinsons Cafe Bunkhouse in Rothbury let me have a shower in return for a donation to the staff tips jar so I gave £3.50 which is what I paid for a swim to have a shower at Berwick leisure centre. She also suggested a couple of spots locally for overnight, one of which I stayed at. She said I could have stayed in their yard if there had been room.

I definitely recommend the cafe - good food, good service, free Wi-Fi and an owner who is one of those rare people will go the extra mile

http://www.tomlinsonsrothbury.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx
 
Told ya they was nice in Rothbury ;)

Warms the cockles of your heart. Have a good day WVW - at least you smell nice now :lol-061:
 
Sounds utter bliss - so glad you've had such an amazing time. I'm really hating not having a bigger van any more...think I'll be upsizing by spring! Thanks for sharing - such an inspiring read :)

Heading for a week or two up Skye way now, before the snow arrives!

Hilary
 
The adventure is over :-(

I'm home now, got back last night after nearly 4 weeks away - was only supposed to be away for 10 days to 2 weeks max. I've had the most amazing adventure, and didn't really want to come home but I knew that I was running away from stuff which I didn't want to face and that I could only do that for so long. Even though the weather had changed and the last few days of the adventure were wild and wet, I didn't mind and was coping with it all ok. I've come home with a massive pile of dirty washing, and have found a massive pile of brown envelopes to sort through and several hundred emails, a load of dead plants in the greenhouse (but my poinsettia which I took with me is doing ok, not exactly thriving as it's had a bit of a rough time, but it has survived which it wouldn't have done at home), and it feels a little bit strange at home, as I've developed new daily routines living in the van, and the house seems so big and cold and impersonal somehow

I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of the adventure, even the rainy days, when I shut myself up in the van and wrote my journal or read a book, which I wouldn't have done at home, as I'd have had too many other things to do or sort out. I've learned loads about myself and what I can cope with, what I really need or don't need, what my strengths and weaknesses are, and how to put myself first (which I am not usually very good at doing). I've seen some stunning views, explored some beautiful wild places, visited some spectacular castles and old properties, spent hours watching sunsets and looking at the stars, met some very nice people and made some new friends.

There is no doubt now that I could go full time in the van, so long as I had some kind of base or storage facility where I could pop back to every month or so. In fact, I have made a decision to spend this winter sorting out my house so that I can take in a lodger next spring, and I'm going to spend all of next summer living in the van. I think I'll be able to do it for 6 months as my work means that I can pick up work anywhere in the country, but I am also planning on spending the winter doing loads of crafts and building up stock so that I can have a traders stall at festivals, and go from one to the other over the mid summer months.

A few statistics from the adventure :

  • 595 miles
  • a tank and a half of diesel (approx cost £150)
  • 26 nights in the van
  • 23 nights wild camping in 17 different locations (some from the database, some which I found myself)
  • 3 camp site nights at 2 different campsites (pre-arranged meets with friends)
  • 9 beaches visited
  • 6 hot showers
  • 2 campfires
  • 1 PNC check by Plod (I think - I hid in the van with the lights off and didn't peep out but I think it was Plod)
  • Told to move on once (at Cheswick, after having already spent the night there and about to move on anyway)
  • 2 sunrises seen (impressive for a night owl)
  • countless stunning sunsets seen
  • 7 rainy days (4 of which were the last 4 days of the adventure)
  • about 1000 photos taken


:heart: :drive: :camper:
 
Fantastic WVW!

What an inspiration and a pleasure to hear about your trip.

Thanks for sharing it with us ;)
 
whitevanwoman said:
I'm home now, got back last night after nearly 4 weeks away - was only supposed to be away for 10 days to 2 weeks max. I've had the most amazing adventure, and didn't really want to come home but I knew that I was running away from stuff which I didn't want to face and that I could only do that for so long. Even though the weather had changed and the last few days of the adventure were wild and wet, I didn't mind and was coping with it all ok. I've come home with a massive pile of dirty washing, and have found a massive pile of brown envelopes to sort through and several hundred emails, a load of dead plants in the greenhouse (but my poinsettia which I took with me is doing ok, not exactly thriving as it's had a bit of a rough time, but it has survived which it wouldn't have done at home), and it feels a little bit strange at home, as I've developed new daily routines living in the van, and the house seems so big and cold and impersonal somehow

I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of the adventure, even the rainy days, when I shut myself up in the van and wrote my journal or read a book, which I wouldn't have done at home, as I'd have had too many other things to do or sort out. I've learned loads about myself and what I can cope with, what I really need or don't need, what my strengths and weaknesses are, and how to put myself first (which I am not usually very good at doing). I've seen some stunning views, explored some beautiful wild places, visited some spectacular castles and old properties, spent hours watching sunsets and looking at the stars, met some very nice people and made some new friends.

There is no doubt now that I could go full time in the van, so long as I had some kind of base or storage facility where I could pop back to every month or so. In fact, I have made a decision to spend this winter sorting out my house so that I can take in a lodger next spring, and I'm going to spend all of next summer living in the van. I think I'll be able to do it for 6 months as my work means that I can pick up work anywhere in the country, but I am also planning on spending the winter doing loads of crafts and building up stock so that I can have a traders stall at festivals, and go from one to the other over the mid summer months.

A few statistics from the adventure :

  • 595 miles
  • a tank and a half of diesel (approx cost £150)
  • 26 nights in the van
  • 23 nights wild camping in 17 different locations (some from the database, some which I found myself)
  • 3 camp site nights at 2 different campsites (pre-arranged meets with friends)
  • 9 beaches visited
  • 6 hot showers
  • 2 campfires
  • 1 PNC check by Plod (I think - I hid in the van with the lights off and didn't peep out but I think it was Plod)
  • Told to move on once (at Cheswick, after having already spent the night there and about to move on anyway)
  • 2 sunrises seen (impressive for a night owl)
  • countless stunning sunsets seen
  • 7 rainy days (4 of which were the last 4 days of the adventure)
  • about 1000 photos taken


:heart: :drive: :camper:
Click to expand...

I can see you are putting a lot of thought into the future and like the way you think.
The lodger idea is great. You get to keep a base and somewhere to return to, you have some money coming in and someone to look after the house.
Good luck with it all.
 
Thanks Mariesnowgoose, I know you've been following my adventures and it's good to know that someone else has got enjoyment from them too.

There's hundreds of photos on Facebook (and more yet to come later) - if anyone wants to see them, PM me with your name (so I know who you are) and I'll send you a link to my profile page and you can send me a friend request.

A big THANK YOU firstly to Phil for this forum, without which I would never have had the inspiration, support, advice and friendship to go off on my own for a month, pretty much unplanned, and not just to survive, but to positively thrive from the experience.

And secondly, a big THANK YOU to all of you who have given me that inspiration, support, advice and friendship. As a loner without a partner, no close family, and few close friends who are scattered all over the country, it's folk like you who I turn to when I need to mull something over with someone, or share an experience with, and this forum has become a very important part of my life.

One day I hope to be able to get to a meet and finally put some names to faces, and give those of you who have become friends a hug, and to shake the hands and buy a beer for those of you who have helped out with technical stuff and given advice.

:cheers: :heart: <<HUGS>>

PS. Phil - please could we have a Hug smiley ;)
 
An excellent, positive, informative and interesting thread!
Well done, whitevanwoman!
 
whitevanwoman said:
I'm home now, got back last night after nearly 4 weeks away - was only supposed to be away for 10 days to 2 weeks max. I've had the most amazing adventure, and didn't really want to come home but I knew that I was running away from stuff which I didn't want to face and that I could only do that for so long. Even though the weather had changed and the last few days of the adventure were wild and wet, I didn't mind and was coping with it all ok. I've come home with a massive pile of dirty washing, and have found a massive pile of brown envelopes to sort through and several hundred emails, a load of dead plants in the greenhouse (but my poinsettia which I took with me is doing ok, not exactly thriving as it's had a bit of a rough time, but it has survived which it wouldn't have done at home), and it feels a little bit strange at home, as I've developed new daily routines living in the van, and the house seems so big and cold and impersonal somehow

I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of the adventure, even the rainy days, when I shut myself up in the van and wrote my journal or read a book, which I wouldn't have done at home, as I'd have had too many other things to do or sort out. I've learned loads about myself and what I can cope with, what I really need or don't need, what my strengths and weaknesses are, and how to put myself first (which I am not usually very good at doing). I've seen some stunning views, explored some beautiful wild places, visited some spectacular castles and old properties, spent hours watching sunsets and looking at the stars, met some very nice people and made some new friends.

There is no doubt now that I could go full time in the van, so long as I had some kind of base or storage facility where I could pop back to every month or so. In fact, I have made a decision to spend this winter sorting out my house so that I can take in a lodger next spring, and I'm going to spend all of next summer living in the van. I think I'll be able to do it for 6 months as my work means that I can pick up work anywhere in the country, but I am also planning on spending the winter doing loads of crafts and building up stock so that I can have a traders stall at festivals, and go from one to the other over the mid summer months.

A few statistics from the adventure :

  • 595 miles
  • a tank and a half of diesel (approx cost £150)
  • 26 nights in the van
  • 23 nights wild camping in 17 different locations (some from the database, some which I found myself)
  • 3 camp site nights at 2 different campsites (pre-arranged meets with friends)
  • 9 beaches visited
  • 6 hot showers
  • 2 campfires
  • 1 PNC check by Plod (I think - I hid in the van with the lights off and didn't peep out but I think it was Plod)
  • Told to move on once (at Cheswick, after having already spent the night there and about to move on anyway)
  • 2 sunrises seen (impressive for a night owl)
  • countless stunning sunsets seen
  • 7 rainy days (4 of which were the last 4 days of the adventure)
  • about 1000 photos taken


:heart: :drive: :camper:
Click to expand...

Think you've got the bug!!

Now how could you have spent less money so you can stay away for longer next time??
 
Bigpeetee said:
Think you've got the bug!!

Now how could you have spent less money so you can stay away for longer next time??
Click to expand...

Sadly it wasn't the money that forced me home, it was responsibility :mad2::sad:

I found that because I wasn't travelling huge distances from one location to another (max 20 miles -ish) I used less fuel than I'd budgeted for, and because I suffer from a kind of "blitz mentality" with regards to always being stocked up (probably because I live rural, it's 25 mile return trip to nearest shops and we regularly have power cuts and get snowbound in winter), the van was probably carrying a year's worth of food, clothes, wood, kindling, gas etc when I started out.

Living on a low income anyway, I'm pretty thrifty and resourceful, and ethically I do try to reuse and recycle as much as possible, even to the point of keeping cardboard packaging for lighting the storm kettle instead of buying firelighters (although I do make my own firelighters anyway, using old candle wax, sawdust and cardboard egg boxes). I'm the kind of MoneySavingExpert that Martin Lewis would be proud of. I can spot a yellow reduced label or sale tag at 100m.

My downfall is clothes and shoes, and craft materials, and books, and other nice things.... I have far more of these than I am ever going to need or wear and yet still I can't stop myself from buying more. So the van is a good way of helping to control this. But even so, I've still come back with more clothes than I went with.

The main costs incurred were essentials such as milk, bread, the occasional newspaper, some bottled water (17p for 2 Litres - it was worth stocking up with a few bottles when I knew I was heading away from civilisation for a while), some fresh bacon / sausages / fruit / veg occasionally, - in fact, probably less than I would spend at home.

The other main expense which I had budgeted for was doing the Touristy things and car parking - as it was primarily a holiday I had allowed myself money for entrance fees, parking, occasional pub / cafe meals, souvenirs, ice creams etc and my budget was about right - but considering that my budget had originally been for 2 weeks and I was away for nearly 4 weeks, I'm quite pleased with that.

I will need to sit down with pen and paper and work it out properly but I will have saved a months worth of elec (approx £35 - I left the fridge and freezer on, and one light on a timer, but switched everything else off), a month's worth of coal for hot water (approx £50 this time of year) and also I will have saved considerable travel costs for shopping, work etc which I would have at home.

And I came home to a £163 travel expense payment from Sept 2011 which I'd been chasing for months

So financially as a holiday it was well within my pretty low budget, and as a way of living it was cheaper than being at home, but whether it would continue to be cheaper in the future depends on weather and heating costs, van repairs, house and vehicle maintenance costs etc. Lots of things to think about and calculations to do but the seed of the idea is well and truly sown...
 
I bought the old Hymer (the wheeled shed) two months ago when I sold my narrowboat. I have now been on the road continuously for almost the whole time apart from a few days, and I have no intention of going back 'home' in York for another three weeks yet.

In the past I have had a VW T25 and prior to that a splitty and a bay, but didn't have the freedom to use them beyond weekends and holidays.

Now I am free (being retarded, sorry, retired). FREEDOM!!!!

Yes, life on the road, with no itinerary apart from folk festivals and clubs, and Wild Camping Meets is idyllic. So I fully appreciate what you have experienced WVM.

Not had any major problems yet. But ready for them if I do. (Scaffold pole by the door, carried as an extension to the jack handle, of course.)

Medical problems for me are a different issue, but I won't stop if I have no mobile phone signal. That's just common sense at my age.

Was worried about the cost, but then I have been doing much more mileage than you, I think. (Hampshire from Yorkshire twice. Then Kent and back up to Drurridge Bay, then back to Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and reverse that to Hampshire where I am now, at Greywell, mostly on 'B' roads too.)

But then I love driving this thing.

Probably about £500 in diesel alone.

But actually, as I'm not living in my flat, the costs, in comparison, work out not too bad against 'normal' living costs (whatever 'normal' is).

And so far I've only paid for two campsites, and both of them were because the lady briefly with me wanted some facilities.

Now she's decided she doesn't like motorhomes or the Hymerhunt and hinted that If I gave up both, I could stay with her. (No contest.)

FREEDOM!!! (Again!)

Uncle Tone (in brilliant sunshine here at the Frosties' w/e Site.)
 
whitevanwoman said:
I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of the adventure, even the rainy days, when I shut myself up in the van and wrote my journal or read a book, which I wouldn't have done at home, as I'd have had too many other things to do or sort out. I've learned loads about myself and what I can cope with, what I really need or don't need, what my strengths and weaknesses are, and how to put myself first (which I am not usually very good at doing). I've seen some stunning views, explored some beautiful wild places, visited some spectacular castles and old properties, spent hours watching sunsets and looking at the stars, met some very nice people and made some new friends.

There is no doubt now that I could go full time in the van, so long as I had some kind of base or storage facility where I could pop back to every month or so. In fact, I have made a decision to spend this winter sorting out my house so that I can take in a lodger next spring, and I'm going to spend all of next summer living in the van. I think I'll be able to do it for 6 months as my work means that I can pick up work anywhere in the country, but I am also planning on spending the winter doing loads of crafts and building up stock so that I can have a traders stall at festivals, and go from one to the other over the mid summer months.




:heart: :drive: :camper:
Click to expand...

Hiya Jess,
I have met many people both on and off this forum who are reluctant to do what you have done for one good reason or another.....indeed a while back I think you were one of them. I don't think there can be a better example than the above, or this thread in general, to inspire anyone who really wants to, to get out on the road and live life as they've always dreamed. Proof indeed that it isn't expensive, it isn't difficult and suffering those tiny little hardships (like getting stuck in the mud) make those sunsets and starlit nights all the better when they happen.
Here's more power to ya girl! And here's to many more adventures like it!

You owe me a full barrel for all my advice by the way.:bow::nicethread:
 
its doing it that brings home to people what travellers know easily. a house is a life support system in the same way as a van is,meeting your survival needs of food warmth and shelter,only one of them costs a hell of a lot more to run,doesnt move a lot,has the same view forever,may have horrible neighbours and takes hours to clean. and theres never,ever a beach outside the back door.for some of us thats a no brainer,good luck!
 
Rubbertramp said:
You owe me a full barrel for all my advice by the way.:bow::nicethread:
Click to expand...

Ha ha, yeah right. I seem to remember being the one who is still owed a birthday drink :p

Remind me again.... exactly what was your advice? :confused:

You heading up north again any time soon? If so, you know where I am... There's several stone circles close / close-ish to me if the Drivellers fancy a meet for the next solstice or equinox. And we might allow a couple of non-Drivellers to join us, on the understanding that we will have to kill them afterwards... I'm thinking maybe Basildog, Winddancer, and any other of the fellow equinoxers :ninja: ;)

Happy travelling matey, catch up soon x
 
why bother

You are a long time dead, this year, done womad, bestival, trailtrecker all in the van.
Year before Glasto plus many more, all with Oxfam, hard work but sooooooo good, I am an owd bugger but like to live life, wearing purple for the rest of my life. ps google "gorgol bordello" "wear purple" sums up me life......
Takecare kiddo and enjoy
 
Jess, you got it spot on when you said longer term van living has helped you focus on what you really need in life. That was the eye opener for me. Just realising how much I didn't need and didn't miss.

And also as regards keeping in touch with friends, with mobile comms and the internet, getting rid of piles of books, the letterbox or the land phone line has not been such a wrench. I'd always keep my house rented out for income and as somewhere to get snail mail, but otherwise I don't need it at all. I'm so glad Miss Tibby had a good time with you in the van, as she would always be a tie to the house, as my cats used to be. Unfortunately bringing three or four of them with me was never an option :D
 
Hi Jess ...I loved reading about you prolonged holiday and the impact it has had on you....your realisation and your desire to live full time in the van makes me realise that I really cant wait to take the plunge. After coming home from our lovely weekend away I have that sinking feeling, knowing that I walk into our house and life resumes back to normal. Dont get me wrong we have a beautiful home, family, and a lovely life but I miss the outdoors and our van so much when we are not in it......Now planning our two week trip and it will be the first time we have spent a length of time away although still not long enough for my liking. When we are away we dont so much as even have a clock we dont carry gadgets, we have just a simple portable radio and time just seems to stand still and the days seem to go on forever its absolute bliss !!!

Good luck with your lovely plans for the future and sure it will be fantastic.....:wave:
 
whitevanwoman said:
Ha ha, yeah right. I seem to remember being the one who is still owed a birthday drink :p

Remind me again.... exactly what was your advice? :confused:
Click to expand...

.........was that not you? Oh, I am in trouble!

Probability of three months in Inverness from January. I'll give you a shout.
 
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