Van life - calling it a day

I'm not saying it isn't great, just that I'd love to do the US, but never going to happen either I suppose, insufficient pence.
 
Penny13 said:
Book a holiday and you can get travel problems. The accommodation can be crap your neighbours loud. All holiday options can go wrong personally I like the freedom my own bed and my own food or the choice to go out ;)
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Just the thought of an airport and the grief and stress it creates is enough to make an expensive A class worth every penny.

We have to fly to Sydney in October to visit our grandchild who will be 2 in June. Last saw her at Christmas 2021 for about 4 days when they were home for a brief visit spread over Ireland and England for about 12 days.

It will be good to see the family, especially for my wife who is very family oriented, me, I like children, but I couldn’t eat a whole one. So the trip is very double edged for me. If I could drive the van to Oz, I would.

Davy
 
Herbenny said:
I know your right Annie I was just struggling to see it today stuck in a field we ran out of gas, had a leak, and van wouldn’t start !
I know we will look back and laugh but right now it’s just one big money pit !
Anyway I’m sure I will see you soon .. x
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So you’re not really at the end of the road with van life, just the end of your tether with the van been there done that
 
TeamRienza said:
Just the thought of an airport and the grief and stress it creates is enough to make an expensive A class worth every penny.

We have to fly to Sydney in October to visit our grandchild who will be 2 in June. Last saw her at Christmas 2021 for about 4 days when they were home for a brief visit spread over Ireland and England for about 12 days.

It will be good to see the family, especially for my wife who is very family oriented, me, I like children, but I couldn’t eat a whole one. So the trip is very double edged for me. If I could drive the van to Oz, I would.

Davy
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Like yourself, I hope to never go through an airport ever again.
 
Like so many other pastimes, growing popularity has increased the cost and reduced the fun..

That said. There’s still nothing like throwing a bag of clobber in the van and setting off. I just love being on the road, though only in decent weather these days.
After my near miss last year with the heart attack, I fully intend to spend as much time as possible on the road this summer, sod the diy and the garden!

Tally ho!
 
Boris7 said:
It’s no different to anything else, there’s a time you like or even love a thing, and a time when it’s no longer for you.

what ever you decide, just be sure it’s your own choice and remember your free to change your mind when ever it suits you.
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Agrreex
 
barryd said:
You like mountains and scenery like I do though Kev and the Alps and Pyrenees make the mountains here in the UK look like Norfolk! Well thats not really fair but it is
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We have a big trip planned for august to the Pyrenees/Spain so I’m hoping that’s going to get me motivated again.

I need to sort out all the problems with the van. I take a lot of pride in the inside but doing the nitty gritty stuff like fixing leaks and all the other stuff is frustrating.

Paul Doesn’t get the time as he away all
The time and we don’t have the space to do these bigger jobs. I phoned around looking for local places I can take it to and they don’t want to know as they want the BIG jobs.
I was hoping to go out on my own in it now that I have more time but I’m losing my faith in it case breaks down.

Today I will make phone calls to see if I can find someone local “again”.

Thanks everyone I know I’m just having a blip but waking up yesterday in a field was grim but as someone said I remember the airport fiascos and that’s even grimmer 😂
 
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I agree that everything costs more, fuel, food, wine, repairs and now all the free places we used to park now want daft amounts of money to park up in nice wee regimented bays. Corrie na Ciste Aviemore now has barriers with a go on app and pay thing, Findhorn car park now barrier and pay thing, forestry car parks now park the night scheme🤷‍♂️. I don’t mind paying but don’t like staying in compound type thing all lined up nice and neatly with annoying neighbours far to close for comfort.
Some may say these compounds or aires they call them are the bees knees but not I.
 
caledonia said:
I agree that everything costs more, fuel, food, wine, repairs and now all the free places we used to park now want daft amounts of money to park up in nice wee regimented bays. Corrie na Ciste Aviemore now has barriers with a go on app and pay thing, Findhorn car park now barrier and pay thing, forestry car parks now park the night scheme🤷‍♂️. I don’t mind paying but don’t like staying in compound type thing all lined up nice and neatly with annoying neighbours far to close for comfort.
Some may say these compounds or aires they call them are the bees knees but not I.
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Agreed, they can be handy for an overnight.
If nowhere else !
 
Early last year we spent a huge amount on the van and Liz wanted to sell it but I put my foot down, it's the only holiday I enjoy, we go to our itinerary not some other jokers, it's not cheap, but Liz likes to go on cruise ships (YUK!!) but it's her thing and it's her money, the van has always been a joint thing so I just said you stop doing cruises & I'll sell the van and I'll use my half to buy a Harley.

It's an expensive hobby, and as the saying goes, if it has T**'s or wheels it's going to give you trouble, so you just pay up and enjoy what you paid for and save up for next time.
 
The camping thing in tents campers and motorhomes has always been my thing don’t get me wrong Bill has enjoyed it over the years but it’s a standing joke in our house that if I pegged out on a Monday the van would be on eBay by Tuesday. 🤣🤣 and he has never stopped me going off in the van on my own over the years I think he enjoyed the peace. 🤣👍
 
We started off in a one-man tent in 2006, did a lot of Scotland in two weeks, and stayed on a couple of sites as you need to in a tent, but mostly wild camped and used rivers and lochs, she only came as I said I'd show her the Trossach.

We kept seeing vans in Laybys and forest so looked into it when we got back home and had one pretty quick, got it from Mick O'leary himself, the man sells pups.
 
I just feel I have lost any interest but after charting this morning we are prepared to do whatever it takes to get it up to scratch again and give it another go.
I phoned around 15 companies all in the south east and west to try and get it booked in to sort leak out. No one wants to know or they are booked up until July
I finally found a local guy that sounds promising !
It’s also in garage to see what the machanical can issue is …
Will keep posted 👍
 
Talking of mountains, errigal Donegal, a vans a must, get it sorted, you cannot take money with you.
errigal donegal.png
 
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