Van life - calling it a day

My next-door neighbours have just come back from 10 days in North Yorkshire, I don't know how much the B&B was but he was saying the evening meal averaged out at £60 a night plus drinks, the price of the B&B plus food and drinks would take us to the South of France for two months, we prefer cooking our own food and wine from a bottle tastes the same sat outside the van than a bottle costing 10 times more in a restaurant, did I mention that I am from Yorkshire
 
I reckon once you have got used to long trips away where you count the costs per month over say a three to five month trip the thought of having to pay hotels, B&B's or a foreign villa holiday is just horrifying when you see the costs just for a week or two. We used to do a lot of villa holidays before we decided to go motorhoming. They were eye wateringly expensive back then but we knew nothing else and weren't short of money. Greek islands were a favourite destination. North Eastern Corfu in particular. £4-5k though even then for a fortnight. Thats pretty much the cost of four to five months away in the motorhome. Mrs D would love to do one of those again but if anything she's the tight Yorkshireman (Woman) in this house so it will never happen.
 
first trip away was in a bedford j1 i bought for 200 quid ,about the size of a medium sprinter ,but lots slower . i made it into a 5 berth [eldest d/r on the kitchen w/top ] no loo and a small woodburner . we ended up in provence with 150 quid , got a job building a kitchen for some belgians,got arrested for working on the black and talked my way out of it then squatted a house in an empty village perche for the most severe winter i ever saw , then went back to blighty for a bigger van and better clothes and shoes .
the only way we could have done this was in a van,the trip took just under 2 years and the kids loved it
 
Our Carthago is like being at the Ritz. Compared to small tent camping in France and the Scouts with a bell tent and a big Billy can for the porridge in the morning. Pea green tea 🍵 as we used the water we cooked the peas in. Been camping on and off for 60 years. Still enjoy it, nothing like a bacon and egg sandwich or coffee at Rick Steins in Sandbanks 😋 even had a cheeky night outside and went for a meal. Been to the Hand and Flowers and Le Gavroche. You certainly get about in a Motorhome. We have been finding RNLI lifeboat stations and added two more on our last trip. Lots of places still to go and old favorites to visit again. One year we sat in Wareham and it rained and rained all day. The weather forecast was rubbish so we headed home. Quick turnround and headed for Spain. Don't you just love the freedom 😍😀
 
RNLI lifeboat stations are great places for water, we have filled up many times and made a donation and were even shown around a brand new one that had just been delivered, lovely brave people one and all and deserve our support.
 
It’s cheered me up hearing about people travels and what they get from it. We reminded ourselves why the van works for us and have made a list of the places we want to go to this year. First on the list back to the Pen y Fan to do that climb again …. If my legs can take it
 

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It's so easy to get down in the dumps and think just get rid, but spring is just around the corner and summer after that, unless you have oodles of dosh it's the best holiday or just getaway most of us will ever have, and you don't even need to book, just get up and go, no need to wait as something will always crop up, phones off and vamoose.
 
Sometimes its worth reminding ourselves why we do it and seek out those special wild spots. A few from me from over the years. A few sadly gone now though. Scotland, Lake District, France and Italy I think. EDIT: Jeeeesaz Those Wham Club Tropicana shorts on the cover!! What was I thinking? :(

 
Herbenny said:
It’s cheered me up hearing about people travels and what they get from it. We reminded ourselves why the van works for us and have made a list of the places we want to go to this year. First on the list back to the Pen y Fan to do that climb again …. If my legs can take it
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We head to Seahouses beginning of the year. Usually have 5 days. Not cheap on the campsite but you get the use of the pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and gym. What's not to like. The campsite is part of the village so local pubs, Chinese, Indian and the food in the club is very good. You have to book so we book every year for the next year. 2024 already booked.

Sounds like you might be keeping the van then 😁
 
Love my van and wish I'd had one when I was younger; if hubby had been well enough who knows where we could have gone. However the constraints of work and continuing family dramas meant no overseas trips when I got the first one and now I admit I lack the courage to drive overseas on my own for the first time even though I have the time now. Much as I love the solo life sharing either the journey or the driving would be great sometimes. Perhaps I could find someone to go off in their tent at destinations!
 
QFour said:
We head to Seahouses beginning of the year. Usually have 5 days. Not cheap on the campsite but you get the use of the pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and gym. What's not to like. The campsite is part of the village so local pubs, Chinese, Indian and the food in the club is very good. You have to book so we book every year for the next year. 2024 already booked.

Sounds like you might be keeping the van then 😁
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I’m still fed up 😂…. BUT probably yes we’re going to throw a load of money at it no doubt. It’s still in the garage for now … I always said we would of been quite well off if I didn’t have this stupid idea 14 years ago to buy a camper ! …
 
barryd said:
Sometimes its worth reminding ourselves why we do it and seek out those special wild spots. A few from me from over the years. A few sadly gone now though. Scotland, Lake District, France and Italy I think. EDIT: Jeeeesaz Those Wham Club Tropicana shorts on the cover!! What was I thinking? :(

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Lovely, shame you spend all that time alone though :D :D

Tune was a bit macabre TBH but it is a fave and you did fairly okay.
 
andromeda said:
Love my van and wish I'd had one when I was younger; if hubby had been well enough who knows where we could have gone. However the constraints of work and continuing family dramas meant no overseas trips when I got the first one and now I admit I lack the courage to drive overseas on my own for the first time even though I have the time now. Much as I love the solo life sharing either the journey or the driving would be great sometimes. Perhaps I could find someone to go off in their tent at destinations!
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Do you have a good girlfriend to go with.
 
andromeda said:
Love my van and wish I'd had one when I was younger; if hubby had been well enough who knows where we could have gone. However the constraints of work and continuing family dramas meant no overseas trips when I got the first one and now I admit I lack the courage to drive overseas on my own for the first time even though I have the time now. Much as I love the solo life sharing either the journey or the driving would be great sometimes. Perhaps I could find someone to go off in their tent at destinations!
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Honestly if you can put up with and survive British roads you will find the likes of rural France an absolute doddle. So easy. The biggest shock I find after a long European tour is being thrown back into the chaos and aggression of our roads in the south east and the nightmare that is the M25.
 
andromeda said:
Love my van and wish I'd had one when I was younger; if hubby had been well enough who knows where we could have gone. However the constraints of work and continuing family dramas meant no overseas trips when I got the first one and now I admit I lack the courage to drive overseas on my own for the first time even though I have the time now. Much as I love the solo life sharing either the journey or the driving would be great sometimes. Perhaps I could find someone to go off i
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barryd said:
Honestly if you can put up with and survive British roads you will find the likes of rural France an absolute doddle. So easy. The biggest shock I find after a long European tour is being thrown back into the chaos and aggression of our roads in the south east and the nightmare that is the M25.
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I’m actually doing some of the driving abroad this year ! Taking myself completely out of my comfort zone ..I hate driving in this country especially the M25 which I can’t avoid
I am sure there are others that will happily go in convoy with you abroad until you gain your confidence. I know there was a big group WC group trip abroad before Covid hit perhaps another will be arranged soon 😊
 
Herbenny said:
I’m actually doing some of the driving abroad this year ! Taking myself completely out of my comfort zone ..I hate driving in this country especially the M25 which I can’t avoid
I am sure there are others that will happily go in convoy with you abroad until you gain your confidence. I know there was a big group WC group trip abroad before Covid hit perhaps another will be arranged soon 😊
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Hmm. The left hooker up for sale near us is beginning to sound more attractive by the day… auction ends in 6 days, who knows … 🤔 🙏 😉
 
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