Blog
Blog
An uphill struggle
It’s still raining—the first rain we’ve had since Gloria. It’s the kind of miserable rain that’s just hard enough to warrant turning on the wipers, but not enough to leave them on.
You can run, but you can’t hide
We’re on the run, no longer welcome in Spain. It’s nothing personal, but that does little to ease the sting of rejection.
Nowhere to run
We’ve been training for social distancing for nearly a year now; assuming neither of us has already been infected, the next two weeks are going to be a breeze.
Water, water everywhere
We’ve never had problems starting before; has our trusty Italian steed finally kicked the bucket? I pop the hood, as is appropriate in these situations, despite having little idea of what to do beneath it.
If the van’s a-rockin…
“You awake?” asks Anne. It’s still dark, both out there and in here. I’ve been awake for nearly an hour. “Half,” I reply, staring up at the blackness.
Language Barriers
The Finnish are a quiet people. So far. It’s borderline impressive on occasion. It was no different this time.
Social behaviour between motorhomers
If you have ever driven a motorhome/campervan in Europe, then you are probably aware that many motorhome drivers wave at each other. It’s a friendly gesture of acknowledgement. A simple little ‘hello’ and ‘hi there’.
A change of pace
So far, the Finnish landscape is just how I imagined it would be. The roads are long and straight and empty. Woods on the left, woods on the right. To the front and back are also mostly woods, interrupted only by the occasional moose or group of reindeer.
Early Birds
The best-laid plans are nothing if not flexible. When you find out that your route runs past the largest canyon in Northern Europe, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a good 45 minutes off-route, but we’ve got all the time in the world.
Catch me if you can
Squelching through thick black peat bogs, wading through frigid streams and clambering over jagged rocks. I keep running. Can’t stop. Too important. Everything I’ve ever done, every bit of my training has been in preparation for this moment.
Stay Cool
We had no real plan when we arrived in Norway a little over a month ago so when we read about the scenic routes, we figured, why not?
Notes from a basket case
“Finally, they’ve left the camper and left the typing machine out. Chaos! We can write our blog post! … Chaos? Dude, get your arse over here and come and help me put our travel experiences in writing!”
Alone in the Dark – Part II
It’s getting lighter now, and the trail is starting to open up. The mountainous landscape around me is as breathtaking as the climb itself. I desperately want to stop and set up my tripod, but the guided groups can’t be far behind, and I’m determined to get there first.
Alone in the dark – Part I
BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP! My alarm clock tells me it’s 1 AM. My clothes are already laid out. A Merino wool undershirt and two warm layers, waterproof trousers and a waterproof jacket. Dress warmly, the advice had read, the weather can change quickly on the mountain.
Tunnelling on
I am pretty sure I will kill us if I drive in Norway. I almost killed us once in the Netherlands when I accidentally drove onto the hard shoulder of the motorway because I saw a cute house.
Back on track
I’ve been meaning to write up a post dedicated to the Tardis and all its mannerisms, modifications and shortcomings. For the sake of this story, all you need to know is that it is seriously lacking in the torque department.
Work in Progress
People often ask how we finance a trip like this. There is a simple answer to that: we work. We are not rich, and we did not spend years living frugally so we could one day travel Europe.
It’s a colourful affair
Living in a camper means living without a huge wall-to-wall IKEA wardrobe, so things had to change.
Free at last
Three weeks in and we’ve already come full-circle; we’re back in the country that kickstarted this whole trip
You have to learn ‘the dance’
Getting the hang of a new daily routine while living in a camper with two dogs and driving most days is quite a challenge…
Ups and Downs
We recently visited Møns Klint, a 6 km stretch of chalk cliffs along the eastern coast of the Danish island of Møn in the Baltic Sea. Some of the cliffs drop a sheer 120 metres to the sea below. A pretty impressive sight…
Preparation is half the battle
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
—Benjamin Franklin.
Or as we call it: any given Tuesday.
Getting to know yourself
I had no worries whatsoever about sharing such a small space with the one person who already knows everything there is to know about me. What I did not realise was that Jasper might not be the one I would get to know better…
Emptying out your life
Fitting all your belongings in a 6-meter camper is not easy. Finding out you are emotionally attached to pencils is also not easy