FRANCE/SPAIN AUTUMN 2021

This post is about my van travel experiences and the mistakes I have made on the recent trip to Gibraltar. I now know, I have a lot more to learn, having only scratched the surface. But what I have learnt so far, I want to share with you.

I am not going to detail my trip as it happened, I did that whilst away and posted on instagram in realtime. Check out the feed history on instagram.com/thevantraveller if you want to catch up in detail in real time as it happened. It’s worth a look, even if I say so myself.

In addition, all the videos and IMovie clips I put together for each location are on my YouTube channel. Click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErbXZeZbHWyhlqkk7GOtgA, to view some spectacular scenery and locations, all worthy of a visit.

Folkestone to Calais – not a great start!

So I set off on Thursday night, the 8th October as planned having found a parking spot within 20 minutes drive of the Eurotunnel terminal. Unfortunately as approached Folkestone, I got lost and after driving around aimlessly for an hour, I was thoroughly fed up and frustrated. As it was nearing 1am, I decided to head straight for the Eurotunnel terminal as I was tired and getting wound up, knowing that you aren’t allowed to turn up more than 4 hours before your departure time (7.20 am for me).

I tried my best appear forlorn, as I explained to the girl on the terminal check-in booth that it was my first trip and that I was tired, with no where to park up having got lost; hoping she would forgo the the rule of no more than a 4 hour wait. Thankfully she was not in the slightest bit bothered about my early arrival and even offered me an earlier departure. I declined the offer, in the hope of getting more sleep in, before the drive through France later that morning.

After the check in process, I parked up. The car park holding area was huge, empty and surprisingly quiet. I had a good nights sleep and was woken by my alarm at 6am, but not before thinking as I nodded off……”what the fcuk are you doing!”.

After a quick hot shower and a coffee it was time to board.

Really quite scary first time round but in reality a doddle!

Once in Calais, and it is a quick journey, disembarking is as simple as getting on. It was straight onto the motorway, south towards Paris. I didn’t know where I was going to stay that Friday night, but wanted to get as far south of Paris as I could, on the way to my first meeting with Mike and Dione who live in Breil sur Roya, near Monaco.

Where I went….

My website page My Mission and the plan gives a broad synopsis of where I hope to go over many years. A journey that will need to be broken up into many smaller expeditions.. But you have to make a start as the ancient Chinese proverbs states – “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (https://literarydevices.net/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step/ ).

So this first real journey in the van, is just the beginning. “The original plan was to drive to Gibraltar to see my Mum and family possibly visiting Morroco on the way back. As well as going to a wedding in Jerez Spain on the 29th October, But things evolved and changed. For example, I went to Monaco first to see Mike and Dione and I didn’t go to Morroco as it was ‘closed’ because of Covid!

The journey is detailed on https://www.polarsteps.com/SeanBurns/3976487-the-van-traveller. Polarsteps is a great travel app that automatically tracks and records your journey, allowing you to add destinations, notes, and photos before, during, and after your journey. Using Polarsteps effectively allows you to create a travel scrapbook documenting your adventures as you go. I would recommend for anyone travelling.

What did I learn….

The great thing about the freedom of a road trip is you go where you want, when you want and take as long as you like to get there. But…..there is always gonna be a ‘curve ball’ or two along the way! So you have to be aware, be able to respond positively and adapt, learning from each experience. When I set out, I didn’t have a clue. But in time, I learnt so much about travel in a van and the places I visited, often through the people I met. I also learnt a lot about myself, in part because I was travelling alone and that in itself was a real eye opener. But I will be honest, I was very nervous, and did doubt my ambition as I set off, particularly in Folkestone that first night. However, with each successive day, it got better and better! So if you feel the same don’t worry, it’s normal and you will not regret having taken that leap! The hardest thing is always going to be that first step!

Yes, I visited many wonderful places and saw many great buildings, stunning landscapes and so on. In addition, cycling and kayaking in beautiful remote areas of France and Spain, merely scratching the surface as I went. But for me, (and I appreciate it’s different for everyone), it’s the people you meet along the way that is the best experience. It’s the people that bind it all together, bookmarking each and every place/thing you visit or see.

And whilst people are great, there are times when being alone, is equally priceless. Where you can truly relax, to think and reflect in peace. The sort of time we very rarely give ourselves. Often, in the more remote and beautiful of places; be it a lake, beach or mountain range!

My mistakes and what I learnt!

(AKA Campervan Knobhead Bulletins!)

When using the wet room for a shower, make sure you remove the toilet roll as they do not like getting wet!

When you empty your grey waste, remember to replace the pipe back into the clips because if you don’t you will damage the pipe as it drags along the road surface or be crushed if you reverse over it! I did this leaving Le Mans, driving for several miles before remembering I hadn’t replaced it. As you can see the tap exit is pretty cut up but fortunately it hasn’t damaged the function of the tap opening and closing mechanism. So hasn’t needed replacing.

Before leaving a site with electricity hook up, always remember to disconnect the electrical cable from the van and power outlet as it causes enormous damage. Not only to the site power supply but to your van’s inlet socket. I have actually done it twice now. The first time in Spain, I damaged the site hook up box. Fortunately the van inlet was not. I wasn’t so lucky the second time round, pulling the new socket box recently fitted on the house outside wall, off its fixings, damaging the van inlet also. As it happens I was going to Mclaren the next day for another matter and whilst there was some damage, the part did not need to be replaced and it was easily fixed with a washer. Unfortunately, I forgot to record the incidents with any pictures and I couldn’t find anything on google images to represent the issue. It is however a recognised occurrence but apparently you only do it once!

I now have a little reminder on the steering wheel! Others advise putting the tie you use to secure your cable round the steering wheel as a reminder as well. I do both now!

Having said that, many advise that you should do a pre-departure check, just like a pilot’s pre-flight check. A walk round the van for potential hazards before driving off, is a good idea and one that I have also adopted. Perhaps, something everyone should consider doing as suggested in this photo!

Travelling to France

I choose to drive to Folkestone, sleep over and get the train in the morning when travelling into France on the first leg of the journey. I now know this was a mistake. On my next trip (the Alps 7th January), I will leave earlier and get a late afternoon train, drive to Esquerdes which is only 30 minutes from Calais and stopover there before pushing off in the morning to our next destination.

I had a great last night in Esquerdes at Philip’s Bar. I had originally planned to stay some 10 miles away in Merck Saint-Lievin. A small quiet village about 45 minutes from Calais. Having arrived at about 1pm, I went for a 25 mile cycle, round the surrounding countryside gravel farm tracks, which was great. After showering and a good meal it was about 6pm and not yet dark. It was clear from my ride that there was no life in this place and I did fancy a beer and some company.

I looked on google maps and the nearest bar was 10 miles away. Knowing I had a good secure parking spot to come back to, I drove to Esquerdes for a beer as it was far too early to go to bed.

Arriving at Philip’s bar, I took a seat just inside the door to the left at the near end of the bar and ordered a small beer. The bar was pretty full and there was a group of guys at the far end of the bar chatting away. Every person who entered the bar starting with me, as I was sat right by the entrance, would greet each person at the bar with a hand shake and a “Bon Soir!”.

I was rather bemused, yet taken, by this rather quaint custom and instantly felt very welcome. It didn’t take long (with my very poor french) for me to get chatting with Nicholas and Mathieu who were stood by me. Aiofe, an Irish women, married to a local and now living in Esquerdes for 20 years, came to my rescue and helped with some translation. I was trying to explain I couldn’t drink much more, as I had to drive back to Merck Saint-Lievin to stopover before going home to Manchester via Calais in the morning.

The lads and Philip (the bar owner), suggested I should park up behind the bar for the night rather than go back so I could enjoy another beer, especially as I was now only 30 minutes from Calais, given Esquerdes was so much closer than Merck Saint-Lievin. I protested, worried about the reaction of local people and the Gendarmes. They quickly pointed out I would have no bother as they were the local people and police!

And so it came to pass! A good night out with a sound restful nights sleep. A great end to a fantastic trip with a new place to stay when I next arrive in France, which should be hopefully in January on the way to the Alps via Geneva!

Safety

For me, I had two main fears/concerns. Firstly that I would struggle to find somewhere safe to park each night as I travelled. Secondly that, as I was travelling alone, if I was to have an accident and unable to summon help, I could find myself in a life threatening situation.

Finding a place to stay

I was travelling with the hope of living off grid in remote areas away from large city conurbations. I thought it would be safer from crime, particularly theft and I wanted to experience the wilderness to kayak and cycle in these areas. By in large it was fine and I had no problems finding somewhere to park up to stopover. But it wasn’t always the first place I had in mind.

There are plenty of apps out there particularly park4night which you use to help find a park up in advance around the place you’re visiting. It is free and only £10 annually for the offline version, which allows you to use if there is no 4G signal.

With the app, you search the area you plan to stay in and sites are rated for their quality, with remarks from those having previously stayed, on the good, the bad and the ugly (to coin a phrase used frequently in this blog – The Long Good Bye, Hello Van Life ! )

What I learnt is, don’t rely just on park4night but use a range of apps such as http://searchforsites.co.uk and campercontact.com, and there are many others. Cross reference apps as well, to get a broad range of opinion too on the same possible park up. Also do not rely on sites where the latest review was over a year ago. Make sure someone has been recently, preferably in the last 6 months.

BUT, the best bit of advice……ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN B! Often even the most highly rated park up’s are just not right and on occasion closed off (usually large stone/concrete blocks). Trust yourself, If your gut tells you “it ain’t right”, drive on!

Fortunately, I didn’t come across any safety concerns either with the van or personally, but I think that was in part to my due diligence. I would always work the night before, setting off in the morning knowing the next days destination and stopover on google maps. In addition, I’d have the all important plan B should there be a problem. It worked for me and I suggest you do the same.

Daily check in

To ensure I did not find myself in a position of danger without being able to summon help, I organised a twice daily check in.

I would speak daily by 11am with Jon Clare, a good friend. The agreement being, if I had not been in touch by 11am, he would try to contact me for a further 2 hours following which he was to raise the alarm. Polarsteps gives a realtime position of my location, another useful thing about the app! Similarly, I would also check in with Christina each evening.

And finally……..

Yes, it’s been a steep learning curve and I have learnt plenty, making many mistakes along the way. But, I do hope I’ve learnt from them. In terms of what I have yet to experience, I do now know, I’ve barely scratched the surface. I suppose that’s what makes the prospect of travelling in the longer term all the more exciting. It’s for this reason travelling is a constant voyage of discovery, not just of this great planet of ours and it’s people but of ourselves.

As I learnt from my first trip, there is so much out there to see and experience but it’s the people that bind it all together. But, we must make that bold step into the unknown first. Without which, there would be no adventure. It’s with that thought, I am off to Scotland next week. Not only to further my travels, but also my experience. In addition, it will be a trial run for the challenging conditions that are likely to be faced early in the new year, as I venture into the Alps for the first time for 4-6 weeks of mountain winter sports.

This time I will have Joe, my son, with me for the first week, as a travelling companion. In that week, we will be visiting Val D’ Isere (France) and Sauze D’Oulx (Italy), to ski with friends from the Llyn Peninsula, before he flies home via Geneva. Leaving me to venture on alone to Montgenevere and beyond!

Follow the journey on Polarsteps link – https://www.polarsteps.com/SeanBurns/3976487-the-van-traveller. I will also be posting daily on instagram – instagram.com/thevantraveller.

My van travel experiences and the mistakes I have made