Today is a very special day. It is our 10 year Vanniversary! On 10th May 2016, a month after we accidentally bought our first ever caravan, Mark, The Fab Four and I hit the road full-time, and set off on a three year trip around Europe…
It all started when we went out one day to ‘just to look’ and accidentally bought a caravan. We already had a trusty tow vehicle and toy box, Big Blue – and couldn’t fit all our windsurfers, bikes, SUPs and skis in a motorhome!
We figured that if we rented out the house and moved into the caravan, we might never need to work again… And that’s how we went from first timers to full-timers in two bottles of champagne!
The Fab Four have been with us from the start. They are the BEST travel companions.
We decided to do caravanning – but not as you know it.
Here crossing the Carpathian Mountains in Romania on one of the world’s ‘most dangerous roads; It’s also Jeremy Clarkson’s favourite road. Knowing how much he loves caravans, we did it in his honour
We called our travels Adventure Caravanning, because our aim was: To Boldly Go Where No Van Has Gone Before.
And that included a footpath, a few cornfields, as well as mountain hairpins.
After 5 years, we decided to upgrade our ride to head beyond Europe’s borders to Mongolia.
Meet The Beast…
A 6×4-wheel drive ex army truck we bought blind off the internet to convert into a new off-grid home-on-wheels fit for a trip to Mongolia.
She didn’t look too homely inside when we bought her…
But our first ever DIY van conversion didn’t turn out too badly in the end! You can see a slideshow of how the conversion turned out HERE, or have a full tour with the video made by @Liveration HERE
The Beast is fully self-sufficient off grid for up to 6 weeks!
Due to war and geopolitics, we haven’t made Mongolia yet, but we’ve visited 29 countries!
And rescued a few dogs on the way!
Meet Blade, the Transylvanian street dog who now lives with our friends in The New Forest!
And Iskra – ‘Spark’, the sweet little girl who trotted down the road in a Bulgarian village and rolled over for a tummy tickle.
We were never leaving her behind!
She now lives with friends in Lancashire.
And Max – Maximus Decimus – who we found abandoned in Morocco near where they filmed Gladiator.
We’ve stayed in some beautiful places…
Met some interesting people… we even made a cameo appearance on Ben Fogle’s ‘New Lives in the Wild’!
They say don’t meet your heroes, but yes – Ben is just as lovely as you would imagine! You can read about the filming for New Lives in the Wild HERE.
Without our travels, I would never have started my blog – and would never have written my books, which I’m amazed and delighted to say have won multiple awards!
And aged 59, I would never have got my truck licence! (To read about how I became a Trucking Belle, click HERE.)
To uphold the corner for the ladies, I’m pleased to say I passed first time…
And after 10 years on the road, I can’t see us quitting any time soon.
So I raise a glass of The Wanderer wine to all my fellow trail seekers and campfire dreamers, however you enjoy the road: caravan, van, camper, MoHo, or truck – and whether you’re full-time or just love the odd night or a weekend away in your van.
Thank you for following our adventures… and YAPPY TRAVELS!
Come and See Us! The Beast On Show
The Beast will be on show at the Vanlife Festival in Shrewsbury at the end of May 2026, and at the Adventure Overland and Campervan Show on 13-14th June 2026 at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, where I shall be delivering not one, but two talks…
So if you’re going, please come along and say, “Hi!”
We can’t make all the shows, but if you want a list of other festivals and shows, check out my post 2026 UK Van Life Festivals, RV, Caravan, Camper, Motorhome, Overlanding & Self-Build Events
Find My Books!
If you want to read the full story of how we went from Wage Slaves to Living The Dream – it is all documented in my series of fun travel memoirs.
Adventure Caravanning With Dogs is my first series, and The Wayward Truck and my latest release, From B to A: Britain to Albania (the first in my Never Mind The Balkans series) follow life with The Beast.
Although chronological in time from when we gave up work to travel, each book is a standalone tale.
You can find all my books HERE on Amazon and as a special launch offer, the ebook of From B to A: Britain to Albania is still only 99p/99c.
World Wide Walkies 
10 years is amazing! Here’s to the next 10! Will raise a glass of wine to yourselves tonight!!
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