Tracker Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 (edited) I started in 1965 with a sort of rough and ready home made conversion on ex GPO van (Morris Minor with rubber wings!) and ended after 52 very happy and experienced years by poor health in 2017 with an AS Executive Anniversary having had about 20 vans in between. We never did like sites or staying put more than a day or two and spent many years meandering all over first the UK, then as it gradually became less easy, Continental European Aires/Stellplatz etc from The Nordkapp to the Sahara and we still miss the freedom, the excitement, the unknown. And so at 79 years of age and having sold or given away all of our much treasured kit we are tempted to try to re-start our wanderings in an older van - I hate and distrust Adblue and all this emissions cobblers, always political answers to an engineering issue! Are we totally mad, do I hear you ask? Much has changed in the 6 years we have missed what with Brexit, Covid, inflation, gizmos, technology, etc., so does anyone have any words of experience about how the Nomadic lifestyle that we hanker for still exists or has changed since 2016 please? Thanks folks, Happy travels one and all. Edited November 9, 2023 by Tracker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 I can fully understand you wanting to restart. we have been camping, tugging and Motorhomes since 2002. November 2022 I was told I had a serious aortic valve problem. Gulp !! now sorted and desperate to restart our EU travel in April. we even traveled to Spain in July 2022 and it was amazing, so quiet in Spain. for us nothing has changed abroad maybe the Aires are a little more expensive but still much easier than the Uk and still good value. we have a new Malibu van with Adblu. our minibuses have had problems ( fords , Mercedes and Iveco ) but all on very high mileage and not caused to many serious problems, certainly not enough to put me off purchasing new. enjoy and I’m sure you will. den 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeco Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 Rich, glad to see you are "coming out of retirement". Here is a suggestion from the left side of the field; rent out your house for the UK winter hop on a plane and fly to New Zealand rent a camper or motorhome and go for a drive. then if you have some time left there is plenty to see here on your way home. Why NZ ? The weather is cooler than AU but generally warmer than UK (pre global warming). The terrain and scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Because it is so compact you do not need to drive long distances. The NZ people speak a variation of English and are friendly, even my Sister married one! Oh yes I almost forgot you have taken tea with Steve on our last UK narrowboat trip. The rental fleet in NZ is much more varied than AU with many UK/EU models available as well as locally made offers. Interested in your thoughts. cheers, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 Thanks Gary, unfortunately our days of long haul are over due to health issues, it's been a bit of a struggle since we met and we have both had good VFM from the NHS! Much as we would love to have experienced your upside down world of Australasia we reckon that we have missed the boat as that ship has long since sailed without us on board! Glad that you youngsters are still able to gallivant though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 It's only as I've got older that I've realised that when we 'upped and took off' several times when we where younger how fortunate we were. My advice to anyone who says "when I retire I'm going to .....", if you're able to do things when you are younger, get them done then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 Hi Tracker, One has to try and look beyond all the "new technology" that has been introduced into not just so called modern engines ,but life itself. Maybe purchase something small and not so new and just get out there and enjoy whenever you can All the new stuff being added on is now becoming like "plugs and points" of the old days . One deals with it , sadly much more expensive . So maybe something old and not so big and enjoy as we all did back then Times are a changing for us all . Lovely to see you back, did you ever really go? Kind regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 1 hour ago, onecal said: Hi Tracker, Lovely to see you back, did you ever really go? Kind regards Thanks Brendan - only round the bend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 Well I guess 6 years is long enough to forget the things that made you quit, and look back on it through rose tinted glasses 😍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 Just now, John52 said: Well I guess 6 years is long enough to forget the things that made you quit, and look back on it through rose tinted glasses 😍 Not quite, the things that made us quit are still there but more under control, although health insurance whilst desirable then is a neccessity now that it too is a lot more expensive. Amongst the many good bits there were a few bad bits that we also recall that we took in our stride but they would be much harder to resolve in a foreign land now, so rose tinted is no substitute for seeing the reality of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 19 hours ago, Tracker said: I hate and distrust Adblue and all this emissions cobblers, always political answers to an engineering issue! Yes it is a pain. One of about 140 sensors in my Euro 6 Ducato had an intermittent fault that brought on the engine management light (MOT fail) But with air pollution killing kids https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/girls-death-contributed-to-by-air-pollution-coroner-rules-in-landmark-case we have to take it seriously. Since you mention politics I thought that was increasing emissions? Like Sunak taking private jets around the country for absurd photo ops - like posing with Elon Musk to try and look like a technology expert when Sunak can't even find his own whats app messages 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 Please do not try to turn this into a political thread to suit yourself or it will get the chop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 11, 2023 Share Posted November 11, 2023 17 hours ago, Tracker said: Please do not try to turn this into a political thread to suit yourself or it will get the chop. Thats a bit Rich, Rich. We managed to avoid 'political' for months until you returned and mentioned that very word in your opening post on this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertslad Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Please! I miraculously get my account back today and thought I’d respond to Tracker’s thread. l think I’m losing motivation for long trips. I love the destinations and the prospect of being there, but the journey appeals less. So much more is outside my/our control, and we do campsites, not very interested in wilding or aires, so it was never spontaneity that appealed. More a case of 6 weeks vanning or 1-2 weeks in budget hotels. Good luck, and mind how you go.😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertslad Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 I left this forum a couple of times in the past; it wasn’t the politics; I enjoy aspects of that; it was the tone of much of the “B$e@i&” bile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 9 minutes ago, Albertslad said: I left this forum a couple of times in the past; it wasn’t the politics; I enjoy aspects of that; it was the tone of much of the “B$e@i&” bile Sorry - I must try harder!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 20 hours ago, Tracker said: Sorry - I must try harder!! Same here I can remember when political discussions were friendly. But the 'divide and rule' style of our rulers and the 'newspapers' who control them, makes it harder to keep political discussions friendly So politics is probably best kept off the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globebuster1 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 Well said John - I sincerely hope you remember that.......even though you were unable to avoid making a political comment in your last post! 9 minutes ago, John52 said: Same here I can remember when political discussions were friendly. But the 'divide and rule' style of our rulers and the 'newspapers' who control them, makes it harder to keep political discussions friendly So politics is probably best kept off the forum. Well said John, and I sincerely hope you remember that - although ironically, you seemed unable to do that in your last post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laimeduck Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Globebuster1 said: Well said John - I sincerely hope you remember that.......even though you were unable to avoid making a political comment in your last post! Well said John, and I sincerely hope you remember that - although ironically, you seemed unable to do that in your last post! I think repeating oneself should be banned from the forums. In fact...I think repeating oneself ....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globebuster1 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 I like to call it re-emphasizing.....seems to have worked though😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted November 13, 2023 Author Share Posted November 13, 2023 5 hours ago, laimeduck said: I think repeating oneself should be banned from the forums. In fact...I think repeating oneself ....... For really effective repeating try eating raw onions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.