Welcome to what will be the last Travels With Vince blog post.
Nooooo! I hear you cry. Aww stop it! Whoever that was. Sarcasm isn’t big, and it isn’t clever.
There’s a time to reap and a time to sow, and I’m sure there’s a bit in that Bible chapter that says if you can’t put heart & soul into something any more, then you should stop at the top of your game. Unfortunately the top of my game has been receding in Vince’s mirrors for quite some time 😀
Regular readers, particularly of the last two trips will see that we start off all full of enthusiasm, but then the posts get fewer and farther apart. Or don’t happen at all 🙁 . It’s not that we’re not having fun, it’s just that it gets harder and harder to write originally about it. All the online social activity now, as opposed to when we started in 2015, seems to be over on YouTube. And the last thing anybody would want to see live is my ugly mug on their device…
This has coincided with our hosting service offloading all of their small accounts like ours, to one of the big anonymous companies. Ironically our costs will go down a little, but I foresee a host* of ”tear your hair out” technical problems queuing up just around the corner. And I have very little hair to spare, trust me.
Worst of all, after nine fabulous years of shared travels we’ve decided it’s time for Vince to meet another couple who’ll cherish him and the freedom he offers, as much as we do. A big factor in our decision has been the arrival of three lovely girly grandchildren born to our two daughters during our nine years of travels. (If you message me directly I’ll tell you which one’s my favourite 😉 ). In those early days of exploration we thought nothing of spending three or four months away. Now we can’t bear not to see them for such long periods of time. We adore them and they grow so quickly.
Finances are another factor; since the pandemic the growth in popularity of vanlife has exploded. Great for residual values, but not so great for family finances. Increased demand equals higher prices and I don’t mind admitting that it’s no longer viable for us to take the big fella on the long crossing to Spain. We love a winter break in the sunshine but you may remember that last year we had a month in an apartment in Dénia, including taking our car across, for less than Vince’s ferry ticket alone would have cost.
Site fees in the UK are rising steadily and we seem to be far more regimented in where we can and can’t stay, compared to few years ago. In seaside towns particularly there’s quite a lot of hostility directed at motorhomers who, to be fair, often don’t help themselves by parking badly, getting out their camping chairs and generally dumping litter (or worse) before heading off. We don’t want to be associated with that crowd any longer.
Sooooo… it’s time for us to look at alternatives.
I have to whisper in case Gill is listening but the funds released from Vince’s sale will allow me to trade my big bike in on a smaller and lighter motorcycle for more short hops over to the continent. Oh. She is listening… And, ahem… we anticipate doing more short city breaks throughout the year plus what’s becoming a favourite, a long November apartment stay in the Spanish sunshine. We’ve just booked this year’s. (Still cheaper than Vince’s ferry) If any of our readers are interested in this type of holiday, I might drop the occasional post here if the technical issues mentioned above don’t materialise.
So as I write this on my phone, I’m sitting on a rock, listening to the crashing surf under a huge Northumberland sky. We have a few days left of Vince’s final trip away, and we’re trying very hard not to be sad. It’s fair to say there’s been a lot of “Do you remember when..?” and “Where were we when that thing happened?” and “What about that time you stepped out of the van and went a*se over t*t because the step wasn’t down?” Actually that one was last night. I have the bruises to prove it.
Today has been the perfect motorhoming day spent with my gorgeous partner in crime of 39 years. An incredible sunrise, a sunny & breezy stroll along an endless beach, a delicious crab sandwich and a pint of Dolly Daydream warm English bitter. I couldn’t ask for more.
So thank you everybody, for reading, for subscribing, and in some cases for becoming life-long friends. Thanks too for all your encouragement, comments and messages along the way. We’ve travelled with you to some amazing places, seen some fantastic sights, had mishaps and misfortune a-plenty but I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, apart from that time Gill nearly set fire to the van. I’d probably change that. Oh, and the time we unknowingly ended up in a drug-dealing circle in Spain. I’d definitely rewind that one if I could…
I’ll leave a few full resolution pics below from this last journey. So they might be a little slow to download. But for now…
So long, and thanks for all the fish xxx
*do you see what I did there?
Hi, Sorry to hear you are leaving the van life for other activities but fully understand your reasons. I recognise a lot of them myself. We have been tempted by a month or so in an apartment. In fact Denia was one of our chosen destinations! We have a regular stay in a campsite there – February usually. You have kept up the blogging really well – mine tailed off in 2020 but I still plan to catch up!
Good luck with all future ventures, enjoy the grandchildren, and keep us posted while you can. Love, Robina
Hi Robina
Thanks for your kind comments. It’s going to be quite a wrench watching Vince drive away, but when the time is right, the time is right I suppose.
We loved Denia and certainly aren’t ruling it out for a future long stay. This year we thought we’d try Benalmadena. I’m sure I won’t be able to resist writing a few words while we’re there 😀
Thanks for taking the time to drop us a message!
Good luck Ken. I was thinking about a motor home but reading your blog the apartment in Denia sounds better. Please send details. I love Northumberland and we went there last month Alnmouth and Howick. All the best
Thanks Eric
I’ll drop you an email 🙂
Hi Both,
Sorry to hear this but fully understand the reasons behind your decision.
You’ve had 9 great years of van life adventures, but I’m sure that you’ll continue to have fun without Vince.
We too have considered selling our touring van. Since Covid things have changed and it’s harder to just get up and go, without planning way in advance. Such is the demand for good sites. Maybe in a year or two we’ll sell it and consider something else.
Winter in the sun maybe?
We look forward to reading any future blogs regarding the new way you are doing things, so keep them coming, however few.
Really enjoyed your blogs, so thanks for all the fish
Thanks Paul! From one of our longest standing followers that means a lot. Don’t be too surprised if the writing bug kicks in again when we’re away for our winter break in the sunshine. It did last year after all 😀
I know what you mean “when the time is right the time is right ” It’s how we felt when we sold up Najac after 16 years , still miss it as no doubt you will with Vince but there are new adventures ahead .
Absolutely – onwards & upwards 🙂