I’m back! It’s been a hot second since the last post. I did start two other posts which were going to discuss the plan of converting the Van and also a post about how we found Camper Calling! Safe to say those never saw the light of day due to work-life being stressful and not finding the right motivation to complete the posts. BUT it’s a new year, Happy 2023! So as New Years go we all begin with resolutions and goals of what we’d like to accomplish in our new future. It’s pretty crazy how one day to another can bring so much change and positivity? Imagine being able to take that mentality into every day? I’m going to teach myself, somehow, how to do this. Anyway – here’s a little round-up of what we did in brief and what we’re going to be doing! (I’ll try and keep it short).
Back to August 2022. On a last-minute whim, we booked tickets to attend the “Camper Calling” festival. No idea what this festival was going to entail but the line-up looked cool and it said it was for Vans and families – that’ll do! Booking time off the day before and shooting off north towards Birmingham. A tight little drive through a few lanes to get there but easy enough. As we arrived through the gates at the top of a hill we could see the vast size of this festival that was filled with campers and vans, tents, VWs plenty, and everything in between. We got a nice little spot on the brow of a hill that overlooked a beautiful countryside view free from any other vans, pretty lucky to be fair. The weekend itself was Vantastic (get it, but no that was a brand there that has some dope clothes and if you like your Vans you should check their website!) the bands were better than expected with a shout-out to Heather Small, Elvana, and Newton Faulkner to name a few. The food was delicious, and pricey but still. There was plenty of awesome things to buy from small stores and loads for the kids to do (if you had any). The only grievance, some parents need to unwind and let their “Karen” side chill. You cant run everything hun, like controlling queues for toilets at a festival, it ain’t gonna happen, relax. Oh and people ignoring signs about where you can and can’t take furniture in the arena? You’re not exempt or special and if I dance over and crush your child in a pram, thats on you. Sorry, not sorry. Overall though amazing weekend and can’t wait to get back there in 2023 (tickets already secured).
September featured our final outting in the Van. Venturing to North Wales for a week over my (Ash’s) birthday. Staying in a picturesque campsite near Llanbedr we enjoyed the last of the summer sunshine. The campsite was incredible. We pitched up right next to a beautiful river that passed through the site. There was an adorable little shop that had your necessities and also offered a firepit for your night time fun and games. It was seriously the most beautiful and peaceful sites I have ever been too and I would 100% go back. I can’t seem to find a link but its called “Nantcol Waterfalls Campsite”. As the name suggest there’s a very nice waterfall walk on site. Highly recommend. The trip also features trips past Snowdon and climbing up past Llyn Idwal. Unforunately not the best weather for this but we made the most of it. We also took a little trip to Conwy which is the cutest town which stands within castle walls which holds a lot of Welsh medieval history. But alas, this would be the last of our Van trips for the foreseeable due to the fact that, even at the beginning of September, we were freezing at night. The tempratures plummeted and we were struck with the realisation that you do in fact need to have you van at LEAST insulated now. Wept it was cold.
Besides those trips our adventures have been local and more “days-out”. We hit up Pen-Y-Fan once, sat and had some coffee along Mumbles beaches, just some simple out-goings. The van has otherwise been sat out in the rain and cold, looking sad and unused. UNTIL NOW!
So this is where it’s getting real! December 29th I suddenly had my burst of motivation. “Let’s do it, let’s get started!” Off I went and started unscrewing everything and taking everything apart. (Until we got stuck and some screws will honestly not budge, until tomorrow that is, hopefully). We’ve started taking off all the trim on the outside and ordered new clips and getting everything prepared to put back together. Once everything is off the van its time for the big deep clean, which is going to take a while thats for sure. There is some rust to take care of and SOOOOO much dust it’s crazy. We’re not looking forward to it at all but it’s got to be done to make sure we get everything perfect and avoid complications further down the line. But so far so good (besides these BASTARD screws that are stuck).
Once the van is clean and prepped we will be sharpishly insulate the Van. In an ideal world I would have everything done in the week but I do not possess the Funds to try and do everything in one go. So insulation first and having the walls and floor put back in. This way if we haven’t fully completed the Van by the summer (that’s wishful thinking anyway) at least we can stick the mattress back in and the Van is usable again, and that’s most important due to the fact we’re going to need it for Camper Calling. We have the plan in place for now and it’s going steady. Hopefully, we can keep this motivation but with work beginning again in the next few days I’m slightly worried of losing it, but we’ll see.
Totally forgot – we have a window and vent for the Van. It’s not in yet, not until its cleaned, but thats another thing to be excited about going in soon.
There you have it though. The round up of 2022 and the plan for the start of 2023. It’s going to be an excited and tiresome and expensive and busy time ahead but thats all part of the fun right? We will hopefully be doing the Podcast again soon so keep an eye out for that and will be alot more active on here and other socials!
Thanks for reading and a Happy 2023 to you all!
Vanlife - Welsh Wanderers 