The End of the Road

Yep, you read that correctly, this is the end of the road for us!

Exactly two years ago, we set off from Colchester on a trip around Europe in our van. We’ve had a fantastic time visiting 25 countries, staying at 331 different camperstops and driving 28,481 miles (or 45,854 km) in the process.

We’ve had to return to the UK to get the van MOT’d, and had originally planned to spend the next six months touring around Britain. However our tenants will not be renewing, and so with no rental income we’ve decided that this will be the end of the road – we’ll be moving back home when the tenants leave at the end of the month and returning to real life.

We did discuss whether we should keep the van, but we decided that there wouldn’t really be much point as there are so many other places further afield that we’d really like to visit, so we’ll be putting the van up for sale once we’ve sorted ourselves out.

The main reason for keeping a blog was so that we could look back on our trip in years to come. We’ve visited so many places over the past two years that even now it’s becoming difficult to remember exactly everywhere we have been, and so the blog’s already come in useful.

I know from looking at the behind-the-scenes stats that many people from across the world have been following our blog, so we hope you have enjoyed reading our updates, and that maybe we have possibly encouraged some of you to consider taking the plunge yourselves and go off travelling – we can definitely recommend it.

If anybody has questions about anything to do with motorhoming, travelling around Europe, or the technicalities of setting up and maintaining a WordPress blog, then please feel free to get in touch via the contact page on the dropdown menu, and we’ll get back to you.

Mike and Carol

24 thoughts on “The End of the Road”

  1. Wow, what a journey it has been, not just geographically but also in terms of experience! It has been great following your trip on here, Facebook and Instagram and you have certainly given us a lot of good for thought regarding our future trips!
    Sorry to hear that planned trip around the UK won’t be going ahead, that must be quite a blow! Hopefully that will happen one day though.

    Thank you for sharing your adventure, we look forward to seeing you both and hearing more about it first hand.

    • Who’d have thought a few years ago that we’d up given up the day jobs to do this! Life’s too short, do it whilst you can – as you two have both shown too 🙂 Cxx

  2. I know I was a little late to the party but it has been fascinating reading your blog and following all the adventures you have both had.
    Welcome home.

  3. I’ve enjoyed all of it, Mike. It’s been an inspiration, seen and heard about loads of places to visit. I look forward to seeing you soon

  4. Wowza, but what a time you have had.

    We purchased our Rio in August 2018 Amist health issues for my husband, but he said we must move to France or get a motorhome, so that is what we did. Not as adventurous as you guys, but did 3 weeks in France, some lovely stops in Cheshire where we live and just waiting for an Operation on Tuesday and hopefully we can then tell you where we have been. Booked the crossing in June to celebrate the 75th anniversary of DDay.

    Don’t sell, use it for your getaway.

    Lots of luck, but will miss your travel blogs. Best of luck with everything.x

  5. Thanks for letting us come along on your journey. I’m sure you will enjoy the next chapter of your lives. Maybe you will miss having a motorhome more than you think and we’ll see you again 🙂

    • Thanks Carol, good to hear from you. We’re looking forward to the next chapter, who knows what’s going to happen next?!

  6. I’ve particularly enjoyed the European bike share photo service. Back in time to see the O’s return.

    • Hope the photos were useful to you – Denmark, followed by Germany, were by far the best countries for cyclists – great cycle lanes and patient drivers! Mike’s looking forward to the Os. Carol

  7. Hola Mike & Carol. We are going to miss reading and sharing your adventures. Having followed ‘ in your footsteps ‘ on many occasions, in many countries and eaten in your favourite restaurants, we are very grateful to you, for all the information that you have shared. Hope your future travel plans, go as well as this adventure, we would like to sign up for your future blog ‘in far flung places’. Hasta Luego, Sue, John & Ana (the dog). Ps John has his second dental appointment tomorrow, good choice of dentist.

    • Hola, buenas, y gracias por tu mensaje! It was great (almost surreal!) to bump into you in Kalamata months after first meeting you in Foz. We’re really glad that you have enjoyed visiting some of our favourite restaurants along the way. Make sure you find the baklava shop (@ Kritis 22) but don’t go mad or you’ll be needing more appointments at the dentist! If you’re ever back in the UK then please let us know, we’d love to meet up with you again. Take care, Mike and Carol xx

  8. Wow – 2 years already, it’s going to be difficult to get rid of the van after all this time I bet. Still onwards and upwards!!!

    • Yep, that just flew by. Looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed and not having to empty the toilet cassette out each and every day!

  9. So sorry to learn that your (this particular) journey has come to an end. Mine ended abruptly last year when my mother fell ill and I had to return to the UK. Since then I have been up to all sorts but the Van sits outside awaiting it’s next tour. I suspect I will be back on the road in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing your travels. I’ll not forget the 2017 Christmas we shared in Greece with the Clunes (Katherine and James) and the Thomsons (Julia and Simon) .
    I live in North Wales now . You have my e-mail address and you should not hesitate to contact me if you are likely to be in the area. Dinner would be on me. All the best for the future. Dave

    • Hello Dave, lovely to hear from you. Hopefully you’ll be back on the road sooner rather than later. We’re not due in North Wales anytime soon, but if you find yourself at a loose end in the London/Essex area, then likewise give us a shout. Cheers!

  10. Wow. I have finally, and rather sadly, reached the end of your blog. What an adventure. Sounds amazing and has given me/us lots of inspiration to maybe do something similar in the future. Thank you for sharing xxx

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