A year ago today – 31 January 2021 – we set out on our travelling adventure in Tut the camper van. We’d spent January giving away all our furniture and almost all our belongings and all we were taking with us was what would fit into Tut. Our plan then was to spend 3-4 months in France and Spain over the summer and to work and tour around the UK the rest of the time. Well…that was before the world changed.
It’s certainly not been the year we as we would have planned it, but it has still been the adventure we imagined – in fact, far beyond our wildest imagination if you factor in the pandemic! Despite being locked down three times here in England, being unable to go into Europe at all and having to stay put for around 7 months, we have been blessed to have still been able to sleep in Tut for 358 nights out of the last 365! I’ve put together just a few highlights of each month to remind us of the year we’ve had.
Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.
My mum and dad gave us this quote a few years ago. It’s our guiding light in our life adventure.
February 2020 – I was working in and around Yorkshire and the Peak District during February so we spent quite a bit of time staying in different campsites in the area. Some were beautiful and just one or two were what you might call ‘once in a lifetimes’ ie we’d never book there again. Phil looked after Joey (our little dog) when I was working.
March 2020 – We spent time in the Peak District. The snow had melted and it was gorgeous. We eventually got around to finding wedding rings for us both 18 months after the event.
Tut is super cosy to be in and feels surprisingly spacious. When we’re wild camping, we’ve got a gas heater built in; when we’re on a campsite, we use their electric hook up for a fan heater.
March 2020 – Phil is the chief chauffeur in Tut and he does a fantastic job working out all the logistics of where we’re going and staying. If we’re on a long drive without too much scenery, I’ll work while Phil drives, but sometimes the views are just too good to work.
March 2020 – We stayed just over the border in Wales and were the only people on the campsite. Spectacular views to wake up to every day.
March 2020 – Joey had an operation to repair his cruciate ligament. It was traumatic for us, especially for Phil, who nursed him over the first few days when Joey couldn’t walk. He was then on a strict restricted exercise regime gradually building up over 16 weeks. Fortunately lockdown happened 10 days after the operation, so we also were restricted! At least we were all together most of the time in Tut.
We took just a few nostalgic reminders with us in Tut of items given to us over the years by family. The orange and blue item at the back is actually a snood that says ‘Push Yourself Further’ and is encouragement on our adventure. We turned it into a cover for the headrest. Little did we know that it would come in handy as a face mask too.
March 2020 – This was the last time we met up for coffee with family at the motorway services just as there were rumours that we may go into lockdown.
March 2020 – Lockdown 1 came into force. When it was announced, I don’t think we had any idea that everything would soon shut down including campsites. However we had seen that our old house was still empty so we re-rented it for 4 months to sit out the lockdown. The only challenge was it was totally empty! So we stopped travelling and lived in Tut on the drive for four months and used the house for showers. It gave the neighbours something else to talk about though.
March 2020 – Lockdown 1 – Queuing up for Tesco to shop. At least we’ve got used to the systems of social distancing, hand sanitiser and 2metres now so we don’t have queues like this now.
April 2020 – It started to dawn on us that this wasn’t a passing phase so we bought face masks.
April 2020 – We started a weekly family quiz on Zoom for a bit of fun. It’s expanded to include family around the world and we’ve resurrected it during each subsequent lockdown. It’s been a great way to bring us together.
May 2020 – We were still living on the drive in Milton Keynes. Fortunately it was next to a beautiful lake. Joey’s exercise regime was picking up so he had a few very short walks on the grass and we each went out for a longer walk as we were only allowed out once a day at that point. The big bonus in Lockdown 1 was it was glorious sunshine for much of the time, so we sat outside a lot – which was a big part of why we wanted to do our travelling adventure. It may not have been France or Spain, but the sun still shone.
June 2020 – How life changes when it’s forced to! Whereas I used to have to travel all over the country for work, the pandemic took all work online. I set up Tut though with a plain backdrop and noise cancelling headphones so I could look out the window at the beautiful outdoors wherever we were and no one on the call would know the difference! (As long as I remembered not to stand up during a video conference.)
June 2020 – Yay! As it turned out I wasn’t a natural blonde after all, I went to the hairdressers as soon as lockdown lifted. Never thought it would be in a mask and plastic gown though.
July 2020 – It was my mum’s (special number) birthday! As lockdown measures were easing and we all thought we were coming out of it for good, we arranged a little surprise for her and the girls and Phil and I went to visit. We also arranged a zoom call with friends and family from all over the world. It was a real treat in so many ways.
July 2020 – We were allowed to travel again and went to one of our favourite wild camping spots. It was so good to be out on the road again!
July 2020 – Being outdoors in great weather is what we love! Travelling and living in Tut means we are in touch with what’s going on outside all the time. Parking up in beautiful spots like this one in Hertfordshire gave us time to just ‘be present’ in nature. No need for TV when there is such natural wonder to look at all day.
August 2020 – We started touring again. We spent time in the Malvern Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. Imagine waking up to this every day. One of my favourite moments of the day is opening the door and feeling the air come in first thing in the morning.
August 2020 – We’ve loved cooking in Tut. We have a two ring gas hob and bought an Omnia pot which is magical and cooks like an oven but using the gas hob. It’s taken a little while to develop systems of cooking and washing up in a small space, but we’ve got it down to a fine art now.
August 2020 – It’s been such a joy to spend so much time outdoors. My idyllic evening is this – sitting outside, music on, fairy lights twinkling and just chatting together.
We’ve played A LOT of Yahtzee during this year!
August 2020 – It may not have been France or Spain as we originally planned for this year, but it was hot and gorgeous.
We had the netting in the roof window replaced with a clear material so we can have it open in all weathers and still let plenty of natural light in. We love this feature!
August 2020 – We spent time in Cheddar, Somerset. This is Cheddar Gorge. Normally at this time of year, it would be teeming with tourists, but it was very quiet. Great for us but not for the businesses locally. The campsite was one of the best we’ve stayed on with this within walking distance. And it was really hot, hot, hot (for England) all the time. We had one evening with a spectacular thunder and lightning storm which we watched through our roof window and with the door of Tut open.
August 2020 – We stopped off with family for a few days in London. Took full advantage of the coffee shops being open for business. And maybe a cake too.
September 2020 – Back to one of our favourite campsite locations in Ashwell, Hertfordshire. It’s a great location for seeing three out of four of our adult children so while they are still home from university, we made the most of coming back here in between trips to see them. The pop up waterproof tent was a great addition for storing chairs and things – and Joey liked laying in there for the shade.
Every item we’ve equipped Tut with has been carefully thought out. We wanted living in it to be comfortable and homely but really practical too. The lantern may not have been on the essentials list but it’s pretty to look at in the evenings.
September 2020 – It was my youngest’s 21st birthday! We had a fantastic weekend – just the three of us girls together celebrating as we were still restricted in numbers of people that could get together. A wonderful memory to make together. Phil and Joey had a boys’ weekend in a campsite nearby.
September 2020 – Throughout the year, we spent 77 nights in campsites run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. We like them because their standards are pretty consistent, they are spotless and we know their systems – including strict systems for social distancing etc.
September 2020 – One of the advantages of Tut is there’s space to transport lots, so we landed the job of moving adult children back into university houses. Then we had a few days in Norfolk on a really cool campsite with live music by local musicians….all outdoors so socially distanced. We didn’t know then that would be the only live music event we would go to this year.
We didn’t realise how little we would get to see each other in person during this year of lockdowns and distancing. So the times we are allowed to meet up are precious. Very proud of how all our children have managed so well with the changes over this year and how they’ve all made the most of the opportunities and challenges of the pandemic.
September 2020 – Scotland! I took well over a thousand photos in Scotland so narrowing it down to just a few was tricky. As travelling restrictions eased, but it didn’t look like Europe would be an option this year, we decided to go to Scotland. Phil planned the trip touring the NC500 which is the coastal route around the very northern west, north and east of Scotland – known as the Highlands. Most people do it in a week or two, but we decided to ‘travel slow’ and take 6 weeks.
September 2020 – We saw one spectacular, breathtaking view after another in Scotland as we toured the Highlands. Coming across places unexpectedly – like this beach here – was amazing. Every few minutes the light changed and a new hue emerged.
September 2020 – This was another unexpected discovery down a road that wasn’t on the map, but we decided to follow it anyway. The land is owned by a crofter’s trust and they allow wild camping for a donation. It didn’t take much to persuade us to stay.
October 2020 – Scotland is full of lochs and coves around every corner and each one has its own beauty. This is one of my favourite photos in a very remote community.
October 2020 – We made it to John O’ Groats – the northernmost tip of Scotland. Last year we went to Lands End – the southernmost tip of England – so we are officially ‘End-to-Enders’ now. We got to meet up with family near here too in Thurso.
October 2020 – During out trip in Scotland, we were able to stop often and get our chairs out and just watch the scenery and changing light. This was Loch Leven in the Glencoe area. The autumn colours got more vibrant every day.
November/December 2020 – At the end of October, we headed back to Leicester to visit family. While staying there, another lockdown was rumoured, so we stayed put and sure enough Lockdown 2 started. We have been very fortunate to be able to stay in Tut while we housesit for a relative. The house is secluded and has a large frontage so we’ve had plenty of space and the use of the shower. Here are our Christmas decorations! You can also see a little of our dream boards. In January 2020, we compiled a large montage of photos of how we want to live our life and the elements that make up a happy life for us. We wake up and go to sleep looking at it every day. It’s been wonderful to see the progress in achieving our dreams over this year, in spite of the pandemic.
December 2020/January 2021 – Christmas was different this year as restrictions were imposed just a few days before meaning we couldn’t go to the holiday home we’d planned. But we had a great time anyway making the most of the chance to do things differently without the usual expectations.
January 2021 saw the start of yet another national Lockdown 3. We decided to look at what we could do whilst remaining still in one place and not being able to go out much and make the most of the time. We’ve been dreaming the next phase of our life and updating our dream boards. We know that the journey is never in a straight line and this year has proven that. Like this quote says though, Phil and I are so grateful to the people who have come into our lives that have inspired and encouraged us to follow our dreams. We are eternally grateful. Here’s to the next stage of life’s great adventure!
