Full Time Van Life Begins

I didn’t even question it until I was back in the van with Ben. Did he say a Toto tribute band? As in, Africa Toto?

For the past couple of weeks, leaving has felt like a distant future that we’ll never reach. Even today, the drive down to Folkestone felt like any other day. We left home at 8am and arrived at the channel just after lunch. We checked in and went through passport control, the van had an x-ray and before we knew it we were queueing to get onto the train. Through the small windows of the train cabin, we could see cars making their way onboard. Power cables criss-crossed overhead and car lights twinkled in the rain. Now it felt real. Ben and I looked at each other and just smiled.

In half an hour we’d made it across the channel and emerged into more drizzling skies. As we stopped to put on the headlight deflectors you need for driving in France, a van pulled up next to us. A guy came out and asked if we knew what we were doing with the stickers. We didn’t. The three of us stood there looking at the instructions as a stream of guys piled out of their van, one after the other. Turns out they were a Toto tribute band?! I think that’s what he said and I thought that was pretty cool so I didn’t even question it until I was back in the van with Ben. Did he say a Toto tribute band? As in, Africa Toto? Who knows. They were off to play a gig in The Netherlands either way.

We drove an hour north into Belgium, passing flat farmland that disappeared into a grey horizon. Gradually the sky darkened and we made our way to our camp spot for the night. It’s a nice little set up with space for about 10 motorhomes. It has self check-in, showers and a toilet. We haven’t made any solid plans for this weekend. Our main plan is to relax and unwind after one of the busiest summers we’ve ever had. So here we sit with cups of freshly brewed tea, Bon Iver on the stereo and a whole load of Europe in front of us. Wish us luck!