Vanlife in Spain ends this week, but not without one last sting in the tail as we drive through France in our campervan to make our way back to the UK. Strong winds and a lucky warning bring our attention to a problem with our van on a busy motorway, one that could have been dangerous had we been left unaware. Elsewhere, we travel ever northwards back into ice-cold winter temperatures, face the prospect of expensive toll roads, and end up with a broken fridge door. On the plus side, there’s incredible French cake and wine, and that will always make up for it! Still, it wouldn’t be vanlife and she wouldn’t be Daisy without a bit of drama on our travels. All part of the fun…right?!
#fulltimevanlife #vanlifereality #camperlife
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xx
42 Comments
Get a kiddie lock for your fridge they really good if you cant fix it.
Bless you both stev not a panicky as you though lol ,gave me a right old giggle im disabled and u cheared me right up xxx
Aw, no more sun. 😢 That shocked look on Sebastian made me laugh. He sort of set the mood. Wouldn't be surprised the truck was warning others against itself as well.😅 I was stopped once by a car saying a rear tyre was coming off so I stopped and everything was fine, but I had driven through some water so only part of the tyre was dark and the other dusty so while drivning it probably looked wobbly. 😅 Steve MacGyvering things again was excellent.
I don't mind drivning in stormy weather as long as it's not snowy. Little over a year ago there was a massive jam just a few miles from where I live. Heavy winds and snow made the roads get covrered instantly after plough trucks had gone through, as well as foreign trucks and local cars with inadequate winter tyres couldn't get a grip on the winter roads and ended up with literally over a thousand cars getting completely stuck. The last car got towed away 38 hours later. Traffic control could have avoided it but were too late in their decision to close the road. By then, it was too late. Skåne has really treacherous roads in winter and can go from one extreme to another in minutes.
Wow, those toll fares were awful! I felt so bad for all your bad luck. I agree with the fridge, old fridge like that lasts forever, so I hope you found the spare part.
Wouldn't have guessed about he dye, people dye their hair all the time, just for the heck of it, for fun and for yourself, so, good for you!
And those pastries, yum! What's an ice bun?
Hope you had a good time working, hope to see the next adventure soon, AND better luck!
Stay warm!
Cheers from Skåne! ❤
That last French town was lovely. All those tomatoes didnt add up to a big meal. 🍻
You make us all sit here salivating while you plough your way through delectable French treats. You are awful but we like you!
Loved this one too, thanx! The bit about travelling time from South to North of France – and vice versa. I'll never forget the time, in 1987, when I was travelling with a group of us young ones in a huge tour coach and it seemed to take about 2 days to get from London to Argeles-Sur-Mer. We must have had a handful of stops to stretch our legs and for toilet breaks. Right now there is a severe weather warning out of snow and ice – and we've already had a large flurry of snow which has turned to slush and ice. I'm now in 2 minds whether to venture out on foot to village for a newspaper or not, but I can't get over to see my dad who could be doing with a hand with stuff. All the best for now, keep safe and well and really look forward to your next video.
Morning, another splendid video, I have to say you eat really well, and your cooking and food always makes me hungry! that curry looked warming, and that last lunch before ferry looked so healthy!
I loved the the look Stephen gave to at 02.12, I burst at laughing
You poor things. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Glad you made it up to the ferry OK. That last aire looked good and a useful tip. Just one hour from Calais. See you next time. X
I really look forward to your videos and I have to say I admire you two for just getting out there and making it happen, despite all the issues you have with an aging van. Love the dynamic between you both, one super chatty and the other dry as the Sahara. For gods sake , get a garlic press!❤
Why don't you get a new van because once something goes wrong, everything seems to follow. i hope you get it sorted soon because you definitely need something bigger .
I just love your videos 😃 really tasty pastrys😃 I hope that everything is well with you and that the new year has started on a good note. Btw, the beard looks good 😀 All my warmest thoughts from a sunny Andalucía
WELCOME HOME CHAPS!! So glad both of your have arrived back safely. Thank you for another great video. Hope 'Daisy' gets her treatment, lol, and will be ready in the next few weeks for another fab adventure. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and prosperous 2025! Stay warm and safe. 🙏💚
vanderfull as alvays—-
do love Steen without the a beard he looks great……
Omg I wanna go to france just for those cakes 😂 cake is my weakness..they all looked yum..great vlog 🙂 happy new year 🎉
Happy New Year guys, thanks for your email. I've only been to France once and it was Christmas time…..on the drive back to the UK we stopped off at a service station to buy food and I picked up some chocolate. If you like chocolate, get some Mon Cheri, they'll be on sale now. They are effing delicious.
D'ya think it's time for a new van?
Welcome home Dan and Steve. Skylight gate, fridge gate etc I think Daisy was saying stay abroad! I did notice the change in beard colour, with or without, grey or brown you guys look great. We liked Stephens art installation (rags).
Oh my those French cakes looked delicious. The curry looked fab, the macaroni cheese with sweet potato and tuna and carrot 😅 I had to think about but I guess it was like a tuna pasta bake so mmmn that would work. Nice last town. Sad to leave but look forward to seeing you on your next adventure. Thank you for sharing xx
Great Video guys , welcome home 🇬🇧❤❤❤
Once all the bits are fixed on an old van you have a new van after all the jobs are done that’s the best part of getting bits fixed.
Bless you guys. Don’t worry…we keep our kettle on the floor 😊 old vans have teething problems…. My old bus (50) yrs old is a constant money pit but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Drama-Llama special today :). Lol. I do love French food, but it can be costly at times, and those tolls are expensive. But probably a good idea really, if the $ goes back into maintenance. Having returned back to blighty, and the horrendous weather, at least you have a vlog of some sunshine and joy to remember. :). When you say you are 'guards'? What work do you actually do? Is it just security of some sort? Keep well.
You two are amazing. All the things that go wrong and it doesn't faze you. Look forward to your video each week.
Happy New Year guys 🎉🎊🥳 I thought Maybe the truck driver was a subscriber and was saying hello 🤭 drooling 🤤 as you guys eat those cakes 😜Glad you made it back safely 🙂
First time viewer here (and just subscribed) – not sure how this came up in my recommendations but I'm glad it did! Your little van is so homey with its various busted bits and you both are lovely travel mates – you yakking away and Steve just head down and getting on with it. 'Happy Trails to You!' (Roy Rogers) ☺
Ingenious lol. My old man's a mechanic, and the amount of times he's used cable ties to do an emergency temp fix to get us from A to B 🙄! Our old girl has an intermittent window leak, fridge awaiting a regulator (?) and a dodgy fridge lock. Saying that, Bee is 20 years old, bought and paid for, is our pride and joy and has taken us to some wonderful places🤗. Here's to a fab 2025 for you both (and some warmer weather!) 🥂 x
Hi Dan and Steven, We are glad you are both ok. We used to encounter problems with our caravan. We no longer have it due to the floods in 2023. We still miss it, it got us away. Happy New Year 🎉Best wishes Gary, Jackie and Family. Xx ❤️
I need a sharper knife. I've just chopped up a leek and a carrot. In the pan. Sweet chilli sauce, wholegrain rice, and spinach. I sometimes chop up leafy veg with scissors. Snow in North Lincolnshire. Now turning to rain. See you next time. ilona
PS. When you next buy a cake each, cut them in half so you can swap, and try them both.
Hi guys.. Loved watching you explore on your trip and thanks for sharing so many amazing places that I would never get to see..being from Australia it spins me out how you can drive to another country and it looks like a different world, it takes me 5 hours just to get to another state here😅.. I also love how you keep it real.. Looking forward to seeing what's next on our journey stay safe x
Happy New Year Dan and Stephen looking forward to the New Year XX
love this channel so much
Happy New Year, guys. Hope you're well.
Not looking great this week with all the issues going on for you. Hopefully when you're UK based should be able to get them fixed.
Patiesseties looked amazing. All thought u didn't need to have an org….m over it lol. You really did enjoy it. It's nice been having a choppy video this week and seeing different parts of your life. Anyways stay safe in the warning areas.❤
Zip ties and duct tape can get you through most minor disasters.
I think most people put their kettle in the sink, but the floor works. 🙂
Monty, my Pontiac Montana minivan, is in the shop for a new battery and to find and fix the parasitic draw that keeps killing it. My car fob also needs reprogramming after I let its battery die.
I called on Friday, for an appointment sometimes in January, but the owner said to drop it off on Saturday so his guys could work on it in between regular jobs. Finding a parasitic draw takes awhile.
I was hoping for more time to get over the flu, but my son was coming up for my birthday, so he came a day early, met me at the garage, and brought me home.
Because my blood sugar was low, after hauling in some of the camping gear, like my Luggable Loo, that I didn't think they'd want inside whilst the minivan was up on the lift, then boosting Monty to start, then clearing two feet of accumulated snow off the top, he bought us some chocolate donuts from Tim Horton's. It was on the way home, and the gas station it's in has bathrooms.
Monty is a tall minivan, but I have an old kitchen sponge mop, with a bent handle, that is perfect for clearing snow off the roof, then the windows and sides. I learned the hard way, that's the sequence, so you don't have to do the windows twice.
I told the garage owner what needed done and he asked if I wanted an oil change, too. Since it's been a year or so since I had that serviced, I told him to do anything that needed done and to fix anything that needed fixing. It's a great place that does good work and never overcharges.
I hope Daisy gets her bits and bobs fixed so she can take you on many more adventures. 🙂
Cheers.
Jon in rural BC, Canada
Glad you made it safely back home! Thanks for letting us follow your adventures, your movies lighten up my Sundays! (By the way, beard looking good both natural and dyed!)😚
Back to old Blighty then guys. You ain't missed much. All the best lads.
Hello you two! I don’t think anything runs smoothly ( the fridge door) there is aways something 😩 Anyway Dan there is nothing wrong with dying your beard ! Us women do it all the time! Meaning hair that is! That curry looked lovely Dan . Well back for you to Blighty , I would find it depressing myself, your vlogs are always watchable! I’m looking forward to seeing in the next one . Keep safe xx
What drama. Well done for overcoming it. Glue and cable ties. Vanlifers best friends. 😂🙏🚌❤️
Now this may be due to our bad eyesight, but neither of us would have noticed that you had dyed the beards if you hadn't mentioned it.
Well that seemed like a nightmare journey, but glad you are back safe.
The cake at the end looked AMAZING… Did you ever find out the name so we can order one next time we drive through France. Much love Darren and Alison 🤟♥️
The van has no end of stories from all your experiences. Hopefully you’ll keep her and the memories. Thanks for another great video. Stay safe lads 👍👍
Hi I really enjoy your videos but can t help notice that you reverse the picture quite a lot
Ooo we have an Intermache supermarket 5km from us… have to see if they sell the Opera Cake in Portugal 🍰 😊
When Dan is filming himself sometimes he is sitting in the passenger seat of 'Daisy' but appears on the wrong side of the vehicle.