0 to 60 in style…

roads and landscapes make a great road trip

Happy 60th… or is it? No, I’m not quite there yet, but my classic VW camper might have reached the grand old age of sixty. Might have? Technically it’s one year older than that… so is it lying about its age or what? When I first got the classic VW bus, I unlocked its m-code … Read more

Art from the ashes of a bus fire

the sumptuous exhibition catalogue of Julie Mehretu retrospective

Transformative art Strange how art can often bring a transformative experience. When embraced, it can turn things around and make you see things from a new perspective. When I lost my last bus in a dramatic fire, I had no idea where this event would lead me or even end up. On a very practical … Read more

Wonderful Waterfalls at Eas Fors

solar power top up in the Scottish sunshine

The road trip rolls on Having had a good time visiting the Isle of Iona for the day, our next decision was where to go next? Eas Fors and Calgary Bay were a couple of spots that I had in mind. Both of which involved water. I think growing up by the sea, and now … Read more

Meandering on the Isle of Mull

making the most of the sunshine on Lochbuie

Memory making on Mull.

Initially, we’d thought Lochbuie might be a one-night stopover for us on the way to other places on the Island of Mull. However, we both fell in love with the area as soon as we arrived.

at home in the Lochbuie landscape
at home in the Lochbuie landscape

Initially, we were thinking of going to the small Island of Iona next, but being the Easter holidays, thought that it might be pretty busy then. So more than happy to be staying here over the Easter weekend, plus a few days afterwards too!

Surrounded by beauty

Lochbuie is a wonderful place to just unwind and relax. Interesting places to walk to and see nearby, or just a very chilled area to relax and simply be. Just what the doctor ordered!

a wonderful view to wake up to
a wonderful view to wake up to

Then, of course, there are the views. It’s hard not to be inspired when you wake up with views like this all around you. That and all the surrounding wildlife too of course!

Lochbuie landscape
Lochbuie landscape

From micro to macro, there was always something interesting to see or experience. It’s a place that makes you just want to explore more.

the remains of Moy Castle at Lochbuie
the remains of Moy Castle at Lochbuie

Island inspiration

Often it’s inspiring to see a ‘new and different horizon’ on each day on a road trip. It can equally be important to make the most of any special places you might find along the way. To us, this place was very special, and we loved spending a few days in the area.

Mingling with some Lochbuie locals
Mingling with some Lochbuie locals

It’s important to take time out to make memories. Experience more of what a place has to offer. We felt that we did that here in Lochbuie… and then some!

exploring Lochbuie
exploring Lochbuie

The lack of facilities and remoteness is maybe not for everyone, but it was great for us! Having the solar panel set up and some great weather, we were all good! Plus of course, there was the Old Post Office for any additional food supplies too.

Marvellous Mull

We got to see the birth of a baby lamb, fish jumping in the sea. A tiny chapel all to ourselves on Easter. Getting woken by the sound of passing sheep in the morning. Even saw an otter pop above the water to say ‘hello’.

Highland cattle grabbing a bite to eat
Highland cattle grabbing a bite to eat

Cows on the beach, rocks on the shoreline that made perfect chairs. Night-time fires, a castle ruin and some delicious food cooked on our little Trangia stove. This has been a brilliant start to our road trip!

natures designer rock chair
natures designer rock chair

Heading to the Island of Iona

The Isle of Iona was a nearby island that we wanted to visit. With its historical Christian heritage, Easter would have been a very busy time there. Having enjoyed a quiet Easter at Lochbuie, we decided to hit the road again and make our way across the Island to catch a ferry to Iona. Hopefully, it should be less busy now, so a better time to visit?

making the most of the sunshine on Lochbuie
making the most of the sunshine on Lochbuie

Although sad to move on and leave our time at Lochbuie, it was great to be back on the road again. The weather remained glorious and the views on the road fantastic. Living the road trip dream! 🙂

living the road trip dream
living the road trip dream

Looking forward to our next road trip destination of Iona, although we won’t be able to take our camper on the island itself! Time for a change…

 

Isle of Mull’s raw and rugged beauty

shorefront camping… here will do nicely

Lochbuie experience Being able to catch the earlier ferry to Mull was a real win. Not only did we witness a beautiful sunset, but be we also still had some late evening sunshine to drive in when we arrived. A big help when driving on the unfamiliar ‘interesting’ winding single track roads to our destination … Read more

the end in sight, Hessisch beckons…

perfect weather to be using the Fabrik Interiors cargo door canopy

Interior updates As the decent weather continues, it’s good to crack on and get some more of the interior panels in place, plus once they’re in, the table and a few little extras can also be fitted. It’s almost like there is a plan for an interior slowly coming together. My eldest daughter had bought … Read more

a road trip that begins with a ferry crossing…

twilight in the middle of the English Channel

Ninove starts here Well, I finally got my act together and sorted everything out for Freddy Files 2017, looks like the road trip to Ninove is on! Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it last year, so I’m really looking forward to this one. Planning to meet my bus buddy Ollie and his friend Gez later on … Read more

time flies when you’re having fun in a 52 year old camper

looking forward to some more road trip adventures…

Sad anniversary Hard to believe that it was literally a year ago today I bought this VW camper after having lost my previous bus to fire – clearly time does fly when you’re having fun in a 1964 vintage VW camper! Electrical gremlins Another anniversary that coincides with getting the bus is renewing its MOT! … Read more

Adding a leisure battery and split charge system

safe and reliable auxiliary power from the 90Ah leisure battery and intelligent split charge system

Adding a leisure battery With the fire suppression system all safely fitted by Peter at VW Aircooled Works, there were a few other little electrical upgrades I wanted to get fitted at the same time which I had pre-booked to get done. First up was to get a leisure battery fitted, along with a split … Read more

fitting a fire suppression system in your VW Camper

VW Aircooled Works clean gas automatic engine bay fire suppression system

Fire protection, do it once, do it right As VW Aircooled Works were based a few hours drive away from me, I decided to head up later at night and find a place to park up overnight so that I could be with Peter and his team first thing in the morning so they could … Read more

protecting a vintage VW camper from your worst nightmare, an engine fire…

the worst photo I have ever taken

Although it’s been a few months on from the devastating fire that destroyed my vintage 1965 VW Canterbury Pitt camper at the beginning of the year, its effects still linger and haunt me now! I guess that is no big surprise. Being forced to stand and watch all your road trip worldly possessions going up in … Read more

great to be back behind the wheel of a vintage VW split screen bus again

good to be back home again in my VW bus by the sea

Camper collection Before collecting my new bus to drive home, I had agreed with the seller to get a few alterations carried out whilst he was getting a new MOT sorted for it. The previous owner in sunny California had slightly lowered the front and rear of the bus, but as everyone knows, stock rocks, … Read more