Camping gear in the car and on to France. That was our annual vacation in the 1970s. From the mussels in Brittany to the snow in the Pyrenees. From the wooded Vosges to the fruit of the Mediterranean Sea. With peace of mind, we can say that we have explored France in detail. Travelling, discovering and writing. We have been doing this for several decades with great pleasure.

And that’s not all! Whenever we got the chance, we went on an amazing trip. We didn’t have much, but we still managed to go into the mountains and even go on a winter trip to Tunisia. These adventures always left us craving more.

Tent In the Car, Boat Behind It

After purchasing a sailing boat, we set sail for new adventures. With the tent in the car and the boat behind it, we discovered new possibilities. The Netherlands is a treasure trove for water sports enthusiasts, offering endless opportunities to explore and have fun.

But we were also eager to discover what lay beyond that horizon. So we went to the Dutch Antilles, we went to southern Africa (Botswana and Zambia) several times. We even stayed in South Africa for three months.

Sailing To Portugal

As time went on, our boats got bigger and our sailing trips longer. In 2006, we sailed to Portugal with the NOMAS, and we have been planning our next adventure ever since! We found a new home port in Portimão (see the travel plan from 2006 onwards). We explored not only the stunning coasts of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, but also ventured inland, adding an extra dimension to our travels.

In Sant Carles de la Rapita in the north of Spain, we found a harbour. We were so enamoured with the location that we decided to stay there for much longer. The choice was an obvious one. We also ventured inland, exploring the beauty of rural Spain. One of the highlights was the incredible rice festival in Beceite, where we savoured the most delicious hot dogs!

Limited Freedom Of Movement

We had an absolute blast exploring the area, and we’re already planning our next trip. If sailing isn’t an option, we’re definitely going to buy a camper so we can keep exploring this beautiful place. That is often our answer when we are asked what we would do if we no longer had a boat. In the autumn of 2019, we decided not to wait that long. As soon as the NOMAS was safely on the shore, we started the engine of our new camper. Then we left for Spain, our adventure set to begin.

Unfortunately, the corona pandemic forced us to put an end to this adventure prematurely, but we are looking forward to the next one! Once in Spain, the measures became increasingly strict. This meant that our freedom of movement was limited, but it was still great to be back home in the Netherlands. We sold the camper and are now looking forward to better times. We are certain that we will go on the road with a camper again one day.

Another camper adventure awaits

We bought another camper! Two years later, we bought another camper. We had an amazing time driving through Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Spain to Portugal, and then back again. After a quick stop in the Netherlands, we head south again, our spirits high. In just ten months, we’ve driven almost twenty thousand kilometres!

We absolutely love life in Spain, so in 2023 we decide to settle permanently in Southern Europe. In the charming village of San Rafael del Rio, with a population of just over five hundred, we found the perfect new apartment. We move into it in September 2023.

At the same time, our search for a camper begins there, because we have to sell our trusted Chausson shortly before we move. However, importing an almost twenty-year-old camper turns out to be an impossible task due to the notorious Spanish bureaucracy and the impossible.

Looking for action

Constantly travelling. Do you ever go on holiday? We often get that question when we announce that we are going to make new discoveries. While we do enjoy some peace and quiet every now and then, we are always looking for a bit of action and adventure.

We’ll be writing all about it on our blog! In our travel journals, we share our experiences and discoveries. We love nothing more than sharing our adventures with you! As they say, ‘It’s not without reason that the saying goes: ‘Those who travel a lot can tell a lot’.