I love travelling. I really do! Travelling is the essence of life for me. That’s why I love travelling in my cosy camper van. It’s a converted VW transporter T6 version, not one of these ready made California vehicles. I wanted to design it as individually as possible. So, accidentally really, I found these young enthusiastic camper builders in Pfeffikon, Luzern. Stephan cut up the roof and built in the liftable rooftop with it’s bedstead. There is also a folded bed bench in the boot of the car. I crafted the furniture myself – long hours in autumn, winter 2019 – all a first hand experience with many setbacks. Yet, in the end it was worth the effort. It has become ‚my‘ camper van, my little house on wheels.
Travelling without company is not my thing at all, especially after difficult times as those I went through in 2020 and early 2021. I had to completely sort out myself, start anew, press the reset button, being open to what would come and that’s not easy, at least not for me. Leaving behind – physically and mentally – what has seemed dear to you, reduce your life to almost nothing is a venture. There are many books written about it, „Solo Van Life: Fahr los! Sei frei!“ by Susanne Flachmann being just one of them. What coincidence! Namesake.
On top, there was covid! After I had already decided to go for this sabbatical almost two years ago back in 2019 or even 2018 I was not sure whether I could travel at all, where to, when and under what condition. I changed my plans several times – or rather I stopped planning! Something that is VERY difficult for me, one of my favourite sayings being: ‚Anticipation is the greatest joy.‘ And corona definitively transformed that joy into an ordeal!
I tried to organise a few ‚anchorages‘ on my way – Maria, who I will visit in Sweden. I met her when I was at Canterbury doing a workshop on creativity in the classroom three years ago. We went along well and she invited everybody in the class to see her near Örebro Sweden. She came to my mind when I was looking for alternatives to my Scotland/Ireland trip. There is also Sana in Helsinki from the same workshop, but I don’t know whether I will make it to Helsinki/Finnland in this month.
Another ‚anchorage‘ are the two weeks I’ll be sailing along the north coast of Brittany with Denys the skipper on his Sun Odyssee AVEL. As I have sailed with him a few times before now, it’s nice to meet again, enjoy his company and expertiece, find mental peace during the long hours out at sea. But that will only be in August.
So, there are a few days left for packing up – and then I’ll be on my way.