Forums

JackieO

Gosh...

Is it really a whole year since I made these mad posts?

Just for the record and perhaps to help others thinking of doing the same thing here's where we ended up going.....

Did the UK thing for a month to see friends and family. Excellent idea. Got a chance to get used to the van and were able to get bits and pieces done in a country where we had no difficulties with the language Smile

Then spent 3 months in Holland. Loved the place and saw every bit of it. Lovely people, lovely country and an opportunity to get super fit (?) on our new bicycles. Short time in Belgium then into central France until the weather got a bit too cold at night before heading off to the southern coast of France in October. Into Catalonia and through the southern coast of Spain topping our tans up along the way. Over to Morocco on 1st Dcember for the highlight of the trip. LOVED Morocco and spent a month there but it wasn't long enough and we'd dearly love to return. Overwintered in Spain and spent spring touring Portugal staying south enough to catch the good weather.

And did we like it? We LOVED it. Every single bit of it. Some minor problems with the van - linkage on gear lever came loose and had to be replaced at a massive cost of 18 euros. The water boiler gave up the ghost(and after 25 years who could blame it) just before Morocco, but it didn't seem to matter too much as no-one seems to bother about hot water in Morocco and we got quite used to washing and showering in tepid water. Got new boiler in Spain and had it fitted at fraction of cost in UK. Ahhh hot water Smile

Spiddy was a joy to travel with. Had an issue with her a Christmas with an ulcer in her eye and for a time thought she might lose her eye but, with the help of an excellent vet in El Puerto de Santa Maria (3 weeks of treatment for 60 euros) she pulled through. Only isssue was coming back from France to Plymouth when, even though she had jumped through all the defra hoops we were told by 'friendly' French official that she would have to be quarantined as the date of microchipping was not in her passport.(Might start another thread about this one as it seems to be happening a lot) Cue frantic phone calls to vets and MSPCA and with seconds to spare we were on the boat and away.

Highlights far too many to talk about - but - for me - a trip out into the sahara at Erg Chebbi on a camel and sleeping out under the stars was my particular highspot. Spiddy travelled with us all the way and she and the camel had an healthy respect for one another by the end of it. (Just)

We met so many lovely people too - one or two of whom I'm sure will be friends for life and we also met the people who had been travelling for years and at the sound of English language seemed to want to TALK AT US FOR HOURS ON END!!! Know the type? Smile

Our biggest issue (a point of seriousness here and again perhaps a topic for another thread) was alcohol. Something we never considered really before we set off, but sadly, there are a lot of people out there who, even though they are full-timing - seem to think they are on holiday. Not being hollier than holy here as we love a drink as much as anyone, but we were saddened to see some lovely people caught up in the cheap drink, little to do routine where beer and wine seemed to be drunk all day and every day. Like I say - perhaps a topic for a new thread. We'd be interested to know how others cope with it.

And here we are back home again, well home as back on the Island but home as in living in the van as tourists for a couple of months before we set off one more. We've extended the lease on the house and as soon as the weather changes for the worst (if if ever changes for the better that is) we'll be heading back to Morocco (to do all the bits we didn't see) and then heading east through Europe to Greece and Turkey for the following spring. That's a plan anyway, but as ever, we have no plan set in concrete - just to see more of our wonderful world and have fun.

We'll never be able to thank you guys enough. When we were climbing the walls you talked us down and got us on the road. Sincere thanks to you all.

Jackie and Bil
xxx

Briarose

Sounds wonderful and makes me so envoius.

aultymer

Hi, sounds like a great trip.

Now that my wife is retired we would like to escape to warmer climes over winter but have 2 dogs. How did you escape having to quarantine your dog when you came out of Morocco??

JackieO

Morocco is not part of the Pet's Passport Scheme so you have to spend a minimum of 6 months in Europe before you can return to the UK. The 6 months is, in effect a quarantine of sorts. Hope this helps.

Briarose - DEFRA should have the microchip number and the date of insertion on their main database Your vet can find out from them, write the date in and stamp the passport. It will then become valid.

If - as we found - DEFRA do not have a record of the number - then you will have to contact the breeder direct. Our dog came from an animal rescue and sadly they had not informed DEFRA of her microchipping. I've raised this with our vet who, in turn has informed other Island vets to try and stop this happening in the future. Good luck.

Briarose

greynomads

we too have just had offer on our house ready toleave and full time. i have been given digital photo frame and have loaded it with images of all important people and pictures so never away without them . still panicking but feel like child at christmas sooooooooooo excited but scared stiff. still if it doesnt work out can always come back for brain surgery lol

JackieO

I'm sure you'll be fine. The advice we got on here was invaluable. Just keep reading the threads and asking questions where you need to.

We found that the first few weeks we were so shattered from all the planning and had so much 'learning' to do about every day living on the road that we didn't think of family/friends/home nearly as much as we thought we might.

Enjoy. You're about to have the biggest adventure ever. Smile