WINTER WITH THE VAN

So it's been 7 months since we first bought our 1984 1.9 VW t25 Piglet.

As we all know winter in the UK can be tough on our cars and vans, and this year was a really tough year. We have had snow, freezing temperatures and roads full of salt and potholes.

Just what you need when owning an old van.

Rust on these old vans is always a problem and believe us we have had our fair share already. We treated the rust a few months ago but unfortunately, some of it is coming back trough meaning we need to do it again and then eventually get some nice new shiny panels for pig.  

The van itself has been amazing, the engine runs beautifully "touch wood" and has been a trooper covering mile after mile with only a few problems such as our trigger wire needs replacing and oil light sensor needs a new wire.

After covering a large number of miles since we have owned the van and the 170,000 miles the van has done before we owned it the gears were starting to play up.

It started with not being able to get from first gear to second gear without feeling like you had just bench pressed a small car. and then a few days later piglet decided she liked third gear so much she wanted to stay there, luckily we got her home and started to find out the problem 

We started with the shifter and gear stick rebuilding the components with all new parts, cleaning and greasing until we were happy. After putting it all back together the gears are much more manageable, but could still be better so we plan to replace the gear linkages next.

The rest of the jobs are small but still adding up such as door handles need repairing some wires need looking at and we need to replace our pushrod tubes. But it all costs money and one thing we are not is rich, possibly because or money tree failed to grow.

But that won't stop us we make a list of jobs that need doing and then fix them in order of importance, hoping the engine holds out that bit longer for us. Other people buy clothes and food we just buy van parts.

But don't let this put you off, it certainly has not scared us off and in fact, has made us learn more about how to fix the van than anything else. We have been on some amazing adventures already this year and wild camping in some amazing locations waking up to a frosty morning with the sun pushing its way through the curtains and warming up the van slowly. 

And now spring is on the way were even being treated to some sunshine 

After seven months of ownership one thing, we can say is that we absolutely love Piglet. Even with all the problems and restoration, we would not trade her in for anything else. The freedom we get from the van is incredible, we can go anywhere we want and wake up in some remote and beautiful parts of the UK.

For the past few months, we have been keeping it close to home so we can get used to the van and find any problems, but know we are ready for the real adventures. So its time to get the fridge stocked, the gas ready, and the map in hand. Were off on our travels and can't wait to share them with you all, well that's if Piglet wants to as she can be stubborn sometimes 

happy adventures all 

WINTER WONDERLAND

This morning we awoke to a winter wonderland. everything was covered in a thick layer of snow.

Our first thoughts were to grab our walking boots and water proofs out of the back of piglet and head out into the countryside.

We do love a bit of snow and of course here in the midlands we hardly get any so this was a real rare treat 

Everything looked like a postcard, trees had snow and ice dangling from there branches like Christmas decorations, glistening away in the wind.

Gaps in the hedgerows revealed vast fields and hills in the distance covered completely in a white layer of snow.

Villages looked like they were straight out of a Christmas film, with log fires burning making the air smell like we had stepped into the past, inside people looked out onto the snow covered roads some making snowmen in there gardens.

We were now out in the countryside away from the villages and towns. Nobody around just us and nature, birds would swoop in front of us hiding among the hedgerows then fly onto the ground leaving small trails behind.

We moved a stray log next to the river and used our blanket to make ourselves a cosy seat. We had a warming cup of tea and enjoyed watching the snow fall around us

Today was a delight, getting to walk in the snow and see the fields and forest transformed into a snow covered landscape, another reason we love the seasons on this little island we call England.

WINCHCOMBE AND ITS WALK

The Cotswolds a place of unmatched beauty and quintessential British villages. With its honey stone buildings, history and legends it is a place that has won over the hearts of the world bringing tourists from far and wide to see its chocolate box appearance.

We love the Cotswolds and have also been won over by its charm but not just its villages but the amazing and varied walks it has across its many hills valleys and patchwork fields.

One such walk lead us to the historic market town of Winchcombe where we wild camped in our van before our walk.

Winchcoomb began its life back in neolithic period where still today stands a stone lined burial chamber known as Balas knap.

In the middle ages it had become a thriving wool town.

We were most interested in its church and its rather amusing carvings or grotesques on the outside.

There are 40 of these carvings 20 of them depict demonic sprits and demons and another 20 depicting  locally important people. 

We got some food supply's and had some tea delivered from our friends over at Grizzly tea and set off into the cotswolds following its old country roads winding in and out of forests and local towns.

Arriving at a little car park we boiled our kettle and had a warm cup of tea and some lunch before heading off to find the church.

The church itself did not disappoint with its 90 foot high tower and grand windows, it is hard to believe that this church dates back to 1175. of course over the years it has been greatly renovated and changed with the times.

The grotesques (the characters on the church) were as whimsical as its legends stated and of course the most famous one which is the picture above is said to be the inspiration for Lewis Carrol for the mad hatter in the story Alice in wonderland.

Out of respect we did not want to take photographs inside of the church but its grand and impressive architecture is seen through out leaving its viewer in awe.

After we had explored the church it was getting dark, in these winter days the darkness creeps in quicker then we think so we headed back to the van to find a camping spot before the sun was hidden behind the Cotswolds countryside.

We found a lovely car park in the village of snows hill, it was a free car park and had no signs saying anything about overnight parking. It was quiet and surrounded by a small wood. we made our dinner and closed the curtains just as the sun went behind the hills.

We awoke in the morning to the sounds of singing birds and the suns light finding its way through the small gaps in the curtains. Breakfast was first up on the agenda before we made our sandwiches and tea for our long walk today.

The walk started in Winchcoomb so we found a car park and followed the directions from there, across the roads and down some little side streets until we came to and opening in a lane climbing slowly up into the hills above the town.

The walk led uphill and opened out into fields which were a little muddy underfoot but nothing our walking boots could not handle, and besides we had a flask of tea and sandwiches so nothing could go wrong.

Half way up we turned around to a stunning view of the old wool town itself with its chimneys wisping small white clouds of smoke into the sky from wood fires. Taking pride of place among the historic landmarks of the countryside.

We walked up steep hills through a forest covered in mud helping each other from slipping back down into the muddy puddles below.

When we arrived at the top we were greeted by some incredible views of the countryside before us stretching right across to the Malvern hills in the distance. This naturally is where we sat in the winter sun to have our tea and sandwiches as we all know its not a walk unless you bring the essentials.

We sat there admiring the views watching the birds and pheasants dart in and out of the trees and the sheep walk the fields looking for the best patch of grass to eat. Its views like this that make you sit and be amazed at how beautiful nature is and how precious our countryside is, so delicate and innocent going about its daily life carving mountains and hills, valleys and rivers. All this can be changed by us as humans. You realise that the world is a big place and we are just a little part of the bigger picture around us.

The walk lead us across fields and forests away from the towns and villages of the cotswolds making us feel like we were the only people there out in the hills. 

We passed through a field of sugar beats which by the looks of things the sheep and found there way into and had preceded to eat every other one leaving a trail of bites out of each sugar beat, we did find it rather amusing and could not help but smile at the thought of the sheep nibbling there way through the field.

In the next field was the culprits keeping a close eye on us opening the gate just incase we forgot to close it allowing them entry once again to there feast. Sheep really do have a way of making us humans think they are merely eating grass when there true intention is to find a way into the next field over.

The sun was starting to set and we we privileged to see a golden sunset across the fields of crops.

We got back to our van Piglet and decided to get some chips as a little treat, enjoying them in our van discussing our next walk and adventures.

Written by Adam Woodward 

VAN LIFE

Piglet our van is back on the road and we have taken to van life like a duck takes to water, camping out under the stars exploring the countryside and being able to make tea whenever and wherever we want. We thought we would do a little update on our travels over the past month.

We got our van back after she had a new water pump, fuel tank and coolent pipes fitted and hit the road straight away. Having all the space is awesome and having space for everything means we can just get out our walking boots whenever we want and hike the countryside.

We have been keeping our travels relatively close to home just incase old piglet decided she wants something else fixing. It also gives us a chance to see what we may need on our longer journeys and things we don't need. One thing we do have to finish is setting up our gas so we can use the camper stove and not the little portable one we have got.

Wild camping is great fun, getting to wake up to a different view everyday and watching the sunset and sunrise is just a bonus. We have found that we are never bothered by any passers by so far and people seem to be very interested in the van often waving or smiling as they walk past.

Another bonus is that we managed to finish our National trust passports, finally it only took a year!

Piglet is a perfect size to fit down the small roads of the Cotswolds so she will get along fine with the even smaller roads of Devon and the Lakes (we hope), even if Sarah is on the right hand side and has oncoming traffic coming towards her, making for some rather interesting debates on weather we can fit past this giant tractor or not.

We don't think the van is helping our hiking addiction though.

Its been a busy month and piglet has been a trooper not missing a beat making us gain our confidence in her. In the new year we have a lot of camping trips planned all over the country and we are going to be taking our travels one step further by having a youtube channel, which means you can watch us and our adventures and everything we get up to if your so inclined. See you on the road and in the countryside everyone keep on adventuring.