Vanlife
Welcome to my vanlife pages.
Vanlife is a modern phenomena and will mean different things to different people. For us it means the time each year where we travel and live in our VW California Camper van. Starting from spring '22, we are trying to spend between 3 and 5 months a year travelling and living in our van and these pages are a record our travels and the places we visit.
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Please click on image for more details
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I keep these pages updated regularly and you can also follow me on Instagram - @grahamnbradley
#spendingthekidsinheritancevaning
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October 2021 - April 2022
We purchased our VW T6.1 California Ocean DSG 4motion in October '21 and completed preparation for long term travel over that winter
Sées
4th - 6th May 2022
Part of a month long trip, our first overseas stop in the van is in the Normandy commune of Sées.
Le Mans
7th -8th May 2022
After Sées we stopped over in Le Mans, on our way down to the Loire
Chinon
9th - 12th May 2022
Our first stop in the Loire includes a visit to the Chateau de Villandry
Villandry
12th May 2022
The Chateau de Villandry
Amboise
13th - 14th May 2022
Our second stop in the Loire and a visit to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop in Clos Lucé
Azay le Rideau
15th -16th May 2022
Our last stop in the Loire, this trip and staying near the town of Azey le Rideau
Nevers
17th - 18th May 2022
Two night stop in Nevers
18th - 22nd May 2022
Wine tasting in Burgundy, mustard, Creme de Cassis and quite a lot more in the region's wine capitial
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain
26th May 2022
A visit to Flavigny for pastis and anis
Chablis
26th -27th May 2022
More wine tasting, more cheese in my favourite stop of the this trip
Epernay
28th -29th May 2022
Next stop is the Champagne capital Epernay and Champagne tasting on the Avenue.
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With a final stop in Calais before returning to the UK on 31st May.
Stuttgard
3rd -5th July 2022
The Porsche museum and camping on the banks of the Jagst starts our July trip to Germany.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
6th -9th July 2022
A stay in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a stop on the romantic route and where they filmed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Creglingen
9th July 2022
A stop off to visit the local church
Wolfach
10th -12th July
Our first stop in the Black Forest.
Alpirbach
12th -15th July
Black Forest camping, a wooden alter piece and beer brewed by monks
Eguisheim
16th - 17th July
Back over the border into France, saw us staying in the beautiful but crowded Alsace town of Eguisheim.
Buhl
17th July
Another day, another altarpiece.
Reims
17th - 20th July
41c - so a couple of nights in a hotel drinking champagne.
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Also checkout my photographs of the old circuit here
Calais
20th - 21st July 2022
A final stop in Calais, before heading home. Included a visit to the Blockhaus d'Éperlecques.
Canterbury
6th - 9th September 2022
A quick getaway on the Kent coast.
Nantes
3rd - 4th November 2022
Van travelling again for November. Starting with a couple nights in Nantes
Bordeaux
5th - 9th November 2022
First major stop of the trip, meeting up with Emily and Fraser and staying in a city centre AirBNB.
Bordeaux
6th November 2022
French gastronomic delights with a food tour taking in the market and local food shops
Chateau de la Dauphine
7th November 2022
A wine tour of the Chateau de La Dauphine
San Sabastian
9th - 13th November 2022
Our first stop in Spain and the Basque city of Sant Sebastian. For some pintxos or 10 !!
Burgos
14th - 15th November 2022
Burgos next and the birth place of el Cid and the 2nd time we crossed El Camino on this trip
Haro
16th - 18th November 2022
The capital of Rioja and some serious wine tasting !!
Sant Jean-de-Luz
18th - 19th November 2022
Back into France as we start the journey home staying at a very wet Camping Larouletta
Tours
20th - 22nd November 2022
The first 5 hour drive and stop for a couple of days in the medieval city of Tours
Bruges
23rd - 26th November 2022
Our final stop and 6 hours drive from Tours sees us in our third country and a longer stop before we head for Calais a train back to the UK.
