Yesterday, we left our plot and tiny house for a vanlife event an hour and a half away. We didn’t expect to see so many people there, especially given the weather. The parking lot was a real ice rink after the heavy rains in the area, and I nearly hit several cars trying to park. I didn’t think I could lose control of my car so much.
Once parked and inside the event, we were impressed by the van outfitters. We had the chance to visit a few. Those that caught our eye the most were the large 4x4 offroad vans.
Some had incredibly clean and well-thought-out electrical installations, nothing like the setup in our van. Although it makes us autonomous, I wonder if it lacks a bit of safety. Nonetheless, it was inspiring.
Especially seeing an IVECO 35-8 from 1996 in the used section of the event. It was identical to ours but in much better condition and they were selling it for €20,000 whereas ours might go for about €4,000, I think. This motivated me to consider repairs on our van, especially for the rust initially.
I don't want to spend too much on it because right now our projects are mainly around our tiny house. But I still want to go on a road trip with it.
There was also this small 4x4 that caught our eye. Currently, we're thinking about buying a similar vehicle. Since we're planning to travel less, instead of having a large van and two cars, we're considering having just one vehicle, but a more versatile one.
With a vehicle of this size, we could go on adventures, but also use it every day.
Look at how well thought out the layout is.
We also discovered an incredibly surprising stand selling ecological straws made from rye stalks. Reusable and dishwasher safe, these straws are a fantastic alternative to less sustainable options like plastic and paper straws. The simple but ingenious idea really appealed to us. After talking a bit with the people running the stand, we decided to try and bought a pack of 25 straws for €4. Some might say that's expensive, but on closer inspection, it's a small human-scale company and everything is handmade. And then you have to consider the cost of the packaging, the label on the packaging, and the ink on the label. Not to mention all the charges we have in France.
After making our way around the event, we got back in the car for a 5-hour drive to my parents' place in Normandy. I have an important meeting on Monday for work where I have to give a training. It's new to me, so a bit stressful.
The drive was long and exhausting, especially with the continuous rain. Tired and hungry, we finally stopped at a Burger King 30 minutes from our final destination to grab a takeout burger. Although far from our usual diet, we hadn't eaten all day and after 7 hours in the car and a bit of walking at the vanlife event, it felt really good!
Once at my parents', who weren't there, we warmed up our burgers in the oven and finished the evening watching a French series about a murder in the Alps, which was perfect to unwind after such a long day.
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