Blablacar review | At Plymouth Docks | Living in a Hiace Camper Van

Hi all, I am having a beer, and watching Pale Rider, parked near Plymouth Docks, in good time for my ferry tomorrow. I wanted to share with you a great find, and a great way to cover the cost of fuel on a trip.

I just found out about Blablacar recently while in Bristol, and I wish I'd found out about it before I hit the road back in June. Basically it's a car sharing website and iPhone app on which you can post your planned journeys and it links you up with paying passengers who want a lift.

Toyota Hiace Super Custom 4WD - 2" suspension lift mod / wheel arch mod | Blood Red Off Road

As part of the van preparations for my Euro adventure, it was time to do the long dreamt of suspension lift to the van, and to fit bigger, more aggressive off road wheels and tyres - this would greatly increase the off-road capability of the truck, and mean I can get almost anywhere without getting stuck, and enjoy more inaccessible tracks and terrain with greater ground clearance under the axles and gearbox.

I headed down to see Dave at bloodredoffroad.com in Brighouse North Yorkshire to get the job done. From a previous visit, we had realised that the rear shackle bushings would need to be replaced, so had ordered up a replacement set in advance. (As the vehicle was twenty years old, the original bushings and pins could not be removed as they were seized together.) Don't begin this mod unless you have already got a replacement set on standby.

Spain & Portugal Trip, Winter 2013/14 Euro Travel Checklist

Today I've been thinking about and working on my checklist for my upcoming trip. There are not that many things to prepare in advance when you already live in a vehicle, so that really takes the hassle out of getting ready to go away, but as it is another European country, there are a few things to take into consideration.

Here's my checklist I've been putting together and looking into today:

• Change phone to PAGo


• Satnav


• Euro travel kit & extra triangle


• check breakdown cover details


• Medical card


• check passport and driving license


• UK supplies to take

The next leg of the journey, winter plans - The Adventure Continues - Living in a Hiace Camper Van

Hi all, I hope you're well out there wherever you are. I'm doing well - I've been staying with friends in north Yorkshire in the dales, going for walks, days out, and getting my van ready for the next stage of my trip. Its taken a while to get everything sorted out, but next week I'll be beginning my journey south, via the peak district and Bristol, and making a few more visits on the way, until I reach Plymouth docks on 19th October..

Growers Ark Wild Salad foraging in the Scottish Highlands - Living in a Hiace Camper Van

Over the past while I've had the good fortune to become friends with Andy Cox and his partner Jessie, who together run an organic permaculture project called 'Growers Ark' located in the Scottish Highlands. I've been staying with them recently, helping out on the land, and with the admin side of things. It was an amazing time staying there in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings, living simply form the land.

Andy describes some of the herbs growing wild nearby..

Journey South

So I've begun my journey south. Yesterday, after being stranded on Scoraig for two days due to the wind and waves, I managed to get back across the loch to my van in the post boat.

It was a very rough crossing and I chose the worst (or best, depending on how you look at it) corner of the boat to sit in. Big waves splashing over the side and a big swell made it a thrilling trip over, thankfully wearing wet gear saved the day.