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📍 Right now: Spain →1. quit job 2. build campervan 3. travel

About VandogTraveller

When I started this blog in 2013 I’d never even heard of ‘Vanlife’. All I wanted to do was get a van, make it into my self-contained home on wheels and just go...

Mike sitting in the open side door of the van with a mug of coffee, feet up on the step, a landscape stretching out behind him.
Why I left

This can't be it

I’d sit at my desk every day thinking ‘this can’t be it’. My mind was consumed with a crazy dream and was totally distracted with a life I thought might be out there...

Step one complete

Left my job

I knew that for anything to happen I’d have to quit my job and tell everyone my plans. This was the first step. Then I’d have no other choice but to work on my dream. I had some money (£10k) saved up from working on offshore gas platforms in the North sea.

On the 20th September 2013, I gave my notice. They asked many questions I didn’t yet know the answers to myself. I didn’t really know what I was doing, apart from following a feeling. I trusted the next step would keep appearing in front of me. 

Left my house

I put things outside onto the street (Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield) with notes saying ‘free’. The sofas, the bed, chairs, and tables. One woman came with a van and took most of it because her friend was leaving her husband and needed to set up a ‘secret house’. She was grateful. I gave away my shirts, trousers and shoes to the charity shop On Ecclesall Road, sold my car and packed a bag to go back to my parents house to work on the van.

step 2 complete

Converted an old van

I bought an old van (LDV Convoy) on eBay. I was totally overwhelmed. What do I work on first? The van was a mess. It got worse the more time I spent on it; more rust, more holes in floor, more oil leaks. It didn’t even run. It was an insurance write off. It even had forklift truck marks underneath where it had probably been shifted around a scrap yard. (see post: LDV Convoy – work done).

Like running through treacle. My thoughts and dreams were consumed with van conversions. I grew a beard and didn’t see friends for months. I had to do this.

February 2014: Progress made. The conversation was very close to completion. I put a few pictures around the Internet and on this site. Things went crazy. I got banned from my hosting because of the traffic. I couldn’t believe it. This gave me a new wave of motivation just when I needed it. Progress was slow and I was desperate to start my adventure, although it was clear it had already started.

I quickly learnt, I wasn’t the only one with this crazy van dream.

March 2014: a line is drawn. Van conversion complete! I documented the conversion here – my DIY van conversion

The van as bought — bare rusted metal shell, forklift damage visible down one side, no interior fitted.
The van before
The finished van interior — timber cladding, a small kitchen unit and a made-up bed.
The van after
step 3 complete

Drove south

March 8th 2014: I booked a last minute ferry ticket from Dover to Dunkirk and got my two friends (Ross and Matt) on-board for the first part of the journey. We drove South through France and Spain. I’m doing my dream! free and in control of what comes in and out of my life. My track and current location can be seen on the track and location page.

The van parked on a grey street in Sheffield the week before setting off, overcast sky, terraced houses behind.
Sheffield, United Kingdom
The van parked above a Mediterranean coastline, blue water below, sun out.
Greece, somewhere
Right now

Yep, the van's still going!

I never expected the van to be going this long. The main issue with these vans is corrosion. I’ve tried my best to keep on top of it over the years. One thing is for sure: the conversion will last longer than the actual van!

Following the threads

Things evolved

That crazy dream went way beyond my imagination.

I’ve discovered things about myself, life and existence I never anticipated. It’s not a path for everyone but these experiences have made my life. 

After literally thousands of messages I started to help others who wanted to do something similar. Through this website and my books and van conversion course. Whether it’s help with the electrical system, or just moral support.

Thank you!

Some of you have been here since the very beginning. And many of you I’ve met on the road. 

It’s been a crazy journey, and it continues. This is what life is to me. Thanks for being part it 🙂