And an overflowing pee bucket
They say numbers never lie - but they don’t tell the whole story, either.
That’s why, to celebrate my six-month milestone of living the van life, I’ve decided to combine the facts and figures with the quirks and highlights that make this lifestyle so unique.
From countries explored to kilometres driven, clangers that tested my patience, and unique moments that made it all worthwhile, these stats paint a picture of what life on the road is really like.
Van life isn’t just about where you go, it's about how you grow (cheesy I know, but it's true). Every breakdown, detour, and unexpected joy add to this overall experience. So, buckle up (sorry!) as I share a quick round-up of my first half-year of full-time van life.
Countries Visited
Three countries explored: Germany, Italy (Sardinia), and Spain
In the essence of slow travel, I've spent more time in fewer countries - going at a steady pace, discovering hidden gems and allowing enough downtime to enjoy new surroundings and locations. Each country brought its own experiences. Germany, though, was the big surprise - vastly underrated with so many incredible places that barely make the travel blogs. More on my highlights later...
For an interactive view of my travel map, including all the destinations visited, photos and tales from the road, take a look here 👇
Georgina
Kilometres/Miles Driven
7,882 kilometres covered (that's 4,897 miles for us Brits!) - roughly the equivalent of driving from London to Beijing!
Alma's clocked up some kilometres on her odometer! From perfectly smooth autobahns to exhilarating Sardinian mountain roads, I’ve seen it all, with enough potholes to test the suspension and my patience.
Six Months, Six Clangers
Let’s face it - van life isn’t always sunsets and scenic drives. Sometimes, it’s scooping pee out of a bucket...
1) Killing my starter battery: I parked way too long at a campsite in La Herradura, blissfully unaware that my battery had decided to call it quits. After failing every resurrection attempt, I had to order a replacement and learn how to install it without electrocuting myself. A proud moment, but a lesson learned: I can't let the van sit for weeks on end.
2) The pee bucket saga: Day 2 of van life, and the composting toilet betrayed me. The pee bucket overflowed way faster than I expected. Since the loo is fixed to a roller, the only way to empty it was by scooping it out of the base with a tumbler, much to the amusement of the people in the service station car park. A great start to van life.
3) Trusting Google Maps on Sardinian roads: Never again. It sent me down roads that were more goat trails than streets, with the kind of rough terrain that makes you pray to all the travel gods for survival.
4) The laundrette disaster: I'd just started a full 15kg load of washing, only to find out that the only dryer in the laundrette wasn’t working. And I was on a motorway. Cue me frantically searching for the nearest launderette (obviously miles away!) to rescue my soggy clothes. Not a vibe.
5) Surviving 40°C+ in Berlin: City heatwaves and vans don’t mix. Enough said.
6) Waking up to a flooded park-up in Spain: I awoke on my second night in Spain surrounded by a pool of water. Overnight downpours made the whole area soggy chaos and the town's ramblas was pouring more water in. It was pretty frightening and a quick lesson in “always check the weather.”
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Six Months, Six Highlights
Because for every pee bucket disaster, there’s a magical moment that makes it all worthwhile...
1) The beach at Torre di Mare, Sardinia: After an epic 2-day adventure spanning 1,200 km of driving from Germany, over the Swiss Alps, into Italy, a quick day trip to Pisa and an overnight ferry journey to Sardinia, I finally rolled up, completely exhausted, to a beach paradise. My nervous system was instantly soothed by what greeted me: golden sands, turquoise waters and peace.
I only planned to stay here 2 days - I ended up staying 9 as couldn't tear myself away from this beach haven.
Read more about my Sardinian adventure, and how to plan your own, with my 2-week itinerary guide 👇
Georgina
2) Hiking the Caminito del Rey: Let me be clear - I'm not a fan of heights. At all. So why did I decide to hike a wooden path clinging to the side of a cliff hundreds of meters above the ground? I’m still figuring that out. But the views were jaw-dropping (when I was brave enough to look), and the sense of accomplishment afterwards was unmatched!
Don't look down 😨
3) Rothenburg ob der Tauber: I’d heard it was stunning, but wow. Walking the medieval walls on a sunny September day felt like stepping back in time. It’s hands down one of my favourite experiences so far.
Read more about this gorgeous town, with tips around planning your own visit👇
Georgina
4) Wintering on the Costa Tropical, Spain: Blue skies and sunny days- what more could you want? I recharged my batteries (both literal and metaphorical!) while exploring the neighbouring villages, Nerja and Frigiliana, with their beautiful white-washed buildings.
Sunny days, sunny faces 🌞
5) Sunset in the Tabernas Desert, Spain: A quiet desert park-up, fiery skies, and total serenity- this was the kind of sunset that makes you stop and think: "This is why I chose van life".
6) Freedom, every day: The best part of van life? Absolute freedom. The ability to change your plans on a whim, chase the sun, follow your instincts, and stumble across hidden gems you never knew existed. It’s the kind of freedom where every road becomes an invitation and every destination feels like your choice, not a compromise.
What has been unexpectedly challenging?
Weirdly, homesickness has hit me - and it was the last thing I expected. I’ve always been the type to wander without a backward glance, never pining for home or counting down the days until my return. But as I approached this six-month milestone, the pangs have crept in.
It's not really about missing "home" itself, but more about longing for the comforts of familiarity. I miss friends, family, and those effortless social interactions where you don’t have to explain your humour or worry if they got the pun. I miss good old English banter of sarcasm and wit, and a pint of real ale at a pub.
Then there's the practical things: having an oven, prices in pounds, and distances in miles. Not having to translate menus, people, and items in supermarkets. These differences are part of what I love about travel (it’s all part of the adventure!), but sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and enjoy the comforts of home.
And I’m genuinely looking forward to being back in the UK and seeing what van life has to offer on home turf. Exploring new locations, seeing family and reconnecting with the people I’ve missed, the next chapter of this journey will bring a whole new flavour to van life. And yes, I’ll finally get my hands on a proper pint.
I've learnt a lot about myself, my resilience, what energises me and what burns me out. Has it been hard? Very much so! Am I glad I did it? Absolutely yes!
Here’s to the next chapter! 🚐✨
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