Lexi my camper van changed my whole life…

Guest post by Sue Maule

Life is all about choices and the knowledge that we have the freedom to make new choices every single day.

Five years ago I woke up in my home town of Knysna, South Africa, and made a choice that has immeasurably changed my life. That is how I ended up working in London as a carer ….

It didn’t take me long to buy my first car from a Facebook group , a little silver Nissan Micra which I bought unseen from someone who knew someone I knew … in fact it has just been sold in exactly the same way to someone who knows someone who I know, and so that circle is complete.

Life was fun most of the time even though I used to refer to working as a live-in carer as a sort of “minimum security prison”.

I travelled where possible and was happy to work close to my son, but soon my insatiably curious sense of adventure had me travelling Europe in a campervan with a guy who I had met online. I knew that I would either love or hate van life and had nothing to lose by giving it my best shot.

I first met Lexi, my Ford Transit van, in a beach parking in Spain. Her owners were selling up when they returned to Tasmania, via London, a couple of months after that. We exchanged numbers and the seed was planted.

As it happened, I was still travelling when I eventually bought her and my son parked her in Streatham Hill ready for my return. My London job had come to an end, I had an offer of a job up in Scotland and with the thought “I have never been that far north” I set off.

Thanks to another Facebook group “Camper van self-build for beginners who need help” I met my van man Darryl and with his help, completely stripped Lexi and started again, installing water tanks, leisure battery, fridge, lighting, bed, toilet, solar panel, heater and of course a beautiful wooden kitchen counter-top complete with mosaic splashback.

It was freezing working in the snow but I had summer in mind!! Soon enough I was ready to set off and travelled Scotland with two old school friends.

The look on my local mechanic’s face was priceless when I took her in for a service and told them “I am driving to Spain tomorrow” and then did just that. I think I drove about three thousand miles that trip.

Lexi makes my heart sing. Any off day or even few hours of freedom, I set off in search of a beautiful view, walk, mountain pass, favourite music blaring, books, art materials, kettle and a blanket all on board and simply head out.

I am always planning my next trip. And if the isolation of my job gets too much, I get behind the wheel and go exploring and all is right with the world again.

I didn’t over think the van thing. I bought her, jumped in her and headed north. I have slept in motor way services, on remote beautiful mountain passes, in the middle of London.

I have spent more money on her than I care to admit, reconditioned engine and all, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I love the feeling of freedom and I love being able to see over the hedges!

I have memories to last me a lifetime and I am continually making more.