“The constantly changing views and the joy of parking up”
Hari and Oscar are two of our favorite nomads, who have opted to spend their life living their adrenaline filled dreams out of a van, currently residing in the French Alps, this is there story so far.
What van do you currently have?
“We currently live in a converted long wheel base transit. It used to be a skittles club mini bus, so she has lots of windows.”
Why did you choose this van?
“We didn’t want a work van, we wanted something with a strong chassis that hadn’t done millions of miles or been driven too far. We basically were looking for something reliable. When we bought the van she hadn’t done many miles at all, and the skittles boys had looked after her beautifully.”
How was your summer adventure?
“Our summer adventure was incredible, we lived in the French Alps and mountain biked a lot. We knew we wanted to head to Italy for the mountain bike world championship, so we decided to turn the trip into something a bit longer. Our van wasn’t totally converted at this point, all we had was our bed and a box full of camping gear. It was a great way of doing it, as we worked out what we would need in the van and where everything should go. When you’re inside, and cooking, and moving around, it’s easy to notice where things will get in the way, or where things would be really useful.
It was a great exercise and Italy was stunning. Van life can get pretty sweaty in the summer, so we always tried to park near lakes or rivers for early morning dips. Starting the day with a strong Italian coffee and bagel was the only way, then we would head out on our bikes and explore the local area.”
Would you do it again?
“Italy was amazing, and we didn’t get to see all of it, so yes I imagine one day we will end up back there. There’s so much to explore and so many new places to go, so other places are higher on our list for now.”
What’s the first thing you think of waking up in your van?
Hari says, “For me it’s normally the panic of needing the toilet, the downfall of van life is not having all of your amenities. Luckily at the moment we are in a barn next to a friend’s house. We have a key so we can go in and shower and just use the toilet whenever we want. The second thought is coffee, obviously!”
Oscar says, “It’s usually that is boiling in van, and I want to get a window open. It’s a good sign though, living in the French Alps in the winter where we can get down to -17 it’s good to know the insulation is working.”
What’s your best moment on the road?
“The constantly changing views, the joy of parking up in the dark and waking up to some of the most incredible views. We can have a new back garden everyday.”
Describe the best view you’ve ever seen from your windscreen?
“The drive to Italy was amazing. We drove from Morzine and instead of going through the Mont Blanc tunnel we drove up through Switzerland’s National Park, and finished in Val di Sole in Italy. The Swiss pass is an incredible stretch of road, it winds up and up and the views are breathtaking. But the drops on the sides are a bit gut wrenching, especially if it gets foggy. We saw our first ever glacier on that trip, right at the top of Switzerland. That’s was definitely a special moment.”
Talk us through your typical day in the van.
“A typical day is waking up, filling the water up and emptying the waste water. Having breakfast, cooking breakfast is a job we share and rotate. Then Oscar fills the car with our snowboarding gear, we head out onto the mountain and ride for a few hours and head home. Shower, clean the van, sort out rubbish, cook dinner, watch a film or series. Then reminisce about our days riding, and set ourselves new goals and fall asleep tired, happy and ready to do it all again tomorrow. Obviously we both work during the week so those days are a little less fun, but it’s still lovely to get home and chill. During the week we tend to head out for dinner with friends more.”
What’s the best thing about living in a van?
“For us at the moment living in a van works so well with our lifestyle. If we want to ride a different resort, it’s no issue. We pack up and we go, no questions asked.
Our summers are mountain biking and surfing, and our winters are snowboarding. Having a travelling home means we head to where the sports are best, and if we don’t like the spot, we move! We built our bed specifically to accommodate bikes and boards underneath. They never come out of the van, so we can head on our next adventure whenever we want. That is the best thing about having a home that’s as flexibility as our lifestyle.”
What’s the hardest about living in your van?
“Days when you’re ill, not having home comforts a can be tough. And keeping the place tidy. When you live in a tiny space you have to clever about storage and cleanliness. But they are all flaws that will never match up to the joy of van life.”
What’s the funniest story you have that happened in your van?
“We went to a party in the summer up the mountain, it was a great night and we were all a little worse for wear. When we woke up in the morning we heard someone snoring, I walked up to the front seats and saw a guy asleep there. He woke up really confused and asked who we were, we explained this was our van. He told us the van looked just liked his mates, and without apology legged it. We didn’t mind really, at least he didn’t have to sleep outside. We started locking our doors though.”
What’s your favorite song to drive to?
“Our journeys are usually days long, so we have lots of playlists. Luckily our musical tastes are pretty similar. Comedy audios and podcasts are great as well, especially if you’re driving through the night, it keeps you more engaged and focused.”
