camper van | My Food Odyssey

Mar 11

Harmony

It’s almost three years since we set off on our tour of Europe and I still love looking back through the photos. This was taken in Rioja, one of the most scenic places we passed through. This was one of the many occasions when we appreciated the fact that our camper van was dark green. We could park in stunning locations and blend into our surroundings. We were not a disturbance, but instead were in harmony with our environment. If we ever replace the van (and we hope to), we will get something very similar. Read more

Mar 22

22 Comments

The end of an era

Without any fanfare, she drove away from the house. The sky was grey and sleet was falling at an acute angle, spurred on by an intensely cold wind. I watched from the warmth of our conservatory as she rounded the corner and disappeared from view, Arūnas smiling and waving from the wheel. That’s it – she’s gone. Read more

Oct 24

Mountain water spring | www.myfoododyssey.com

7 Comments

Refraction

The well was dry beside the door,
And so we went with pail and can
Across the fields behind the house
To seek the brook if still it ran;

Not loath to have excuse to go,
Because the autumn eve was fair
(Though chill), because the fields were ours,
And by the brook our woods were there.

(From “Going for water” by Robert Frost)

Travelling round Europe in our camper van, much of our time was spent in search of clean drinking water. Sometimes our quest brought us to the most beautiful places – mountains, woods, fountains, streams. We found so much more than water. Read more

Apr 23

Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal | www.myfoododyssey.com

5 Comments

On Top

This is one of my favourite photos from our trip around Europe. Taken in Peneda-Gerês National Park in northern Portugal, it captures Arūnas taking a coffee break on top of a small stone shack. Close to the top of the mountain, the vistas surrounding us were superb. The photo completely captures the joy of camper van life – you can take your coffee break wherever you like! Read more

Aug 31

17 Comments

So, how was your trip?

Open roads, rugged mountains, wandering long-horned cows, winding river valleys, terraced vineyards, sparkling seas, ice lakes, snowy peaks, colourful markets, majestic cities – these are just some of the sights we encountered on our recent tour of Europe. Read more

Jul 24

13 Comments

A taste of things to come

After 76 days on the road we’ve decided to take a short break from our travels. Much as we’ve been enjoying ourselves, we have a few wrinkles we need to iron out to ensure we get the most from our experience. Read more

Apr 24

2 Comments

Our maiden voyage

A few weeks after we bought our new camper van we finally set off on our first “food odyssey”. I had been packing the van with essential kit over a number of days, including bedding, pots, tableware and some fruit and vegetables, so that we’d be ready to go at a moment’s notice. On Saturday morning we awoke to see a bizarre mist over the hill in front of the house and took this as a sign that the weather would be glorious, so we decided that today was the day. Read more

Apr 19

Charolais bull, Ireland | www.myfoododyssey.com

7 Comments

A load of bull

I’m a confirmed omnivore and think I always will be. I love my vegetables and am happy to eat plenty of meatless meals, but I also love meat. As meat eaters, I think it’s very important to know where our meat comes from, starting with the simple fact that meat comes from animals. (Apparently there is a growing number of people who either aren’t aware that meat comes from animals or simply choose to ignore this fact because the thought is unpleasant to them.) Read more

Mar 20

5 Comments

Our New Home

Finally we got the word that our awning and bike rack had been installed and our camper van was ready for collection. We drove away from the dealership like chattering children with a shiny new toy. We rushed home, grabbed some bedclothes and a toilet roll and took off on our first adventure. Read more