Sunshine and rain clouds.

 Today has been eventful, the weather was forecast to be less than brilliant so I considered that a good day to cover some miles. Whilst many miles were covered, I managed to get far more damp (it rains in Spain, who'd of thought it?!) than I planned, climbed a mountain to be greeted with a view of fog and not a lot else, got the Mini very stuck and required a tow, oh… And I knocked my exhaust off. Anyway, more on today, later!

Just chillin'

Last post I made on here was 4? (I think?) days ago whilst on the ferry from Portsmouth into Santander. Once in Santander I made the mad dash out of the port town to anywhere new. It’s a strange feeling, for me atleast, getting off a ferry in a new country… I was excited mostly, but yet there was an element of nervousness (Is that a word?) Not necessarily over anything major, but its more anticipation… Everyone fears the unknown, and after a while when travelling that fear mellows into intrigue and anticipation, however, that can take a few days!

Packed in like Sardines, all rearing to go!

Out of Santander, I drove the 60 odd miles to ‘Camping de Cabuernigas’, in a town called Sopena, just east of the Picos De Europas. After doing the obligatory drive past whilst trying to not look lost, I turned around and found the site. Definitely one I’d recommend, and whilst I wasn’t there long, I wouldn’t hesitate to revisit if I should be in the area again. Smart, friendly and quiet, with most importantly some lovely scenery surrounding. I cooked up some chow, and got some well needed rest after not sleeping all too good on the ferry the night before.

 Not a bad setting for the first night.

The next morning we were up and away fairly early, had a shower, struck camp and headed off. The night before, whilst I was only slightly geographically disorientated, I noticed a very cool looking road on the sat-nav. By ‘cool’ I mean a road that climbed quite rapidly, with plenty of twists and turns, I followed two bikers up it, one on a big BMW and another on a Ducati Multistrada… I drooled a little as the big twin throbbed off into the distance. They soon left as they carved up the road ahead and I settled into a more gentile pace… It was only the second day, I didn’t want to overstress the car too much! Or me for that matter….

 Have missed waking up to a different view each morning.

As the road crested I spotted a gravel track that disappeared off into the distance, I drove past and turned around and headed on down it, it twisted and turned and climbed higher and higher, getting pretty gnarly in places. I loved it. Tim sliding about on the gravel just enough to keep things exciting whilst I kept speeds sensible enough so that we didn’t go toppling over the edge! 

Hmmm, wheres that lead?

Let's find out...

 Heck of a view at the top!

 Grubby Mini!

Wasn't until afterwards i realized we'd effectively crossed part of the Picos de Europas, off road!

After a few hours and taking plenty of photos the off road section for the day came to an end. Due to us playing about in the dirt we hopped onto the autovia to make up for some lost time, headed west towards Luarca.Arrived at a very pretty little site a few hours later, right on the cliffs of Saint Martin, near Luarca, Camping de Tauran I think. If you’re in the area, go, you won’t be disappointed. Simple set up with all you need, but you can camp literally on the cliffs. Awesome place.

 Our wee pitch.

And the sunset view behind the hedge.

Ended up spending two nights there, with yesterday spent chilling in the sun (this is a holiday as well!), I walked into the town of Luarca which was very pretty. Spanish fishing village, with the whole town laid out in a horseshoe built around the cove. Very cool. There was some kind of festival going on in the town that I didn’t really understand. Music and atmosphere was most definitely bi-lingual though! Later found out from a Spanish couple travelling from Barcelona that it was to do with the towns government or something. Yeah I don’t think they really got it either! Later on I walked down into another almost deserted cove, the path/track headed down was very steep and pretty tough, so I was surprised to see the Nissan parked at the bottom! Credit where its due!

 Playa de Tuaran.

 These were steeep! Down into Luarca.

Hundreds of people in the square. Music playing, great atmosphere!

 The harbour.

 Selfie-sticks are taking over!

I have no idea how this place was still standing.

And that brings us up to today! Weather was due to be pants, and it’s a Saturday, (which I was blissfully unaware of until I looked at my phone this morning. Wonderfully easy to lose track of time!) so the roads would be quieter. Headed west on the Autovia for a few hours just to munch up some miles. Stopped for fuel and then went in search for some more interesting sites. Just outside Tordoia it started to rain, properly rain. So much so that at one point I pulled over to let it ease off, Tim was doing fine, it was me that was struggling.

Set wipers to warp speed...

Rain eased up, and a few miles later I pulled off into a side gravel track to make some lunch. Pulled down the track no problem, went to turn around in a clearing, reversed up near to a bank and BANG! The bank was not a bank, it was a ditch about 3 feet deep, and Tim’s rear wheels had just fallen down it. Bugger. He was beached up to his rear subframe and his front wheels just couldn’t quite muster the traction needed to pull himself out. Then it started to rain. Double bugger. Sand ladders came off the roof to not much help, I jacked the front up and placed them under his wheels and he still couldn’t get out.  Wheels started to spin and not wanting to make a poor situation worse, I grabbed the tow rope out the back and walked back to the main road.

20 minutes later and I managed to flag down a Spanish Lexus and persuaded him (in broken Spanglish) to give me a tug. I almost felt sorry for the guy, his new shiney Lexus being brought down this rough gravel track because of my idiocy and lapse in concentration. Tow rope was hooked up and the big Lexus pulled us out as if we weren’t even there! Phew. Note to self, pay more attention when reversing when off road!

 Bugger.

 Failed attempts. Double bugger.

 Mucho Gracias Senor Lexus!

Aaand we're out! Phew!

With the roof loaded back up and me now considerably soggy we continued west until we hit the town of Carnota and then Ezaro. Had travelled here to see the famed Cascada de Ezaro, one of the few waterfalls in the world that empty’s themselves into the sea, I was pretty excited! We took the track up to the Mirador, for anyone visiting, be warned, the road up to the top features a 34% gradient! So don’t stop until you reach the top.

 Ezaro itself looked pretty.

Now I’m sure the view from the top is amazing on a clear day, however, today was far from clear. 20 feet visibility was being generous. Bit of a disappointment but alas, its somewhere to come back to next time!

Less than impressed!

After that, a quick search for a campsite brought up a few in the area, planning on heading into Santiago de Compostella tomorrow so en route I have stopped at a convent site in Muros. Nice place, a little busy but no complaints, plus i'm stealing there wi-fi, bonus! Tims exhaust had taken a few knocks during todays exploits, so that was something to keep me busy when we arrived. All sorted now!

So yeah, that’s pretty much it, sorry for the lengthy post, but thought I’d fill you in on anything vaguely interesting. Enjoy the photos, mixture of iPhone shots and SLR goodness.

For more frequent (smaller) updates, follow us on facebook at ‘Small Car Big Adventure’ or me on Twitter ‘@theleatherneck’. Heck, do both!

Peace and love, Joe.

From Portsmouth with love...

To begin, begin. - William Wordsworth

Always loved that line, why? I'm not so sure, the simplicity of it and straight to the pointness (is that a word?) has always hit home hard with me. Being only 3 words makes it more powerful than most, plus it means i can remember it without writing it down umpteen times.

So, we have begun! More specifically we are now on the ferry, left Portsmouth about 15 hours ago now, and are sailing on Britanny ferries finest Pont Aven! Within another 8 hours, and with any luck, we should be docking in Santander, exciting stuffs! Tim's a few decks below me, i tried booking him a cabin but the ferry company wasn't having any of it... Boooo.

I don't think he gets sea sick...?

The run from home to Portsmouth was far from exciting, 100 miles combining the M25 with the A3 got me there from Longfield in 2 hours. Really looking forward to leaving the motorways behind. However, whilst the journey to the port was far from eventful, the last week or so has been rather busy!

The first (of many!) fuel stops for Tim in his home station of Longfield!

Me being the typically well prepared person that i am (I'm not!) most things of any importance were left to the last minute. Last night and this morning i was wiring up roof lights, changing spark plugs, fitting auxiliary power sockets, wrestling the coolbox into position between my seat and the roll cage... Plus not to mention that i didn't start packing until about midday today... So i'm pretty sure i've got everything i need, however i'm bound to of forgotten something... But then again adapting to situations is part of the fun... Right?

Let there be light!

I'm currently typing this out in one of the ships many bars/restaurants... Bugger, laptop batterys knackered. Double bugger. Theres a power point but its an EU socket, guess what i forgot?

Anyway, people keep asking me where i'm going once i get into Santander... 'Whats your intinerary?' 'Where are you staying?' 'How long are you away for?'

Truth is i don't really have an answer to any of them questions, an itinerary is such a strange concept to me that i had to look up what it meant in the dictionary! I know i'll be camping nearly all the time, maybe with the occasional hotel if i really fancy spoiling myself, or it rains a lot. Im basically away for as long as i can afford, so depending on how lavish i fancy being, will massively dictate on how long i can keep plodding around Spain and wherever else Tim decides on taking us!

What i do know though, is that Tim is running well, I have money, I have petrol and I have beer. What more do you need??! Once in Santander i plan on heading west, travelling over the Picos de Europas, doing some climbing, venturing off the beaten track and heading all the way over to Santiago de Compostella, it's just somewhere i've always wanted to visit. After that i'll head south, down into Portgual and that is as far as my lame excuse for a plan has got! I'm open to suggestions!

I'm just so happy to be away and on the way to somewhere new, to be bouncing over the continent in my Mini that i love most, to be meeting new people and to be seeing new sights... I was even smiling on the way down to Portsmouth!

Tadaa for now England!

Travel as much and far as you can and for as long as you can get away with, for life is not meant to be lived in one place! - Someone thats better with words than me!

Jheesh, i dont know whats going on with the quotes today,.. I'm going to go back to people watching, and see if i can get some travel adaptors from somewhere on board... Grrrr. Mmmm, and breakfast....

Peace, Joe.

P,s. Saw some whales this morning, that was cool.

We are back! And have a ferry to catch...

We are back! And when i say 'we', I of course mean me and Tim. First of all, massive apologies for the massive amount of neglect this blog has received, its been a busy crazy year with far too much happening to list and bore you with on here... Secondly, an even more massive thank you to everyone thats been viewing this blog, at the time of writing this its had well over seven thousand, (SEVEN THOUSAND!!) views, which considering that i've neglected this for almost a year is pretty incredible, so thanks to everyone that's logged on, sorry for the lack of posts, but i hope you enjoyed what you read!

Cheesy grin from all the views!

So, whats new? Stuff about me is pretty uninteresting, so lets talk about the Mini that you've all ended up on this page for! Tim has been running very well for around 6 months now, and i have had faith in him restored... Unfortunately it wasn't an easy road to get to this point. Issues with fuelling, mapping, cooling, interior, suspension and ultimately funding to sort out these issues meant that at points Tim sat motionless whilst i gathered the funds, parts and sometimes motivation to get him finished. The end result was more than worth it though, he now drives fantastically, and is more or less ready for anything.... I love my Timster.

My 'office' had a bit of a freshen up!

With this year being a busy one, up until very recently we haven't been on any, or been able to plan any adventures worthy of much mention. We have been attending and have been lucky to be on display at a few shows though, Brooklands mini day, Bromley Pageant, Brands Mini fest, Ash village day, Cambridge Mini chill... Among a few others! If your reading this as a result of seeing us at any of the shows, then Wahoooo, having Tim covered in stickers worked!

 Brooklands mini day, in the rain.... Booo!

On display at Bromley pageant in the sunshine!

So yeah, about that ferry... A few weeks ago I came in from work and my feet were seriously itching (as in a need to travel, not a funky rash....)... So an hour or so later, and rather impulsively, i'd spent far too much money and booked me and Tim on a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander... Stoked.
I'd always fancied touring Spain, and it just sorta happened... Currently, i have very little plan on what im going to do once over there, which is rather worrying since i leave in 2 weeks today!

Yup, i really did pay it!

Ferry gets me into Santander, and plan is to head west first, then south down into Portugal, all the way down to the Algarve, stop off in Gibraltar, head east towards Sierra Nevada, the Tabernas desert and of course drive up the Veleta. Thats as much of a plan as i've got, yup, it really is that vague!
I keep toying with the idea of getting a ferry from Barcelona to Sardinia and then island hopping over to Corsica and then either getting the ferry from Corsica back to France or Sardina to Naples, Italy... I really like that latter idea, but really it comes down to whether i can afford the extra ferry fees, and the costs of being away longer with more mileage!

Weather like this in July really makes you yearn for foreign lands.

I have a few must sees in Spain, which i'll explain in later posts, and the rough idea is to avoid motorways almost completely, spend a fair amount of time off tarmac completely, see these sights, go skydiving, climbing, swimming, diving, meet people, get lost and just enjoy travelling for travels sake. For we have no real destination, the adventure is in the journey.

I'll post more news as it happens, i've just had the alarming thought that i'm not overly sure where i've left my passport, and Tim may need an MOT... Hmmm, we have more to do than i thought!

Peace, and thanks for reading, Joe.

P.s. Feel free to comment on here, send us an e-mail if you like, and if you havent already, give us a like on facebook 'Small Car Big Adventure'!

Baltic Circle Trip - Winter 2015

One 21 year old Classic Mini...
14 Different countries...
Temperatures as low as -30 degrees...
5'500 miles...
And all in less than a month.
What could go wrong...?

Those of you that know me will know i've wanted to go too the Nordkapp for the last few years, this time last year i was even planning a trip to head there in the then new year... Unfortunately, as is often the way, life got in the way and it didn't happen. However this year, there is no excuses, i've decided that its something that i need too get out of my system, and as me and Tim have failed to go anywhere exciting for over a year now, it needs too be done!

The info at the beginning of this is pretty much all the plan i have at the moment, although i have spent most of this evening putting a very rough route together on Google Maps, which has led too me getting rather excited and also a wee scared in some ways! Originally the plan was to head up through Holland, Germany, Denmark, into Sweden and keep heading north until i hit Norway, head north some more until i literally run out of road, with any luck i'd be at the Nordkapp! Then head back down, probably following the west coast of Norway a bit more on the way back... Then i had an idea, i'm not a fan of doubling back on myself on a trip until i hit Dover, so the 'Baltic Circle' idea was born... Tadaaaa!

This very rough route put together via google maps tells me that it comprises of around 5'300 miles. Accounting for me getting lost quite a bit i've rounded that up too 5'500, it'll probably end up more than that since for this trip i will be 'solo' and doing my own navigating as well as everything else! (Co-drivers please apply via the e-mail address on the 'Contact' page!) 

Mini wise everything is fairly okay, there's quite a bit to do but then there always is, he's running well though, new engine has done around 2'000 miles now and hasn't gone bang so that's a definite good sign! More info on Tim prep as it happens and in another post.... This one was supposed too be a short one!

Weather is going too be an issue i think, i'm not too sure on just how bad it's going too be inside the Arctic Circle around February. Everyone i speak too tells me something different, so i've just came up with the 'Bugger it!' attitude and decided i'll find out for myself...! The cold i'm not too worried about, its more how quickly i'll get bored of digging Tim out of several feet of snow every morning!

So yeah, that's about all there is to say at the moment... Typing this now has made me realise just how much planning i've still got to do, but at this moment its all just about manageable! Just....! Plus planning and organizing stuffs was never my strong point...! At the moment i'm concentrating on getting the car prepped. and probably more importantly, getting myself fit and sorted... I've even joined a gym! (I know, i'm as surprised as you are!)

More updates as they happen folks, and thanks for reading!

Peace and love,

Joe,

Adventure Overland Show 2014

So the weekend of the 27th of September was penciled in my diary as the adventure overland show.... Well if i had a diary it would of been! This a brilliant event that i've attended for the last few years now that takes place at Stratford racecourse, just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. True one of a kind show, that combines overland travel of all nature, whether your on a pushbike, motorbike, in a car, Land Rover or in some 10 ton expedition truck, everyone is welcome!

Our little set-up!

Me and Tim drove up on the Friday night, and after negotiating Londons biggest car park (the M25), we arrived in a little over 3 hours. Tim ran almost faultlessly all the way there and back again, i say almost because i think his alternator has finally given up. I cant blame it really, it has had a lot of use, abuse and misuse! Luckily my trusty Bosch battery out of a Peugeot diesel kept us going and the beers cold (priorities!) in the coolbox throughout the weekend!

Admittedly i didn't cook for the whole weekend,

can you blame me when there cooking pizza this

good in the back of a Land Rover?!!

Main show days were on Saturday and Sunday, me and Tim set up just opposite the main events office. This meant that he got loads of attention/admiring glances/people taking photos/and little kids climbing over him.... The unfortunate part was that people had to listen too me rabble on about minis and travel and why you don't need a £50k Land Rover to go overland! If anyone is reading this that i met over the weekend then wahooo, the stickers worked! Seriously though, it was great too meet everyone, and i hope you had as good a weekend as i did!

Thanks to Tom McGuigan for organizing yet another great show, for yet another great pitch and for the great curry/beerfest on Sunday night! To Chris and Cate from 'Ride any Road' for a hilarious and varied Saturday night, shblaaaddd! To Graham Fields for forcing Jagermeister and Sambuca down my throat. To the G4 Challenge owners club for the hospitality and allowing me to camp next too them. And to anyone else that i may of spoken too over the course of the weekend! And of course a big thanks to my sponsors, that weekend means the car has now done a thousand miles on its new engine, without the help of you guys Tim probably still wouldn't of turned a wheel!

Anyway, enough typing, my fingers are tired... Pictures!

Hot air balloons were cool, although seeming

massively uncontrollable!

 Will always have a soft spot for anything Land Rover

and orange, G4 Challenge vehicles are awesome.

Proper Toyota trucks are cool, plus i loved the pop

top roof. Far too practical for me though!

More Landy love!

Stickers! Shout out and thanks to 'We the terrors'

'Campervan Culture', 'Minispares', 'Ash Tyres', 'Opie Oils',

and most imporantly of the rear window, Bruce the shark.

'Frank' the turtle, Tims long term mascot... Just chillin' in the back window.

Another update soon, with next trip details.
Peace, Joe.

On the road again....

Okay, so once again, apologies for the massive length of time between the last update and this one, its been a very busy few months. Once again, work and life has got in the way of travel, which has left me with very itchy feet, and due to Timmy popping his engine not long before we were sort of half-planning to go away, very empty pockets!

The last few months have been spent mainly working on Tim, giving him a thorough refresh and a brand new engine has been built and installed. I'll leave out the boring details but he now has around double the power and double the torques. As well as new shiney suspension and much more ground clearance, plus much much more. He's now covered nearly a thousand miles since being 'recommissioned' and is running better than ever!

Me and Tim will be at the Adventure Overland show this weekend, at Stratford race course. Will hopefully be leaving work early tomorrow and will be there early evening! Looking forward to the weekend and will be there until Monday, last year was a blast! If your there and see us feel free to come and say hello, always happy to chat and answer any questions you might have...!

Until then, heres some pics of Timster pretty much as he is now!

Peace, Joe.

It's been a while....

Okay, so it's been over 7 months since i last posted on here, really didn't mean for it too be that long. But combining taking Timmy off the road for the winter, and also starting a new job in November, really haven't had the time for gallivanting off around the world in my trusty old Mini! As much as i would of liked to it just really wasn't the right time! So since last October a lot has changed, and not all of it has been good, but change is what it is, and sometimes you can't always change it... Besides, if things are meant too be then they will be, there is no point rushing them trying to make them happen!

Sooo, around a month ago, i pulled Tim out of hibernation, after leaving his battery on charge for a few hours, he started first turn of the key.... Of course he did, i never doubted him for a second, well not much anyway. I insured him for the year (Ouch!) with extended Euro travel cover and have been using him occasionally for the last couple of weeks. I'd forgotten just how ridiculous he was to drive, in a fantastic kind of way! Steering wheel position is more akin to driving a bus than a car, pedals are in the middle of the car, the noise is ridiculous, and just driving down the road results in being shaken all over the place. But it's great, and for travelling, i still don't know what i'd replace him with!

A wee bit of work has commenced, mainly repairing/fixing things that broke/wore out last time we were away, oh and i've moved the steering position into a much more sensible position. Although getting in and out of the car has been made a wee more difficult...! Basically all the suspension has been renewed now as well, i won't go into details, as its pretty boring stuff too be honest! Far more expeditiony/overlandy/adventurey type preparation is happening soon, including a new custom roof and rear rack, loads of lighting changes, and i might even finally get around to fitting my split charge system!

As for where we are going next, its all still in limbo at the moment.... I really fancy the idea of Morocco, of course going over land, so Dover to Calais, down through France, through Spain then across the Gibraltar Strait into Morocco. Massive appeal is that we'd officially be out of Europe. Other option is to head North, through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark and into Sweden, keep heading North until i run out of road. Then maybe visit Finland and Russia on the way back down.... As you may of guessed i don't really have anything that even vaguely resembles a plan.... Hopefully by the next post i'll have much more of an idea, especially considering i've booked 4 weeks off in the summer! Oh and sadly i've lost my co-driver Hannah (not actually lost), so my next trip will be just the pair of us, me and Tim. At least i wont have too put up with all the bags of shoes....

That's all for now, apologies for the mostly pointless post of ramblings, but i mainly wanted you to know that this site is not dead, and i will be updating it in much more of a regular fashion from now onwards.... Honest!

Peace and love,
Joe.