For a few years now, I've wanted to travel around the world. Work has taken me to around 50+ countries already over a number of years, so it would be nice to add to that number as my working life is now coming to a close. This blog is about those travels in my Land Rover Defender 110.
My original plan was to do this as a motorbike based trip. I've bought several models and types over the years, then rode around Europe and North Africa on multiple trips. During those trips, I also learnt about repairs and what works and doesn't work. This led me to change from riding purely road bikes to riding bikes that were capable of travelling on more varied terrain.
In the UK, green laning is a pretty big past time. I travelled using motorbikes that are small, light and usually have knobbly tyres. Green lanes are old roads that have no sealed surface on them. Often, they have crushed stone or grass as a surface. They also travel to the places that have been forgotten by modern road builders. Passing through small villages, high mountains, past tiny churches, crossing rivers using stone fords. They vary so much and they always provide an immense amount of entertainment and interest as you travel.
In a very busy and over populated UK, these roads are now small in number, whereas across the rest of the world, they are often the normal road type. Tarmac roads are a sign of a wealthy country and these days, a lot of them have become heavily policed with cameras, tolls and and ever increasing volume of vehicles. That doesn't really fit in with my plans that well. I like to visit the places less populated, less developed, less travelled and generally just less of mankind's influence I guess.
The Land Rover Defender concept crept into my thinking over time. I've driven several 4x4 models over the years. Toyota pick ups across Omani deserts, Mahindra in the Himalayas, various Russian unnamed home made projects in various countries and even a few 4x4 vans/lorries. I fell in love with the idea of a Mercedes G Wagon van, but I couldn't afford one in the UK and they are very hard to find. So, when my work changed to a more localised type of work, (Drystone walling in Cumbria), I found a Defender 110 van with 140k miles on it, that had been an estate vehicle in Scotland since its original registration.
That Landy has since done around 120k+ miles since I bought it and is a bit like 'Triggers Broom'. (i.e. its a great broom, only 7 handles and 6 heads replaced, but it still my broom!). The 110 went for it's first MOT after I bought it in the summer of 2017. The poor tester started checking the chassis with a hammer and got from the rear end to the gearbox, when he failed it outright! He called me to say it needed a new chassis and there was no point looking at anything else until that was sorted. Since then, it's had most of it replaced except for body panels and the engine!
I've gone backwards and forwards over the decision about what to travel in/on for months now. A recent trip to Sardinia, Sicily and Tunisia in the Landy reminded me about the ease of travelling on four wheels compared to two.
Motorbikes require a lot of attention whilst riding. It's easy to get caught out. There is no weather protection, little carrying capacity and you go through tyres quickly on rough terrain. The sense of freedom however is much greater. Being outside in the elements brings you closer to that sense of freedom. Whilst on a bike, you're aware of the changes in road surface, the conditions and temperature. Smells come to you from everywhere, you can feel the wind on your body. Any movement around you is detected quickly. You're much more involved with your senses. You can also hide more easily in the mountains and remote places as your footprint is much smaller.
Being in any metal box removes a lot of that feeling and de-sensitises the driver to what happening around them. You trade comfort and the ability to carry more stuff for the loss of that sense of freedom. You also lose capability in where you can get to. 4x4 are heavier, they have greater limitations in terms of terrain they can travel through and how they get there. When they go wrong, they are more complicated to fix. But, they do go further in terms of fuel range and because you can carry more food/water, you can be self sufficient for longer periods.
As with everything in life, there is a trade off. My preference would always be to travel on two wheels. But after playing in the Sahara and on a trip through some wilder Mongolian areas, I realised that some of the places I want to go, I simply couldn't carry the required amount of fuel, food and water to get as far as I want to go. The other aspect of things is that I'm planning to do a solo trip, so having somewhere solid to shelter when needed offers a respite you don't find on two wheels. So, the Landy started to look a better option.
Once I finally made the decision, the rest was a matter of sorting costs and planning the camper build. As I get into the build of the Landy, I'll write up some of my thoughts and decisions for what I end up with. No doubt, things will change over time, but it's making the start that counts.
I've watched loads of films about how folk have kitted out a camper style version of the Landy back. I'm happy with a minimalist approach in general, so it'll be basic. I want somewhere to sleep, store food/water/spares/tools etc and it must be easy to move about at border crossings etc. (Entering Tunisia, I had to empty everything out of the back onto the ground for inspection).
Anyway, that's enough for this post. Now it's time to start this project...