4motion-ing the roads less travelled...

[FaithfulDonkey]

So finally back on the roads less travelled, this time following the Vibraction Road Book 28 through Navarra in Northern spain ..
Full reports when back in blighty, but a great adventure in progress... like driving down here..

and cooking my first ever campervan crumble..

Watch this space!!!
FD

 

[drinfinity]

Waiting with anticipation for the next photos and video. I’ve just searched that guidebook - a French guide to a Spanish off-road trip. Looks fantastic!

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

Waiting with anticipation for the next photos and video. I’ve just searched that guidebook - a French guide to a Spanish off-road trip. Looks fantastic!

The Frenchiness is a challenge but the books are so well researched it's worth it. The main thing is the GPS route that comes with the book...this can be uploaded into an app like Outdooractive or some Garmin devices and you can just follow the line on the map.

If interested, I'll start a roadbook/route thread to look at this in a bit of detail and see what others use to find their roads less travelled.

FD

 

[T6VanLife]

This is amazing @FaithfulDonkey love your adventures and great videos ! we have also recently upgraded from a Landrover and a tent to a T6 (2wd though)
Apologies for hijacking your thread but I see you have both a Ridgemonkey Quad Stove and an Omnia Oven. I have had my Quad stove for a couple years now (on my second the first was DoA!) its a great idea with the 1 or 2 burner setup they just need to get a grip on the build quality !

But I am curious to know how your find your Omnia Oven, any tips or tricks ? we have just purchased one due to the wife's new dietary requirement's and have yet to use it.

 

[JumpShip]

What's the temps like at the mo ?

 

[manfrotto]

There is a book called "running on empty" by Guy Deacon about a VW van travelling the length of Africa which was mentioned on this forum somewhere.
It sounds like very van should have a copy on its bookcase.

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

What's the temps like at the mo ?

So in Spain it was anywhere between 5° at night to 18° in the day. Always a bit chilly if not in the sun but very pleasant when you are. A bit rainy at times and even had snow in the Picos. I'd say a good time to visit overall if you've got a well insulated van and some blankets for the night.

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

This is amazing @FaithfulDonkey love your adventures and great videos ! we have also recently upgraded from a Landrover and a tent to a T6 (2wd though)
Apologies for hijacking your thread but I see you have both a Ridgemonkey Quad Stove and an Omnia Oven. I have had my Quad stove for a couple years now (on my second the first was DoA!) its a great idea with the 1 or 2 burner setup they just need to get a grip on the build quality !

But I am curious to know how your find your Omnia Oven, any tips or tricks ? we have just purchased one due to the wife's new dietary requirement's and have yet to use it.

Firstly, never apologise for Omnia chat which is always welcome here...it's been one of those game changing things for me over the past few years. Who doesn't enjoy freshly baked bread and scones when 2500m high up on a mountain track?

Biggest tip is to get the thermometer...it was always a little hit and miss about burning your bottom or not, now much easier to judge. Turns out you need much less heat than you think to keep it at temperature...save loads of gas and cook things much better too. I've always had the silicone liner, but this year got the three seperate segmented one (you can see it in the crumble piccie above...seems to be even better at cooking through and holding temp...plus can have chicken and rice pudding cooking at the same time (not tried that yet though!).

On the Ridge Monkey cooker, totally agree...fantastic design and fits perfectly in my rear door storage with the gas bottle too...but poor build. Would happily pay double if made by Primus and didn't rattle every time I pick it up. But it hasn't let me down and works well with the Omnia.

And finally, 2WD transporter will have been fine on all the roads less travelled on this trip and many others I've idriven if done with a bit of care and common sense. 4wd is mainly a comfort blanket and gives a few more options...

Happy adventuring!

 

[JumpShip]

We've done abit of spain and always during winter so know all to well it can be damn cold up in places .

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

We've done abit of spain and always during winter so know all to well it can be damn cold up in places .

...some of my places were indeed damn cold

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

So as I sort out my Spain content, I thought I'd share a couple of photos that compare Instagram vanlife with reality...

So for the Instagrammers..





And the more reality based forum dwellers...


All I can say is, thank heavens for that 5kw heater that was poo-poo'd elsewhere on the forum for being too hot to handle in a T6. Well, 5 pairs of damp pants and socks says otherwise! Got a bit of fug going on and possibly a small rainbow was seen forming overhead, but it sorted my laundry out a treat!

FD

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

Hello there all,

I've made a few references to my recent trip to Spain, so now is the moment possibly one of you has been waiting for... a great adventure and one that would be accessible to any T6 with sensible tyres, ground clearance and a bit of common sense. Highly recommended!

 

[manfrotto]

Hello there all,

I've made a few references to my recent trip to Spain, so now is the moment possibly one of you has been waiting for... a great adventure and one that would be accessible to any T6 with sensible tyres, ground clearance and a bit of common sense. Highly recommended!

Awesome ! - I presume 4WD was required for some sections?

 

[T6VanLife]

@FaithfulDonkey thats superb, great video major road trip envy !
I made the decision that we ain't doing any EU adventures until I have the van completely finished and long haul ready ! so maybe next year then..............

 

[FaithfulDonkey]

Awesome ! - I presume 4WD was required for some sections?

Thanks Manfrotto. 4WD not necessary for the route...standard ground clearance and decent all season tyres would be fine if driven with care. Probably more at risk from UK potholes than Spanish gravel back roads! The route is never that far from tarmac so it would be easy enough to back track to avoid anything you're not comfortable with.
There is a huge selection of back country unsurfaced tracks to explore and hardly anyone about.