One of the most common things that grey nomads ask themselves after they’ve hit the road is ‘why didn’t I do this sooner?’.
But, after a couple of health scares which had him questioning how long he had left, Tasmanian Don Williams decided he wasn’t going to be one of them.
Now nearly 60, solo traveller Don had his ‘live-life-to-the-full’ epiphany back in 2018.
He started looking at buying a motorhome to travel Australia, while also checking out housesitting opportunities … and then a possible month-long housesit in France unexpectedly popped into his email, and the newly-adventurous Don thought, ‘why not?’
He loved it.
Don bought a second-hand motorhome to travel in France.
In fact, he loved it so much that the next year he went online while still in Tassie and bought a ‘modestly-priced’ motorhome in the UK, based on a British internet acquaintance’s inspection.
The 2002 Hymer had about 50,000 kilometres on the clock.
Not a bad spot to stop for a bit!
“The vehicles there are more fuel efficient (even my 22-year-old rig uses 10 litres per 100km),” said Don. “But, more importantly, you don’t need to drive for hundreds of kilometres between sights … in France you can dawdle around at 80km/h, a great speed for economy, sightseeing and safe, calmer driving.”
That first year, Don spent four months travelling in Europe, and then put his motorhome in storage with plans to go over every year.
Then, Covid struck.
With Europe off the agenda, Don bought a Hymer motorhome in Tassie in order to explore his own country … but he still had unfinished business on the other side of the world.
He is now in France on his third May-September European adventure.
“You can do beaches, old villages, chateaus ’till you’re sick of them, markets, vineyards, lovely natural scenery,” he said. “For me it’s just a gentle trip living here for a few months, not so much about tourism and seeing sights.”
Don says the other fantastic thing about France is that, as well as the many proper paid campgrounds, there are the aires.
“These are basic campsites provided by councils or even places other motorhomers have found in out of the way places,” he said. “They range in quality from dodgy inner town car parks with the local ‘youfs’ loitering, to absolutely beautiful and quiet spots you will often have to yourself.”
Don said some of them are paid (and sub-A$20 cheap), but there are a huge number that are free (and many still have water, dump and even free power).
“In my 90-day trips in France I’ve never had to pay for a campsite, water or to dump,” said Don. “Admittedly I tend to avoid the coastal and tourist areas so, once you’re here and have your vehicle paid up, it is quite an inexpensive trip.”
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
Sounds awsome, good on you