Could COVID-19 spell the end of full-time family travel? For our family of five, the answer is yes. After 18 months on the road, volunteering our way around Europe with our three teenage children, two cats and caravan in tow we have decided, reluctantly, that now is the time to head home.
Our travels
Our journey began in early 2019, when we left England to begin a volunteering journey around the world. We made our way through Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, arriving at the homes of complete strangers, engaging in various tasks, exploring unknown places, sampling traditional food, and learning extensively from the locals. Every two weeks, we packed up and repeated the process. These short but intense stops rewarded us with life-changing experiences, numerous new skills, friendships, and lifetime memories. Our lifestyle flourished until early March when we entered lockdown on a farm in a remote area of Portugal.
Almost immediately, everything making our journey memorable and worthwhile became unfeasible. Continuing to travel would mean going against the advice of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, risking our travel insurance, and feeling uncomfortable about imposing on strangers by inviting a family of five into their homes. We had to evaluate what would happen if any of us fell ill, consider the effects of an extended lockdown in a foreign country on our kids, and ultimately concede that it was time to make arrangements to return home.
What’s next?
So, how does a family that has adapted to a nomadic lifestyle—free from stress, routine, and the hustle and bustle of daily life—reintegrate into the rhythm of London? Quite simply, we don’t. Initially, our plan involved continuing our volunteering journey through Eastern Europe and subsequently exploring Australia and New Zealand. However, we have had to halt our best-laid plans. We decided to return to the UK in the second week of September, opting to continue living in our caravan for another year. While there, we aim to embark on eleven mini outdoor adventures to prepare for a 21-day charity trek to Everest Base Camp in October 2021. Although we are still in the planning phase, we intend to explore as much of the UK as possible. Some destinations on our current shortlist include: hiking Mt Snowdon, embarking on a cycling adventure, taking a trip on the Jacobite steam train, and searching for the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland; white-water rafting in Hertfordshire, while also ticking off as many national trails as we can! With long-term aspirations, following our return from Base Camp, I hope to share our journey, the places we visited, lessons learned, and the wonderful characters we’ve encountered by publishing a book. Additionally, we hope to purchase a piece of land, develop an exceptional caravan and motorhome site, and continue pursuing our dreams while inspiring others to embark on their adventures.
While this particular chapter is concluding, our volunteer tour remains far from over. There are countless destinations still to uncover and many more intriguing individuals to meet.
What we learned from travel
This journey has instilled confidence in our abilities, reinforced our belief in the goodness of humanity, and underscored the idea that genuine change requires taking risks, regardless of external opinions. It has provided us with an appreciation for diverse cultures and people, fostered familial bonds, and strengthened our individual identities.
Over the upcoming weeks, months, or even years, we will continue to dream, plan, and anticipate the day when we can embrace the open road once more. Until that time, we remain committed to making each day count.
