We quit our 9-5 jobs to live in a minivan – but had embarrassing hitch just hours after setting off on our adventure
A COUPLE who quit their jobs to travel across Europe in their campervan revealed they ran into a problem – after just 25 miles.
Sam and Chris, both 29, set out on their off-grid adventure with their dog, Fletcher.
Yet, the couple suffered a mechanical hitch when their motorhome broke down soon after leaving their home in Plymouth, Devon.
But after two years on the road the couple, and their pet dog Fletcher, finally arrived at the Arctic Circle which was their ‘ultimate’ bucket list of destinations.
Chris said: “We broke down 25 miles out of Plymouth but managed to fix it.
“We have taken a week and a half to travel through Sweden, into Finland and then Norway and the Arctic Circle.
“We have been in temperatures of minus 23 – so cold that it froze our water tank which is inside our van!”
But Sam said: “It is always 17 degrees inside the van so we are always toasty while it’s cold and snowy outside.”
The pair decided they wanted to “travel the world” during the pandemic when lockdown restrictions meant people were forced to stay inside.
Previously, Sam and Chris explained to The Sun, how they’d spent more than £10,000 converting their van into their new mobile home.
They spent most weekends working on the build and replaced the interior of the van with furnishing of their own.
“We thought about the layout of the van and used social media as inspiration on different options and possibilities,” said Sam.
Chris and Sam took their refurbished camper across Europe and visited places such as Switzerland, Austria and Italy.
The pair documented their every move on Instagram and YouTube.
For electricity, the couple fitted the campervan’s roof with solar panels and they also brought 100 litres of fresh water that can last two to three days, meaning they can “be completely off-grid for four or five days”.
Funnily Chris’ parents were inspired by the pair’s off-grid living and have also decided to take the plunge and purchase a motorhome for themselves.
However, Chris and Sam, are uncertain if they will continue to live on the road.
They said: “We are unsure of how long we will live on the road.
“We have a long list of places we would love to explore.
“Nobody knows what’s around the next corner but we plan to spend the next few years creating memories in the van and sharing our experiences along the way, hopefully inspiring others to chase their dreams too.”
It comes after a van conversion company finally unveiled its mega project.
And a group of campervan enthusiasts have revealed how they turned a £30,000 former military ambulance into a tiny home on wheels.