ORGANIC OLIVE MILL

Scotland and the van that was.

We left Paris before the sun had even risen. I already felt a strong sense of sadness towards leaving the family. We caught our train, our flight and watched the patchwork of the english countryside beneath us as we landed in London.

I will always have a soft spot for England, it was the very first country I ever explored overseas. We stayed in an old hostel in the very centre, it was bustling with travellers from all over the world. We spent most of the time in the big city just exploring by foot. I took Aaron to my favourite little old art house cinema in Leicester Square and we got to see Moonrise Kingdom which was so dream-like. Wes Anderson inspires me to create in such a poetic way. I got to ride an old vintage carousel overlooking the river. We watched the sunset, the clouds slowly fading from pink. We left on a midnight train to Northern England to pick up the van, soon to be our new 'home'. I love the way night trains make you feel, so alive while the world around you is at peace sleeping. 

We travelled in the van for three days. We explored the villages along the way to the Scottish Highlands, we slept overlooking mountains and Lochs, cuddling up at night to keep warm, cooking wholesome meals overlooking fields and stopping to read when we were tired. On the third day on leaving Loch Lamond and arriving in Glencoe the van broke down on a very dangerous curve on the highway. After Aaron spent a long time flagging people down beneath the cold icey rain a lovely german couple drove us to a nearby inn and we were able to get it towed, only to be told the problem was terminal and the engine needed replacing. It felt ridiculous to be told that, we had driven the van for a total of 6 hours and owned her for three days and now she is going to be used for scrap metal. 

We were only just getting used to exploring the roads and living with such freedom for exploration. The intriguing manner of the situation was breaking down in such an old village filled with so much history. We have been staying in a cosy little B&B for the last few days and are leaving tomorrow to stay for a week at a little independent hostel nearby at the seaside. Life is so captivating, the adventure we had established was not meant to be. Off to explore the great infinite abyss by foot. 

                            

Portraits of Aaron.

 natural lighting -

South of France

saint jean de pied de port

The South of France in Summer is such a pleasant place to travel. The countryside villages in Pays Basque, South of France are filled with more culture than I could have beleived.  We spent a few weeks living in a beautiful old barn that has been converted into a house with our French family, in a small town called Etcharry. We awoke each day to the scent of fresh air and the most incredible views of the rolling hills, mountainside villages and the Pyrenees of Spain.

The Pyrenees - by aaron.

We spent our days exploring the nearby hidden villages. We hiked a mountain in a small countryside town on the borders of Spain and got to sight one of the largest underground grottos on planet earth. Trekking underground beneath waterfalls and the great blue sky above. Walking in such quiet peace became our new past time. We had many guests come to stay at the house, the house was always echoing with the laughter of children and adults alike. Many card games were had and many days were spent entirely in the pool beneath the warmth of the sun. We enjoyed new local wines, cheeses and pastries each day, becoming very fond of such new flavours.

It is beautiful to be apart of a french family and to live their way of life. To fall more in love with the children each day. Living with such a language barrier makes life very interesting and allows you to realise just how easy it is to warm to another soul without even using talking as a means of communication.

After spending half a day on the train travelling through the countryside of France we are now back in Paris caring for their house while they are away. All alone in Paris with such a wanderlust.

Mother and daughter (by aaron)

warmth

the warmth of the day

Sauveterre - de - Bearn

Light Painting with the children

Swimming in the evening

Light painting

Late in the evening - by aaron

Hot Air Ballooning over the House.

Gallipette

Abandoned Farmhouse

Photographing the children in the pool.

Nature Travel in Europe.

In a a few days we leave to Sth of France and Spain for a month for the Summer. We are buying a van here in Europe shortly. We want to spend the next few years exploring the deep hidden depths. We will spend our days exploring, photographing, filming and writing. I am going to film a documentary of our travels. We would love for other like-minded artists/people to join us at anytime throughout our travels. To live amongst nature and spend our days bathing in rivers, each night under the stars rugged up next to a big fire, telling stories and eating home made meals.

We are trying to buy this van at the moment (photographed below). We will start our journey in it in September for a few weeks in the Highlands of Scotland. We are then house sitting for relatives in England and then spending two months in Crete, Greece in a little studio overlooking the bay. I cannot wait to turn it into our new home and make a dream catcher for it, hand sew cushions, make some nice donnas, fill it with books and cover the walls with all things inspiring and fill it with little treasures we find along the way.

We would love for others to share parts of this journey with us, to create with us, be inspired with us, to form deep friendships and live this kind of natural lifestyle. We welcome anyone who would like to join us.

Here is a map of where we want to travel to:

We will begin travel in the van in January and spend most of our winter in the more Southern parts of Europe before heading towards Scandinavia to spend the warmest month of Summer.

The van we are trying to purchase. A lovely little stovetop and sink and foldout bed with a hidden bunk.

Photographs (by other travellers) of nature here in Europe:

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