Summer 2020 www.advanturemagazine.com
R E M M SU S E B I -V Interview - Kilian Jornet Mountain Running Legend
EUROPE'S ATLANTIC COAST: 17,000KM WITH NINA NINSTA
ISSUE
a magazine dedicated to #vanlife in Europe
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T H I S I S A D I G I TA L MAGAZINE
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W H AT I S I N I S S U E 3 06 12 18 22 28
EDITORS NOTE PARK UP EUROPE'S ATLANTIC COAST HOW TO: THE STAYCATION TRAVEL BLOGS
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GEAR WE LOVE SUSTAINABLE VANLIFE CHOICES INTERVIEW: KILIAN JORNET CAMP KITCHEN DISCOVER WITHOUT LIMITS
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EDITOR
ALEX BROWN
COPYWRITER
MASCHA BLOME
CONTRIBUTORS
NINA SCHWITALLA, KILIAN JORNET, JOSE & LAURA DSL, STEVE BUNKAHLE, MASCHA BLOME, BROWN BIRD & CO
WEBSITE www.advanturemagazine.com FACEBOOK /advanturemagazine INSTAGRAM @advanturemagazine EMAIL editor@advanturemagazine.com
COVER IMAGE
SUMMER VIBES! PHOTO BY NINA NINSTA
↑ AM editor Alex Brown ventured into the Spanish Desert to capture this image of Comet NEOWISE during June
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EDITORS NOTE.
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Tw o m o n t h s a g o , i m a g i n e b e i n g t o l d about how different things would be for the summer of 2020. Would you have believed that we’d be publicly wearing masks against the Coronavirus, practising s o c i a l d i s t a n c i n g f r o m o n e a n o t h e r, and that car and van camping would hit the mainstream media pretty much over night? Heard about a “staycation” yet?
km apart. And we need to also consider that in some places, we might actually be unwanted guests at this time while everyone learns how to understand and mature into this “new nor mal”.
I have plans to make a surf trip to the A t l a n t i c c o a s t i n l a t e s u m m e r, b u t I ’ l l definitely keep a close eye on how things develop before I fill up my tank and head out. I might need to think about a Don’t get me wrong, I live in Spain and staycation of my own. we have probably the most severe rules in Europe for the mandatory use of masks As soon as our lockdown relaxed back in and the presence of hand disinfectant in June, I checked into the closest campsite e v e r y s h o p a n d r e s t a u r a n t i n t h e c o u n t r y, a l l o w e d , e a g e r t o e n j o y a b i t o f t h e s w e e t van life once again. The camping was and I am totally grateful for it! 1 0 k m f r o m m y a p a r t m e n t i n t h e c i t y, a s f a r This summer as we start to circulate as we were allowed to travel due to the again, I think our community needs to be sanitary region restrictions at the time. extra careful with regards to preventing But there, on a little pitch in Barcelona spreading the virus, as we are naturally by the beach, my girlfriend and I felt the t r a v e l l i n g f r o m o n e r e g i o n t o a n o t h e r, f r e e s t w e h a d d o n e i n m o n t h s . L e t t h e which could be hundreds or thousands of advantures re-begin.
ALEX BROWN.
Enjoying the best times of vanlife, feet up and soaking up the sun. Photo by advantureproject
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Parked up on the white sands of Sankt PeterOrding in the North of Germany. ORANGE_ODYSSEY
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Read our feature story with Nina, about her epic surf road trip with the California T6. DAMIR BIJEDIC
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Aline Bock is spending her summer days catching waves in Portugal. TOBIAS ILSANKER
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PARK UP SUMMER '20, HERE'S WHATS BEEN GOING ON IN THE VANLIFE WORLD
↓ Online search results for "vanlife" are at an all time high! Interest in our niche is 25x more popular, than that of the summer 5 years ago. Source: trends.google.com
↓ Showermeapp is a new app for both iphone and Android, which is free to download. Search for a shower in your local area, and stay odour-free while on the road. showerme.app
↑ Protect yourself from crime on highways! Police in Spain recently released this image from a toll booth. Be vigilante even when on the move, and be wary of those turning up to help. Mossos d'Esquadra ↑ Our favourite app, park4night has had a major facelift and improvement to the platform. Look no further for a safe place to park your camper, route plan, and more. park4night.com
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Not on social media? Then send us your stories via email! editor@advanturemagazine.com → Did you spot Comet NEOWISE? It won't be around for another 6000 or so years! Look at this incredible image sent by David in Spain @davidpikefly
Not on social media? Then send us your stories via email! editor@advanturemagazine.com
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Finding a bit of space both on the beach and in the car park can be a bit of a mission over the summer months. But that certainly won't stop us going out and looking for an a d v a n t u r e t h i s s u m m e r.
comes at the same time as a large number of communities in Spain and Portugal start to reject those choosing to set up wild campings, with a growing number of the popular park up locations now having no camping signs erected by the council.
Va n c a m p e r s i n S p a i n h a v e launched their own initiative to counter the negative attitude towards people travelling and living in vans. #viajamosenfurgo is written on the receipts in restaurants and bars, to highlight the amounts being spent by travellers in different areas. This
The waiting list for new campervans has surprised many who attempted to purchase a vehicle for the s u m m e r. Governments across Europe are promoting the staycation, and the thought of being able to be self-contained might be the most suitable form of social distancing r i g h t n o w. S o m a n y p e o p l e i n m y
network have now bought a van and sped up DIY projects. With that in mind, campsites across Europe are also reporting surprisingly high attendance numbers. While regulations vary across the region, it would be very wise to call ahead to reserve your next camping spot and make sure that you carry the basics of a mask, hand sanitiser and some disinfectant cleaner to keep both you and your camper COVID free as best as possible. Head to page 34 for our pick of the most ecofriendly and low impact products t o s t o c k u p w i t h t h i s s u m m e r. A M
# A D VA N T U R E M A G A Z I N E @advanturemagazine
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→ AM editor, Alex, is making sure to enjoy the incredible conditions in the Pyrenees this winter.
Plug-and-Camp Gear for Your Bus
The original #Calihook ABHĂ„NG is simply attached into the pop-up roof of your VW Bus California. The practical clothes hook fits into all California pop-top roofs installed from the VW factory from VW T5 on.
Your new LIEBLINGSPLATZ? Inside and outside: for bread and rolls, for the stove and coffee, for the hot or cold buffet ... there is more space and eating together is much more relaxed. The additional table is made of high-quality, foiled multiplex plate, your van is protected by rubber buffers.
For the pop-up roof in the VW Bus California T5, T6 and T6.1 we have developed the #Calishelf system DAPASSTWAS. It holds all by itself, without glueing, screws or the like - A dream of storage space!
Whether VW California Beach, Coast, Comfortline, Ocean, whether Multivan or Transporter ... Volkswagen T4, T5, T6 and T6.1 ... we drive the bus ourselves with passion and a lot of fun on small escapes over the weekend and great pleasure in long tours on vacation in the mobile home. We design our unique articles ourselves and use the leasing-capable original campervan gear on our trips. Each part comes original, aesthetically in shape, well thought out in detail and proven in function to your bus.
At Home in the Bus www.Busstoff.de
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Released just a few weeks ago were these illustrations of what could be a n e w s m a l l e r c a m p e r f r o m Vo l k s w a g e n , on the Caddy chassis. Would you be interested in a micro-campervan? Kate, Head of Press and Public Relations VW UK, had this to share with us: ‘The addition of the Caddy with camping space would complete the range and give us a breadth of campervans – small, medium and large – offering a variety of options to any customer keen to travel, explore and e n j o y l i f e ’s a d v e n t u r e s " .
MEETING CAMPER 4th, 5th, 6th September 2020 Girona, Spain Meet other adventure campers at the annual gathering in Spain, where overlanders and offroaders can camp close to the Pyrenees in a wonderful setting. w w w. m e e t i n g c a m p e r. c o m
ADVENTURE NORTHSIDE 18th, 19th, 20th September 2020 Hamburg, Ger many CANCELLED Unfortunately due to the number of corona cases which have started to rise again, the event has been postponed until 2021. Be sure to keep an eye on the news for A d v e n t u r e S o u t h s i d e , p l a n n e d f o r N o v e m b e r.
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OF PURE AT L A N T I C C O A S T Photos by Nina Ninsta
What would the Advanture Magazine be without an epic summer road trip, with the goal to surf great waves down the A t l a n t i c C o a s t o f E u r o p e ? I t ’s s u m m e r, t h e w a v e s a r e p u m p i n g , let the advanture begin!
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ho remembers the feeling when you first got the keys to your campervan? After we heard about the trip Nina had with h e r s p o n s o r s Vo l k s w a g e n , C h i e m s e e a n d Glidesoul, we have rapidly gone in search for some sticks of wax and our wetsuits. She became best friends with her van, from the moment she saw what she would b e s p e n d i n g t h e s u m m e r i n . A b r a n d n e w, fully custom-branded VW T6 California,
Photo by Damir Bijedic
the dream surf wagon for the modern surf v a n l i f e r. “My van and I were best friends from the moment we met. I was overwhelmed by it! I started my journey after a hard period of w o r k i n g i n a n a g e n c y, w i t h 1 2 h o u r s p e r d a y. J u s t s i t t i n g a n d d r i v i n g c h i l l e d m e o u t so much, driving and listening to music with my friend Tina. I felt this van was
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designed to make everything c o s y a n d c o m f o r t a b l e . To s l e e p in the roof tent is just perfect, and also to take out the chairs a n d s i t i n f r o n t o f t h e d o o r, watching the sunset over an endless ocean.” Nina got the taste for vanlife during the winter before, when she toured some of the east coast of Australia. She admits s h e r e a l l y d i d n ’t k n o w a l o t about using a van back then, but her experience helped to better prepare for her big trip in Europe. This is the case for a lot of travellers who reach as far as Australia and New Zealand, where they discover the allure of the open road, and appreciate that you only need a few personal items to get t h r o u g h t h e d a y. F o r o n e r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r, u s E u r o p e a n s t h i n k we need to cross the world in search of wanderlust, when in fact, we have some of the most diverse and a huge variety of
options right on our doorstep. “I spoke to a lot of experienced travellers while I prepared for this trip, and one of the best tips I received was not to travel with suitcases, but with large re-usable type bags, which can be stuffed away when e m p t y. S t i l l , I t o o k w a y t o o much stuff with me and I left stuff with all sorts of people along my way! I must have come home afterwards with only 30% of what I had packed.”
point breaks are peppered down the French, Spanish and Portuguese shoreline. We have a t h r i v i n g s u r f c o m m u n i t y y e a rround, and the more popular locations start to burst with their fair share of visitors especially in the summer months. Locations that include t h e l i k e s o f B i a r r i t z , H o s s e g o r, La Zurriola and Sagres to name b u t a f e w.
“THE ROOF TENT IS JUST PERFECT, AND ALSO TO TAKE OUT THE CHAIRS AND SIT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, WATCHING THE SUNSET OVER AN ENDLESS OCEAN"
Nina had not grown up as a s u r f e r, b u t s h e a l w a y s h a d t h e passion to learn something n e w f r e q u e n t l y. H e r t r i p w a s t o g o a n d t o u r t h e Wa v e s t o u r s Surfcamps, to improve her surfing, meet like-minded people and experience life on t h e r o a d f o r t h e s u m m e r.
Our European Atlantic coast stretches close to 10,000km in length, and there is a huge amount of choice of surf breaks available. Everything from wide-open beaches to tiny rocky
“With surfing, I feel c h a l l e n g e d d a y b y d a y, a n d every session is different. Sometimes I am not getting any w a v e s a n d s o m e t i m e s i t ’s g o i n g s u p e r e a s y. T h a t ’s w h a t I l o v e
“I had the best moments on the road living free out of my camper“
← The iconic lure from the 60s & 70s, driving around in a camper to find surf. And today, who wouldn't feel awesome driving around in a custom branded California like this!
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The best way to check the surf in the morning? Right out of the van door!
Photo by Damir Bijedic
about surfing. I need to adjust myself over and over again. We were so excited to stop and surf as soon as we hit the coast a t B i a r r i t z , t h a t w e c o u l d n ’t w a i t a n y l o n g e r. W e j u s t w a n t e d t o have lunch there, but took out the boards and jumped into the water and it felt amazing. But our starting point was much further south. I have a very special connection to Portugal and wanted to surf there as soon as possible, which made us drive a little bit faster to reach São Juliæo in Ericeira as soon as possible.”
“T H I S R O A D T R I P W A S T H E T I M E O F M Y L I F E." When it comes to surfing in Portugal, it happens to be the country that offers the most variety to choose from in Europe. I t ’s a l s o h o m e t o o n e o f t h e w o r l d s largest waves, and yes, there are people who surf those too. Nazaré is the spot to get to as soon as
a big swell is reported, where spectators can sit on the cliff tops right next to the action, to watch some extremely brave men and women battle monster waves that reach up to 30m in height. Over the three month trip, Nina had a few friends come out for various lengths of time and met some of her family in France. Alongside surfing, she was producing a lot of content on social media, documenting the trip for her sponsors and b l o g g i n g a b o u t t h e Wa v e t o u r s . A perfect combination of work a n d p l a y, p o s s i b l e w h e n y o u c a n move your home on wheels from location to location, picking the b e s t c o n d i t i o n s o n o f f e r. O n e l o c a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r, w a s a f a v o u r i t e o f N i n a ’s . S a n t a C r u z , Portugal. “ S a n t a C r u z ( To r r e s Ve d r a s ) between Ericeira and Peniche, w o w. T h i s m a g i c a l t r a d i t i o n a l
Portuguese town is away from the mass tourism and offers 20km of coastline with the best surf spots and amazing views over the cliffs you could imagine. I liked the vibe there a lot. So much in fact, that I spent a whole year after the trip there now! Not only because of the town, also because I met the man of my dreams there.” On top of a busy schedule, Nina and her travel mates created a weekly ritual of deep cleaning the VW California, clearing it of sand a n d s a l t y s w i m w e a r. I f y o u n e e d some tips on what to prepare before your big summer road trip t h i s y e a r, c h e c k o u t o u r a r t i c l e o n page 34 with some eco-friendly options when it comes to keeping clean! “This road trip was the time of my life. I had the best moments on the road living free out of m y c a m p e r. " A f t e r I f i n i s h e d t h e r o a d t r i p i n S e p t e m b e r l a s t y e a r, I had a six-month contract at an
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SOME OF THE WORLDS BIG WAVE LOCATIONS INCLUDE FAR AWAY SPOTS SUCH AS MAVERICKS IN SAN FRANCISCO, TEAHUPOO IN TAHITI AND JAWS IN HAWAII. NAZARÉ IN PORTUGAL IS A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE, AND IS WHERE BRAZILIAN SURFER, RODRIGO KOXA, CAUGHT THE LARGEST WAVE EVER SURFED. IT WAS MEASURED AT 24.38M! source https://www.npr.org/ advertising agency in Hamburg. But it was clear for me, as soon as I could, I would go back to Santa Cruz and try to make a living t h e r e . S o o n a f t e r, I d e c i d e d t o j o i n m y boyfriend at his surf camp, Cliff Surfhouse, where I work on the marketing and of course surf when the waves are great!” Be sure to drop Nina a message and stop by in Santa Cruz when you are in Portugal. The town has true Portuguese vibes, incredible food right out of the Atlantic Ocean, and offers some epic van camping s p o t s . Yo u ’ l l b e a b l e t o f i n d a p l a c e o n t o p of the cliffs to enjoy breathtaking sunsets and check the surf from your sliding door f i r s t t h i n g i n t h e m o r n i n g . AM Follow Nina on Instagram @nina_ninsta
Nothing else comes close to beating the feeling of getting back to your van after a day in the water, ready for some good food and a cold drink out of the fridge.
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HOW TO: THE STAYC AT I O N C A M P I N A VA N, A C A R O R S I M P LY J U S T U N D E R T H E S TA R S Words by Alex Brown
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nless you've been really off-grid for the past few months, you've most definitely heard the term "staycation" b y n o w. M e d i a o u t l e t s a r o u n d Europe seized the opportunity and have promoted this as the summer activity of 2020, off the back of the lockdowns and the “new normal” world we are now waking up in. But the thing is, it is actually a great solution to feed your thirst for wanderlust and will save you some cash in doing so, coronavirus times or not! L e t ’s t a k e a f e w s t e p s b a c k f o r one moment because many of us have been having a staycation, o r s i m p l y e x p l o r i n g l o c a l l y, for a long time. And that is it in a nutshell, the staycation is keeping within a limited distance of home and enjoying a little bit of adventure without travelling too far to get at it. With the uncertainty of things like travel restrictions from c o u n t r y t o c o u n t r y, i n s u r a n c e complications and many other things causing a headache when thinking about a long-distance trip at this time, many people have been inspired to keep t h i n g s s i m p l e t h i s y e a r. We caught up with some travellers to find out what they have to say when it comes to making the most out of the warmer months t h i s y e a r. The advice we learnt applies to such a wide range of people, from van campers to car campers. A n d l o c a t i o n - w i s e , w e l l t h a t ’s a bit more dependent on what is a v a i l a b l e t o y o u l o c a l l y. B u t w e are sure that if you have four wheels and something to sleep on, you’ll also be empowered to get the most out of a staycation of your own.
VEHICLE CHOICE Now, while we know that we are a van camping magazine, we appreciate that some of our readers do not own a van yet. And for those who do, the following advice can even be given to your friends who would love to join you on a trip but might not own their own camper setup. The best thing about the summer months is that the weather is so much drier and more predictable. So make use of that if you only have a car, or even just a backpack, and set up your bed outside under the stars. Camilla & Nicolas (above) “Nobody complains about a car, you can get to wonderful places without many problems, such as places where a van may not be able to reach because of prohibitions or difficult roads for larger vehicles. We are lucky to be low, at just 1.65m in height, but still we are very comfortable. Actually, our camping car might be one of the smallest choices that exists! In our Fiat 500 the mattress is just 1.60m long. Not bad for a car of this size! For those who are undecided or who think it is impossible, YOU CAN TRAVEL SO! And it leaves a mark on your heart! It is an experience that everyone should live!.” Mountaineer, Chase, likes to do things a little more au-natural when it comes to his local micro-adventures. Got no wheels at all? Read on and prepare for some most definite wanderlust. Chase Tucker (right) “Sleeping in the van or a tent is great, but there's nothing that compares to falling asleep on your back with a view of the stars. It sometimes takes a little practise for people to become comfortable enough to
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cowboy camp like this - but it pays off! It can be very rejuvenating." If you are used to living life for weeks at a time on the open road, then you’ll likely have all of the gear to satisfy you for these smaller trips. With more time spare to plan, why not think about upgrading your game in an area that you might not be that strong in? If there is one area that makes all the difference between a good camp and a great one, it is the quality of your meal plan.
AM editor “At the weekends, I love to take an easy drive up the coast from Barcelona for just an hour or two at the most. These trips closer to home give me more time to relax and unwind after a week of work, and with the quick drive, it gives me so much more time to enjoy camp cooking which I really love." So if there have been some meals that you’ve had in mind for a while, now is the time to practice them! Pack away that toastie maker
T I M E S AV E R
and leave the box of cereals at home, then flick to page 40 for a little inspiration on a well known, but properly prepared meal, to fill your stomach for the next time you park up in search of adventure. Camilla & Nicolas “We always do a "smart" shop before leaving, we know the shops near our house and we take the opportunity to buy everything we know we like, and what can be kept for a long time. Tuna cans, beans, pasta, rice, salt, oil, coffee, crackers, biscuits and many other things like that! We love to buy local products, not in large supermarkets, but in small businesses." Those of us who love to dream about climbing that mountain in France, or surfing that break in Portugal, this year might be the time to adjust our aspirations. But that certainly doesn’t mean we need to lower our efforts! There is so much opportunity for adventures close to home, that we probably have overlooked when thinking about those more exciting locations elsewhere.
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Marc Slanzi (below) “My advice for people looking for sport adventures closer to home is to get inspired by other people in this area. We only have to look around and see what our country/neighbourhood offers us. I, for example, like to get to the summit of my home mountains by fair means, starting from home by running or cycling. Try to set some personal goals. No matter if it’s to break your PB up on your home mountain or take a long ride with your bike to visit friends or family. Try to get out of your comfort zone. Think outside the box. It will be hard at the beginning but it will give you a lot of fulfilment. Find some friends that are used to doing harder stuff than you and learn from them.” Just think about how to adapt the sports you love and practice them in an alternative way closer to home. If you had plans to SUP in the Algarve, but are staying at home in Berlin, how about checking some of the local rivers and lakes for an excursion? Just make sure to do a little research to make sure you're prepared.
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YOUR TRIBE How about a hike and camp-out on a local peak? Chase Tucker “The main item you need is a bivouac bag to slip into with your sleeping bag and mat. This will keep the dew and any rain at bay during the night. Having said that, campsite selection is paramount. Stay away from the valley floor, bodies of water and the summits of mountains,. Look for tree coverage if possible." It could also be a great time to see who lives locally. Probably wise to respect all things social distancing, but don’t be afraid to reach out to one another on IG to share staycation plans.
AM editor “A couple of friends of mine don’t own a van. So we’ll meet them at camp where we cook the food in my campervan, and I also transport things like the fridge, chairs and food.” Aline Bock (right) “For me, it´s all about the mixture of travelling alone, meeting new people and discovering new places on the one hand and then catching up with old friends, spending some awesome beach days together, cooking dinner and talking about good old times over a red wine on the other hand. Yummy ;)”
Equally, the thought of a staycation can be a micro-adventure just for yourself! Once you have let someone know about your plans, there isn’t anything more thrilling than driving off to explore a little place you had in mind forever, with no one but yourself to worry about. Call it a bit of selfish pleasure, which isn’t a bad thing!"
Marc Slanzi “In most of my outdoor activities I’m alone. It gives me a sense of freedom and so I can get to know myself better. I don’t have to compete with anyone, I can go at my own pace. I become one with the nature around me. Reaching the goal I set for every single adventure, for me is like a drug rush and I’m already thinking about the next adventure. In case of failure, it also teaches me something, then next time you can do things better. When you are on your own all feelings are amplified, like fear or happiness. Challenging ourselves like this can make us stronger in everyday life.” So there are some of the best bits that we could round up to help inspire you all to make the most out of the strange summer of 2020, and get that staycation ticked off! A M
ADVERTISE IN AN INTERACTIVE, D I G I TA L M A G A Z I N E We built a community of nearly 5000 people across our platform on the back of the first two issues. They are European adventure travellers and passionate van campers, who are just like you. Contact us to find out why print magazine value can not compete with digital, and how we will be the number one publication in the industry. MEDIA KIT
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STAYCATION definition: NOUN /steɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ - a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions
↑ Aline Bock always has her camper loaded with the equipment she needs for an advanture. Photo by Tobias Ilsanker
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Waking up in nature and pouring that first coffee of the day. The scenes are heightened and you feel right at home next to your van. THE_HANG_VAN
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< T R AV E L B L O G S > Words & photos Steve Bunkahle, M e l a n i e Vo g g i n g e r
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teve and girlfriend Melanie, had been dreaming of owning a VW camper since the age of fifteen. They finally purchased their perfect van and sent it to the garage for a full camper conversion. But the Coronavirus situation w a s a b o u t t o g e t i n t h e w a y. . . In December 2019 it was time to fulfill my dream. I g o t i n t o u c h w i t h t h e c o m p a n y S u r f e r Va n i n L Ăź b e c k a n d p u t t o g e t h e r m y d r e a m c a m p e r. W h e n i t w a s time to collect it in April 2020, there were a lot of s t o n e s i n m y w a y. I c o u l d o n l y l e a v e m y h o m e i n a small window of time, to travel and finally collect my finished vehicle. Thanks to COVID-19, and when I finally got the keys, it was not possible to register a mobile home in Germany no more. After a long and desperate discussion in the registration office, it was then possible to register my van. At long last we would finally have the van of our dreams! The first trips and activities in the van were s t r a n g e . Yo u a r e n o t u s e d t o l i v i n g t o g e t h e r i n s u c h a small space for two, but you quickly get used to and learn to love.
Yo u h a v e s o m u c h f r e e d o m , a n d a r e n o t r e s t r i c t e d to just one or two locations for example. If the weather is not right or you want to continue onto a new spot, you just pack your handful of things and you're on your way again. We love travelling by van and we use it almost every weekend to go to the mountains or lakes, just to enjoy time and leave everyday life behind. We were recently travelling across Germany for t w o w e e k s a n d i t f e l t l i k e a n e t e r n i t y. Tr a v e l l i n g with your own van accelerates so nicely that you simply forget the time. We had everything from free camper pitches, to wild campings and also some campsites. Of course, with COVID-19 you have some restrictions and prohibitions at the present time, but travel is still possible if you inform yourself a bit beforehand. For example, a Baltic Sea-North Sea tour was planned for us, but we could not implement it because day tourism is not permitted in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania r i g h t n o w. S o w e s p o n t a n e o u s l y d e c i d e d t o s k i p the Baltic Sea and go straight to the North Sea. Then we were still close to Berlin and in Bavaria,
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where there is an incredible number of beautiful places. In general, in the current situation, we are of the opinion that one should travel to Germany much more often that there are so many beautiful corners that most have never seen before. Of course, the personal touch still had to flow into the van. That is why we are also busy improving it and optimizing it according to our wishes. From BF Goodrich tires to neodymium magnets with snap hooks for our jackets and to dry our towels. A lift, a roof rack from Frontrunner and a rear ladder are also planned. From the outside, it becomes more and more an off-road van, which one then no longer sees and would suspect inside. Say our off-road luxury van :-) T h e f i r s t m a j o r t o u r s t a r t e d a t t h e e n d o f J u l y, exploring areas close to my home in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania, on the Müritz lake. Follow Steve and Melanie on IG @the_hang_van
V E H I C L E D E TA I L S • Vo l k s w a g e n T 6 c h a s s i s • DSG 4Motion • 61000 km • B F G o o d r i c h A l l - Te r r a i n K o 2 t i r e s i n 215/65 16 • Seikel steel rims • Short wheelbase • Tr a n s p o r t e r r e a r s e a t b e n c h w i t h bed function • Autoter m Planar 2D parking heater • 50l compressor refrigerator from Dometic • Rotating double bench seat • Wa s h b a s i n w i t h 2 0 L f r e s h w a t e r a n d 20L waste water
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AirmenBeans. Waking up before sunrise to hit the trail, or planning a longer route and need a pick-me-up along the way? Have a look at these chewable coffee beans! They are super easy to digest and come in a tidy little box, perfect to stash away in your van.
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ROAM agua bottle. Now the summer heat is on it is essential to keep some cold drink close by. Long drive or long hike ahead? The Hydro Flasks from We Are Roam feel super durable and comes in a selection of nice colours. Get even more use from the bottle in the winter, where it doubles up as a thermos flask and will keep your hot drinks at temperature too.
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Ol Pro Husk tableware. Rice Husk is the protective shell which covers the rice grain whilst it is growing. What once was an agricultural byproduct has now become a sustainable material used for fuel, building, and can be made into an alternative to plastics. It is the perfect addition to your camp kitchen! A M
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S U S TA I N A B L E VA N L I F E C H O I C E S Words by Mascha Blome
As van camping increases in popularity and the places we love to go to the most are deep in nature, how can we ensure that we only leave tyre prints behind?
With our fuel consumption and the need to burn some oil, we can not say we that don't have a carbon footprint at all. Although one could argue that it is certainly a lot smaller than flying somewhere f o r a h o l i d a y, s t a y i n g i n a i r- c o n d i t i o n e d h o t e l s , the masses of food waste, new towels every day … the list goes on.
you camp next. This is even going to help when emptying your gray water tank at a designated station, “the cleaner the better”.
Important and easy to find within your local super market are eco-dishwashing liquids. Shop around to find natural shampoos & soaps (without micro-plastics from LUSH), underar m in paper But we can be much better and the Advanture (Ben&Anna) or refillable tubes (W ild Refill), Magazine has a few tips for you! Alongside our bamboo toothbrushes and natural toothpaste d i g i t a l l o w i m p a c t m a g a z i n e , w e w a n t t o h e l p ( G e r o g a n i c s ) o r r e e f - s a f e s u n s c r e e n ( V. S u n ) ! encourage better vanlifing so that we can live the good life for many years to come. Here are a few areas to think about when re-stocking your cupboards for the next trip. Wa x w r a p s f o r f o o d : Yo u c a n m a k e i t y o u r s e l f very easily by using cotton kitchen towels or any fabric leftovers and melting bio beeswax pellets o n t o t h e m i n a n o v e n . Yo u c a n a l s o p u r c h a s e t h e m in any eco shop nowadays if you don’t want to try making them yourself. They are perfect to use for your sandwiches, fruits, veggies or anything else that needs to be c o v e r e d a n d p u t b a c k i n t o t h e c o o l e r. W i t h a h u g e advantage over tupperware, these wraps save a Disposables: One of the main points, the probably lot of space in the fridge if you only need to wrap most obvious one, is waste reduction. See what single items and pack flat when not in use. things you can unpack while still at home, such as excess packaging from food. When you are Liquid and soaps: Any liquids you use, produce already on the road, opt to take your rubbish and dispose of, should be as natural as possible. away with you and to bigger bins. This is going to We have been able to find all sorts of eco reduce the overall waste in remote locations and detergents and soaps so that you can stand also limits the chance of any wildlife being able the best chance in not polluting the area where to eat leftovers or spread the trash from small
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COMPETITION ENTER HERE!
bins. A few easy and affordable options here include: • B i o d e g r a d a b l e b i n b a g s • L u f a d i s h - w a s h i n g s p o n g e s (also keeps your wastewater free from micro-plastics) • E c o - b i o d e g r a d a b l e w e t wipes & dissolvable toilet paper • R e c h a r g e a b l e b a t t e r i e s o r better - solar power! • K e e p r e - u s a b l e s t r a w s , sporks, containers with you for roadside picnics or spontaneous hanger moments! Bottles and containers: Thanks to technology and development you can quite easily get water filters for your tap at home or even for the outdoors. Use them to refill your water supply containers and small thermo bottles f o r t h e d a y. T h i s i s g o i n g t o give you the cleanest water possible and also reduces the need to buy it in plastic bottles at the store. Here in Spain, for example, you can also find fresh water fountains on almost every s t r e e t c o r n e r. If you have food that wax paper can’t wrap
around, think bamboo boxes, tins, glass jars and rice husk boxes. We love the husk sets from OLPRO. More and more sustainable options are being developed d a i l y, a n d t h a n k f u l l y s i n g l e use plastics are no longer the o n l y o p t i o n . Yo u o w e i t t o b o t h yourself and the environment to help clean our act up, so store your food one some p r e t t y, reusable and nonh a r m f u l c o n t a i n e r s t o d a y. Peace and quiet for the environment: One very important point, but often forgotten, is respecting the environment by limiting your n o i s e p o l l u t i o n . Yo u a r e t h e guest, and should never forget that. We need to respect the animals, water flows, rhythms and schedules that nature has installed. Be quiet, peaceful, interested and keep your d i s t a n c e w h e n n e c e s s a r y. L a s t l y, a v o i d p a r k i n g r i g h t i n the middle of nature but stay on the edge, with r e s p e c t . Tu r n t h e e n g i n e o f f , t h e r a d i o d o w n , a n d keep an eye out as the animals start to welcome y o u a t t h e i r s p o t . AM
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MTN CHAMPION:
KILIAN JORNET Photos by Matti Bernitz
Kilian Jornet is a mountain athlete who wins competitions and sets insane records across the world. Yo u ' l l f i n d h i m a t h o m e i n N o r w a y t h i s s u m m e r, unpacking some piece of mountain gear out of his Mercedes Marco Polo.
AM: Hi Kilian, for those who don’t already know you, who are you and what are your passions? Kilian: I am someone who loves to spend time outdoors. I also like to train and push my body so running, skiing or climbing in the mountains is the perfect match for me. I’ve been a professional athlete for the past 15 years, and I’ve also taken several personal projects in the mountains around t h e w o r l d . N o w I l i v e i n N o r w a y w i t h m y f a m i l y. I also try to pass along the message that we need to take care of our environment and our mountains because they are one of the most precious things we have. A M : S o i t l o o k s l i k e y e a r- r o u n d , y o u a r e a l w a y s enjoying some activity suited for the season. W h a t i s y o u r f a v o u r i t e t i m e o f y e a r, a n d w h e r e do you love to spend it the most? K i l i a n : I t ’s h a r d t o t e l l ! I l o v e w i n t e r s o I c a n s k i a lot, but also here in Norway I love the summer as w e h a v e a l o t o f h o u r s o f s u n l i g h t a n d i t ’s p e r f e c t for doing long activities. AM: We heard that the UTMB was cancelled this y e a r. H o w d o y o u p l a n t o s p e n d t h e s u m m e r w i t h
regards to training closer to home in Norway and also with your family? Kilian: Racing is not my priority anymore, now I ’ m a l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r o t h e r c h a l l e n g e s . I t ’s s u r e that this summer has been very weird due to the COVID situation so I’m looking forward to spending time in the mountains doing several activities. We are doing more “local tourism”, driving our van to different parts of the country and exploring the mountains there! We’ve also been to Sweden, where Emelie my partner is from and spending time t h e r e w i t h f a m i l y. A M : F o r a s t a y c a t i o n i n N o r w a y, h o w w i l l t h e campervan benefit you on micro-adventures this summer? K i l i a n : I t ’s g r e a t . Yo u c a n p a c k a l l t h e g e a r y o u need and just drive until you find a mountain you l i k e . I t ’s g r e a t f o r o u r f a m i l y a s w e c a n a l l s l e e p i n s i d e a n d s p e n d t i m e c o m f o r t a b l y. AM: What has been one of the most memorable experiences in your sporting career? K i l i a n : I t ’s h a r d t o c h o o s e o n e ! I a l w a y s s a y t h a t the best memory is yet to come!
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"... this is a perfect summer for microadventures ..."
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AM: Considering many sporting events h a v e b e e n c a n c e l l e d t h i s y e a r, i s t h e r e anything else that you are focusing on such as micro-adventures? Kilian: I’m enjoying a lot the mountains and I also trained on the treadmill during lockdown. That has lead me to train a bit on the flat after this. However as you were saying this is a perfect summer for microadventures and mountaineering in Norway! AM: If you were to plan a one-week camping road trip around Norway for trail running, what locations and type of runs would you include? Kilian: Norway is a long country! From south to north is 2000km, so I would recommend to take a region instead of t r y i n g t o d o a l l t h e c o u n t r y, s i n c e t h e n i t will be impossible to explore all of it. In the west coast, to go Joutenheimen, there Hurrungane is an amazing place for trail running, going then to Sunmore Alpen, Romsdal and Eikesdalen, with endless trails ... In the north a travel could start i n L o f o t e n t o g o S e n j a , To m s ø a n d e n d i n Ly n g e n . A p p s l i k e n o r g e s k a r t o r U t . n o h a v e all the trails marked and it is very easy to plan adventures. AM: Why do you think a campervan is the best choice for the adventure athlete, rather than a fancy car and hotel? Kilian: I think everyone has different n e e d s s o I w o u l d n ’t s a y t h a t i f y o u ’ r e a n adventure athlete you need a van! But for s u r e i t ’s a g o o d o p t i o n i f y o u l i k e t o t r a v e l around equipped with everything, to stop and sleep close to the mountains or in any place that you like! A M : Yo u a n d E m e l i e g r o w a l o t o f organic produce at home. How do you incorporate some of this into your meal plan for camping trips? Kilian: Well, I give all the credit to Emelie for that, she is the master in the garden! It is simple, when eating sandwiches it is good to have from the bread baked home or when travelling with the van we have in the fridge some veggies from the garden. It is also easy when camping to take tupperware with prepared food home with t h e i n g r e d i e n t s f r o m t h e g a r d e n . AM
Photo by Sergi Colome
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TOP LEFT: Kilian racing at the famous Zegama race in northern Spain. TOP RIGHT: Finding time for a brew between mountain adventures. BELOW LEFT: Running on the high alpine routes during the summer months. BELOW RIGHT: Kilian at home in Norway, with a huge selection of trails and routes to run and ski year-round.
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CAMP K Omnia mac n cheese Our Omnia Oven recipe for macaroni cheese has a few extra additions to make the sauce super tasty - mustard, Marmite and y e a s t f l a k e s . We a l s o a d d p a n k o b r e a d c r u m b s a n d p u m p k i n s e e d s t o t h e t o p w h i c h g i v e s i t a l o v e l y c r u n c h i n e s s . Yo u c a n p l a y a b o u t t h e flavour even further by using different types of cheese depending on what your favourite is. A smoked cheese gives a lot of flavour a l o n g w i t h a r e a l l y m a t u r e c h e d d a r. The great thing about this Omnia Oven recipe is it actually tastes and cooks better in an Omnia than in a standard at home oven. It cooks quickly and gets a lovely crispy edge and base.
Make it 1.
Place macaroni in a saucepan and cover in cold water with approx 1â&#x20AC;? water overlap
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Boil until almost all the water has been absorbed
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Add in the stock cube to the remaining water in the pan and mix
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Add in crème fraiche, cheese, mustard, mar mite and yeast flakes and give it a good stir until combined.
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Add macaroni mixture to the Omnia Oven (ideally use a liner as it saves cleaning!)
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Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs and pumpkin seeds over the top.
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Place on the hob on a medium heat for approx. 20-25 mins (depending on if you like a crispy base!)
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Drizzle truffle oil over the top and serve.
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KITCHEN Words and photos by Brown Bird & Co b r o w n b i r d a n d c o m p a n y. c o . u k
Omnia cinnamon buns We l o v e c i n n a m o n b u n s a l o n g s i d e o u r 3 p m c o f f e e b r e a k … w e l l w h o a m I t r y i n g t o k i d ? We l o v e c i n n a m o n b u n s a t a n y t i m e o f the day! The great thing about cinnamon buns is they are good for breakfast, lunch and pudding! They are also really good as adventure stodge – we have them when out in the mountains as they are super tasty and give you a quick energy boost when sandwiches sometimes just don’t cut it. We c o o k o u r c i n n a m o n b u n s o n t h e s t o v e t o p u s i n g a n O m n i a Oven as we opted not to have a built in oven due to cost and s p a c e s a v i n g . To s e e s o m e o f o u r f a v o u r i t e b a k e s a n d c o o k i n g recipes that we have used the Omnia oven for take a look at our website on our Omnia oven blog and our van life blog. Even though we have provided the recipe and method for baking the cinnamon buns in an Omnia you can still apply the same principle to a standard built in oven – you can just use a cake tin instead of the Omnia tin.
Make it 1. Grease the Omnia/liner in preparation 2. Melt 40g butter in a small bowl. Add the milk and whisk to combine. Add the dry yeast and let it rise for 10 minutes 3. After 10 minutes add the egg (or egg replacer + water), 2 tbsp of sugar and salt and mix 4. Add the flour slowly and knead the dough until it becomes soft. Let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place (In the van we cover the bowl with a tea towel and place in front of the heater vent to help it rise!) 5. Once risen, flour a work surface and roll out the dough to a rectangular shape with an approx. thickness of 2cm. 6. Mix 100g warm butter with 1 tbs of sugar and the cinnamon and spread onto the dough. 7. Roll the dough into 1 long roll and cut into 3cm thick slices. 8. Place the slices next to each other in the Omnia and bake for 25 minutes on a low flame. 9. Leave to cool for 5-10 minutes before enjoying your first cinnamon bun still war m from being freshly baked!
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DISCOVER WITHOUT L I M I T S Words by Jose and Laura
Tr a v e l , a d v e n t u r e , w o r l d , p h o t o g r a p h y . . . S U P, VA N L I F E . W o r d s t h a t e v o k e a d r e a m world for us. A world of wonderful illusions and an incredible way of life.
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Glute Quad Combo
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Y
ears ago we decided to change our traditional way of life to one surrounding travel. Although one needs to take a plane to discover locations far a w a y, w h e n t r a v e l l i n g b y v a n there are a number of stunning places a lot closer to home for us such as Spain, continental Europe and Africa. We love the road trip concept, and it allows us to discover the corners of the world we are interested in, at our own pace and with all the adventure we could imagine. Now when we add our SUP boards into the mix, things get really exciting. The world is full of incredible places and colourful waterways. Enjoying them on a SUP is something wonderful. In our travels, we look for unique images and unusual places. We want to capture images that create an impact. H o w e v e r, f i n d i n g a t r u l y u n i q u e place requires a lot of work and a lot of research before heading there. Sometimes it is also as simple as seeing an image in a book or in a magazine which awakens something within us, to go there and make a capture of our own.
The search for infor mation and the investigation of the destination is a fairly important part of our preparation, and we enjoy it. Hours and hours of Google Earth time has been required to produce some of the better images that have had the pleasure to shoot.
WE SAILED ON CHALLENGING AND I N T E N S E R E D W AT E R S , A UNIQUE PLACE IN THE WO R L D. W I T H O U T A N Y D O U B T, I T L E F T U S W I T H OUR MOUTHS OPEN A F T E R WA R D S. Our van trips require the use of a lot of adventure equipment. Apart from our SUP boards, we carry backpacks, a tent, sleeping bags, mats, wetsuits and so much more ... and of course, all of this m u s t t r a v e l i n o u r v a n t o o ! To make this possible, especially for our longer trips, we use two types of luggage rack that fit o u r Vo l k s w a g e n . O n e i s a r o o f b o x , a n d t h e o t h e r i s a To w B o x V 3 f r o m To w C a r. H a v i n g b o t h o n the VW allows us to conveniently distribute the equipment that we carry with us, taking care not to
put too much weight in one area. One of the pieces of equipment which are essential for us is to have a shower where we can rinse the boards and wetsuits after a session. For this, we have two showers, one installed in the van and another portable Columbus Discover Nature. This second one allows us to spray down the S U P a n d w e t s u i t s c o n v e n i e n t l y. To d a y w e c a n s a y t h a t w e have practised SUP in so many incredible places and that we have also found waters of all colours. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve travelled to many parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Oceania ... across five continents in total. In February 2020 we left Spain with our van to visit the fjords of N o r w a y. A n i n c r e d i b l e t r i p i n t h e middle of winter that presented us dream landscapes, worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. It is a unique sensation, practising SUP in the fjords with an air temperature of around -10ÂşC. Such a magical environment and one which we will never forget. Winter is when we love to travel the most. Scotland is a unique destination to enjoy nature and
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road trips, a destination that we put among our most favourites. The Highlands welcomed us with semi-frozen lakes, with blocks of ice on the shores of the lakes and allowed us to enjoy some amazing sessions. If we go to the opposite extreme, we have travelled to what we could call "Mars"! We sailed on challenging and intense red waters, a unique place in the world. Without any doubt, it left us with our mouths open afterwards. The water held this colour due to it being rich in minerals such as iron, acquiring an intense red colour difficult to find in other parts of the world. Continuing to think about our trips in the heat, we cannot fail to mention our road trip to Morocco, one of the countries that we carry the most in our hearts. The Erg Chebbi, with its wonderful sunsets, striking night skies and its marvellous dunes… let us enjoy it in a different way… sliding down the dunes with our boards, just perfect. In recent months we have discovered a canyon in the heart of Spain, with crystal clear waters and orange walls, which have undoubtedly transported us to our days along the West Coast of the United States. It made us realise that you really don’t have to travel so far to have an epic advanture.
↑ From deserts to the ice, Jose and Laura have travelled far to experience the widest range of environments possible.
We could continue writing about even more incredible destinations we have seen such as the Dead Sea in Jordan, the Ojos del Salar in Chile, Anakena in Easter Island, Marinha in Portugal, the Costa Da Morte in Spain… with which we still continue to get excited about when thinking of each of them. All places we have reached by van, discovering no limits. Discover No Limits descubresinlimites.com
ISSUE 04 DUE AUTUMN 2020 Join us for the change of season, and a new magazine packed full of wanderlust to help inspire you to k e e p t h e s h o w o n t h e r o a d . We ' l l g o in search of more amazing places across Europe, perfect for camping, exploring and more. Let the advanture begin.
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