LIVING YOUR BEST #VANLIFE

ON THE ROAD Exploring flying spots in northern Norway by day

Photo: Jorge Atramiz

LIVING YOUR BEST #VANLIFE

Vanlife? It’s easy. You’ll need a VW van, a well-conditioned beard, and a girlfriend/boyfriend who’s perpetually in a sarong. Shoot a few videos at sunset for your YouTube channel pondering the freedom of the simple life, and then beg viewers for a donation in your Patreon account. Ker-ching. #Vanlife awaits. Oh, and get a dog too, ideally a shaggy mongrel with a neckerchief.

There are actually a few people who do make a living out of living in their vans, but the reality of following your passion on four wheels is some distance from the manicured online fantasy they present.

As someone who has spent years at a time living out of a van while touring paragliding flying sites in Europe, Asia and the US, there are a few hard-won lessons I’ve learned that make the difference between making the #Vanlife fantasy a reality, and being wedged into a campsite next to a noisy family of six.

A VW Transporter is fine for a long weekend, or even a week at a push, but they are small. If you’re going to be living out of a van for any length of time you’ll soon tire of the dinky fridge and dollhouse stove. Get a van big enough for you and your travelling companions to hang out in when it’s raining and you’re all stuck inside.

Remember that gliders will take up a huge amount of storage space so however big you were thinking, get a bigger van than that. For the flexibility to follow the best flying weather you’ll need to be as autonomous as possible. Solar panels to power a decent-sized fridge and water tanks with a filtering system you trust to drink from are prerequisite for free camping. I’d also recommend a toilet and a shower too. They’re the difference between living in a van, and being homeless.

Trading tales around the campfire at night

Photo: Jorge Atramiz

To fit the fridge, shower and toilet and have the roof space for all the panels, you’ll need even more space. Better get the van that’s the next size up again. You can do it in a small van, but not comfortably, and in no time a cramped camper will drive you nuts.

The occasional campsite can be a respite but they tend to be crowded with holidaymakers in the flying season and expensive, and with a well set-up ride you don’t need them. You’ll find water taps in filling stations and churchyards. In the mountains you can fill water tanks from fountains and springs. Get a long hose in case you can’t get the van close enough.

Pick up a local SIM card with a big data package so you can follow the weather and contact local clubs and sites. Paragliding Earth is still one of the best resources. Also get Park4Night, a free app that lists places you can park up and camp. You’ll be surprised how quickly you meet other vanflyers willing to buddy up for shuttles and destination planning.

Some commercial schools can give independent flyers the evil eye so don’t count on them sharing that empty shuttle-bus seat, even for a fee. Be prepared to hike to takeoff and if you cover any distance in the air, mentally map your path to a good hitching spot as you come in to land.

Many paragliding clubs will let you park up near the landing. It’s a great feeling to land and fold up right by the van.

Andy Pag

On the road in California

Photo: Charlie King

ROAD TRIPPING

Five easy flying spots to take your van

Bassano del Grappa, Italy. One of my favourites, this is a good first stop to test out your camper. The club is really well organised with regular shuttles, the flying is reliable, and you can get a hot shower from the hotel next to the landing for two euros.

Talloires, Lake Annecy, France. Another easy spot. If you ask kindly or keep a low profile, you can park in the gravel car park next to the landing field and it’s just a short walk to the bus stop where the shuttle leaves for the take-off. There’s a similar option at Doussard, on the southern end of the lake.

Tolmin, Slovenia. You can park next to the paragliding clubhouse and check the weather on their outdoor screen without getting out of bed. All three of these spots have official campsites nearby if you don’t want to freecamp.

Woodrat Mountain, Oregon, USA. Across the Atlantic in the USA the Fiasco Winery by Woodrat Mountain in Ruch, Oregon is a good place to aim for. The pilot-owner Dave has cleared a landing area for paragliders and hang gliders, and created a camping area by the small brook.

Torrey Pines, California. Further down the West Coast at Torrey Pines you can camp discreetely in the gravel car park behind the clubhouse and be on the grassy take-off as soon as the morning sea breeze kicks in.