Ignis wrote:mikeonb4c wrote:
Helen's right - I think you need to be careful and to lots of research if you want to ensure the experience is relaxing. Winter is a cold wet time in a lot of places, snowy too (is your Bongo a 4WD?). You need to be sure also that the Bongo is in reliable form and to carry a few essential spares for peace of mind. I think I'd rather deal with snow than cold rain and wind, and its more picturesque. I wonder if the AirBnB network might allow any interesting opportunities for overnighting if campsites prove a problem - I'd be attracted to a warm bed in winter!
My Bongo is not 4WD, it is 2.5 petrol, but it has all seasons tyres and I think I'll buy snow chains. I also have an AA European cover - hope it will work in winter too...
You are right, Mike, AirBnb is an option for those nights when staying outside is not possible. On the other hand when I was a teenager I was camping in tents up to -8C. Nostalgia about these young years is probably what prompted me to do this trip... I don't know. All this time in hospital I have been just dreaming about being outdoors, walking, living basic...
Yep, totally get that. The trouble always is that the dream may not pan out as expected so you're doing the right thing inviting thoughts from others before commmitting. I'm getting older - I dream of shooting off to go gliding but its a 100 mile trip for an uncertain outcome and I'm finding that what with work and other commitments, I dream of doing it but when faced with the reality of getting out to do it I find I lack the energy to make my life so busy!
Meanwhile, I was curious about how to keep warm if camping in winter without hookup. A Bongo should be warmer than a tent but it could still get mighty cold unless you have an onboard diesel/propex heater. I wondered if anyone had tried these inside a sleeping bag:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-Warmer-Ad ... dy+warmers
Might provide insurance against unexpectedly cold nights?
Turning back to AirBnB, maybe a mixed strategy would work? That way, if Bongo nights prove cold, then warm accommodation is only a night or two away.
I've heard it said that a 2WD Bongo with the right winter / snow tyres manages as well as a 4WD without.
