Before we have even set off – a few mistakes we’ve already made

What have we learnt so far from our mistakes? I’m sure anyone who has done anything similar can relate – and if you haven’t, enjoy this free lesson!

I’m sure there are many more to come – which is part of the process – and here are just a few of ours to start with.

Mistake #1  - Forgetting (on Charlotte’s part) and not realising (on John’s part) just HOW much work this involves.

The amount of planning and learning is quite intense (if you want to be responsible). I’m sure many people think “why would you go to all that effort and trouble when you could just have a ‘normal’ holiday?”

I’ve definitely been wondering this myself at times!

There’s always something else to check, to learn, to do…and last time I did such a trip I was an employee in the run up to and organising stage of the trip, and I was leaving a job not to return to it.

It’s a very different situation when we’re both running our own businesses and need to spend extra time structuring things in the way that we need to, in order to take this time off.

💡 Lesson – it will ALWAYS take as much time as you have, and more, so build in more than you need.

Mistake #2 - Not taking the usual amount of leave beforehand.

This was more of an unintentional mistake, partly due to COVID, and partly due to us knowing that we’d be off for three months. I am a big advocate of taking regular and adequate time off work to rest and recuperate and usually have time off every quarter (at least a week). It’s better for my physical and mental health – and particularly important in the work that I do.

However, it has turned out that since Christmas last year, I have actually only taken two single weeks in ten months (along with the intensity of the working and planning I’ve mentioned) – for me, that is not enough.

And as we have been a month or so delayed, time off has been drawn out further. 

💡 Lesson – don’t store up time off as if it’s a physical commodity you can just save (especially when putting more things in your life that you’re dealing with). Feel zero guilt or shame for needing more rest, and ensure you build that in, regardless of how much time you’ll soon have off.

Mistake #3 - Underestimating/being naïve about how long vehicle prep takes.

It’s been a long time since I prepared a vehicle for an adventure – and that was in another country on the other side of the world. I had no idea of who the suppliers and specialists in this country were, or the availability of materials that were needed etc. I went to the Overland Adventure show to meet companies and talk with them, but didn’t realise some parts took so long to arrive and weren’t readily available in the U.K.

Again, with supply chains severely disrupted throughout the world due to COVID, it was a bit stressful trying to find parts and equipment and someone who could do the work that was needed.

Luckily, we found a good specialist (Craddock and Sons) to work on Penelope but as it was under time pressure it cost us a little more (ouch) and was a bit of a nightmare juggling when they could fit her in with our schedules – and we had to do the 2.5 hour each way journey to Trowbridge multiple times.

We also had to fit in with the pre-trip servicing appointments with our brilliant garage (Mile Oak Services) and all the time mindful that the shipping deadline was looming!

We’re very grateful to these companies for accommodating us and doing a great job.

💡 Lesson – book as early as you can for any work that you think you might want doing and then book in even more extra weeks contingency.

Mistake #4 -  Almost making serious errors with equipment and trusting specialists.

This is only a funny story because it worked out ok – it wouldn’t have been funny if we’d discovered this once we were in Botswana!

We decided to go with two spare wheels (there are endless debates online about whether to take one or two), and we ordered a new one. John took charge of that job, and sent a picture to the tyre specialist when ordering.

It arrived in plenty of time, great.

We were loading up and figuring out exactly where everything would go and how to fit the extra spare in etc and as we lifted it into Penelope I joked “and lets double and triple check it’s the right wheel, can you imagine?!”

To which John laughed and then said “now you’ve said that, I’m paranoid, let me check!”…and it turned out that it was entirely the wrong wheel – it was for a Landrover (not a Landcruiser) and there is NO way we could have even fudged any sort of repair or replacement if we’d discovered that too late.

I’ve still no idea how the specialist managed to send the wrong one despite seeing a picture.

💡 Lesson – ALWAYS triple check every serious piece of equipment, it could make all the difference in the wilderness.

Mistake #5 - Getting overexcited about equipment and forgetting about the lure of the gadgets!

This is a bit geeky but if you’ve watched the Youtube video you’ll see how excited I am about some really insignificant and tiny things, some of which I’m sure we don’t actually need. But I forgot what it’s like to be in ‘excited-adventure-planning-mode’ when everything (yes, even a collapsible washing up bowl!) becomes thoroughly ‘must-have’.

I usually hate any sort of shopping, and am only ever happy if something is a bargain, but when it involves outdoors/adventure stuff these rules do not apply!

I did manage to reign it in latterly, but I’m sure I’ll be able to list all the things we took that we didn’t need or were useless and the things that we wished we had taken!

💡 Lesson – everyone wants you to buy their stuff, all the time. Be really strict (and boring!) about what is really necessary!

I don’t think it will be too long until I’ll be writing ‘Mistakes: Part II’ – let me know if you’ve got any guesses as to what they might be!

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P.P.S. If you haven’t checked out our beloved Penelope yet, the Youtube channel has an introduction to her and our set up.