Tag: oktoberfest van trip (page 1 of 1)

This was supposed to be the triumphant final leg. A few hundred miles, a bit of motorway, and I’d be rolling into Munich like a hero. That was the plan. What actually happened was a full day’s worth of crawling traffic, existential sausage-fuelled reflection, multiple detours, and some of the strangest roadside encounters I’ve ever had. But I made it. Just about. Here’s how the final push across Europe actually played out.

Picture this: it’s a Thursday evening, I’ve just finished a full shift at work, I’m nursing a cold that makes me sound like a dying foghorn, and my van—bless it—has brake pads that screech like a cat being strangled through a harmonica. Most people would’ve taken that as a sign to stay home, brew a cup of tea, and rest. I, on the other hand, had an epiphany. Somewhere between the last sneeze and a half-eaten packet of biscuits, the idea struck: Oktoberfest. Why? Who knows. Call it cabin fever, call it a spontaneous crisis, or just a bloke who missed his mates and fancied some beer-fuelled chaos in Munich. Either way, I was off. No plan, no proper prep—just one van and blind optimism.

Now, if you’re the type who loves checklists, double-checking tyre pressures, and neatly folding your socks before a trip, you may want to brace yourself. This wasn’t a glossy, curated Instagram #vanlife journey. It was messy, ill-prepared, and full of lessons I wish I’d learned beforehand. But if you’re the kind of person who believes the best stories come from the worst decisions, you’re in good company.

I have a full series of my first European Road Trip To Oktoberfest where you can follow the full adventure of driving to Germany for the first time.