Fantastic Uncle Steve and Cousin Tony

Well hello, old friend. It's been about 10 years since I last travel blogged (oh - my sweet, sweet Melilla <3). I'd like to say I'm back by popular demand but it's moreso that friends and colleagues have suggested I keep an account of this trip whenever I've explained why I won't be around in March. Being a bit out of practice, it might take me a while to re-find my flow* but, please, stick with me on this journey; it's gonna be a good 'un!

Destination: Russia. 27 days until departure.

Let's set the scene by rewinding a bit first... I want to explain how all this came about...

Christmas 2021. Covid drags on and it feels like I've had setback after setback for years on end. I need a change. Something to distract me from glum. Something uplifting. Something significant. Cue (stage left): Fantastic Uncle Steve.

Fantastic Uncle Steve is my guardian angel. Steve has filled the void that Dad (Steve's brother) left behind when he died a few years back. Steve and his family have been with me every step of the way through the grief. They helped me rebuild my life after my divorce. They've kept my spirits up when it felt like everything else wanted to get me down. (Is this getting hopelessly romantic? I'm taking advantage of this platform to big them all up and share the love!!!)

Pensive about what 2022 might bring, I head down to Steve's neck of the woods for festive celebrations. This trip used to be the only time of the year I saw this part of the family. Now they've become my everything. <3  (OK, no more sop!)

So, Steve knows my situation. He knows my character. And he knows of my deep yearning for getting away. Fantastic Uncle Steve also knew how I'd feel when he'd tell me about Cousin Tony's visit to him just yesterday. Cue (stage right): Cousin Tony.

Cousin Tony ("You know, the one who goes travelling around the world?") was saying how he might be looking for a van buddy. He's driving across Russia. In a campervan. "Give him a call, Stace. See what the deal is. I reckon it's right up your street!"

Well, that's a wild card!!! We talk about it, amongst cousins: Camping in a van? In baltic temperatures? In the middle of desolate Russia?

"It's not for me", says one.

"Not in a million years!", says another.

"F%$! that!", says, easily, the most eloquent. 

Me? "Where do I sign?", I say!

Not much more than 24 hours later and I'm sat with cousin Tony at his dining table, learning all about some of the most incredible-sounding trips you can only imagine.

It started with the Mongol Rally 2011 (when, over several months, he drove to Mongolia in a converted facilities van). He got a taste for traveling and sourced a van, created his own route for the Great 2012 Cheese Tour and roadtripped around the UK and Europe visiting famous cheese cities! The Arctic Circle followed. Then Route 66. Then he took that same van to Australia... This guy is living the bloody dream!

We (re-?)acquainted ourselves after years (lifetimes?) of not being all that in touch and pieced together family bits and pieces. We talked for hours about travel and he and his partner shared anecdotes, horror stories, and recounts of the interesting characters they'd met on their advantures(ever heard of Speedo Mick?! Nor had I. He sounds like a legend!!)...

Teresa, Tony's partner, explained that she wanted to see the blossoms in Japan and, given that she only had a certain amount of annual leave, she'd meet Tony out in Japan around April time. Teresa explained that Russia wasn't quite her thing and she felt that she wouldn't be able to stomach the bribery that we can expect during the trip (these guys had experienced bits of Russia from previous trips - crossing into the country from Estonia and Georgia previously). I started to have a few doubts and so, despite getting along so well with these guys, I was a little reluctant to commit...

I went home from Cousin Tony's with a few homemade ringbound books he'd thrown together. They had photos and accounts of his trips. One book was on the Mongol Rally and two books were on the Australia trip - both featured stints in Russia and I wanted to read up on how they had gone. Tony also gave me some print-outs of the itinerary he'd put together for the imminent Russia trip and explained his neighbour, Bob, would likely be coming too. Tony was sure to make it clear that I needed to be up for "roughing it", sharing a campervan with him and Bob and possibly not showering for a few days.

Freezing temperatures. Bribery. Roughing it. Hmm... "I'll be in touch in a week.", I tell him. I've got some serious thinking to do!

* Did I ever really have a flow? You can judge for yourselves and learn about my experience in Melilla here: staceyinmelilla.blogspot.com, if you so wish! :-)