About us

Hi again!

So... who are we exactly and what are we about?

We are Ellen & Tom / Tom & Ellen, whichever you prefer, and we're a husband and wife from the UK. Based in the east midlands, we love to travel and see as many new destinations as possible together.

The Big Trip

In 2023 we realised that we were in a good place in our careers but wanted to do something "once in a lifetime" before we hit 35. So naturally, we decided to leave those careers behind for a year and go on a sabbatical in our early 30's!

The idea came up to go travelling around europe in a campervan for a whole year. Of course we had been inspired by those who were already doing just this on instagram! Tom had always wanted to build a camper and after weighing up the options, we decided building our own was the most cost effective and would give us exactly the spec we wanted (almost).

So, in Autumn 2023, the search for a van began and we ultimately found a Ford Transit with all the bits we were after. Over the course of winter 2023 and the first half of 2024, we spent alot of long, cold, dark evenings after work and wet weekends working to convert this once fire station kit transport van into a fully off-grid capable campervan. A few test trips and minor upgrades followed for the rest of 2024 and we now have Noodle as you see her today.

Noodle

Meet Noodle, our 2022 Ford Transit Van that we converted ourselves into a fully off-grid campervan.

We converted Noodle into a campervan across the course of winter 2023/2024 to Tom's design and taking pointers from hired vans in the UK and Tasmania. We figured out what we did and didn't want and tried to encorporate this into the design.

For example, the bed is a little larger than a kingsize and allows us to not have to sleep sideways kicking the walls. The other issue being be one person would have to climb over the other in the night when you need to the loo, which isn't ideal. To achieve this without losing too much living space and ensuring we had garage storage, we installed a slide out bed which uses the sofa cushions instead of the weight and faff of a folding matress. This also means we don't have to fully put away the bed each night, rather we can fold the bedding up with a throw over to protect from cooking smells. This also then doubles as a "day bed" for somewhere else to sit and read, or for one person to have a nap etc.

These are all things we realised when we hired similar vehicles, along with many many other things which would bore you all to tears if we detailed here.

As for the name Noodle. This came about in a weird way, after a few test runs with a half opened pack of dried noodles in a cupboard over the sink. These noodles inevitably broke apart as we were driving and bits of debris were left all over the cupboard. As we drove, these would fall through the hole for the lighting cables. So everytime we stopped anywhere, we would find tiny bits of dried noodle all over the worktop (and still do).
Hence the nickname "Noodle"... We said it was weird...

As for what we've put into Noodle, here's a few stats for the proudly boring people like Tom:

    Power
  • 230Ah 12V Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
  • 3 x 175W solar panels
  • 30A DC-DC charging (from alternator)
  • Shore power hook up
  • 2300W/3000W Inverter/Charger
  • Cerbo GX Control system
  • 12v sockets, USB sockets & Uk 230V plug sockets

    • Amenities
  • 75L Underslung fresh water tank
  • 36L Internal Auxillary (Winter) fresh water tank
  • Truma Combi Diesel/AC Heater/boiler
  • 58L Underslung grey water tank
  • Drinking water filter
  • Fully functional shower
  • External shower connection in rear
  • MaxxFan Deluxe ceiling fan
  • Simploo Mini composting toilet
  • 75L Dometic fridge with removable freezer and double opening door
  • Dual burner LPG (Propane/Butane) stove

Toto

Meet Toto, Tom's Honda CRF1000 Africa Twin.
Since getting Toto brand new in 2019, she's racked up the miles! We have taken this bike across the UK, as far south as France (pictured) & northen Spain and as far north as Dunnet Head in Scotland. Tom loves to tour on two wheels, this being his third bike on which to do so. Mainly solo riding and with Ellen riding pillion or with small groups of friends/family.

The plan was to take Toto away on a "big trip" once a year, however Covid impacted our plans in 2020 when we changed from a 3 week trip to Slovenia, to tackling the NC500 in Scotland. A truly breathtaking experience and in no way a downgrade!

Since then, rides down the French Pyrenees via various routes through the french countryside have filled the yearly agenda until other trips and Noodle came along.

It was these motorcycle tours that saw Tom start to switch from just his travel journal to blogging on facebook for family and friends. Now that we are going big with the travels in 2025, this website was created as a result of the popularity of those posts.

The hope is, that in 2025 Toto will get to stretch her legs again properly for the first time in over a year. We hope she can carry us somewhere new in the summer when we take a break from Europe (and Noodle) to do "the shenghen shuffle". Maybe we'll go to Ireland? Maybe we'll go to Skye or Orkeney? Who knows, but it will be an adventure either way!