Have Fun And Go

29/01/2024

I kicked off 2024 with a colossal flu that turned my voice into a starting TD5 engine at -10°C and gifted me a nose leakier than the underside of a Defender 🥴🤧

I hope your start was much better?!?!

This flu forced another unexpected hiatus from YouTube. Yeah, I'm not thrilled about it either!
My upload schedule is basically a surprise party, and I was dead set on changing that for 2024.

So, Erik, how's that mission going? 😑
I know, I know. Looks like my New Year's resolution is taking an extended coffee break.

But fear not!
The year is still fresh, and I'm cooking up a new batch of videos.
I might not hit the 4th of February, so let's set our sights on the 11th... yes, still in 2024 😉

Brace yourself for some unexpected news in that video, so stay tuned!

Until then, massive thanks for hanging in there!!! And to quote the immortal AC/DC:

"It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll!" 🤘

Cheers, Erik

30/12/2023

That's no good! 😯

I crossed the border with Italy, where the trouble with the Land Rover Defender started! Every time I used the brakes, I noticed a weird sound. After checking the wheel, I saw that an essential part was missing, which could have turned out to be a catastrophic disaster! 🤯

Watch the whole episode here; https://youtu.be/MXUWkMULJU8

18/12/2023

Will I make it?
That's the question when conquering the highest paved road 😅

This was an incredible experience, one I wanted to cross off my bucket list for a long time 🤟🏻😎 Come join me on this adventure, and let's discover this insanely beautiful place on planet Earth!

Enjoy the full episode right here:

I'm going to the highest paved road in the French Alps with my Land Rover Defender Overland Camper. The road is on top of Cime de la Bonette in the southeast...

15/12/2023

Let's go!!

To quote John Muir; The mountains are calling, and I must go ⛰️

Here's to embracing the adventure, conquering new heights, and finding freedom in every journey! 👊🏼😎

10/12/2023

I uploaded a new video again, and here's a little preview! 🎉

In the NEW episode, I'm driving the Route des Grandes Alpes. This route is between Lake Geneva and the French Riviera, passing over all the high passes of the Alps within France. This truly is paradise on planet Earth, which you have to see!

So, enjoy this trip with me, and hit that play button!
FULL VERSION: https://youtu.be/qVlD9dvWLJo

07/12/2023

So... Here is some double good news!! 🤩

Today, I'm officially launching the Have Fun and Go Spaceship... 🚀 I mean Website!

It contains stories about my journeys, some of the gear and equipment I use, and everything you want to know about me and my Land Rover Defender 110, AND you can buy your own Have Fun and Go Sticker in the shop!

Check it out: https://www.havefunandgo.com/

I will also post NEW YouTube videos starting this Sunday, the 10th of December 2023 🍿 🎥

Now, you might be wondering where on earth I disappeared to... Spoiler: it wasn't just a really long pit stop.
Let's just say I took an unexpected detour 🙈
In a few days, I will spill all the wild tales!

Buckle up, folks – the adventure resumes.
Hope to see you there!

Cheers, Erik

27/09/2023

Go Slow Escargot!

Slow and steady wins the race, right? 🐌 I've been meandering through France for what feels like a snail's pace, and I'm loving every minute of it! ✌🏼😎

Forget racing through countries like it's a checklist – when do you truly experience the magic? How long does it take to really say you've visited? 🌏

Today's highlight: Meeting this escargot ** Land Rover Defender enthusiast! 🐌 I mean, look at that form! Both are not shaped to go fast 😂

So, let's ditch the 'country count' and savor the moments. It's about quality, not quantity! 🌍❤️



*no escargot was hurt during the making of this photo 🤪

22/09/2023

What a day ⛰️

Yesterday, we were in our absolute element!

Small, bendy gravel roads, beautiful French mountains covered in this smoky haze (which makes them look even cooler), and some fine tunes playing through the speakers.

For me, this is an absolute dream!!

It's when driving becomes this meditative thing where it's just me and the Defender slowly crawling to the top and then down again, only to repeat itself around the next corner.

It's at that point I forget about everything. No worries, no stress, nothing! I freakin' love it ❤️

Do you know this feeling?

17/09/2023

Chop 'Til You Drop 🌱🔪

Who knew chopping veggies could be my new World Trip hobby? 😋

So, I guess I'm going to chop my way to Asia. In a couple of months, I'm a freakin' chef or lost a finger or two 😂

Naaahhhh just kidding, don't worry Mom! I'm eating healthy and I can still count to ten 👐🏼

Now what should I do with all these veggies?

10/09/2023

I'm Alive!!

Wow!! I don't know what happened but I crashed straight into the French Vacation Twilight Zone doing absolutely butkus 🤤

Well... apart from strolling through French towns, chilling at the pool, a lot of reading and listening to podcasts, meeting some very nice people, and I visited my parents who were also in France 🇫🇷

I guess I really needed some time off. So, that's what I did. Thanks for all the lovely messages of concern 🤗

I'm freakin' alive 🙋🏻

And now it's time to go from 'tourist mode' to 'traveler mode'🧭

In other words, crispy croissant time is over 🥐 Let's rev up the engine and get to my global quest!!

Asia is calling ☎️
But first, let me finish my morning coffee ☕🤣

02/08/2023

Of course, I had to go inside this WW I bunker 😲

While driving through the Northeast of France there are a lot of World War 1 memorials and sites you can visit around the city of Verdun.

This fortress bunker is one of them and although it doesn't mean you can actually go inside and just wander around... I still did. 😆

In the latest YouTube episode, I'll tell you all about the longest fight during WWI, which happened here 100 years ago 🤯 AND A LOT MORE!

So, if you haven't seen it yet... Here's the link to the video; https://youtu.be/ES03xSKRw0E

23/07/2023

After a rough start in the Netherlands 😵‍💫
I entered Luxembourg via Belgium 🇱🇺🇧🇪

Now I'm determined to find a wild camping spot!!

There's a lot of forest where I can easily hide, or is this adventure with my Defender camper going to turn out differently? 🫣

Enjoy the new episode 🎬 https://youtu.be/wEw9pQUG3V0 and don't be afraid moehahahaha! 👻

21/07/2023

WATCH OUT!!!

Yeahhh... you're all good! Almost stepped on your face there 😝

While in Luxembourg I did not only enjoy driving through the beautiful landscape. I also walked through the beautiful landscape. So tiring but it saves a lot of diesel 👍🏼

Normally I just turn off my phone and go on a long hike where it's just me 🙋🏻 and the sounds of nature 🌿🐯 (didn't spot one unfortunately!)

But in this case, I had some selfie fun 👊🏻😎

Nothing beats setting the timer of your camera, running away from it like you just armed a bomb, and then posing like a badass fashion model pretending you're not out of breath. Nailed it 🤩👍🏻

18/07/2023

Cows and rain! What?

I have adopted a new 'mantra' and it is ; Have Fun and Go slow 🐌 If you've watched the latest video on youtube (see the previous post) you know it was a bit of a hectic start so I really had to go into Bob Marley mode 😅

And so I did... Relax man✌🏼😏

Going from sixth gear to third gear was challenging because I was still in full preparation mode 🏃🏻 But now...

Now I'm chilling in the shade with a cup of coffee accompanied by a couple of curious cows 🐮 and even those rain clouds up ahead can't ruin my day ☀️

🎼Don't worry about a thing, cuz every little thing is gonna be alright 🎼

16/07/2023

The World Trip KICK-OFF video is here!! Yes, it's live now🤩

It's a strange feeling that after many, many months of preparations, the time has come to turn the key and... GO!! 🚀
I'm super excited 😎
Curious about what's to come 🫡
So, enjoy this episode, everyone 🎥

This is it! The kick-off of my solo World Trip to Asia in my self-converted Land Rover Defender Overland camper. It's a strange feeling that after many, many...

02/07/2023

You can call this the unofficial start of my solo world trip to Asia in my Land Rover Defender Overland Camper 🚀 Why not official? 🤔

Well, I really need a head start! Why? Well.. You're awesome if you click the video below because then you'll find out! 👊🏻😎 Also.. Watch out for the hair pin bend 😂

So, enjoy the well-known intro for the very last time. It's all going to be different next week 🎉

You can call this the unofficial start of my solo world trip to Asia in my Land Rover Defender Overland Camper. Why not official? Well, I really need a head ...

25/06/2023

Ola Facebook friends!! 👋🏼
A new YouTube video is now live 🤩

Before I start the solo World Trip with my Land Rover Defender Camper, I want to solve one major problem with the rooftop tent, which has annoyed me since I used it for the first time🤬

Ok, before I start the solo World Trip with my Land Rover Defender Camper, I want to solve one major problem with the rooftop tent, which has annoyed me sinc...

18/06/2023

Hi, I hope you are doing well!!

There's a SUPER FRESH new YouTube video waiting for you!
https://youtu.be/vbWUO1K4fWY

🔺spoiler alert🔺 It's gonna be ugly!

Why? Well... A front axle is an essential part of getting the Land Rover Defender out of the garage. Which I DON'T HAVE!

Oh, and there are a few other things I had to fix where I had to spend a few hours on a freezing concrete floor 🥶

I hope you enjoy the video, and please tell me about your car repair struggles in the comments below. I'm curious! 🔧

17/06/2023

In exactly 12 hours, I will launch a new video on YouTube!!

It's all about an undrivable Defender 😮🔧
So... I hope you are as excited as I was frustrated 🤪

Alright! Let's start counting down together 43200, 43199, 43198...
Now common! Don't stop... 43,197 🚀

11/06/2023

The Overland Camper build is slowly coming to an end, so I'm almost going to start with the solo World Trip to Asia 🤩

On the other hand, the Land Rover Defender is giving me a hard time, delaying my departure date 🔧

I will tell you all about it in a brand-new, fresh vlog! 🍿🥳

The Overland Camper build is slowly coming to an end, so I'm almost going to start with the solo World Trip to Asia. On the other hand, the Land Rover Defend...

18/09/2022

Ola! A fresh new vlog is NOW live on YouTube!
I never thought I would use this for the Defender 🤯
Enjoy 🍿🙃

I'm getting really close to finishing the interior build for the Land Rover Defender Overland Camper. While crossing more and more off the to-do list, the cl...

23/07/2022

In other news...

I had to blink twice this morning when I opened the Dutch newspaper 😲
I thought it would be just a 'short' article about my World Trip adventures, but it turned out to be an almost two-page long article 🗞🤯

It's about the first attempt, which started in 2019 and ended in Iraqi Kurdistan due to the jibblefrizzles, turning the Land Rover Defender into an Overlanding camper, and -of course- the restart of the World Trip in august.

It's cool to share my story and hopefully inspire others to start their own adventure⚡

Picture 2/3
Newspaper- DvhN
Article by- Herman Sandman
Photo by- Duncan Wijting

10/07/2022

After more than 20 years, the old Land Rover Defender 110 window could use a BADASS upgrade. So in this video, I remove the old one and install a brand new window! I tell you more about it in episode 11!

After more than 20 years, the old Land Rover Defender 110 window could use a BADASS upgrade. So in this video, I remove the old one and install a new window ...

03/07/2022

Defender kitchen!

First of all... Please appreciate the interior stylist in me for this photoshoot 😂🥕

I'm just a big step closer to finishing the Defender Camper Build. I've been working on a REAL kitchen with a sink, a faucet, and a massive butcher block countertop this time.

I decided NOT to paint the wooden kitchen worktop, but I used vinyl to upholster the wooden panel. I made a video about it : https://youtu.be/Dca9W-0l3Ng 🍿🎬

So why vinyl? Because I wanted something different than treating it with lacquer or varnish. Also, this stuff is super durable and easy to clean 😎

The overall look is a bit dark for now, but... just wait, I haven't finished the build yet 🛠😅

30/06/2022

I'm in a magazine!

Look at this happy dude! 😁 The Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB wrote an article (it's in Dutch) about Overlanders and their vehicles, and they interviewed me about my travel plans. The article is about my Land Rover Defender with its TD5 engine, how I converted the car into an Overlanding camper, and my upcoming journey to Nepal. Oh, and my lockdown story in Iraq, of course.

With 4.4 million members, the ANWB is the largest club in the Netherlanders, so it's really awesome I could tell them my story and hopefully inspire many others to follow their dreams!

Picture 2 :
Magazine | ANWB Kampioen
Article by | Jasmine Groenendijk
Photo by | Femke Reijerman

28/06/2022

Another step closer to starting the World Trip!
I thought a kitchen would come in handy one day...
So, I build one 😜 I tell you all about it in episode No. 10 🍿

Just a big step closer to finishing the Defender Camper Build. This time I've been working on a REAL kitchen with a sink, a faucet, and a massive butcher blo...

24/06/2022

Camper ceiling
This was quite challenging, but I installed the "new" ceiling ⚡️ I made a vlog about it. The link is in the description! 🍿

It's actually the old ceiling with a fresh coat of white paint. When I was ripping out the old camper interior, I noticed that the slats had an orangy-yellowish color. I thought it was always like this, but after comparing them with the original one (check out photo 2!!), they actually changed color during the first World Trip, probably because I didn't use any lacquer or varnish.

Crazy right?!? 😳😳

So, I turned the old slats around, where the wood still had its original color, and I re-used them. I could go with the wood color (after treating them, obviously), but I decided to whitewash the ceiling because I like the wood texture, but I just wanted another look for the new interior build. Check out picture 3 😍😍

So, tell me... Like 👍🏻 or Dislike 👎🏻?