Fewer public blog posts…

Fewer public blog posts…

*** This is not my most recent blog post. As of August 2017, many new blog posts are only available to subscribed blog followers. Here’s why… ***

Speaking for myself, the definition of success is happiness. As simple as that. Being happy is one thing the common ailment known as “money” can’t actually buy you. Granted, you can have some short term fun if you have plenty, but true happiness comes from within. I know many very wealthy, miserable people.

Let’s talk blogging. To me, the definition of a successful travel blog is to be happy with what you’re creating, enjoying writing for your regular followers and most of all creating a readable memory of the enjoyment I’m experiencing along my journey. I have a successful blog.

Blogging

I started my blogging in 2015. The purpose at that time was simply so that mine and Kirsty’s parents as well as my daughter could share our adventures with us, so to speak. A few blog posts later, new followers appeared who were genuinely interested in various aspects of our travel. The numbers grew and grew.

With blogging, consistency is the key. I’ve not been overly consistent with my posts over the years but what I have put out there has gained considerable interest. Since Kirsty and I went our separate ways, I have continued to blog the travels of myself and Ted.

(Anti) Social Media

Creating a social media presence wasn’t actually my finest idea. By doing so, my audience then started to include people who aren’t specifically interested in what I’m doing, but instead was drawing the negative vibe of what I call anti-social media. People who spend their lives aimlessly scrolling through fakebook, twatter, YouTroll, etc. just looking to be keyboard warriors and drag people down. I’ve been fortunate as far as I’ve had minimal hassle from these pitiful people, but I have friends who have been plagued by internet trolls for years. Not a path I intend to allow myself to take.

I do not use my personal facebook profile, I post nothing on it, it’s simply a tool to enable me to run my BeyondTheVan page and be a part of a couple of other groups I find of interest.

I do like Instagram though! You can follow me on there… right here! My YouTube channel is also growing nicely.

Private, from now on

Something I have been thinking about on and off for a fair few months is do I want to keep blogging for the entire world to see, or would I prefer to keep some of it relatively private. I’ve decided on both. My life is my own and I shall share it with those who I choose. My decision wasn’t overly straight forward – when travelling alone, blogging is a good way to share your adventures with others. By going semi private, I will have the best of both worlds.

Whilst I very much enjoy creating blogs, there’s no need for the public world to be reading all of them. I fully intend to continue blogging, and those subscribed to my blog (see below) will still receive an email notifying them of new posts. However, random visitors to my site will find only the public posts.

So if you’d like to still read all of my blogs, please do make sure you subscribe if you haven’t already.

Subscribe?!

That’s a very daunting and official word – subscribe. All it means is pop your email address into the box on the front page of BeyondTheVan.com (or below) and when I post a new blog, you’ll receive a quick email letting you know and giving you the link to read it. I don’t do anything at all with your email address and never will. It’s not passed on to anyone else and at any time if you decide you no longer want email notifications, you can easily opt out by clicking the link in any email you get from me.

Note: If you already receive an email letting you know about blog posts then you’re already subscribed!

Follow my private blogs:

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A new, private blog post coming shortly with an update as to where I am. I have some interesting news and very exciting plans for you too… Subscribe (or stay subscribed!) to read the next post… Exciting adventures in the pipeline…!

    

Turn dreams into memories. Stay well and be happy.

Richard (& Ted!).

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22 Comments on “Fewer public blog posts…

  1. Good decision, nobody needs or wants that kind of hassle. I too, have subscibed to keep abreast of your’s and Ted’s adventures.

  2. Hey Rich, Kirsty says you would like to get together for a chat, great, I will pop in soon or if Kirsty is coming to see us at home, get her to bring you with her. Regarding your book project, if you have to use any words that contain more than four letters, give me a call and I will help you with the spelling! Told you a book and talks were the way foreward. Have fun.

  3. Nice to see your still out enjoying life,safe and interesting travels to you and Ted, look forward to the private blogs,all our best Alf and Marianne.

  4. I love reading your blogs and hope to get to some of the places you’ve visited next year. Subscribed.

  5. Hi Rich,

    Thanks for sharing the travels with Ted!
    My wife and I will be in Southern France during September. Hope to meet you there!

  6. Hi Richard & Ted

    Firstly let me say I really enjoyed Reading your adventures, I certainly value your advice. I’m not a newcomer to adventure travel in my previous life 1979/ 1980 I had the good fortune to be an expedition driver/Leader for Encounter Overland. This involved taking 20 passengers at a time between London and Kathmandu in the British ex army 4×4 Bedford MK, well that’s all history nevertheless I think it altered my DNA, I’ve travelled the world extensively when I became a commercial pilot hot air balloons. Now with my body in its early 60s, Outlook in the 40s! I’m now converting a 7.5 ton Leyland Daf horsepox into a camper. Initially this will be full-time living/ working saving money so as to set about heading off towards Morocco on a shakedown trip, thereafter with a bit of wishful thinking heading back to the Himalayas. Okay things have moved on since I was driving to Kathmandu, leisure batteries inverters/ Solar panels etc you know what I mean. If you don’t mind I would like to pick your brains on these topics at sometime in the near future. Good look my friend travel far and travel safe. Best regards Ben

  7. subscribed .. love to read your adventures and travels, they help nerchure my dreams

  8. Hello Richard and Ted,

    I only know about you since the video I watched yesterday that camper van “Florence” made at that camper van meeting.
    After that I’ve been looking over your website with all the stories and photos, and I admire the work you’ve done, and I love Ted.

    Myself I’m a retired Dutch bargee, that’s living in France since ’79 acouple of years ago,I bought an old (2001) Renault Master 2 type L3H2 with a 2.5D engine non-turbo and only 80Hp.

    The reason for this old van was that it was still a simple van, on which I should be able to do all (or at least most) of the mechanical jobs myself, without the need to go to expensive rip-off garages, as there seem to be less and less garages that you can trust.

    My next step will be the fit out of my van, which may take a while longer than I would have liked, as my retirement pension isn’t enough to pay for my fixed costs, and the little bit of savings I have are melting like ice from the North-pole in a micro-wave on the defrosting cycle.

    So it will have to wait until I have the courage (read money) to start the conversion, this is a nuissance as time is flying, and I’m not getting any younger, and my health is far from what it used to be, but could have been worse.

    My working life was with and on barges and boats for the last 46 years, and I still live on a boat, but can’t afford to cruising on her, as the fuel it needs will get rid of my last savings in no time at all, that’s one of the reasons I want to do the van too.

    Anyway, I’m looking forward to read more of your and Ted’s very interesting journey’s, as I like the way you write.

    Atb, Peter.

    • Hi Peter! Ahh that all sounds great! Yes, the Morgans have become good friends. We went off for a weekend away with them last week actually! Florence is a gem! Very best wishes, Rich & Ted.

  9. What a delightful and honest blog, both of your travels and your inner ramblings and deeper thoughts. I was giggling away on the blog where you were in full panic mode losing your keys, could absolutely happen to me!So i would like to read more. I am enjoying your instagram and youtube as well,nice home you created! Keep going, enjoy every day and give that cute dog a hug too!