A British couple who quit their ‘corporate’ life for a ‘grown-up gap year’ travelling Europe in a motorhome, are still going almost a decade and 90,000 miles later.
Karen, 56, and Myles Davies, 57, – aka The Motoroamers – have visited 27 countries in their vehicle which is affectionately named ‘Scoobie’.
The two set off from their home in Somerset in 2016 and have been able to sustain their on-the-road lifestyle by working alongside their travels, with expenses of around £1,500 to £2,000 a month – compared to their previous house which cost them £1,350 on rent alone.
The initial plan had been to set off through Europe for a ‘gap year’ however, the two fell in love with the lifestyle and wanted to carry on going.Â
Since then, they have been enjoying travelling around Europe with Scoobie as their forever home.
Pictured: Karen, 56 (left), and Myles Davies (right), 57, – aka The Motoroamers, who quit their ‘corporate’ life for a ‘grown-up gap year’ travelling Europe in a motorhome
The Motoroamers have visited 27 countries in their vehicle which is affectionately called ‘Scoobie’ – pictured having some engineering issues
Now with 90,000 miles under their belt, and despite two engines later, the venturesome couple have explored ‘every compass angle’ through Europe.
They have covered 27 countries from Norway to Portugal, Romania, the Sahara desert of Morocco and ‘most places in between’.
Karen, who works as a yoga coach, travel writer and author of leadership and personal development eBooks, said: ‘Now into our ninth year, we are still going and living life to the full.
‘Travel has given us the greatest and most rich classroom we’ve ever experienced.
‘We are more rounded people, have broader perspectives and clearer values,’ she explained.
‘We are loving the freedom and choice that we have created in our lives – and now we want to inspire others to do the same.’
The adventurous couple first met in March 1988 where they both worked at an insurance company in Cheltenham.Â
The two were swiftly married on 7 October 1989 and are now celebrating their 35th Coral anniversary.
Their motorhome, Scoobie (interior pictured), is equipped with a fixed island bed, bathroom, separate shower, wardrobes, a kitchen, full length fridge, freezer and lounge
The adventurous couple enjoying some face masks in a spa. The couple first met in March 1988 where they both worked at an insurance company in Cheltenham
Iceland is one of the many beautiful destinations the pair have been able to visit on their travels around Europe. They describe having explored ‘every compass angle’ through Europe
Myles pictured fixing Scoobie. The couple have covered 27 countries from Norway to Portugal, Romania , the Sahara desert of Morocco and ‘most places in between’
Their motorhome Scoobie parked up for the night by the beach. The going hasn’t always been easy –Â Scoobie, has needed two separate engines over the course of the last decadeÂ
Both Karen and Myles (pictured taking a selfie in Blackpool) have an adventurous streak which meant they could never stick still when in one place. Their sense of adventure motivated their decision to live in a van
After meeting in Gloucestershire, Myles and Karen moved to the Isle of Man in 1995, but recall how balancing three business and working non-stop seven days a week ‘nearly broke them’, leaving them exhausted and ill.
Karen explains how, after retreating to the north of the island, they decided to move back to the Somerset countryside, in the UK – where they loved their friends and family though still felt like there was something missing.
Having always been inspired by adventure and exploration, the couple packed in their corporate roles to begin their slow travel journey through Europe in March 2016.
They realised they loved it so much they continued with their nomad lifestyle.
Karen said: ‘We have developed an appetite for seeing more of this incredible planet that we are privileged to call home.
Karen and Myles enjoying some sunshine as they take in the breathtaking sea views. The couple quit their corporate jobs in 2016 so they could travel Europe
Zambujeira do Mar in Portugal is just one of the many stunning sights the couple have been lucky enough to see. Karen said: ‘We can choose the sunrise that we want to wake up to, the neighbours we share it with, and where we wish our day to close’Â
Northern Spain was another stop of their journey, which was taken them all over Europe Â
‘From off-the-beaten track destinations, where you find no tourists, to UNESCO sights that embody history, architecture and culture.
‘And how, and when we see all this, it is firmly in our hands.
‘We can choose the sunrise that we want to wake up to, the neighbours we share it with, and where we wish our day to close.
‘We feel incredibly privileged.’
Their motorhome, Scoobie, is equipped with a fixed island bed, bathroom, separate shower, wardrobes, a kitchen, full length fridge, freezer and lounge.
The couple say they ‘worked hard’ on finding the right van – but their travels have not been without difficulties.
Karen explained: ‘Having owned a motorhome some 20 years ago and having toured New Zealand for six weeks in one too, we had a pretty good idea about the type of layout we wanted.’
‘And thanks to our research, we have never needed to swap him out.
‘But he has caused us some huge problems over the years!
A picture the couple snapped up of a picture of a moody looking marsh and some stranded fishing boats
Pictured: the couple’s motorhome, Scoobie. Karen and Myles had previously travelled New Zealand for six weeks in a motorhome so they knew the kind of layout they were looking for in Scoobie
Karen said the couple feel ‘incredibly privileged’ to travel to destinations such as Morocco (pictured)Â
The pair pictured smiling for a selfie as they wrap up warm for the cold conditions. Myles, right, works in investment and rental portfolio
 ‘Two tyre blow outs, a new engine, countless punctures and plenty of costly wear and tear replacements.’
The pair say they take the financial costs into account with the mindset that Scoobie is their home 24/7.
Myles said: ‘After all, cars and houses all have running costs. And a motorhome is no different.
‘Of course without him being fit and well, our future travels would come under duress.
‘So it is as much an investment in our lifestyle as it is the van.’
Myles, who works in investment and rental portfolio, creates the foundation of their day-to-day income, and Karen works on her coaching practice – whilst running their website and blog ‘Motoroaming’.
Karen said: ‘The beauty of this lifestyle is that it is significantly cheaper than living in a house.’
The couple’s expenses, which include their day-to-day spending and annual fixed costs, average between £1,500-2,000 per month, whilst their monthly rental alone in Somerset cost them £1,350pm.
They discuss how Brexit has created a new challenge for their full-time lifestyles: as they now plan their time around the Schengen Zone, which only enables people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in every 180 days.
Though Karen says that Brexit also presents them with a new opportunity to ‘see travel with a broader view.’
Karen explained: ‘We no longer need to look just through a European lens. Now we can take off the travel blinkers and see our wanderlust through new eyes.’
Occasionally, Myles and Karen park their motorhome up in secure storage and take themselves around the world – from Singapore, Indonesia, Iceland and hopes for Canada next year.
Karen added: ‘People often ask how we find life on the road as nomads, ‘No house, no roots and infinite possibilities, how do you cope?’, they ask us.
‘I have found a new confidence and self-assuredness in my philosophy of life and about myself.
‘For the first time in our lives, we are living and working to our full potential.’
The adventure lover asked herself, should we have done it earlier? But, is sure every decision made has been the right one.Â
‘No I don’t think so. Everything comes into our life at the right time.
It took some time to work through my fears of being ‘house-less, although I have never looked back.
‘We choose to live off-grid as much as we can, and the ability to be free of life’s chains is liberating.
‘Freedom, happiness and choice are at the core of their lives. Now a caveat!
‘This life is not for everyone.
‘It has its challenges, like every aspect of our day to day living – although if you like your partner, that’s a good start.
‘If you can compromise, communicate, laugh and problem solve, then this could be a way of life for you too.
‘Travel as far as you can, for as long as you can, whenever you can; just travel’.