Just shed a tear …. Because we did it anyway!
15,440 km without emissions through 12 countries along the European coast in 104 days!! We have done something beautiful and I am so proud that I took on this beautiful H2Roadtrip challenge together with my husband Andre (DREAM PLAN DO) and that we came back in one piece, with a backpack full of special and beautiful experiences.
It was a journey with many ups, but also some downs and disappointments.
We have not been able to reach Istanbul, as we were not allowed on the ferry from Italy to Greece with our hydrogen tanks, and since the end of May, electric cars have not been allowed on it either. Very unfortunate, but then it is: AND BY… Plans are there to be adapted, which is also part of innovation. So the road trip from the 10th country, Italy, was adjusted via Switzerland and Luxembourg to drive back to the Netherlands. That’s how we got to the 12 countries.
In addition, it was more difficult to fill up with hydrogen than we thought, electric charging was a drama in Spain, we were sometimes too long and too wide with our self-built tiny house on wheels to be on a campsite, the streets were sometimes very narrow, hills quite steep, it was very hot, we got a flat tire twice and we drove a bit of damage.
But what beautiful encounters we have had during the events and company visits in the various countries, at service stations, campsites and parking lots.
We were called PIONEERS several times. Something you don’t say about yourself, but apparently it is seen that way anyway.
The combination of working and enjoying the surroundings and nature was truly fantastic. We have been in 40 different places. And it just works to work remotely! I even got a new client during the trip, namely VluchtelingenWerk Nederland. And it was so nice that I had a backup in the Netherlands who could go on a site visit with the new client. Thanks Eva Molengraaf, I can confidently leave everything to you.
We also got a lot of publicity at home and abroad (we even went on Italian TV and last week we were at BNR Nieuwsradio with a shoutout). And we were able to plant 191 trees for Trees for All.
I did so many things I never thought I would do (even vlogging, so uncomfortable😉, still reflected on insta and FB via @H2roadtrip
We will NOT STOP our mission to show that hydrogen is not just the future and we shouldn’t wait until 2030. We need to take ACTION NOW!
In the coming months, we will be giving presentations in the country at hydrogen events, we will be on the Kampeer en Caravan Jaarbeurs and on the Vakantiebeurs. They would also like to tell our story there.
It was a trip I will never forget. Who knows, maybe I’ll go for a workation more often.
Now it’s time to get back to ground and get started with the many events that will take place in the coming months.
