Derek Herneman on Driving Around the Coast for Charity
It’s me, Mark Stone, and in this episode of the Backseat Driver Podcast, I share the remarkable story of Derek Herneman, who set out on a 4,000-mile journey around the UK coastline in a vintage Land Rover and a 1946 caravan — all to raise awareness and funds for bowel cancer and Alzheimer’s charities.
Inspired by a pair of books given to him by his son, Derek combined his passion for classic vehicles with a mission to make a real difference. In our conversation, I uncover the meticulous preparations behind the trip — from restoring his beloved Land Rover and caravan to tackling the logistical challenges of life on the road.
Derek also recalls the hospitality he received from fellow Land Rover enthusiasts, the unexpected friendships forged along the way, and the sense of community that supported him throughout his adventure. Looking ahead, he reveals his ambition to take on yet another journey — this time aiming for the Arctic Circle — proving his spirit of exploration and philanthropy shows no signs of slowing down.
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Transcript
I'd like to introduce to the Backseat Driver radio Show Derek Herneman, a man who has a passion for Land Rovers, old Land Rovers, old caravans, and driving vast distances in them on behalf of bowel cancer and Alzheimer's charities.
Speaker A:So, without further ado, Derek, welcome to the Backseat Driver.
Speaker B:Hello.
Speaker A:Right, how did all this come about and what exactly did you do?
Speaker A:I mean, you've covered over 4,000 miles.
Speaker B:Yes, of course.
Speaker B:Well, it all came about because my son Gareth gave me the book the Last Overland and the First Overland for Christmas.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:So after reading them, I decided that I'd like to do something and decided that nobody's taking a Land Rover and caravan around the UK coastline.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:And then I got to thinking, well, could do it for charity.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:So this is all how it came about, really.
Speaker A:I mean, over the years, I've had a few Land Rovers, proper Land Rovers, as I call them, my last one being a lightweight X RAF lightweight.
Speaker A:The one thing I would never consider doing, love Land Rovers, as I did do, was hauling a caravan over 4,000 miles.
Speaker A:I mean, this is a pretty brave move, isn't it?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Looking back now, I can't believe I've done it, actually.
Speaker A:I mean, how did you get ready?
Speaker A:Because how old is your Land Rover?
Speaker B: : Speaker B: And the caravan is a: Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:And I was 71.
Speaker A:I mean, did.
Speaker A:Have you restored the Land Rover?
Speaker A:Did you do it and did the caravan need any restoration?
Speaker B:Yeah, the Land Rover I got about two and a half years ago and I had been in a shed for about 20 years, and so I knew of it.
Speaker B:And so, yes, I had to spend about 4,000 on it, doing it up and getting it back to, you know, sort of original condition.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And the caravan, we just had to refurbish all the brakes and then we put in a diesel heater.
Speaker B:A friend of mine, Nigel Weber, put in a diesel heater.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And refurbished the brakes.
Speaker B:John Oliver, who I bought the Land Rover off, actually refurbished the brakes and.
Speaker B:Yeah, and then that was it, really.
Speaker A:Because back then in the 50s, caravans weren't quite as, shall we say, as luxurious as they are now, were they?
Speaker B:No, no, there's not a lot of insulation on the first couple of weeks.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:It was quite frosty and outside could have been minus four and in the caravan was about minus three.
Speaker B:So, yes, I did need diesel heater.
Speaker A:So, I mean, where did you set off from?
Speaker B:Set off from Lynliff on March 8 and went towards Gordano.
Speaker B:Services.
Speaker B:Yeah, Bristow and then across the bridge into Wales and all up roam through Wales and not the, the west side.
Speaker A:Because just putting in.
Speaker A:You stuck to the coast as much as you could, didn't you?
Speaker B:That's it.
Speaker B:I wanted to stay on a roads as much as possible, avoiding motorways as much as possible.
Speaker B:Although I did have breakdown cover if I did get a breakdown on the motorway that I had to do.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I mean like what, what sort of speed were you doing?
Speaker B:Oh, I did get up to about 42, 45 miles an hour but average speed was nice about 37, 38.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So from Wales, I mean where, where did the route take you?
Speaker A:I mean just give us an idea of some of the towns that you passed through.
Speaker B:First, first evening I camped at car F and then the next morning went up to Abercavelli because that was inland to do a fuzzle shoot with the Abergavenny fire station because a friend, a person of them died from bowel cancer.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so then back down to Cardiff, Swansea all the way through to St. David's that was the next night I stopped at St. David's and then on through and up towards Birkenhead.
Speaker B:Liverpool.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Into.
Speaker B:Into the.
Speaker B:And came run up beside the liver building.
Speaker C:Oh yeah.
Speaker A:And then of course you would have gone up through where you, you come up through Lancashire and then into Cumbria, wouldn't you?
Speaker B:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker B:And that was an amazing trip on the left hand side of Cumbria.
Speaker B:I've done the other side of Cumbria all the time.
Speaker B:But this side, going through on the coast was absolutely amazing scenery.
Speaker A:So are they, I mean where the other places you've been to before?
Speaker B:Not really.
Speaker B:Some.
Speaker B:Not, not that much, no.
Speaker B:So I've seen a lot of the country that I haven't seen before.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So where did you go from Cumbria?
Speaker A:I mean you're not, you get into the stage, you're in Scotland there, aren't you?
Speaker B:Yeah, through, through, up to, into Scotland and then out to Campbelltown.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And stopped at Mooresville with Daryl o' Hanlon because.
Speaker B:Very hospital, Very hospital.
Speaker B:He, he put me up for the night and gave me food and his wife even done the washing.
Speaker A:So carry on, just.
Speaker A:I mean guide us through Scotland as you went up the course because I mean it gets quite remote as you get to the top, don't it?
Speaker B:It does, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:All through Lawrence and Glasgow.
Speaker B:Went into Glasgow and broke down in the middle of Glasgow by the traffic lights.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:So they didn't get too worried about it.
Speaker B:Just had to get out.
Speaker B:We'd start going through the system and see what the problem was.
Speaker B:Anyway, got George going again and off we sat and continued up through.
Speaker B:Went to Gratna, stopped at Grp Menu Green the night and then went to Gretna Green in the morning to the register office so George could make it.
Speaker A:Honest Woman of Bildred, the Mildred I concludes the caravan.
Speaker B:That's it, yeah.
Speaker B:Georgia Mildred.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So where did the route take you from Gretna?
Speaker A:Because at Gretna you're still in the.
Speaker A:In the very south of Scotland.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:It's a few weeks ago, I'm trying to remember.
Speaker B:Anyway, on towards Ullapool.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And then I was going to stop at a place in Ullapool, but it was back the road a bit and up a farm track and it didn't sound too good.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was.
Speaker B:They wanted me to come there all free of charge, but I decided to crack on and then I finished up in a lay by that night.
Speaker B:About 30 miles lower side of Doneness.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then the following morning, hit the road, got to Dulness D. Got to a shop, got to.
Speaker B:So Petro and then carried on across the top of the Hart Islands.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So did you make.
Speaker A:Did he get it?
Speaker A:John O Groats?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Coming along the road, saw the signpost.
Speaker B:148 miles to John on Grouse.
Speaker A:I mean, some of these distances at 40 miles an hour would be quite daunting, wouldn't it?
Speaker B:Yeah, well, the most one.
Speaker B:One day I did 150 miles, another day 174.
Speaker B:And the worst.
Speaker B:Well, no, I won't say the worst day because it's really comfortable.
Speaker B:I got a memory cushion in the series one.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I did 178 miles one day in the.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All day long.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And then of course, you would eventually turn south.
Speaker A:So, I mean, where did it take you heading south?
Speaker A:Because, I mean, not all the course can be kept to as much as you might have wanted.
Speaker B:No, no.
Speaker B:So just before John o', Groats, we went to all the Head Captain done it.
Speaker B:Head.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Most Northern Light.
Speaker B:I've done the most westerly, then so done at Hebbles and most northerly, then to John o'.
Speaker B:Groats.
Speaker B:Quick photo session, then coming down towards Edinburgh and what have you.
Speaker B:I'm trying to remember all this going to come after Edinburgh.
Speaker B:Coming down the A1 was a bit tricky because it was a gale from the left hand side blowing in from the, from the North Sea.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it was a dual carriageway.
Speaker B:Lorries were over Arctics were overtaking me on the right hand side.
Speaker B:So if we carry on, if it, if we weren't being blown left, we were being blown right for about an hour.
Speaker B:It was a bit scary.
Speaker A:So I mean how long did it take you?
Speaker A:In total?
Speaker B:It took exactly six weeks and one day until I got back to Lind.
Speaker B:It was 4,018 miles and it.
Speaker B:We used 10, 24 L of petrol.
Speaker A:Did you only have the one breakdown?
Speaker B:Yeah, it was the distributor main fault was, you know, had a few issues with the brakes, bleeding the brakes and getting the air a bit system.
Speaker B:But apart from that, you know, if I put the new distributor on from before I left.
Speaker B:Yeah I could have almost got around with no breakdowns whatsoever.
Speaker A:Now during the course of all this you attracted quite a lot of attention, didn't you?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we did radio each week I did a radio show with Radio Devin, Carol Dunsley.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And also did the Spotlight television show from a Levi by Zoom meeting.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then they, when I got back to Blackmore Gate, Spotlight came out again, filmed me as I came around the corner into Blackmore Gate before the last five miles back to Lynmouth.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And as time went on, because I followed you on social media, beside as I said, you attracted quite a lot of attention.
Speaker A:I think quite a few of the Land Rover clubs came out to help you, didn't they?
Speaker B:Oh absolutely.
Speaker B:And so there's so much hospitality from these Land Rover people and there was some of them were pre arranged to meet up and some saw me on the Tracker and just intercepted me as I was coming along.
Speaker A:So I mean what else did you get up to while you're out there?
Speaker A:Because I mean all that time you would have, it would have been something of a social event, wouldn't it?
Speaker A:Or become a social event.
Speaker B:Oh yeah.
Speaker B:So it was meeting up with people all day long.
Speaker B:In fact, you know, it was quite draining by the time I got that.
Speaker B:Yes, I, I didn't think it was gonna catch but I went to work the next day and all on the Tuesday and yes I cable when I had a little kiss.
Speaker A:So I mean I conclude such like as all the fuel and everything else.
Speaker A:Did you pay for all this yourself?
Speaker B:No, I couldn't have done it without the sponsors.
Speaker B:So a lot of sponsors sponsor me for full and.
Speaker A:Well I'll tell you what, just run us through the sponsors, give Your sponsors a mention.
Speaker B:Oh, sorry.
Speaker B:Well, I can only remember a few of them, though, because I got a list of.
Speaker B:On the whole, there's quite a few.
Speaker B:Anyway, export trim.
Speaker B:Where's one?
Speaker B:Charles Amberton, Emberton Imperial.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Will Webster of Goodwinch and many more local people and quite a hell of a lot.
Speaker B:And then even more people donated to the fuel as a whip round.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I'd like to say that at the end, there was £410 left over from the fool and so that went into the charities.
Speaker B:At the moment it stands just over 15,000 have raised.
Speaker B:Right, charities, yeah.
Speaker A:So, I mean, how long have you been a Land Rover enthusiast?
Speaker B:Oh, my life really started off probably when I was about 8 or 10, driving the land Rover in a straight line across the fields, so that could chuck the turnips out to the sheep from behind.
Speaker B:And Algeria.
Speaker B:Land Rovers all my life, really.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, but you're, You're.
Speaker A:You're a proper old Land Rover enthusiast, aren't you?
Speaker A:I conclude you're not as keen on the muddings.
Speaker B:Oh, yes, yes, yeah.
Speaker B:Yes, definitely.
Speaker B:So my everyday one is a.
Speaker B: A long wheel burst,: Speaker B:Long wheelbase.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, I mean, explain why the charities.
Speaker A:Why were these two charities so close to your heart?
Speaker B: in: Speaker B:He was only 41, and so that's why I chose the bowel cancer.
Speaker B:And then in our local village, there was a lady that, with early onsets of Alzheimer's, and you're just hearing so much of it everywhere that I thought, you know, I would do the two and I think that really enhanced.
Speaker B:Doing two charities.
Speaker A:Yeah, I was going to say, because most people will only choose one charity, won't they, when they do it?
Speaker B:Yeah, I think it really enhanced donations by having the two charities.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:I mean, how involved did the charities become?
Speaker B:Oh, very much so.
Speaker B:Alzheimer's.
Speaker B:When I got to Plymouth, I had to go to their main, main place where they work and did a puzzle shoot with about eight or ten of them.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:For Alzheimer's and bowel cancer have been messaging me all the way around as well.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, I mean, what was your family's reaction to all this?
Speaker B:Oh, well, yeah, they thought.
Speaker B:Oh, quite a few people thought I was mad when I tell about it, but there you are, you got to do these things.
Speaker A:So did any of your family come out to see you while you were doing it?
Speaker B:Yeah, Tara My daughter's youngest daughter managed to get across to Bournemouth one morning and see me.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Gareth and his fiance Amber came down to Sidmouth on the night.
Speaker B:That was a nice surprise.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Kathy was going to come, my wife was going to come to Edinburgh but couldn't make it because there was nobody to look after the dogs in the end and animals.
Speaker A:Just out of interest, what do you do for a living?
Speaker B:Everything from building work to digger driving, tractor driving, working on boats, all sorts of things.
Speaker A:So you didn't have any problems getting time off work then?
Speaker B:No, no, because I'm just like semi retired and you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I can choose as many hours as I do or what.
Speaker B:What, you know.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean when, when did this idea to do this occur to you?
Speaker B:Well, basically when Darth gave me the books.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Of the first overland and the last overland.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, I thought nobody's gone around the UK coast with an unrovering caravan.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Give it a go.
Speaker A:So I mean, you own the Land Rover.
Speaker A:How did you source the caravan?
Speaker A:Did you, did you order, did you go out and try and find one?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we had the Land Rover for about two and a half years and then another friend of mine from install, Tim Hudson had the Land Rover for sale and I saw it one morning and then Kathy and myself went back and had a look at it and we decided to buy it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so, you know, that's where it all come about really.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Because it's a short wheelbase one in the use, isn't it?
Speaker B:That's right, yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I mean the other thing I've been told on the grapevine is you're thinking of maybe driving to the Arctic Circle.
Speaker A:Will it be the same Land Rover and caravan or will you choose something a little bit newer and a little bit warmer?
Speaker B:No, it's going to be George and Mildred again.
Speaker B:They'll.
Speaker B:They will be going from Lindof to the Arctic Circle.
Speaker B:And I got one other friend definitely coming in his Land Rover.
Speaker B:But his Land Rover is still in the hedge at the moment with brambles growing over it.
Speaker B:So he's got two to three years to restore it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then he's.
Speaker B:Wild horses is not going to stop him from coming.
Speaker B:He's called Richard Graham.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And he's from very.
Speaker B:Well, he lives about two miles away from me.
Speaker B:So he's local, he's coming definitely and there could be more.
Speaker A:Now how do you go on about planning something like this?
Speaker B:Just think about it really.
Speaker B:A good friend of mine has just given Me a book.
Speaker B: went to the Arctic Circle in: Speaker B:2A.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And then egg balls, Father John.
Speaker B:John balls, is it?
Speaker B:I think they done a trip when they were in their university years.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Anyway, so I've been reading the book and basically, you know, just make it up as you go along, really.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, I mean, where will that route take you?
Speaker B:Right, we're going from Lynmouth to Dover.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Then through the northern France.
Speaker B:Excuse me, better.
Speaker B:Germany, bit of Belgium into Denmark.
Speaker B:And now I think there's a.
Speaker B:Them.
Speaker B:There's a road bridge.
Speaker B:Now, instead of taking a ferry, you can.
Speaker B:There's a road bridge goes from Denmark across to Norway.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Up past Oslo, Sweden, Finland all the way.
Speaker B:And then you come back into Norway in the north, most northerly part of, I thought was Hammerfest, but it's not, is a place called Nord Cap.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And you cannot get no further north than that.
Speaker B:About 300 miles inside the Arctic Circle.
Speaker A:Oh, so you will actually cross into the Arctic Circle doing it that way.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:It's about 300 miles inside the Arctic Circle, but in June.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:Well, having said that, up there, there'll still be plenty of snow and it won't be right warm, will it?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So we will take snow change for all four wheels and.
Speaker B:Yeah, we'll.
Speaker B:We will, you know, give it some thought, some Pratt.
Speaker B:And then on the return journey, we're hoping to come down the other side.
Speaker B:There's a.
Speaker B:There's expansive expanse of water and come down the other side and through Latvia, Estonia and Poland and back through Germany and back into France again.
Speaker A:So with your calculations, what sort of distance will this be?
Speaker B:Ah, right.
Speaker B:About 5,000 miles.
Speaker B:Probably could be five and a half thousand miles and probably take about the same time, about six weeks.
Speaker B:Because I. I spend a lot of time stopping at seaside towns on my trip around the UK, we will be hopefully doing sort of like 140 miles a day or more.
Speaker B:So, yeah, it should be a similar sort of time, about six weeks.
Speaker A:Now, when, you know, this is coming up like the round.
Speaker A:Round the coast of England with.
Speaker A:Okay, it's a few years off, what do you start to do to prepare the Land Rover?
Speaker B:Well, first job is now I've got a spare series free gearbox.
Speaker B:I'm going to completely rebuild that one and then put that one into George, because the one that is in there at the moment throws a third gear as you're going uphill all the way around the UK and off roundabouts.
Speaker B:If you're in Third gear.
Speaker B:You had to hold it in third gear.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:But it was.
Speaker B:It's just got an actor.
Speaker B:You just got on with it.
Speaker A:I used to have a lightweight, as I said, and my lightweight.
Speaker A:Well, it got to the stage.
Speaker A:I never used first gear.
Speaker A:As soon as it went in first gear, as soon as you set off, it leapt straight back out of it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:In my lifetime, I've never known a Land Rover that doesn't throw out one gear or another.
Speaker A:But I mean, the one thing is, okay, the one you've just used didn't have its original engine, etc, but they are an incredibly hardy vehicle.
Speaker A:I mean they just keep going.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:When I set off around the uk, I Not finishing, was it even on the agenda?
Speaker B:Because there's so much you can affect.
Speaker B:So I never even thought that I wouldn't finish.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:I just thought that any repairs, whatever, we protect timing, that would be it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, what sort of toolkit did you take?
Speaker A:Did you take something to do virtually any job?
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Just a load of AF spanners, screwdrivers.
Speaker B:The most important thing is a multimeter and there's a time and night and.
Speaker B:And then it took quite a few spare parts.
Speaker B:You know, wheel bearings, they were used up.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:The new brand new distributor, which it did use and you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, and then you can source stuff.
Speaker B:That was another thing around.
Speaker B:I did need some more parts and Will Webster was really good.
Speaker B:He sourced parts and then sent them ahead of me.
Speaker B:So as I've got them when I got the camel down.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:What sort of parts were they that you needed?
Speaker B:Besides you distribute electrical, you know, points plug plugs.
Speaker B:Points plugs and stuff like that there.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So besides that, I mean, like one consideration, I know 4,000 miles or more isn't that far, but I mean, what sort of tires were you running on?
Speaker A:Because I conclude you weren't running on what you call period tires.
Speaker A:You'd be on more modern rubber, wouldn't you?
Speaker B:No, I wasn't.
Speaker B:I was on the.
Speaker B:The Avon Track Grip once, because that was what I.
Speaker B:When I redone the Land Rover, the tires that were on it were like 205, 16, but all perished.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And so I wanted to make it look very authentic and so I went for the evil like truck grip tires.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And at the time I wasn't intending.
Speaker B:I didn't think I was going to ever do anything like that, of course.
Speaker B:So pretty well world that set out going around the uk.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And the caravan, I mean, you say you fit a diesel eater.
Speaker A:I mean what sort of tires does the caravan run on?
Speaker A:Because I mean back then, 4,000 miles in a caravan of that age, that vintage, they weren't really this.
Speaker A:They might cover that in their entire life but it wouldn't be in one hit for them, would it?
Speaker B:No, no, it's single wheels and they're quite big.
Speaker B:There's if you think of it, the old Benford dumpers.
Speaker B:The back wheels, not the, not the drive wheels but the back wheels.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's with free studs, very similar to that.
Speaker B:And the wheel bearings were.
Speaker B:I got grease nipples, you know, I could grease every few days I could just give them a couple pumps of grease and absolutely went around, no problem whatsoever.
Speaker B: Real: Speaker A:And I mean the other thing with a caravan like that, I mean what sort of creature comforts did you have in it besides the heater that you fit all right?
Speaker B:Well, yeah, I have got the original gas cooker which is a two burners and, and a grill but the grill didn't work very well so I just use that now for really going to shows and what have you.
Speaker B:But in its place we had a, a camping gas cooker which was exactly the same size, fitted in the really nicely.
Speaker B:And so I had that and I had in the Land Rover I add a inverter and, and a microwave.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:So that, that worked really well.
Speaker B:Just switch Land Rover on, let it all take over, make sure the batter's charging and then the inverter in microwave worked absolutely brilliantly.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I mean the only thing you don't mind me asking, I mean what sort of facilities did you have in there?
Speaker A:I mean did the caravans of that era have little bathrooms or anything?
Speaker B:No, no, no.
Speaker B:So underneath the, the cooker there's a tray with cutlery in, underneath that again there's a pull out sink which you, you can use for putting hot water in and washing if you want to.
Speaker B:And then I did in the other side I put in a Thetford Porta Potter.
Speaker B:Yeah, Caravan, you know.
Speaker B:And that was the only, you know, thing I put in which was quite handy when I as at of 71.
Speaker B:Yes, you have got to get out a few times in the night to get on the way.
Speaker A:Yes, it's regrettably a sign of getting old really, isn't it when you.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was just getting old.
Speaker B:Business is no good to anybody.
Speaker A:So I mean do you use the Land Rover and the caravan normally?
Speaker A:I mean besides doing what you do, I conclude do you like going all or do you go out for the days with it.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, we do.
Speaker B:We go to Cornwall most years and we, we take it down behind the wife's Volvo and.
Speaker B:And then put a six berth tent in front of it and just use the, the caravan so you know, for sleeping B basic basically and you know.
Speaker A:Yeah, I mean, and the other thing is as well, while you're on your trip, I mean you can't just pull up and stop in your caravan anywhere, have you, I mean, did you have to plan as to where you will be stopping?
Speaker B:I did do that, a lot of planning for that with Nigel Weber and his wife Annie.
Speaker B:But it all went out the window because you couldn't really book it up in the vats because you didn't know how many days you, you know how you were gonna end up.
Speaker B:So in the end it was just rock up to the campsites and most of them waived the fee when they saw what I was doing.
Speaker B:Very hospitality, a lot of hospitality and one place even came out with a always nolu for half an hour and she came over with a plate of stew, bread and butter and a beer on a trice.
Speaker B:Right in the half an hour later, earlier.
Speaker B:I didn't even know it.
Speaker B:It was, you know, incredible the hospitality I received all the way around.
Speaker A:Now the other thing you said, the distances you were covering and how long it took you.
Speaker A:I mean what sort of time in the morning were you setting off?
Speaker B:Well, usually getting up about six o' clock or so, having a bit of breakfast and then getting going by about half past seven or.
Speaker B:Yeah, on the road.
Speaker B:Especially if I wanted to go into some seaside towns because you could find parking easier then.
Speaker B:And then you could wait for the people to come along like.
Speaker B:Whereas midday you go into towns and there'd be a nightmare to try and park anywhere.
Speaker A:Now I have to ask, did you ever cheat?
Speaker A:Did you stop in a little hotel or anything like that for a bed and breakfast en route?
Speaker B:No, there was only one night that I didn't sleep in the caravan and that when I stayed at Ipswich, which I got a friend over there, we went to school together and we do see each other every five or six years.
Speaker B:And so obviously I got there about 12 o' clock one morning, stayed within that night and then the next day and then we hit, I hit the trail again.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And since you've got back, I conclude you'll have become something of a local celebrity, won't you?
Speaker B:Well, I don't know about that.
Speaker B:I keep telling it wasn't me.
Speaker B:All I did was drive.
Speaker C:I could.
Speaker B:Not have done it without the people that sponsored me and the people that donated.
Speaker B:Yeah, that is the real heroes.
Speaker A:So, I mean, for the trip to the Arctic Circle, I know it's a few years away, have you already started arranging for sponsors and things like that, or are your original sponsors coming back on board?
Speaker B:Yeah, I mentioned it to Charles Emberton the other day when I rang up from some spare parts and he said, well, we'll be right on board for that one.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So, I mean, besides that, I mean, what else.
Speaker A:Have you anything else planned between now and the Arctic Circle?
Speaker A:Do you do any, shall we say, local fundraising events?
Speaker B:Well, this Sunday, I'm going to the Lynn Valley Classic Car show with George and Mildred.
Speaker B:Yeah, obviously.
Speaker B:And then at the end of the month, there's the Series 1 rally, which is being held at South Moulton, which is at about 15 miles, 20 miles from where I live.
Speaker B:And so going to that for a couple of days and then that's the end of June, and then that will be it for this challenge.
Speaker B:I will draw clues and, you know, the money, the cash is in a bank account and that will be transferred to the relevant authorities.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I conclude there'll be another photo call of you handing the money over to each charity, George and Mildred.
Speaker B:Yeah, I. I shall get in touch with them and, and say, and.
Speaker B:And then, you know, whether they want to do photos or anything.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, one question has to be asked.
Speaker A:Now you're back and you've announced the Arctic Circle.
Speaker A:What's the reaction from your family been to.
Speaker A:Good God, he's off again.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, all.
Speaker B:All good.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And Kathy, you know, is said, you know, that's really good, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, if you're gonna do it, you've got to get on and do it.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Is she likely.
Speaker A:Is she likely to go with you on this one?
Speaker C:No.
Speaker B:I did think that she could may fly to Oslo and then pick up for the last, you know, thousand miles or so, but she don't mind going out in the daytime around next war in the Land Rover.
Speaker B:But I don't think she'd really like doing.
Speaker A:And to do.
Speaker A:I mean, to do the Arctic Circle.
Speaker A:I mean, do you have to do any fancy insurances or anything like that to do an event like.
Speaker B:That's all got to be looked into.
Speaker B:That's all going to be looked into.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So anyway, the only thing I can say, Derek, is well done on what you have done.
Speaker A:All the best for the Arctic Circle.
Speaker A:And well done for driving round in what I refer to as proper Land Rover.
Speaker A:I mean one last question.
Speaker A:What is your opinion of the modern Land Rover?
Speaker B:Oh wow.
Speaker B:So long as you don't go through water now makeups you know with the ecus and stuff and you know I've heard of already def well defenders having throttle problems.
Speaker B:Just a bit of moisture gets in the potentiometer and that's it, you know.
Speaker A:So there's every chance a modern Land Rover won't be able to replicate what George is doing.
Speaker B:No, no.
Speaker B:But right now mind you, a lot of people that came out in that race said well I wouldn't take my over 25 miles.
Speaker A:And on that note, Derek Herman, thank you very much for joining me on the back seat driver.
Speaker B:Okay, thank you so much.
Speaker A:No problem.
Speaker A:And all the best for heading off heading up to the Arctic Circle.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Thank you for that.
Speaker A:Bye.
Speaker B:Cheer ups.
