After Kontiki’s epic London to Mumbai overland adventure in 2016, our beloved motorhome was parked safely at our home in Navsari, Gujarat, where it rested like a seasoned traveller waiting for its next calling. But wanderlust never stays asleep for long. In 2017, Kontiki roared back to life for another unforgettable road trip — this time from Gujarat to Goa — creating yet another collection of memories, laughter, breakdown scares, roadside chai stops, and endless highways.
After the Goa adventure, Kontiki was shipped back to the UK, patiently waiting for the next chapter in its travelling life.
That chapter arrived in 2019 when my nephew Pratik and his wife Meera — both passionate travellers with petrol running through their veins — convinced me and my wife Hansa to join them on yet another European road adventure. Along with Pratik’s parents, Rajendra and Pushpabhabhi, the six of us eagerly packed our bags and set off on the first leg of what promised to be another memorable journey.
Our route began with a drive to Dover, followed by the ferry crossing to Calais. There is always something exciting about rolling off a ferry into continental Europe — new roads, new landscapes, and the thrill of the unknown lying ahead.
Our destination for the day was Le Mans, a place that needs no introduction for motorsport enthusiasts. Pratik and Meera, true petrol heads at heart, were especially excited because Le Mans is home to the legendary Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans and its famous automobile museum.
From Calais, we drove around 110 kilometres before stopping for the night at Eklo Hotels Le Mans. The drive took roughly an hour and a half and gave us our first taste of French roads and countryside. The hotel rooms were tiny — almost cruise-cabin sized — but for road trippers like us, comfort often comes second to adventure, and we happily adjusted.
Before settling in for the night, the hotel parking area witnessed a special little moment. Meera decided it was finally time to take the wheel of Kontiki for the very first time. With a mix of excitement, nervous laughter, and plenty of enthusiastic instructions from the rest of us, she carefully manoeuvred the big motorhome around the parking lot. It was a small but memorable milestone in our journey.
Soon afterwards, tired from the day’s travel yet excited for the adventures ahead, we retired to our compact rooms and called it a night, ready for the next chapter of our European road trip.
