Soul Note No. 3
Beautiful Leentjiesklip, Langebaan
Leentjiesklip, you were such a beautiful chapter of my van life journey.
I was excited to venture to Leentjiesklip in Langebaan on South Africa’s beautiful West Coast. It felt significant for two reasons. Firstly, it was my first official Van life booking site and secondly, I had never stayed at this campsite before. I left Ou Skip with a mixture of anticipation, excitement…. It was also the first time that Blossom, my beloved Peugeot Boxer Van, and I were travelling together.
As I arrived, I was eager to see the private ablution facilities at each site. It gave me the freedom to set up my little outdoor kitchen and bathroom while transforming the inside of Blossom into both my office and healing room. It was the first glimpse of how beautifully this lifestyle could support both my work and my soul.
Very quickly I settled into a daily rhythm. Weekdays were spent working online, and around lunchtime I would head out for a walk along the coast. Sitting at my laptop for most of the day reminded me how important movement is. I even started using my Pilates ball as my office chair, which turned out to be surprisingly comfortable and wonderful for my posture!
The highlights
One of the greatest surprises was meeting other solo women travellers. I honestly didn’t expect to make friends so quickly, but what an incredible blessing it became. There is something very special about sharing stories around a campsite with women who have also chosen a life of adventure and freedom.
Many evenings we gathered for braais and shared meals together. I also had the privilege of offering Reiki treatments inside Blossom. It was the very first time I experienced my little van as a healing space, and it felt deeply meaningful. For the first time, I realised that Blossom was becoming so much more than simply my home on wheels.
During my weekends, I wandered through the streets of Langebaan, discovering quaint little shops and enjoying the relaxed pace of camp life living.
One unexpected blessing was realising just how close I still was to home. When my son travelled overseas for work and our precious Roxy became seriously ill with a pinched nerve, I was able to drive back to Melkbosstrand whenever I was needed.
Watching Roxy lose the ability to walk was heartbreaking. We truly weren’t sure if she was going to recover. Being able to spend time with her, care for her, give her Reiki treatments, and simply sit beside her during those difficult days meant everything to me. With medication, love, patience, and plenty of healing energy, she made a complete recovery. Today, you would never believe she once couldn’t even walk, let alone climb the stairs at my son’s home. It reminded me that although I was embracing van life, I was still close enough to be there for the people—and the furry family members—I love most.
Leentjiesklip also gave me a few practical lessons!
The first was learning that the campsite with the best sea view isn’t always the best place to park.
The West Coast wind certainly taught me that.
Most days the wind blew relentlessly. I soon realised that cooking over a braai wasn’t always possible and often found myself preparing meals in the small kitchen within my private ablution area. Although I missed my braais, we did have one or two social evenings around other campers’ fires.
Very quickly I learnt an important van life lesson:
Walk to the sea view… but park where you’re protected from the wind.
Another unexpected lesson came one evening when I heard about attempted break-ins at the campsite. It was the first time I experienced feeling vulnerable while travelling alone. I made sure everything valuable was locked away, settled comfortably inside Blossom, and slowly learnt to trust both my instincts and my surroundings. Like so many things in life, fear softened once familiarity took its place.
What I learnt:
There are so many incredible solo women embracing van life.
Choose shelter over scenery when deciding where to park.
Walking and daily movement are essential when working remotely.
Always know the campsite shop’s opening hours and keep enough supplies for at least a week.
And yes… you really can survive without a braai! (Although I’d still rather not.)
Looking back…
As I write this, van life is on pause for a little while.
And I miss it.
I miss waking up with nature on my doorstep. I miss the simplicity. I miss the freedom. I miss the open road.
But more than anything, this journey confirmed something I already knew deep within my heart.
This is the life I am meant to live.
When the time comes for Blossom and me to head out once again, I know I will welcome the road with gratitude, excitement, and an open heart.
There is something about this gypsy life that feels like coming home
Much Love
Michelle
