This summer had to be different. This year needed we needed to up the standard of holidaying.

It started at 1am at my house. Cali and Rick turned up with a car saturated with surf gear, sleeping bags and crisps. Soon enough we were on our way, first stop Dover crossing to stock up on Gin. Before long we found ourselves negotiating a busy Paris city centre and after casually nearly dying a few times we arrived at our hostel. After many hours with car cabin fever we were keen to get out and explore the city so we grabbed some bikes from the nearest hire stand and got amongst it. After an inordinate amount of soft cheese, French bread and Space Spice energy drink it was time for a night drive down to the South for some surf.

After awaking bleary eyed from an extraordinarily sound night sleep in the driver’s seat of a Vauxhall Astra we set about pitching some tents in a nearby campsite. Only a stone’s throw from the campsite was one of the best surfing beaches in the world. Suited up and leashed up, we jumped in and began paddling out to the perfectly clean waves. The campsite shop was extortionate so some innovative food buying and culinary techniques were employed to ensure that our shoestring budget didn’t lead to malnourishment. After a serious lardon-to-ground incident, lashings of €3 wine and getting the Astra jumped started by a legendary Dutch family it was time to continue our journey down the coast. Next stop was just over the Spanish border – San Sebastian.

San Sebastian was like a tasteful Spanish Newquay on steroids – full of beautiful architecture, a bustling nightlife and a great surfing beach just minutes from the high street. We traded camping and hostels for a private apartment ran by some incredibly laid back surfers that loved getting in the water early, and waking all the residents up to invite them along with 80’s power ballads. After some top class sightseeing and a couple of nights out with the newly formed Team Sexy we were on the road once more, navigating the breadth of Spain to Barcelona.

And so to the last stop on our journey, the capital of the County of Catalonia. We used our time mainly to sample the local sangria, walk around the city with thick heads and talk shelter from the monsoons in burrito bars. Top work chaps.