But it’s very much the reality for UK couple Lawrence Dodi and Rachel Nixon, who are currently on a nearly year-long world trip to more than 50 countries in a bid to set the Guinness World Record for the longest journey by ambulance. The pair, who started in October 2021, have attracted a lot of attention as they move from country to country in the former private ambulance, a white Land Rover Defender with green and fluorescent yellow stripes, which was previously used at equestrian events. “We’ve never had anyone come to us for medical help,” Dodi says, noting that the ambulance doesn’t really look like the emergency vehicles used in any of the places they’ve been. “But we get a lot of stares. In traffic, everyone’s looking at you.”
Call an ambulance
UK couple Lawrence Doddy and Rachel Nixon are attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the ‘Longest Journey in an Ambulance’. Lawrence Doddy Dodi and Nixon, who are both vets, were looking for a vehicle to convert into an RV and travel around the world when Nixon stumbled upon the ambulance on eBay in 2018. “The original plan wasn’t to buy an ambulance or try to set a world record or anything like that,” explains Dodi. “We were looking for a functional vehicle to travel in and fell in love with the ambulance and the aesthetics.” After they bought the vehicle, which had all the parts and fittings of an ambulance inside along with a stretcher, Nixon found an article about a group trying to set a record for the longest distance traveled in a fire truck. When they discovered that no one seemed to be officially attempting it in an ambulance, the couple contacted Guinness World Records to ask if they could try. Nixon and Dodi said they would have to meet a list of specifications, including making sure the vehicle retained the ability to function as an ambulance (even if it wouldn’t be used as an emergency vehicle) and that it still looked like an ambulance on the outside. They say they took that into account when designing the interior layout and were able to meet the guidelines while still having room for a kitchen and fridge “and all the other things you’d associate with a camper van.” In the many months since they left the UK, the couple have covered around 24,000 kilometers (nearly 15,000 miles) and traveled to 24 countries, including Armenia and Bosnia, with Nixon acting as ‘leader’.
Canine companion
Nixon happened upon a listing for the ambulance in 2018 when the couple was looking for a van to travel in. Lawrence Doddy Although they have already completed the minimum distance of 20,000 kilometers originally set by the Guinness World Record, “they will continue and try to set the highest possible number”. Taking Peggy Sue with them, who has an EU pet passport, as well as the necessary rabies vaccination and blood test required for the animals to travel to Europe, was always part of the plan and the couple say “He lived better. life’ during their time on the road. “It might be 10, but it thinks it’s two,” says Dodi. “He can hike all day, and if he needs to sit in the van all day, he can. So as far as doing our outdoor activities, it’s not a major problem.” While they had to skip a few activities where dogs weren’t allowed, and some countries were less dog-friendly than others, Dodi and Nixon have no regrets about taking Peggy with them. “I think it probably brought us more opportunities,” Dodi says, noting that Peggy was something of a people magnet. Dodi and Nixon, who shared their travels on their online blog, had originally planned the trip “to be a real round-the-world trip,” which would see them travel through Central Asia to Russia before sending the ambulance to North America. However, due to various factors such as the war in Ukraine, the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the nationwide protests taking place in Iran and the fact that some borders in Central Asia are still closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, they were forced to change route. The couple now plan to travel back to the UK early next year, before sending the ambulance to Halifax in Canada and driving the Pan American Highway, the world’s longest driving road, all the way to the bottom of Argentina. Their final destination will be Liverpool FC — a soccer club in Montevideo, Uruguay with the same name as their home team in the United Kingdom.
Awareness
At the moment they are not sure if they will bring Peggy to South America with them and are considering leaving her in the UK with their family when they return for a short time early next year. “I think if we don’t take her we’re going to miss her a lot,” Dodie says, before explaining that Peggy has struggled with the heat at some points on the trip and they’re worried about how she’ll do. in South America. “But equally, we don’t want to put her in something she’s not going to be happy with.” Although Dodi and Nixon originally planned to spend two years completing the challenge, they have since extended it by another six to 12 months. The couple are raising funds for two charities: Anthony Nolan, a UK charity that matches people with blood cancer with volunteer donors, and independent charity Vet Life, which provides emotional, financial and mental health support to the veterinary community . According to the 2020 Merck Animal Health Study in collaboration with the American Veterinary Medical Association, veterinarians are 2.7 times more likely to commit suicide than the general public. Dodi and Nixon say they have both lost colleagues and friends in the industry to suicide and want to raise awareness of the issue.
Making memories
Launched from Albert Dock in Liverpool in October 2021. Sarah Eddon While they’ve explored some incredible locations, including the highest peaks in Kosovo, Montenegro and Armenia, they say it’s the people they’ve met along the way and the experiences they’ve had that stand out the most. Dodi remembers one night when they were driving through Georgia looking for a place to stay and ended up being guests at a local’s house, who happened to be having a birthday party. “We were treated like honored guests,” he says. “They put us in a bedroom the next day and served us breakfast.” The couple says several locals have extended them dinner invitations while driving through Turkey and attending various barbecues. “The world is full of very beautiful people,” says Dodi. “It really warms our hearts to see that it’s not some scary, horrible place.” While their lives are somewhat on hold as they continue their journey, they are looking to the future and say they plan to return to the UK and settle down once they complete this challenge. “The money will eventually run out,” says Nixon, explaining that they’ve set themselves a budget of £30 (about $26) a day and plan to take temporary work when they’re in the UK, where the ambulance has been shut down. Its MOT, a mandatory test to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy, in February. “We have to think about going back and having a family at some point,” adds Dodi. For now, they are quite happily enjoying the freedom of being able to travel the world together and make connections with other travelers along the way. “We’ve met so many people who go on such fantastic trips,” says Dodi. “There’s always someone who does it longer, goes to more places and does it in a weirder way, who always makes you jealous. And you think, ‘I wish I could do it like that.’”
