A Tale of 8 Caravans - Part 3 – the first Swift Rapide
On November 15th 1986 we traded in our beloved, but ageing, Katie for our first brand new caravan, a Swift Rapide 12/4. This entry-level model used the previous season’s body shell and had a remarkable level of equipment (for those days). It had a fridge, electric water pump (cold only), hob (no oven), gas heater, opening front windows and a solid upper bunk rather than the hammock in the Sprite. It was also one of the ugliest caravans I have ever seen, though we did try to call her Katie 2!
Our first trip was to a CL at Long Preston (see photo) for May Day 1987, where we watched the little kiddies dancing the maypole in their shirtsleeves and flowered dresses in a sleet storm. That year we had got involved in Morris Dancing, in connection with which we stayed at Kettlewell and Whitby. We also had a trip to Sandringham and Kessingland, and in our first attempt at an October half-term holiday we went to Bowness for a frosty but enjoyable week.
1988 involved visits to Hawkswick (commercial site), Low Manesty (twice), Whitby and our summer trek to Much Wenlock via Notgrove. In 1989 we visited the Hawkshead CL twice, Low Manesty and had a lovely holiday in Devon, staying at Putt’s Corner and using Broadway as a journey break both ways. And for this caravan’s last year the Hawkshead CL again, Castleton (but mainly so my parents could stay there), Whitby and Low Manesty. The last main holiday was another Scottish tour starting with Manesty on the way out, then the now defunct Club site at Arrochar / Ardgarten. We moved on to a commercial site at Arduaine (also now defunct) where pitches were right on the shore with fabulous views down the Sound of Jura. Finally Englethwaite Hall on the way back was Katie 2’s last outing.