A cautionary tale for caravanning novices (and old stagers like me)
I should like to register my thanks to those fellow caravanners and the site wardens from the Henley on Thames CC site who helped me on the 12th of April 2011. Due to the caravan not being properly connected to the tow car, the two parted company just as we were leaving the site. The caravan came to rest across the road with it's A-frame buried in a nice soft grass verge. In the blinking of an eye, it seemed, a posse of fit young and not so young caravanners had the van back on the site. The only damage suffered was to the breakaway cable, which had successfully applied the handbrake. I count myself to be extremely lucky that the verge across from the site was nice and soft and also that so many willing helpers were available. I take full responsibility for the incident because I let a young man, who must have thought that, at my age, I needed helping, do the actual hitching of van to car. I should have checked that the button, which shows that the tow-ball is fully in the trailer socket, was protruding and showing green, but I didn't. Lesson learnt! However competent any helper seems to be, it is essential that you check things for yourself.
I did post an e-mail to the magazine immediately thanking everyone involved but have never seen it published. I am grateful that this new service allows me to achieve my object, albeit a year late.
The new Forum is clearly a great success. I have so far only briefly looked at its contents and already I have read letters which have either informed or amused or interested me. Strength to its elbow!