Stopping touring
I've just sold my caravan, bought myself a lodge in North Yorkshire so it's the end of the road for touring.
My membership runs out next year, about 11 months left on it, do I just cancel my DD, can I still post on here or is it not allowed if not a member anymore ?
I've seen so much of England, Scotland & Wales whilst touring, had a 2 berth originally, then onto a fixed bed 4 berth, I will miss the touring for sure, not to mention the lovely people I've met as well and the stunning locations, but, no point splashing out on a lodge and still going off touring, who knows, one day I may return to touring.
All t' best folks.
Comments
-
Yes, cancel your DD.
You will be a member for another 11 months and nothing will change during that time. After that, you can post as a non-member as several others do. You may need to be approved as a non-member poster when that time comes.
1 -
Sounds lovely HA, we have been tempted for a while, having had a few lodge holidays. There are some nice locations in North Yorks.
Quickest way to sort out non member status is to email Rowena. I had six months as a non Member, but still posted on forum.
Enjoy your new holiday home👍
0 -
We've been non members for about 18 months now, having sold our caravan and spending more time at our static in Cornwall. Some folk will question why you (and we) want to return to the same place time after time, but we have found it a great way to spend time in an area we love, get to know many of the locals who we now regard as good friends and, combining it with cottage breaks, still get around to see lots of the UK.
You'll be very welcome to post as a non member; in fact I think it's one of the great strengths of the forum that all those years of experience aren't allowed to go to waste.
Good luck in your new lodge, hope you get as much pleasure and use out of it as we have had with our static.
1 -
Like you, Andy, I too have sold my caravan and have given up touring along with my CAMC membership (as TW suggested, just cancel your DD) Like Moulesy above I still have a very keen interest in this forum and after membership lapsed, returned to have my first few posts 'vetted' after becoming a non-member. The information gleaned from this site led us on many trips, in particular, 'over there' which, in turn led us to discover our Utopia. Siting our new caravan there drastically reduces our carbon footprint. Changing our diesel guzzling towcar to a petrol hybrid also helps, but these changes were secondary in achieving what we seek - peace and tranquility, with uncrowded beaches/villages. The warmer climate is also beneficial to our health. That said, it doesn't stop us booking cottages in Scotland in March and May.
I wish you well in your new lodge. I'm sure 'it'll be reyt'
0 -
The same here Andy, due to age and, having toured all of the uk, we settled down and bought a static van. We never do anything without a great deal of thought, too much sometimes, so we wish that we had done it sooner. We really did our homework and looked at many sites, it paid off, we love it. We really don’t mind visiting the same place as long as the place chosen is the right one. We have made numerous really good friends and now it is definitely just our second home. Not cheap but our son and daughter and families use it a lot so we get our monies worth, more so than with the tourer. I now have to keep a ‘family holiday calender’ for all of their bookings! It was just the next step, and one we now love. Good luck with your lodge and enjoy.
0 -
Thinking along the same lines as you DEBSC but I am not quite ready to hang up my wheels just yet even if the time is not that far away. It would be interesting to know at what age people decided to make the move? I think I may have left it too late by the time I do eventually give up touring.
peedee
0 -
I've gone the other way. After fourteen years of owning an apartment on the Costa Blanca, we decided to sell up and "hit the road". Given the additional complexities of foreign ownership post Brexit, it seems a good move. Exploring new places rather than the "same old" does it for us at the moment. Would I ever go for a static in the UK somewhere? Probably not but never say never.
1 -
On a wider note. We see an upsurge in planning applications changing touring pitches to statics. Better income, less work and from the planners point of view better control and more income .Perhaps the uncertainty over towing capacity of electric cars may also be a reason.
0 -
The site our static is on also has tourers and they are usually full. However, they are just turning one touring field into lodges, hot tubs and all the trimmings, so it must be more lucrative. Just looked and some will sell for £245,000!! If we had that sort of money to spare it would be put into bricks and mortar, not a holiday home. Seriously who has that sort of cash for a static van holiday home.
0 -
They send the mailshots indiscriminately, JV, without targetting their market. That's proved by them sending to park home dwellers. Whoever heard of equity release on a glorified caravan?😂😂
0 -
Holiday caravans do depreciate, certainly, but residential park homes track the housing market so hold their value better but, even so, the idea of releasing equity from them is laughable.
1 -
I don’t think age is the deciding factor by any means, PD. People give up touring for all sorts of reasons but if it’s due to health or ability issues, that can be at any age. I’m sure we're all aware of fighting fit 85 year olds and of those in their 50s/60s unfortunate enough to have their physical ability curtailed.
We no longer stay on campsites but have a small motorhome to use as a car with full facilities and we retain our membership so that we can book a night at a cheap CL (without staying there) so we can empty and fill tanks etc. We do this because we do not believe that others should subsides our chosen life style, and we have no intention of becoming part of the problem that freeloaders cause to the local council tax payers.
Whilst we still enjoy touring the country, these days somewhere with space and a proper bed is our holiday accommodation of choice.
2 -
That may be some retirement areas, but it does not seem so ,us oldies seem to be the targets in our area although they do tend to also target those oldies ,who rent as well
Our last mail drop said we in our area at our property prices could release at the last "invite"£380,000
0 -
Age is a number to be honest. I watched my Dad change when he reached a certain age, retired from paid work. He sort of shutdown on other things as well, as though he had reached “old age”. I had a stiff talk with him, told him how fit he still was, how there was a great deal of his life still left, and to ruddy well get on with it. Thankfully, he did, until frailty and some illnesses finally caught up with him. He lasted another 24 years after retirement. Mum on the other hand has never let anything get in the way of her indomitable spirit. She discovered she rather liked off roading in our Jeep a few years ago😂 She’s rising 93 now, off on her travels again next week. Dutiful and caring daughters and SIL in her wake......🤣
Adapting and trying something new, and making it work for you will be our motto. Our bodies will let us know when they have had enough. Hopefully before we mangle ourselves completely😉
0 -
Thanks for the replies folks.
As mousey said, we too will continue UK breaks, and when covid and other restrictions alter will holiday now and the abroad.
We deliberated long & hard over this decision, thought of a motorhome then buying abroad, but we are more than pleased with our decision .
We were out touring and came across a site I went to some 15 years ago, its a lovely place, nice and quite, no bar, we overlook a lake with swans and geese, no fishing allowed, apart from the herons and cormorant that often visit.
Town is just over 2 miles away ( knaresborough ) and it has everything we require.
We don't mind visiting the same site all the time now, no more sitting in traffic on towing days, no more setting up the van in t' rain, no more setting up ,taking down, putting stuff away in t' rain.
When I read the caravan magazine I do reminisce about the places and folk we've met, but, all in all, we're more than ready to settle down.
Once again, thanks for the replies.
Sithi.
0 -
Nice round there👍
0 -
When we are on our site I sometimes walk past the touring field and miss our tourer, strangely I miss our awning, and sitting in it to have breakfast and late supper, with the doors all open. However, I soon get over that when, as HAndy said, I think of hitching up, finding a pitch and setting up. Love arriving to everything all done and ready, just unpack the suitcase.. then cup of tea out on the decking and next door usually sees us and drops off a couple of slices of apple pie or the latest cake she’s baked.
0 -
I suppose this is decision we will all have to make at some point. Before we caravanned we used to have a small boat on which we explored the canals and rivers of England but gave that up when the boys came along. I suppose you could stay taking up caravanning (and later motorhoming) was just an extension of boating although it didn't seem like that. I think we will wait to see if next year we can get back to anything like normal touring. If we still feel restricted perhaps it will be time to start thinking about a change. If that comes about I suspect it will be a complete change rather than a continuation to a more static type of camping. Perhaps more cruises and maybe hotel type stays.
Good luck to anyone in a dilemma over this sort of decision.
David
0 -
Tickets and flights were booked and 2 days before due to travel, Mrs R tested positive for Coronavirus, so trip cancelled. We are however, going to view a European spec caravan in Slovenia (which we couldn’t tow in UK) More importantly, she is absolutely fine and I’ve not caught it -both of us are double jabbed too. I’ll post on here when/if things develop as I see this solution maybe be useful to others in the future
0
