New beginnings

I also sleep really well when my husband and I go away in our caravan, maybe it's the fresh air and not thinking about work that does it.

I have always been happy to tow, my husband likes to watch the scenery go by I think. The only bit I'm still not great at is reversing, but he's great at that part, so we switch over.

I also sleep well in the caravan. Sometimes with the change in air too well. 

I normally sleep 6.5 to 7 hours (ideally 7 hours). When we went to Southport for 10 days last Christmas on the first day I slept for 2 hours after tea - not something I would normally do. I then went to bed about 10.30 and woke up about 8am. 11.5 hours sleep.
Next day 9.5 hourd and 3rd day 8 hourd. By the 4th day back to my normal 7 hours. 

The same thing happens in the Highlands and a few other areas.

I also do most of the towing, I've managed to manouvre the caravan once onto a pitch but it's quite difficult when all eyes are watching, I leave the pitching to my husband and the mover. My husband likes the comments from the guys on the sites when they
see the wife doing the towing.

We also have great night's sleep in our caravan, the bed in the front of our Bailey Olympus 525 is huge when its made up and we love being able to sleep right beneath a window to breathe in lovely fresh air.

Had our caravan for two years and feel that it's not been used enough so we're starting to use it for weekend breaks so we're not waiting for the longer breaks away.

Having been given tickets to the lawns show my husband was persuaded to go for "a nosey" after stating that he thought caravaner's were "sad'o's" during several tours of the various displays stating that he was "only looking" and was "not buying one today"
we then went on to our local dealer after leaving the show. We came away the proud owners of a Bailey Discovery 200! Needless to say we became totally addicted to caravan life, not put off by the weather we more than got our monies worth out of our first van,
we have since upgraded to a fixed bed Lunar Quasar 534 and have already got three trips planned and booked for 2012.Guess we have become a pair of "sad'o's"

I started by accident - bought my 1988 fiat ducato as a diy renovation project last year - tried a couple of weeks in september - HOOKED, I've taken early retirement and now virtually live in her. I've thought about upgrading but after all the blood, sweat
& tears I can't bear to part with MY motorHOME. Shame about the 25 year old rule being changed for road tax - that would have financed my tour of the souTh west.Any other owners of vintage models still touring?

I love this story! My husband and I have taken the "plunge" and bought a Motorhome a few weeks ago!! We're getting it ready and will be off exploring in it very soon and I can't wait!! We've been camping in our tent for a couple of years now ,but feels we
will be living in luxury in comparison! I have driven the Motorhome and found it very scary at first, but I really want to be "able" to drive it and not leave it all up the hubby!! Enjoy your travels everyone!

we have a coachman lazer 655 changed it last year to take the family away they loved it so much they now have there own caravan a coachman almera. me and the wife have plenty of room now in our 6 birth ?

Just coming up to our 1st Annivesrary with the caravan after many years in tents. Went on the CC towing course in Winchester the month before picking up the van from a dealers in Wimbourne. The course was great with newbe's like me and others who had towed
for 20+ years but never had any official training. The first weekend was staright from the dealers into the New Forest then home to Kent. We then had several weekends in Kent including a club event on the weekend of the Royal Wedding, before going to a French
site near Dijon for 2 weeks. Everyone we came across wherever we have been has been very helpful and friendly. The 'old stagers' on the club weekend provided some invaluable guidance when you don't have the luxury of an electric hookup etc. This does not mean
old as in age but experience of caravaning.

We got our first caravan last year, hubby wasnt to keen on the idea at first, and we only went for a "browse" the day we found our lovely little "Bessy Bailey" 420/2, the kids are now grown up, the youngest being 18, this was ideal for us, ..... we have
just returned from our first very succesful trip of the season..... and daughter pipes up, " me and the boyfriend wouldnt mind coming with you sometime !!!" Good job we purchased a full size awning hey !!!

Joking aside though, all winter we have been itching to get away in our little van, brushing up on our knowledge with magazines etc, oh and the hubby is now a fully fledged caravanner !!!

Heres to happy camping folks x

I don't know what happened to my previous comment but I was about to say that when I retired it was always my dream to buy a boat. My wife said no to that idea I want a caravan so needless to say that was what we ended up with. Our Lunar Delta was brilliant,
we called it our apartment on wheels. It allowed us to go to loads of great locations all over the country. We have now changed to a motorhome which is also great but I occasionally miss the caravan. This camping in comfort lark is the best thing anybody could
do but don't tell them it's difficult enough finding a pitch already!!!!!!!

First got used to holiday with my first wife in a tent and eventually worked up to a caravan,then when the marriage ended I met my second wife who's ex husband was a caravanner.Bliss...we bought a caravan and since then have worked up to our third van,we
love it and this coming Christmas I am taking V.R  then we intend to try a new site.......it's called europe and all the time in the world to enjoy our van.

pete

I am another newbie to caravanning.  My husband & I used to B&B for our holidays, moving on each day to see as much as possible. Sadly, he died 2 years ago, and I have not been away, didn't fancy B&B on my own.  My solution was my first caravan, an Avondale
Dart, at the age of 67!   After a short stay on a site local to the dealer, to get used to the set-up and make sure that everything worked OK, I towed it home 30 miles up the M1, so that was an experience in itself, but not at all as bad as I thought it would
be.  I am off on my first trip next week to Bury St Edmunds, and like someone else said, a bit nervous about making a fool of myself when unhitching etc.  I also have a motor mover, and I can already say that it is a godsend.  I am eagerly looking to see where
to go next.  Wish me luck

I definitely disagree with the last statement.  I tow all the time and I am female.  I have been on the caravanning course and have caravanned most of my life.  Please do not make sweeping generalisations - I have seen men making just as much, if not more,
of a mess of things than women. 

Oh, how I envy you ladies who tow.  I am such a woos and the thought of driving on the motorway just terrifies me and so that precludes me from towing the van.  I keep thinking about it and then I get too worried.  I don't know why it scares me, but it does. 
We have a big Landrover Discovery which I love to drive but the thought of towing just gives me the jitters.  Well done all you ladies. Keep on towing I say

My wife does not tow. But she is an excelent navigator, and when we arrive on site (and are preparing to hook up to leave) I trust her manouverig instructions  She knows just when to being turning or staighten up and can guide me to withing 2cm (!/2 inch)
of the tow hook.

I cannot see where the front or rear bumpers are & when parking close to a wall will stop me within 1 inch (25mm)

Well after 40 years of caravanning and 50 years of wedded bliss camping and as husband & Wife; I suppose that you learn how to do things together