What if we don’t like it?

So, ever since DH and I married 5 years ago we’ve toyed with the idea of a caravan. No one in the family has one, but we liked the idea of outdoor holidays, and my two experiences of camping have put me off tents for life.  I was thinking of a caravan as a warmer, dryer and more secure tent, one that just happened to have a bed, a fridge and a loo.

However, even minor research pointed out just what an investment it was going to be. Much though we loved the look of Eribas and T@Bs, we really couldn’t stretch that far on what was frankly, a whim. So we thought we’d hire a motor home and see how we got on, until we clocked that this wasn’t cheap either.

Years of prevaricating continued, until we decided we’d either have to put up, or shut up. Off we went in search of a lightweight cheap 2-berth (We were towing with a Fabia. Outfit match says you can’t, but the car handbook disagrees). Ebay proved they were out there for under £1k, and in the end we were offered an ex trade in from Discover Birtley. A little Sprite Alpine 2, with refurbished upholstery, pretty sound all round, in fact barely used. Hurrah.

At which point I had a crisis. ‘What if we don’t like it’ I cried. John in the showroom talked me round. ‘You’ll love it’ he promised. ‘You like cheap holidays and the fresh air don’t you? Just wait till you are on site, watching someone put up a tent in the rain, while sat on your sofa drinking tea. Then you’ll say John, you were right.’

So we took the plunge. In for a penny, in for a pound (well about £2k when you factor in the towbar, water rollers, sleeping bags, a nice set of melamine plates from Lakeland, a shiny kettle with a whistle, comfy folding chairs, porch awning, two pairs of crocs for the shower, etc).  I don’t travel light do I?

First trip to a club site an hour up the road to ‘get the hang of it’. Significant learning was made that weekend, but that’s a whole other story. Second trip was to the lakes, where the weather did what it does best in the lakes.  I sat on the sofa, drinking tea while watching people struggle to put tents up in the pouring rain, and next morning squeeze water out of bedrolls, and said ‘I’m glad I’m not doing that’.

So yes, John, you were right. Thank you for the years of future holidays, lazy weekends, fantastic views and freedom. We’ll think of you every time.

PS If anyone knows lovely John, and can tell him thanks from us, please do.