A whole new adventure
Hello everyone, I'm Anne.
In 2019 my partner Martin and I hired a campervan for a festival in 2020 after deciding that in our 50s we didn't want 5 nights on the floor in a tent. Well Covid cancelled the festival but we kept the van hire and found a couple of places to stay whilst we visited Derbyshire, each evening we sat in the van working out how we would improve it to make it right for us. When we got back home we looked at each other and I said "we're buying a van aren't we".
So we did, in October 2020 we found a Vauxhall Vivaro that had been converted and it wasn't quite right but the majority of work had been done and we brought our new baby home just before the second lockdown so we couldn't use it and we weren't allowed to do any work on it either. Anyway, eventually we could so we installed a new sink; a gas hob (and the gas connection for it); fitted a revolving thing to the passenger seats; installed a reversing camera; put the holes in the side for the water and electric hook up; made new seat pads, built a cupboard above the sink and improved the storage under the seats. We were so proud and enjoyed several trips over the summer of 2021 just getting used to it all. Martin would show everyone we met all of the things we had done, he was so excited to have created our 2nd home.
Sadly, and unexpectedly, at the age of 56 Martin passed away in November which has turned my life upside down as you can imagine. I'm getting things sorted out and I'm generally OK most of the time now. One of the things I have decided is that I am going to do all of the stuff we had planned, every gig or festival or event that we have tickets for I will be there, all of the home improvements that we had talked about I'm going to complete and all of the adventures in our van that we were looking forward to I am going to have. It won't be the same, obviously, but me and George our lovely dog and possibly my teenage sons will go out and have a whole new adventure.
If anyone has any tips on solo campervanning please pass them on.
Comments
-
Hi Anne and welcome.
You've got great determination and spirit of adventure. I wish you well in your journey of discovery.
There is a solo's section on this forum but it doesn’t have much activity these days. You'll find links to other solo camping groups which may be of interest.
Good luck out there.👍🏻
2 -
Hello, Good Evening & Welcome { To pinch an opening from David Frost
} from Brian aka ABM !!Take your time & scroll thru this forum -- I know its not too user friendly but if you have patience there are lots of threads about solos, modifying 'vans etc etc and you will suddenly be getting more information from folks better equipped to help you along than I am.
Whatever ~~ take it steady and dont forget to take your sense of humour !! Dash it ~~ if I cannot laugh at you then you cannot laugh at me, well not in range of my hearing !
2 -
That is wonderful👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻, you have put a positive spin on what is an incredibly sad life change. You have found a way to be closer to your partner thru a joint project you had both planned, I offer my admiration of your strength & drive. If you use YouTube check out the single female campervanners that have a channel plus the help videos too. Don’t get despondent you are doing it for both you & Martin.
2 -
Warmest wishes Anne, you have my deepest sympathies for all that has happened to you, and my deepest admiration for getting on with things, and I echo Rocky’s sentiments.
You will find most folks on Club Sites are friendly, and the Staff very helpful. Once you have found your wheels, so to speak, have a look at the Certificated Locations (CL) network, as the camaraderie at these little places can be very nice, and they are less formal. We have a niece who tours solo, like you got a van she has done up, and she travels the length and breadth of the country going to gigs, poetry events and wild swimming. She often meets up with others she has said hello to on previous occasions, and they share good places to stop, a brew and a good old chinwag. Most of the Motorhome forums will give you ideas of good places to stop, including any safety related issues should you decide to try things away from the Clubs. Many of the forums have sections for solo travellers, again to share ideas and contacts.Best idea I can give is don't be shy about saying hello. You will soon get a feel for those who enjoy a chinwag, others who might be slightly more reticent. If you have a slightly unusual outfit, it’s not uncommon for others to say hello and ask you about it, this usually happens to us every other trip! Spend time outside in the warm months, enjoying doing a hobby or crafts, and again, others are often curious and will come and say hello if you smile at them. George the dog will be a huge asset, dogs don’t have barriers like humans and quickly say hello to all and any passers by that show interest.
It will be strange I am sure at first, but you sound like you have enough positive determination and willpower, so go for it. Wishing you all the best.👍
2 -
Well done Anne for getting this far and posting on here! Welcome to CT. Do hope you and also your sons enjoy some new adventures in what must seem quite a challenge but a lovely idea to take on. You've nothing to lose so I hope there'll be some unexpected surprises along the way and lots of new memories ahead. Let's hope the music gets going again this year and the festivals lift everyone's spirits, very best wishes to all three of you and George the dog too.
1 -
Good on you, Anne. Hope all your dreams come to fruition. We have a friend who tours solo, with her dog, in a small M/H, and writes a blog of her travels which you might like to read. If you are on Facebook look for "Ronnie and Luna on tour."
2
