It has taken several years of heartseaching to finally bite the bullet and give up caravanning after 33 years. The whole concept became too much for us both and so we've come to this point in our lives. We both found that we had just simply lost interest in caravanning.
I sold my caravan yesterday with all the accompanying equipment collected over the years and there was plenty of it I can tell you!
The things I shall not miss.........? Putting up the awning, taking down the awning, having to get up in the middle of the night to re-peg it down during a howling gale and pouring rain, emptying the chemical toilet, packing up to go home, getting home and having to unpack everything, driving long distances on mind-numbingly, boring motorways at an even more mind-numbingly boring 60 mph.
The things I will miss.......waking up in the morning to the sound of nothing but bird song, the smell of someone cooking bacon wafting across the site and in the main the caravanning fraternity.
I've enjoyed being a contributor on this site for more years than I can remember, and I'll probably dip into it from time to time when I've nothing else better to do.
Best wishes to all of you for your future endeavours in camping and caravanning. Me and my wife........we're off to find other things to do!
Good luck with your decision. We have never had to re-peg in the middle of a howling gale. The only things we pack and unpack are clothes to no issue there.
Never found the driving boring as it can be a challenge to stay on the road sometimes with HGVs closely zooming by. I have always thought that the 60mph was a safe speed and even if it was 90mph I would still travel at about 60mph.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 14/5/2015
Good luck with your decision. We have never had to re-peg in the middle of a howling gale. The only things we pack and unpack are clothes to no issue there.
Never found the driving boring as it can be a challenge to stay on the road sometimes with HGVs closely zooming by. I have always thought that the 60mph was a safe speed and even if it was 90mph I would still travel at about 60mph.
You've been lucky not to have had to re-peg. I've had it twice-once at Highlands End in Dorset and the other at Polmanter in Cornwall. I didn't say that I wanted to go any faster than 60mph only that I found it mind numbingly boring-AND SO IT IS!!!!!!!!
Perhaps you don't have to store your caravan. We had to and part of the terms and conditions at that time were that the caravan should be returned as empty as poss.
So sorry then time has come Vic. We both joined ukcs about the same time so you've always been about as long as I can remember. I have had to suspend all caravanning activities as am pending my second replacement hip op. Oh has already had two and we both hobble around on sticks so I think our caravanning days are numbered. However, am not going to sell up yet but will see how we are after the next op. Wish you well for the future whatever you choose to occupy time with.
I'm lucky, my other hobby is amateur radio so I can do that sitting down ! Don't be a stranger..........Mick
Wow, 33 years. You must have some fabulous memories. Hope your new adventures bring you lots of great times. Best wishes x
P.S. I find motorway towing boring aswell!!!! ☺
Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 14/5/2015
It has taken several years of heartseaching to finally bite the bullet and give up caravanning after 33 years. The whole concept became too much for us both and so we've come to this point in our lives. We both found that we had just simply lost interest in caravanning.
I sold my caravan yesterday with all the accompanying equipment collected over the years and there was plenty of it I can tell you!
The things I shall not miss.........? Putting up the awning, taking down the awning, having to get up in the middle of the night to re-peg it down during a howling gale and pouring rain, emptying the chemical toilet, packing up to go home, getting home and having to unpack everything, driving long distances on mind-numbingly, boring motorways at an even more mind-numbingly boring 60 mph.
The things I will miss.......waking up in the morning to the sound of nothing but bird song, the smell of someone cooking bacon wafting across the site and in the main the caravanning fraternity.
I've enjoyed being a contributor on this site for more years than I can remember, and I'll probably dip into it from time to time when I've nothing else better to do.
Best wishes to all of you for your future endeavours in camping and caravanning. Me and my wife........we're off to find other things to do!
Vic
Have you considered a Motorhome , a lot easier and far less hassle plus you can legally drive at 70mph and with no stability issues
Siting a tourer at a favourite site within a reasonable distance? No setting up every week or putting up/taking down awnings except beginning and end of season, no long boring journeys, still getting the birdsong snd the camping feel. Works for us (second year sited. Did it before for a number of years as well). Can move on when fed up. This is what we wake up to most weekends. We consider it our holiday home! And we'll tent camp when we feel like a change.
Ours is the caravan with grey awning.
Best wishes anyway, whatever you decide.
We've only been caravanning for 4 years, previously camping with a Folding Camper and tent. I have to admit that it sometimes seems like hard work and as much as I love the caravan it isn't as much fun as the camper. Ours is in storage too so I know what you mean although we do keep the equipment in there.
Time for you to relax and look for other ways to holiday - enjoy!
Sounds to me the best thing to do would be to get rid of said awning, and pitch handy for the the toilet and shower block. . me and her don't go further than three hours away, but motorways IMO make it so easy!
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
Since giving up caravanning COMPLETELY last May we've been on a "fully inclusive" holiday to Menorca last October and we're going to a 4 star "pile" in Tenerife in a few weeks time. Not quite as cost friendly as caravanning but the the Menorca jaunt was paid for out of the savings made from the hidden costs of caravanning ie storage, insurance and servicing and Tenerife will be paid for from the alternative cost savings made from not going to France and all the costs incurred with that type of holiday.
I was sort of bereft when I watched the caravan disappear down my road last May wondering if I had done the right thing, but months on I'm happy with the decision and I find myself looking at broader horizons. I am not denigrating caravanning any way shape or form. It served us well for many, many years but moving on has so far been right for us. I have also re-discovered one of my passions long forgotten and now re-awakened - FLYING. I just love those big silver birds............
We have been having a similar discussion and it is ongoing. My daughter doesn't want to go in the caravan any more - she will be 16 in June. My wife is busy with her horse a lot of weekends. Last year we only got away in the van for one long weekend. We hired a cottage in France with its own pool and this spring we are going to Majorca on an all-inclusive.
When we get back I think we need to decide. We started originally so that we could get away for lots of weekends with my daughter and grand-daughter but now they have grown up it would be cheaper using hotels for the number of times we get away.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Given up....at last
