We started with a huge dome tent & did one season. Altho we loved the camping, we didn't love the squelching across to the loos in the middle of the night or packing up in the rain. We bought our 1st van last year - 10yr old Elddis Firestorm 7 loved caravanning. We've now bought a new van & been away 3 times in her so far.
We love being able to go away & chill - not having to be anywhere for a certain time or do anything we don't fee like doing is the luxury for us.
We bought our 1st van last year - 10yr old Elddis Firestorm 7 loved caravanning. .
Ooooh that's what we started with, the elddis firestorm!! We loved it and it was 10 years old. Which model did you have? We had the 5 berth but it was so cosy! You don't see many, apart from that's what the caravan club use on all there advertisments on sites. It's even used on the clubs card.
We used to camp, then we got a 2nd dog and for some reason this one would keep getting out under the tent, we found him one morning in someone elses tent! he was licking there faces whilst they were still in their sleeping bags! We decided that we couldn't keep him in unless someone was holding the lead all the time, so we realised camping was out for us. As we really enjoyed the way of life, I just drove down to a caravan dealer one Saturday on my own, it was the first time I had looked properly at a new caravan, and I was amazed, shower & toilet, fixed bed, heating, comfy seating, fridge, cooker, etc. I rang my husband from the dealers so excited and was explaining to him what they were like inside, so we both went together the next day. It was the first time my husband had seen inside a caravan for years, and was equally amazed at how well appointed they were. We were smitten by the Bailey Indiana, it was their newest model in 2006, so we bought one, and still have it, I really love it and couldn't go back to staying in cottages, especially when you have dogs, as your on tender hooks all the time in case they get up on the settee. Love, Love, Love, Love it!!!!!!
Started with a tent back in 1971, then a larger frame tent, then when the kids came along a larger frame tent...kids loved camping and it was a way of getting cheaper holidays as we didnt have much money to thow around, Whenthe kids had flown the nest we went away from camping for a few years then bought a trainler tent but it didnt work for us and bought our first caravan in January of this year. We love it, we've been away 3 times this year and are off again next weekend and again in July. We'll take a break then until the school holidays are over. Glad you had a good time
Going way back now to around 1955/6 I think. Mum and dad bought me a two man job one birthday. None of your fibregalss poles and lightweight fabrics. Wooden poles that slotted into stainless steel cups made for the poles at each end of the tent. No zips either in those days. You tied bands on each side flap around the front end pole. Left gaps between each "tie" so the flies could get in. Sewin ground sheet? You have to be joking. You slept on the grass. Some years later ground sheets became available.
First camp was at the local college football pitch in Oakengates whn I was about 6/7.
The family took the tent on our first holiday in Scotland, I'm guessing around 1960ish. Dad liked to travel on Fridays to avoid Saturday traffic and so we always ended up sleeping in the car overnight en route. Anyway, that year we made it to Oban by early evening and my three sisters and I used the tent, camping on Oban Golf Course overnight. Lying/sitting sideways. We didn't get much sleep.
Roll forward to around 1966/67ish and I took a group of first formers at the Grammer School off to Hebden near Pately Bridge for a weeks camping. School mini bus broke down enroute and we ended up walking some 10 miles to the site through the Nidderdale/Wharfedale area. Fabulous walk although the first formers didn't seem to think so. Took my 1950s tent just for me. By then it was feet out of the front on a night unless I curled up!!!
When our kids came along we got a bigger tent and took them touring around the Lakes and Scotland (North End of the Isle of Skye at Staffin Bay was an experience with Kids).
My youngest son (35) now has his own tent and goes off on his bike with the gear with overnight stops after a days cycling. Sort of runs in the blood I suppose
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Quote: Originally posted by grumbleflick on 06/6/2010
Quote: Originally posted by adsheadv on 06/6/2010
We bought our 1st van last year - 10yr old Elddis Firestorm 7 loved caravanning. .
Ooooh that's what we started with, the elddis firestorm!! We loved it and it was 10 years old. Which model did you have? We had the 5 berth but it was so cosy! You don't see many, apart from that's what the caravan club use on all there advertisments on sites. It's even used on the clubs card.
Snap! Ours as the 5 berth too! Lovely van. We did intend to keep her for at least 5 years but then when MIL died & her house was sold we decided to buy new as we couldn't trust ourselves to put the money away & not dip into it. Altho we only had it for one season that van was lovely & gave us a cracking start. Think it'll always have a special place in our memories no matter what we have in the future.
We had a tent and loved it ....at first, then the rain followed us around then the wind, oneday it was so windy and rainy our tent blew down and snapped, repaired it on site but sat cold and miserable, made worse by the fact set up next to us was a van, I could see them all smug n Cosy in their pj's with their tv on and I could hear their heater going, the next day we packed up threw the tent in the bin and got us a van, ok it was riddled with damp and she was old but we repaired her and she was lovely, that was 2 years ago we have just got a newer van 5 years old but only bought her as we needed more berths.
I would never ever ever go back to tents although I have fond memories ,you cannot beat being all Cosy heater on pj's on tv on snuggled up listing to the rain, pure bliss.
And this is from someone who swore caravanners were the scurge of the earth and block up roads and generally just weird and old lol
I now stand up and say im Donna and a caravanaholic :) and proud of it, don't knock it till you try it .
I was a bit put out when someone whom I see sometimes when I walk my dogs, asked if I ever had a "proper" holiday!
yes you should say , we go all the time, do you???
What's with these people, not only do we have proper holidays we have weekends too. I'd rather have a van and have loads of breaks than wait for your two weeks a year in some grotty old cockroach infested apartment sharing a pool and food poisoning, and getting there in a steel tube with wings , if that's a proper holiday well I don't want it.
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: Just returned from "virgin voyage"!
