Started as a child in an old caravan that was kept at the seaside. Then came the package holidays with the very rare camping trip with our neighbours. (usually was an excuse for a boozing session). Then along came the kids, and we still did the package, loaded up with buggies and nappies, etc.
Next we invested in a big 6-man tent, and all the kit. We were meeting up with a couple of other families, one lot had a caravan. It was a very wet weekend........ and could hardly get every thing fitted in to the car....... especially the kids and the dog.... The next month we started looking for a cheap van. Got a 12 year old Swift Challanger It lasted us 3 years
Got a new Bailey Ranger last year and still love it to bits
We had a frame tent which we used for 3 years on the continent (I served in Germany with the RAF).
After spending a night in a howling gale in Montreux, trying not to go hang gliding with the tent, we decioded to look for a caravan on return to the UK. We bought a cheap Monza and also got a dog! Never looked back since!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Way back in the late 40's (Yes just after the War) my dad decided that after trying a guest house we would be better off camping. So motor bike and sidecar plus Mum, Dad and two kids squashed in with very basic camping gear set off. Great times. He continued until he died in 1964. Me and hubby and children carried on until late 70's. under Canvas but due to Hubby suffering a serious illness with the prognosis of survival less than 50% we switched to a caravan in 1979.(At least I would have a holiday home for the kids if the worse came to the worse) Happily He is still with us. Mid 80's moved and ran a B and B for 14 years. August 2006 returned to caravanning and having a great time.
------------- Don't know where I'm going but will be happy when I get there.
We started off camping, except I didn't like using the loo's but I loved the campsites and the way of life, so I started visiting caravan dealers. I had never seen inside a caravan in my life, apart from one static which I rented once, anyway I was so taken by the inside and the fixed bed, that I rang my husband on my mobile, he was at work, and I told him all about what the inside was like, I was only looking at secondhand, as I thought no-way could we afford new, anyway I managed to get my husband down to the forecourt, he also had never seen inside a caravan, and was as surprised as I was, I was at home thinking how we could fund a caravan, when I remembered that I had shares from a company I previously worked for for 17 years, and I had never cashed them, so I decided to cash them in and buy a brand new Bailey Indiana, and we have never looked back, yes we could have kept the shares for our retirement, but why not enjoy the van now, we have no regrets.
why wait as you say enjoy while you can our van enables us to enjoy time away the peace and quite the lovely places we vist ..id been in static vans with the kids before but never a touring van till we got ours..their amazing arent they..
after many years camping in our frame tent going all around the country packing the tent away in the rain and then having to air the tent when we got back( waiting for a good sunny day) the last straw came last year when the floods and rain had hit the country hard we could not air our tent for about 2 months and when we went on our 2nd camping hoilday the tent was coverd in moss and dew every one was looking at us in shame, that was the final straw (one only can take so much) soi bought my self a 17ft caravan for this season cannot wait.
Quote: Originally posted by simontipler on 03/1/2008
after many years camping in our frame tent going all around the country packing the tent away in the rain and then having to air the tent when we got back( waiting for a good sunny day) the last straw came last year when the floods and rain had hit the country hard we could not air our tent for about 2 months and when we went on our 2nd camping hoilday the tent was coverd in moss and dew every one was looking at us in shame, that was the final straw (one only can take so much) soi bought my self a 17ft caravan for this season cannot wait.
Good for you and may you have many happy days in you 17 footer
------------- Don't know where I'm going but will be happy when I get there.
We camped then decided to start caravanning & were hooked loved the freedom of it but due to things beyond our control at the moment we are not the proud owners of a van but will still be enjoying the outdoors in a tent this year curtosy of some great friends weve met through UKCS but hopefully in time we will own another Caravan as we both love them.
We have always been into bikeing with a tent, but with 2 dogs & a grand daughter that thinks it fun to be with the " oldies" it was time to look at another form of "holidays", so cavavanning seemed to be the choice, still offering the freedom etc. We've just purchased our first van & after a few repairs are looking forward to our first outing. Wishing you all a good season. Greetings from Denmark Steve & Birgit
hope you enjoy your van as much as we have .we have wales,devon,mablethorpe,mildenhall ,i.o.w. and sandringham booked and hope to do some guick weekends..
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: how did you get in to caravanning
