Solo motor-homing

Hi Toosca  I know how you feel I  lost my wife in Jan 2020 and i did my first outing just me and the dog week before Lock down i went to a club site and even though i saw and chatted to people in the day the first two nights were painful but  i got by then lock down happened did not help We always  used cls but I did my second trip two weeks ago to a  club site still lonely but  its surprising how many people are in the same position. Maybe solo group will be the answer but i will try a few more trips just me and the dog first.

I think that it depends a lot on personal circumstance, and to some extent, age. I suppose how much you like your own company. I was 42 when my wife died. I had to carry on as our youngest daughter aged 14 was at home. 

Aged 45/46 my youngest had left home for art college. I had taken over a singles/social group which filled a lot of my time in organising holidays and events and also started using our caravan solo and had it stored on a site that I used regularly to fish on site and other places and made friends with regulars. Particularly those with 50 weeks a year statics. I think it is easier for younger folk, those with good neighbours and for men. 

My neighbour of over 35 year lost her husband in January. I sold his caravan for him 6 months before his death. She is fortunate in having good neighbours, not just me.

Hi Toosca,

I am in the same situation as you as lost my wife to that horrible disease. I have just bought a Motor Home for solo travel and have had my first trip out. Brilliant met lots of lovely people on the site (you have to make the effort) yes it can be lonely but plenty of great walks, some good books and total relaxation.

Keep the van and have some adventures

Toosca, I am sorry to hear of your loss.

We are into "social camping" as it is now being more frequently described, using with this club their "Centres", and elsewhere with "District Associations" and "Groups".

Within my circle we are an aging population and by its very nature that gives rise to quite a few becoming "single", not all opt out though all seem to need time to adjust before continuing.

Might I suggest that you try visiting a spectrum of these social groups where unless our experiences are untypical you ought to find there are plenty of members willing to integrate you into, to whatever degree you desire, the social ambience of the meet? 

Sorry for your loss Tosca.

My husband died 10 years ago and I continued caravanning and now have a motorhome.  The group I mainly go out with is the New Companions Camping Club (NCCC).  www.newcompanions.org.uk .  They use club sites for most of their meets.  This weird year there are not as many meets as normal, but in normal times they have meets throughout the UK.  They send a small magazine to all members giving details of all meets.  Membership costs £12 for online and £15 if would like a paper copy of the magazine.

There are various facebook singles groups which appear to have huge memberships but are nowhere near as active as the NCCC

Hi there, just thought I’d make a quick post to express my condolences to those of you who have lost a partner and are trying to carry on motorhoming or caravanning alone and not finding it very easy.
We bought a motorhome when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, almost 3 years later he died (July this year). He stayed at home much of the time because of tiredness but I went off alone several times and sent him photos.
Since he died, I have been away 3 times on my own and I have to say I love it. There’s always someone to chat to about all sorts, bird spotting, walks, technical motorhome stuff, sharing wee bits of our lives with each other. 

I’ve never met anyone else who is alone. I don’t even have a dog! 
But, I am a loner by nature and happiest when I’m on my own (with the exception of family who live 500 miles away).

Connecting with others who share a love of being outdoors and a love of touring, being in different places, is heartwarming.

I encourage all of you to continue, if that’s what you really want to do. 
I agree with David, smile and face forward. Connect and love the great outdoors.

Hi Toosca,

                Having read your post I feel for you and understand your predicament. I lost the most precious person in the world to me in May 2019. After courting for 6 years and then married for 56 years the emptiness that is left is near to unbearable and life seems pointless. But my wife would not want me skulking around as we were a happy couple who loved nature and the great outdoors. We had been Caravaning since 1978 averaging 90 days a year away,so a way of life to us.             You will get a lot of good intentional and caring advice Toosca, but there is not a right way or a wrong way, but only your way that will matter. I have used our Caravan 3 times and although I coped, it was horrible without my wife. This will not stop me from stopping using it again because I know my wife would want me to do so and so it will be my decision to do so.  What ever you decide to do GOOD LUCK 

 Hi ,Tooscca,In much of the same predicament as yourself and ADP1963 and Sonsie Soo,I TOO had this dilemma when my Wife joined the Angels over 5 1/2 years ago.A lot of people carry on with touring on their own ,,,YES ,,it can be hard ,,,but as said meeting like minded on your travels helps ,,even if at times  it stirs up the emotions again ,it's all part of the healing/learning curve i found  in handling the memories .My own personal trial remedy ,was to change the motorhome ,(one of four we'd had on our travels) and continue as i know my Wife would want. Small compensation i know ,but a positive move nevertheless .,,Good Luck  and hopefully Happier journies to come ,,xx Pete ..

hi toosca , 

20 years ago I was left on my own when my partner died . I had the caravan and loved caravanning , we had spent the previous 10 years getting out whenever we could . I had two options , learn to tow or sell the van , which was worth nothing . I took the first option and apart from the first trip when I spent time feeling sad and lonely like you . Luckily , i  had our old dog and he saved the day . I have been vanning ever since , whenever possible , been all over the place and made many friends along the way , catching up with them on an annual basis when returning to favourite places . I stick to CLs as they are by and large , friendlier and you don't get that feeling of exclusion that being surrounded by families gives , they can be very intimidating to a solo vanner on a large site .

 I now have another dog who has spent his whole life coming away with me and has been instrumental in my meeting so many nice people and has got me out and about ...no festering in the van with him ! This is  y experience of vanning after bereavement and I am eternally grateful to my partner for getting me into the caravan and motorhome world .  Don't give up , there is still a lot of fun to be had !