Posted on 21/05/2019 16:56
What is it that you absolutely love about your hobby? Is it the freedom to explore, the opportunity to relax in new places, the call of the open road, or something else entirely?
I love the opportunity to discover new places and spend time together as a family away from distractions. What is it that you love?
Posted on 22/05/2019 17:56 by TakethedogalongWe loved the self sufficiency, roughing it adventure of our early small camper van, then tent, then basic caravan. We have stayed in some very out of the way places in our touring outfits, and still seek these out more than Club type sites. If it came to a choice of only being able to use Club Sites, I think we would possibly sell up and do more cottage holidays and perhaps some overseas tours by rail. Our outfits owe us nothing and have given us some wonderful times away with our dogs. We have explored most areas of UK other than SE, and enjoy being around different local customs. The UK is wonderfully blessed with some great history and scenery, and we make the most of it. It’s still posh camping to us.....😁
Posted on 01/06/2019 17:33
Completely agree with all of the above (especially regarding club sites😁).
Also for us caravanning has given us a joint hobby. Before we got our caravan hubby would go off on fishing trips and I would do stuff with my friends. Now however, we've advanced from simple country walks with the dogs near to whichever site we stayed on, to seeking out sites to use as a base to climb mountains from! The last 2 trips away we didnt use the tv at all, we enjoyed so much time outdoors. It's given us both a new lease of life and a common interest too. I love it and can't imagine ever stopping.
Posted on 30/05/2019 20:43 by TykeI know who slept in my bed last night.
Posted on 01/06/2019 18:08
I agree entirely Tyke + my own equipment: cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery etc. Also no restrictions to meal times. More flexibility to plan. Not always possible to take dogs in hotels guest houses etc. It's probably more sociable - perhaps more chance of speaking to other people. No formality. You can be in a completely different place but there is still familiarity of living quarters and equipment. My awning will look the same in Cornwall as it does in Provence.
David
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Posted on 01/06/2019 18:08 by DSBI agree entirely Tyke + my own equipment: cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery etc. Also no restrictions to meal times. More flexibility to plan. Not always possible to take dogs in hotels guest houses etc. It's probably more sociable - perhaps more chance of speaking to other people. No formality. You can be in a completely different place but there is still familiarity of living quarters and equipment. My awning will look the same in Cornwall as it does in Provence.
David
Posted on 01/06/2019 20:22
Our house is not just our home, but part of the farm - and caravanning means our temporary “home” is just that - our home - not shared with the business. No one will turn up selling stuff, looking for long lost relatives, needing to be fed etc. It’s just the two of us.
Posted on 01/06/2019 18:08 by DSBI agree entirely Tyke + my own equipment: cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery etc. Also no restrictions to meal times. More flexibility to plan. Not always possible to take dogs in hotels guest houses etc. It's probably more sociable - perhaps more chance of speaking to other people. No formality. You can be in a completely different place but there is still familiarity of living quarters and equipment. My awning will look the same in Cornwall as it does in Provence.
David
Posted on 02/06/2019 09:21
"More flexibility to plan"
David, for us that would be a contradiction in terms, perhaps?
our 'more flexibility' means we don't have to 'plan'.....or did you mean 'plan less'?
our holiday (abroad) last week, Friday, was only booked two days before...
prior to that the two (previous, seperate) weeks away were only 'chosen' just before we left.
we 'might' go away on Friday, and we we might meet up with pals who are away, but nothing certain until the ignition key is turned.
...but we did 'plan' one break....we are going to Henley later, and have booked (not HFO) as we are visiting the Regatta, but this is the only break we know we are taking, although we will 'almost certainly' 
be away every other week and 'are extremely likely' to be over the water sometime later in the year.
changing circumstances mean we have upcoming 'commitments' but it's the readily available van on the drive and its ease of departure that allows us to leave at the drop of a hat (clutch).
for us, and many others I'm sure, it's the element of 'not planning' (when or specifically where) that's part of the attraction...
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Posted on 08/06/2019 19:52
I think ive had a good deal after previous poster said grand a year plus ,, Swift bought new 1994 11 grand ,used it ever since ,lots of tlc ,still like new inside { bit dated decor } Done a lot of carribean islands ,new york ,canada ,mexico bla bla ,,Still cant beat sitting in awning rain on canvas ,beer in hand , is what we do now
RowenaBCAMC
Trailertenter