Cancellations

We tour in three trips between mid April and end of September. Over the 180 days we are away 110 of them. This gives a 4 week period at home between them. Plenty to do maintaining the garden etc then. Our other break is 15 nights up to and over Christmas. This year I shall have spent at least 5 weeks deep cleaning the house - an early spring clean. Due to arthritis I probably do no more than 5 hours a day - less if I have other appointments or shopping. Then there is outside driveway, parking, patios garden to maintain. Both cars serviced and MOT and caravan service medical appointments. All in all little time for trips between new year and mid april. We don't do short breaks. The only time I particularly miss going away is the 10 week period between end of September and mid December. 

We don't cancel for weather 

 

I'm afraid we don't all live in the sunny South Malc. Since we got back from Spain at the end of November its done nothing but rain, I think I could count on one hand the dry days we've had.  We do use the van in winter but not this winter, no joy in going away when its so miserable.

We don't leave bedding, towels etc in the van neither do we leave clothes, I'm pretty niffty but I think it would take me a few hours to be ready to go away in winter.

Have you thought about going to Spain in the winter rather than the Autumn? You should be able to get plenty of warm, sunny weather on the Costa del Sol at this time of year.

MM, that is not guaranteed either.  My SIL has an apartment there, she goes out there a few times a year, including Jan-Feb, but it has been cold and rainy there too at times!

I think you have to accept that everyone is different, not everybody goes out in their caravan or MH all year; one size doesn't fit all 

Write your comments here...The Costa del Sol is only about 20 miles away from the North coast of Africa which borders the Sahara desert, where there is less than 10 inches of rainfall per year. So I would have thought that you are more likely to get warmer, sunnier weather there than you would further up north.

Your geography is a bit out. Costa del Sol is about 80-100 miles from the north coast of Africa and its rainfall in the winter months is not dissimilar to that of the south coast of the UK. The temperatures we have experienced this winter are, equally, not dissimilar to a normal winter on the Costas.

We are obviously far less organised than those who can have their vans ready to leave in a couple of hours!!

When we get back from a trip, the van will be pretty clean inside as we try to keep it that way at all times, but after sitting for a while unused we always do a thorough clean before a trip.......under bed hoovered out, all cupboards cleaned out, fridge, toilet, shower etc etc cleaned......at our age it all takes time.

Then there are all the clothes, bedding, towels etc to be laid out and packed, the unweildy mattress to be wrestled with, everything to be carried out to the van when(if!) it stops raining.

Plus I always sterilise the water system before a trip.

Food, spares, tools, medecines, toiletries etc etc, it all takes time.

2 days is not long for all that as far as we are concerned!

For our annual 3 month trip we allow a week to prepare.

So there you are, KjellNN, there's your answer. Wait for a lovely winters day when the sun is shining and book on that day, hitch up and you can be sited in the place of your choice within an hour or two. No worries!

I'm afraid we don't all live in the sunny South Malc. Since we got back from Spain at the end of November its done nothing but rain, I think I could count on one hand the dry days we've had.  We do use the van in winter but not this winter, no joy in going away when its so miserable.

We don't leave bedding, towels etc in the van neither do we leave clothes, I'm pretty niffty but I think it would take me a few hours to be ready to go away in winter.

Write your comments here...You could always use your caravan to come and visit the sunny south in the winter, Tammygirl. Having said that, it was rather stormy yesterday! Have you thought about going to Spain in the winter rather than the Autumn? You should be able to get plenty of warm, sunny weather on the Costa del Sol at this time of year.

Malcolm, we only got back from Spain at the end of November. As I said earlier we normally do tour UK over the winter but not this year as the van had to go into the dealer for some warrently work to be done (OH collecting it today) for us to visit the South of England we are looking at 512 miles not something we do just for a few days, as the weather can be very bad in January/February with snow on the mountains/hills (which we would have to cross) we don't go anywhere with the van in winter unless we know its going to be ok. Last January we only just managed to get out of Perth before the snow arrived. This year the wether has been windy and rainy, so we have elected to get on with some work in the house. Only another 4 weeks today and we will be in Lanzarote for 3 weeks, knowing that all the work is done and we can lay back and relax.