Adventures of a newbie caravanner Episode 2

Our first “Proper Trip”

Again no half measures; I had booked two sites in France for our summer holiday.  We had driven to France on many occasions before to static caravans, hotels and gites etc.  So driving on the wrong side of the road and going round roundabouts the wrong way held no fears.  The only difference would be towing a caravan.

My daughter, home from university, suggested we needed more practice before venturing across the Channel.  So we booked Park Coppice near Coniston for two nights.  The main idea was to work out how much time it takes to hitch up and get out of storage, pitch up and level the caravan, get the awning up (since our first try we had been back to the dealer and had a good look at the display awning) and how long to pack up and leave site.

My biggest worry was getting to the ferry from the overnight camp site.  Even with a 1015 ferry I had visions of arriving at check in with my daughter still asleep in the caravan.  You must understand that 10 o’clock is the middle of the night for a student.

The Coniston site was a wooded site and up to the usual Caravan Club standards with friendly staff and a well-stocked shop.  With my Caravan Club training under my belt I confidently stated, “I can reverse the caravan onto that pitch.  No problem!”  So here we go.  Even after explaining the CC method of signalling I still got the frantic semaphore swinging of the arms but I managed to get the caravan to within a few yards of where I wanted it.  The motor mover worked a treat so we finally got the caravan in the right place.  We even managed to get the awning erected before the heavens opened.

After a stormy night the day dawned overcast but dry so we decided to hit the usual tourist trail of Ambleside and Coniston.  The day got warm and sunny so we visited a local hostelry for a refreshing pint of locally brewed beer before heading back to the caravan site.

The approaches to the site were narrow twisty country roads with very little opportunity for overtaking so for amusement my daughter invented an Olympic style caravan award on the trip home:

A bronze star for creating a convoy of five vehicles.

A silver star for creating a convoy of ten vehicles.

A gold star for creating a convoy of twenty vehicles.

I was awarded a silver.