Quote: Originally posted by robin52 on 12/6/2011
Hi Vic must admit if my van was stored 42 miles away I would think it was too much hassle. mine is 6 miles away and I leave everything in it except perishable food. There are always enough clothes etc. in there for a weekend so all I put in the car is a coolbox of milk etc. Occasionally go and put some extra clothes in. It's stored at Lowdham Leisureworld so its an excuse to look round caravans etc and have a coffee. It's an afternoon out. (sad I know lol)
The problem is that storage costs here in Hertfordshire are prohibitive. It's close on £600.00 PA at the CC site at Welwyn Garden City. This includes CC membership which you have to have in order to store there. I positively refuse to pay this kind of money, especially when you see little in the way of year on year improvements there.There's 500 caravans stored there and doesn't take Einstein to work out what the take is there for very little effort.
We search high and low every year to get the best price within 50 miles of home and this year we got 12 months for £420.00.
Quite a significant difference I think you'll agree.
Also because my wife still works, albeit part-time, she has to fall in line with the holiday rules of the company which means 5 weeks per annum. Therefore our caravan doesn't get used as much as it might do if a) it was stored at home and b) my wife didn't work.
Anyway, we've found a new storage site which is only 18 miles away for the same money as this year and we're on the waiting list to go there.
I really don't understand peoples reluctance to putting up an awning for two nights. Imagine how you'd get on with no tent up if you were only camping for two nights! A full awning only takes an hour of leisurely to-ing and fro-ing to be completely up and kitted out. This includes beer/tea breaks. If it is wet when taking down, I just roll up the bits and stuff it in the washroom, the wet room type floor takes care of it and I can pack it all properly at my leisure when I'm home.
Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
Quote: Originally posted by stuartggray on 14/6/2011
I really don't understand peoples reluctance to putting up an awning for two nights. Imagine how you'd get on with no tent up if you were only camping for two nights! A full awning only takes an hour of leisurely to-ing and fro-ing to be completely up and kitted out. This includes beer/tea breaks. If it is wet when taking down, I just roll up the bits and stuff it in the washroom, the wet room type floor takes care of it and I can pack it all properly at my leisure when I'm home.
Leisurely!!!!! Did you say leisurely?
That's the first time in nearly 30 years of caravanning that I've heard of awning erection referred to as leisurely.
We don't much get the opportunity to do short breaks - weekends tend to be a no go (being a church organist cuts out Sunday mornings and Fridays (choir practice). I am a retired teacher but my wife still teaches, therefore we get: February Half Term (usually Sunday lunch to Thursday), Easter Holidays (working around the Easter weekend), we always do May Day B.H. weekend (usually locally); Spring B.H. (Sunday lunch to Saturday); the nice long Summer holidays; then October half term.
This year we were to busy to do the Spring B.H., but by the end of August we will still have done 47 nights. We're planning to maximize the October Half Term (Fri-Sun) so that will be another 9 nights. So it's looking like 56 nights away for us this year.
When OH retires and our youngest DD is at uni. we'll be able to do Sunday lunch to Thursday any time we want (can afford to). I conduct a choral group too so would need to get back for Thursday night.
Would I put up an awning for two nights? Dunno - might, might not - it'd depend on how we felt when we arrived. I'd put one up for 3/4 though, but only the Fiesta. The problem occurs when we do a long holiday at different sites - we will only take one awning with us so will probably end up putting up the full awning for three/four nights at our shortest stay.
Quote: Originally posted by stuartggray on 14/6/2011
I really don't understand peoples reluctance to putting up an awning for two nights. Imagine how you'd get on with no tent up if you were only camping for two nights! A full awning only takes an hour of leisurely to-ing and fro-ing to be completely up and kitted out. This includes beer/tea breaks. If it is wet when taking down, I just roll up the bits and stuff it in the washroom, the wet room type floor takes care of it and I can pack it all properly at my leisure when I'm home.
Eh ? Sorry don't follow your logic.
If you were camping with no tent you'd either be doing it because your tent had got damaged / lost / destroyed, the weather was fabulous - or you had no choice - or because you were bonkers. How does that doesn't compare to caravanning without an awning ??? Not the same thing at all.
Remember not everyone is young / fit / can be bothered / feels they actually need the extra space ! Caravanning and camping - like most things in life - isn't something that everyone needs or wants to do in the same way.
Sorry but I do get a bit fed up of people making out that what they find best is what's best for everyone else too.
Quote: Originally posted by stuartggray on 14/6/2011
I really don't understand peoples reluctance to putting up an awning for two nights. Imagine how you'd get on with no tent up if you were only camping for two nights! A full awning only takes an hour of leisurely to-ing and fro-ing to be completely up and kitted out. This includes beer/tea breaks. If it is wet when taking down, I just roll up the bits and stuff it in the washroom, the wet room type floor takes care of it and I can pack it all properly at my leisure when I'm home.
Its not a "problem with the awning" and you are not camping so therefore you do have a "roof" over your head...its about maximising the time you have away...lol!
------------- Elaine
Clumber feb 1/2 term
clumber april 2011
May Clumber
May Scarborough
August Corfe Castle and any other weekend i can manage!