Friday, 28 June 2013

Ok, so I am caravaning too! But hey I do enjoy it.

Caravan and a touch of the easy life


I have had an old caravan for a while now, it got plenty of use when out and about with the family. It had just enough comforts for the less rugged members of the family ;)

Suddenly one fine day half way up Kinder Scout I noticed the first symptoms of Asthma.Then following several visits to the Doctors it was confirmed that I indeed have developed Asthma.Thank goodness it is controllable using two types of inhaler morning and night, but nonetheless it has made me very aware of the dangers that no air to breath can bring to the hiker and wild camper.

Once or twice I have ventured out with a full pack loaded with tent, sleeping gear, Trangia, cooking stuffs, food, maps, dry clothes and toilet paper, only to find myself getting out of breath (quite normally) but worrying is it the dreaded A.

So before a planned weekend hike I took a look at the weather forecast, erm not looking too good, again! Then came the brain wave, why not take the caravan and use it like a base camp when climbing Mount Everest?  Ok maybe not Everest, but you get my meaning.

It worked like a dream. We could set of early in the morning with a much lighter pack than normal, camp out on the hills if we wanted and weather/asthma permitted. Or, return to the relative comforts of a dry and warm caravan.

Now the caravan has become a major part of hiking plans, it has actually opened up places that I thought were to far to travel with just a tent etc. But now further travel and longer stays are now possible.

The caravan is so much a part of our travels that I have now joined The Caravan and Camping club. They offer little sites called CS (certified sites) they tend to be very small sites normally on a farm or similar, are very quiet and for the most part secluded. Perfect for the would be hiker turned caravaner.

So I have learned that it is possible to have you cake and eat it!