Where do you stay? And for how long? Forums

Denise

Do you tend to stay on sites, or wild-camp most of the time?

And how long do you usually stay in one place?

I've only ever spent a few weeks at a time in my van so move around a bit, but when I go full-time I think that could work out a bit pricey on the diesel!

Am planning on spending most of my time around the West Country with a few trips North and hopefully Ireland, but wonder if I'll get bored if I stay in a place for more than a few days?

I've loved my time so far, but don't suppose full-time will be like one long holiday, especially during the winter Shocked

brezcraft

Get Bored!

The Basic idea is that if you feel boredom may be approaching, it only takes a turn of the Ignition to fend it off.

Definately Wild, The wilder the better, See the sites the others miss.

brez.

chuggalugs

We tend have never stayed in one place for more than one night. Our general pattern is load up on a friday night and shoot off to Snowdonia or some such devine area and wild camp ready for an envigorating walk on Saturday. Later that evening find a CL or small site with a shower (I have riged up our own now - watch this space!) and chill out ready for the sight seeing and gentle drive home on Sunday. At a sedate pace (Is ther any other way driving around in your bedroom??) we can do an adventure with a radius of about 200 miles with no trouble which takes up a good area of old Blighty. That long weekend feels like a full weeks holiday and is the best thing we have ever done in our lives.

A

Anonymous

Hi Denise, have you got rid of all your junk yet? That was our biggest hurdle - took about 3 months of eBay bashing!

We generally move every 3-4 days, that's how long it takes for most places to become familiar. We spent May and June in Nottingham, at a CL and at an airfield (Ben was flying with them). We tend to mix CL's (average £4 per night) with wilcamping depending on the area. We avoid large sites like the plague, they have lots of (often petty) rules and are too crowded for us. Plus we object paying £14+ per night when we don't use any of the facilities.

Everyone has their own standards of living and comfort, just try everything available and your lifestyle will evolve. That's the really cool thing about full-timing, you can live how you want and its really fun working out what that is! Our 'honeymoon period' lasted about a month, by then we figured out what we liked and how we wanted to do things.

Be prepared for winter! We were happy bunnies for our first winter because our van in built for the German's to go skiing with. Make sure you can dry things and have good heating, it makes the world of difference to your own sense of well-being. Make sure you have a good waterproof, a mean torch and watch out for the mud (always walk on it before you park on it). As long as you're prepared, the winter is an adventure.

We travel a fair bit because we like going to new places and discovering stuff (consequently we don't own any travel guides) but we don't drive for more than about an hour a day, because that's the boring bit! When you live in one place you hunt out all the bits you like and then keep going back to them. When you live on a van you hunt out the good bits then move on. You only get bored if you forget to move on! But plenty of people park up somewhere and pretend they live in a house, its personal choice.

Anyway, Ben's failing to make tea - needs further instruction!

Raine

A good teaching thats what they need! hey lizzie, what was Ben flying in with them, if you know what i mean, I have had two flying lessons, a low wing and high wing, 2 seater cessna and a 4 seater (well pretty small) 4 seats, my son came with me for my second, havent had any for a while, think hubby thought he would have to get me a plane if i got my ppl! lol, silly boy- course he would have had to, shush, lol

Denise

I've been gradually clearing stuff out since January, and have a fair bit of stuff packed ready for storage.
My son is having the 3-piece suite and my bed, other furniture is up for sale (but no takers after 3 weeks, will have to reduce price!) and tons of stuff has gone to charity shops.

The worse thing now is a loft full of kiddies toys - will be hard to get rid of all them, I'd hoped to keep the best stuff for grandchildren when they come along but I won't have the room to store them Sad

Thought about a boot sale but I'd never manage to get there early in the morning! Rolling Eyes

I'm pretty well stocked up with winter clothing - been using current van for last 2 winters and the only heating is the grill/hob! Got some great stuff from my old job, gortex jacket, good wellies, walking boots and a top quality fleece jacket (and a hard hat Very Happy

), and I've also bought myself thermal vests and long-johns (very glamorous Mr. Green

) and thermal socks, gloves, hat and lots of fleeces.

Have also got lots of old towels to dry wet dogs - aah, the smell of wet dog in a confined space, wonderful! sign5