My name is Patricia and I have been a FINDRA fan since my first piece, bought in the Henderson Row shop. It’s still being worn.
I was prompted to get in touch with Alex after reading her warts-and-all reveal of life on a van holiday. We had bought a van about a week previously and had just returned from a fabulous, completely unplanned, off-grid weekend at the Crown and Anchor at Kilnsea, Spurn Point.
It was a free place to park in return for eating in the pub, and we had supper and great live music on the Saturday evening.
Ken, myself and Star, our Springer Spaniel, enjoyed a low-key break, walking the coastal path, collecting sea glass and discovering that we really were best friends.
You quickly forget any attempts at elegance with all the undignified clambering about involved, but I remind myself how lucky we are to be able to do it.
We all found our spaces. Star, very sensibly, under the table.
Prior Planning and Preparation
Our first trip had been wonderfully spontaneous, but for our next adventure we decided to put into practice the 7 Ps:
Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents P*** Poor Performance.
It’s a phrase that has resonated with me since it was mentioned by a military man I met while walking the Coast to Coast path a few years ago.
And apparently, it begins before you even leave home.
There are the things you need to do to prepare your home for your return: arrange for the hens to be cared for and the tomatoes watered – we are lucky to have a wonderful neighbour. Wash all the household bedding and towels. You don’t want to return home to that, as well as bringing plenty more laundry back with you.
Move indoor plants somewhere shady and water them well. Much easier than coming home to dead twigs. Very depressing.
Then there is the packing.
Careful packing of the essentials and the non-negotiables is important. For us, that means our favourite coffee mugs and porridge bowls. Ken spotted a YouTube video showing how to make foam cut-outs to keep everything safely in place, so we did exactly that.
A fully charged power bank is also useful, especially if you are going off-grid.
Trip Two: North Norfolk
Our second trip was to a family-run site on the North Norfolk coast, this time with an electric hookup.
The planning paid off. Mostly.
The power bank wasn't required, but we did discover that 10 metres of electric cable isn't necessarily long enough to reach the hookup point. Luckily, the site owners kindly lent us one.
Lesson learned: read the campsite description more carefully.
We enjoyed another super break, walking the coastal paths, woodland and cliff tops, cooking meals and making plans for the next trip.
Having electric made life a little easier too. Porridge every morning was straightforward, and we cooked a few simple pasta meals.
Watching the more experienced campers also gave us plenty of ideas for future purchases. A 25-metre extension cable was definitely going on the list, along with an electric griddle for safer barbecues and some levelling chocs for uneven pitches.
I'm easy about the levelling, but some people clearly prefer to use a spirit level!
The summer has been such a great start to van life. You become much more aware of the nature around you – spotting birds you might never notice in town, watching wonderful sunsets and seeing the changing sea and sky.
We loved the coastal and woodland walking, but also those little snapshots into other people's lives. People fishing, bird watching, enjoying their hobbies or simply sitting and watching the world go by.
There were local cafés and pubs, live music, and little honesty stalls selling local foodstuffs.
Star loved romping in the sea and was made very welcome at the Cliff Top Café in Overstrand.
And our collection of sea glass grew.
Personally, I can vouch that searching for sea glass qualifies as a mind-clearing exercise.
Always Expect the Unexpected
Of course, not everything can be planned for.
On the way home, when we were almost there, the van alarm – which had been fitted by the previous owner – suddenly fell down and became suspended between the pedals while Ken was driving.
My yoga moves came in handy.
I managed to reach down and hold it out of the way until Ken could park safely. Luckily, we were able to pull into a supermarket car park.
We had cable ties and gaffer tape with us. Never leave home without gaffer tape. It has so many uses.
We weren't completely confident that they would keep the alarm out of the way, though.
Ken said we needed a piece of string.
I said, “Will this do?” and produced my knitting wool.
I went off to do a bit of shopping and returned to find a cat's cradle suspending the alarm safely out of the way of the pedals.
And we drove home safely.
Always expect the unexpected.
But perhaps that's the point of these trips. You can plan, prepare and pack your favourite coffee mugs, but some things you simply can't predict. You adapt, you improvise, and you carry on.
We've discovered that we love the outdoor life. It's simple, active and, somehow, it makes you notice more.
The sea, the sky, the wildlife, the people around you. Even a piece of sea glass.
Ever onwards. Relatives on farms in Ireland are likely soon.
Sunday Inspiration
Favourite Book
I recently read Educated by Tara Westover, a real battle over a strange and dangerous upbringing.
Favourite Quote
It was written by Dr.KM Keith. It encourages persistent goodness,honesty, and love.
Favourite Song
