I
have been thinking about buying a camper van for two years. I was
watching Coast on TV with my mother and saw a film about The Wash.
“I have never been to The Wash,” I said. “I had no idea it was
so beautiful.” “Well you jolly well should have done,” she
said, “Uncle Sidney had a potato farm close to there and as
children we always went for Christmas.” She was talking about the
1930s. It made me realise quite how much of the British coast I
haven't seen..
Forward
now to October 2013. I met my friend Sylvia at the Devil's
Punchbowl in Hindhead to walk. I was telling her about this idea to
travel round the UK, and that I would like do it in a camper van. I
didn't want to hire one, I wanted to buy one and make it lovely.
We
walked through the car park and a van drew in with a middle-aged man
at the wheel, smiling. “That would do,” I said, as we went in to
the cafe. Sylvia is very pro anything to do with camping and camper
vans. I was preaching to the converted.
When
we came out, the smiling man had got his side door open and had a
brew on – he was repairing his grand-daughter's bike. “Yes,” he
said, “come and have a look round.” He and his wife sometimes
went on little trips, but mostly he went from one of his children to
the other, mending bikes, doing a few jobs. He'd just been helping
his son-in-law put up a conservatory and was on his way home. He'd
sold his car, just used the van.
His
van was, I must say, rather more workshop than Toast catalogue, more
oily rag than patchwork quilt. But the bed was there when he needed
it – his elderly terrier was having a siesta – and he had
everything he needed … he was as happy as a pig in muck.
We
drove straight to Freeborn Motorhomes in Godalming and inspected
three or four, not I must say with any great discernment, squealing
with delight as we stretched out on the beds and opened all the
cupboards and the ovens. Most, I soon realised, were too big for my
purposes. The best prospect was a T-reg Swift Mondial which had nice
blue striped upholstery (not the usual swirling plush), but that's
not why it was good. I liked the size of it, and the side-opening
door and the sitting area being behind the front seats – i.e. nice
to sit at the table with the side door open.
I
went home and wrote a list of essentials: power steering; I must be
able to stand up; a loo; two separate berths; it couldn't be too old
with engine etc problems as I am no mechanic; it didn't need to be
fast, but it must be reasonably comfortable to drive.
Coming
soon: The Search for a Camper Van, part II….
