We did a thing..

In the well known words from Jeremy Clarkson, we have done a thing!

Let me take you back to October 2024, when we were in the final stages of selling ‘Monty’. Why I hear you ask? Well Scotland last year was fantastic, but it was during that 10 day adventure when we were packing up every day, wondering if we would be able to park, hitting our heads and smelling things from each other that no couple should smell; when we had essentially had enough 😂

Whilst we enjoyed many an adventure, from converting the van and then being out in him all the way from Cornwall to Scotland, we had outgrown him and it was time for a new vehicle. It was bittersweet, but the right decision.

We sold the van on a Thursday, sat and thought “what’s next for us?” When our friends (who you can go and follow @ourbaileymoon ) suggested that we go and look at caravans over at Whitearches in Rushden, where they recently got their Bailey Pegasus Brindisi.

Having recently gone to the NEC for the camping and caravanning show, knowing our intentions to sell Monty and look for our next vehicle – we had several options open to us. Those options being another, bigger conversion, a small motorhome (those who were here for the adventures in Marv will understand the use of the word small!) or a small caravan.

So we headed down to Whitearches, open minded, but not ready to commit to anything – why the rush?

Now everyone who knows us well are likely rolling their eyes at that sentence above! We do have a tendency to jump into something with 2 feet!

Now when we use the words ‘small caravan’ we had only really seen the Swift Basecamp at the shows, which was small and utilitarian, which would suit us. From looking online there were other, similar sized caravans available to view so it was nice to compare them at the same site.

And that’s what we did! 2 hours of essentially back and forth, comparing the small caravans at our own leisure before leaving (with no purchase!) as Gem and I were heading out for a bottomless brunch!

We had walked away leaning towards a particular van, the Bailey Discovery D4-4L, it was similar to the Basecamp but just felt a lot more homey and comfortable – and I think that’s what we need, we need comfortable. This will be our home away from home.

With Michael the negotiator, trying to use Black Friday and a pre Christmas sale to his advantage, we asked what deals they might be able to offer us. 5 days later, we were on our way to pick up our new caravan.

Trust us to pick it up, and tow for the first time, on the coldest night of the year with limited visibility! We were very much questioning if we had made the right decision! We got home and on the drive in one piece, we went to bed very uncertain but excited at what we had done.

There was only one way we were going to find out if we had made the right decision or not and that was by going away and giving it a go. So come Friday after work, that’s exactly what we did. Another drive in the dark, an hour up the A1 towards Nene Valley Park in Peterborough.

After a relatively enjoyable drive, we got to site, set ourselves up and curled up for the night – with heating!

We had a much needed slow start to Saturday, Michael wanted to try out the new shower we have onboard – all was going well until he used up all the water and sent me out in my pyjamas to fill up!

Other than some newbie learning curves, we were revelling in the space we now had. Michael could sit at the dinette whilst I lounged on the sofa and vice versa. We played cards at the table which allowed us to leave the bed made and my personal favourite from Michael ‘it’s only 5 steps from the bed to the toilet’ – where I could be separated by the smells!

It was also nice to cook and wash up without being bent in half – in every area it felt like a luxury. It also didn’t really feel like ours, because it was that spacious and relaxing! We treated ourselves to a wood fire pizza for dinner before I KO’d.

We decollapsed camp on Sunday morning, we clearly looked like newbies as a neighbour headed over to help us hitch the van to the car (gave us a couple of tips and didn’t judge us at all!) and we were on our way. An hour home – a daylight drive and we were back with plenty of the day left to put up the Christmas tree.

We still have a huge amount to learn and new routines to form but we are excited for the next adventures!

Since purchasing the van, we’ve never done more than 3 nights away; the first weekend to Peterborough, a trip to Norfolk between Christmas and new year and then a weekend away with friends to the Cotswolds.

From these trial trips, we’ve since bought everything we can think of to kit out the van – sounds like an extended adventure is needed…