By Emma Dodd
This week sees the Caravan and Motorhome Club focusing on all the people who have newly come to caravanning in light on the coronavirus pandemic.
It has launched the Big Little Club Welcome, which is running from August 31st to September 5th and is designed to offer advice and tips for beginners.
The idea is that anyone wishing to adapt to the touring lifestyle can tap into the already established community and ask any questions they might have.
One of the exercises promoted by the Caravan and Motorhome Club was asking its members to complete the following sentence: “When I first started touring, I wish someone had told me.”
Lots of people from the one million-strong community got involved, with the responses ranging from practical advice right through to heartwarming lessons learnt from experience.
Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “The Caravan and Motorhome Club is a huge community of friendly and helpful people, from fellow members to campsite and head office staff.
“I know when I’ve been on a campsite and needed help, fellow members are always quick to roll up their sleeves and pitch in or offer tips and hints.”
He added that in answer to the question, he wishes he’d known what an amazing lifestyle touring is, as he would have started years earlier.
A selection of the other responses to the question: When I first started touring I wish someone had told me.
“How hard the ‘withdrawal’ would be during lockdown and how desperate we would be to have a weekend away as soon as the sites opened.”
“There’s a switch just inside the doors that needs to be on before any 12v light will work.”
“How much we would love it! And how helpful other caravanners are when you’ve bought your first awning off eBay with no instructions and everyone around you ends up helping to put it up.”
“To buy ratchet straps to put around the awning when it is down and folded so that it goes in the bag much easier!”
“How many wonderful memories we would make, and how happy we would be when we are in our caravan.”
