And then we bought a caravan

Coming Home

The newest vehicle in our family fleet, Josie the Caravan, came home almost a year ago, amid the Covid climate and its attendant obstacles of lockdowns and shortages. Then a run of unfortunate incidents prevented her from moving out of the carport after that, apart from a short visit to a local upholsterer for a refurbishment to the cafe seating. Fast forward to February 2022, and after many mods and adjustments, we were ready to shake her out, as they say in the biz.

Out with the old tat and in with the new sleek finish

The Shake Out

We chose the far-flung shores of Reflections Holiday Park Tuncurry for her maiden voyage. Since it was only a short trip over the bridge from home, it was close enough to ensure that everything worked, nothing fell off, and that we had everything we needed for our first glamping experience. If we didn’t, we could simply dash home and get whatever we were missing. It worked a treat and is highly recommended for anyone just beginning their outdoor caravan adventure – like us.

All set up and no place to go

Day 1 – Brekkie

Lessons Learned the Hard WayTry not to knock over the boom gate key pad with the extension mirrors on your car. If you have short arms like me, it can be challenging to get close enough to key in the code without doing just that.If you are able to choose your site, take careful note of the surroundings – trees, neighbouring vehicles, communal skip bins. Trees may provide great summer shade, but their extended roots can make the site quite unlevel. And a skip bin right across the road will make it difficult to manouevre the van.Also don’t choose a spot near the dump site. Lots of people drive up to empty their toilet cassettes and park in front of you while they do so.Guiding the driver into position is harder than steering the van. Who would have thought?! Walkie talkies are essential; hand signals are confusing.Try not to prune nearby saplings with the back end of the van.Make sure the van is on level ground. You would think this went without saying, right? But no. If they built the site up to match the height of the slab, be sure to park up immediately beside it. I was unaware of the importance of this small fact so the van had a noticeable lean to it that made it very easy to close all the cupboards and drawers.Once You’re Parked UpPark far enough from your neighbour’s vehicle that you can open the windows without taking out their mirrors. With this in mind, wind in your own extension mirrors after you’ve parked up.It’s hard not to look like a dick when you’re a newbie. Judging the expertise of new arrivals is a thing. Talking to your neighbours is very informative and helpful if you want to avoid this embarrassment next time.Don’t forget the key code for the amenities block, especially if you’re in a hurry to get in. Goes without saying, right?Checklists are important, really important for first timers. You don’t want to forget anything when it’s time to set up or pack up. Trust me!

Despite all the above, we had great fun. I can only assume it will get easier with time and experience. But the most important thing we learned? After the events of the last twelve months, we really needed a holiday! So, stay tuned for our next/first adventure with Josie to Hawks Nest, coming in early April.

See you on the road!

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