![]() I went back and forth to the van figuring out all the things I needed and nothing was too much trouble, and they had everything in stock. I have to say that the folks that run Dorset Leisure Centre couldn’t have been more smiley, lovely and helpful. I needed to change the regulator on my gas cylinder – To one that didn’t leak!!! I had found out from Google that there was a great caravan supply shop in Charmouth so I heading there. I spotted a herd of 5 or 6 beautiful Fallow deer at the side of the road. Then I set off again down the rather gorgeous stretch of road that is the A35. I installed some of the hooks and catches and a carbon monoxide detector – Important, that! So I pulled in to did some moving in type maintenance. ![]() There was a lay-by beneath the ruins and it was too tempting to park up somewhere so picturesque for a while. I admit, I only got as far as Corfe Castle. I had a school reunion to attend that night in Honiton! So after a quick wander round Swanage town centre where I acquired some hooks and catches to install in the van, I set off. I had to get going for another trip down memory lane. This photo is from my dining room.Īside from toasted tea cakes and coffee on the beach, my day was not to be spent lazing about on the sand. I took it kind of leisurely rising about 8am to go into Swanage. Up early I guess to go and grab a spot along Studland Bay. The night was uneventful, I slept well and I was awoken about 7am the next morning by the sound of the other van pulling away. I was knackered and pretty much just passed out straight away. With curtains also still to be installed I only had my insulation mats to block the light so I put them up and jumped into bed. I wasn’t yet happy with my gas set up so I didn’t try for the hot water as well. The cigarette lighter plug was still wired up to the water pump so I did have running water that first night to clean my teeth but that was it. The fact that the other camper was there, parked perpendicular to the road and well back, gave me confidence so I backed in beside it.Īt this point I hadn’t yet had any of my electrics hooked up and Lutine had smashed my gas lamp earlier that day so I lit candles and put them in glass lanterns while I got ready for bed. Views were no longer a necessity I just needed somewhere safe and fairly flat. It was almost 11pm (midnight for my body still on french time) and I needed to stop. ![]() Fortunately just after I’d passed Corfe Castle I noticed another van (just like mine) parked in a large lay-by at the side of the road, it’s windows glowing slightly. When I arrived I discovered that there were midnight to 6am parking restrictions. ![]() One of our favourite family beach spots has always been Studland Bay and I remembered seeing vans up and down the back of the beach so I drove over there to try my luck for a wild camping pitch. So after a long drive but a quick ferry journey from Cherbourg to Poole I landed back in the UK late Friday night and needed somewhere to park up. And it’s awesome! But let me back track a bit and tell you about what’s happened since I left France. Well honestly I think this last 24 hours might be the closest I have got to what I would call normal life. ‘Soooooo?’ I know you wanna know, ‘What’s it like!?’ ![]() I have been van-lifing for about 2 weeks now… Give or take a number of days spent at friends for various reasons… It’s 10am, I have just cooked myself breakfast, washed up and tidied the kitchen and settled down at the table in the sun to write this blog post. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |