2019-07-01_Caravan_and_Outdoor_Life

10 |^ Caravan & Outdoor Life Magazine July^2019

I havejustfinishedreadingyour

editorialintheJuneissue,in

whichyoumentionthatthere are

somecaravanparksthatdon't

allowchildren.

I wasastoundedandsaddened

bythis,I alsorememberreading a

lettera fewmonthsagoinwhich

a womancomplainedabouta

nearbycampersnoring,and

suggestedthatsnoringpeople

shouldnotbeallowedtocamp.

Allthisgotmethinkingabout

howcampinghaschangedover

theyears.I startedwondering if

someparkshavelosttheessence

ofwhatcampingis allabout.

I havebeencampingallmy

lifeandcan’tevenremember

whenI firstcamped,asI was

waytooyoung.

Myfatherlovedcampingand

passedtheloveontome.I will

beturning 72 yearsoldshortly,

andI stillloveit.Beit inmytent

orcaravan,I needtogetmyfix at

leasteveryfewmonths.

So,inshort,I wouldliketo

makea comparisonofhowI

rememberit then,andhowI

findit now.

Long,longagowhenI was

young,a campsitewould

normally consist of an open patch

of ground, with a tap, a long-drop,

and maybe a shower head on top

of a pole.

It was very rough and ready,

and I remember that lots of the

campers would be fishermen on a

‘boys only’ weekend.

However, around 1960 caravans

became very popular and camping

changed forever.

Caravans far outnumbered t

ents and some parks even

banned tenting.

Ablution blocks were built, but

were rather primitive, grass was

grown, and camping became

a family affair. There would be

children running around playing

and, as children do, making a

noise by shouting and laughing.

Nobody minded, as children

playing is a happy sound and it

usually means all is well.

If you wanted to bring your

dog you just brought it. I can’t

remember any caravan park that

didn't allow them.

Camping was a lot more social

then, and there would be lots of

interaction going on within the

campsite - making new friends or

catching up with old ones.

Going to the loo at sundown

could take hours, as requests to

join somebody for a ‘dop’ along

the way were frequent.

If a party started up near your

site you either joined them, or put

a pillow over your head to block

out the noise. That’s just how is

was. Nobody complained, as long

it didn’t get out of hand.

Now let’s fast forward to

the present.

There are many more caravan

parks around, virtually all have

electricity and keeping the fancy

ablution blocks in a spotless

condition is a priority.

I find that present day campers

are still friendly and most will

pop over to introduce themselves

when you arrive.

Tents are getting more popular

again as, I guess, they are cheaper

and towing a caravan uses a lot

of fuel.

However, judging by the

caravan adverts in this magazine,

HOWcampiNG

HaScHaNGeD

I amtheproudowner of a 2011 Volvo XC-

T6AWD,andI towa Jurgens Avion XL and a

littletrailer.

Wehavebeenonthe road for two years,

campingfromcaravan park to caravan park on

pensionerspecialtariffs.

Recently,wemade our way from the

MosselBayareatowards Gariep Dam and

Odendaalsrus.Afterthat we went to Marula

Oasefora month.Next we were off to

Vaalwater,andfromthere we toured around

backtotheCape.

I havetosay,I was very chuffed with my

towingcombination.

If thereareothersatisfied Volvo owners that

wouldliketohavetheir say, let us hear from you

andshowuswhatyou have! And I wonder what

othervehicleowners think of this?

I alsorecentlydidthe Vleesbaai 4x4 route...

it wasa hotdaywith loose sand, but we didn’t

haveanytrouble.

I amveryproudofmy vehicle, with good

reason.Ofcourse,I service it myself and take

verygoodcareofit.

Includedinthisletter is proof of my fuel

consumptionwhiledriving through the Karoo

withtheairconon.It says a lot.

I ama happyVolvo owner. Enjoy your touring

andcamping.

Ben & Venetia Engelbrecht

VerY HappY WiTH

mY VOLVO

LiceNcefOreXperieNceD

DriVerS

I am not a caravan owner but I do like reading

about them, and I intend to own one in the future.

With the new Code 8 licenses being issued only

as code B licenses, I would like to know if that

hasn't affected the sales of caravans.

Surely, nobody wants to go to a testing

station just to have their licence upgraded to a

Code EB or EC?

I think a possible solution for caravan

manufacturers is to push for a change in

legislation that would allow for licences to be

upgraded automatically to the codes required

for towing after a driver has had a licence for a

minimum of five years.

That way you'll get more experienced drivers,

and the manufacturing industry won't be affected.

Mandisi Mzamane