Friday, June 30, 2006
minimalism - it's not just a fashion thing
There are a couple of key things that will influence the success or failure of an extended camping trip like the one we are on. Knowing how much to pack is one of them. You have to have your creature comforts but at the same time you don't want your head wrecked every time you want to move down the road.
The Dutch family camped beside us recently were a great example of how to do it badly. They had a car, caravan and awning and seemed to have brought their entire home with them - they even had high chairs and travel cots for the kids. Fair enough I thought - they just throw it all in the caravan and off they go. If only. I kid you not - they spent an entire day packing. The lady of the house washed and scrubbed every bit of equipment before it was packed - we actually thought she was having a nervous break down.
Now I've always liked a bit of minimalism - in my music and home furnishings but being a messy sod kind of undermines the second one. But we've learnt that when it comes to camping - only pack what you need and make sure everything has its place in the van. Although I got a custom interior built for my van I took ideas from the various conversions on the market over the years, so we fit a surprising amount in our van. Surprising at least to all those people driving around in massive RVs with their life possessions on board.
It's the only way to avoid a very public nervous break down on a crowded campsite.
By the way we're in Moliets et Maa about an hour north of Biarritz - had to come here to get some sun after five days in the gloom underneath the sand dune.
The Dutch family camped beside us recently were a great example of how to do it badly. They had a car, caravan and awning and seemed to have brought their entire home with them - they even had high chairs and travel cots for the kids. Fair enough I thought - they just throw it all in the caravan and off they go. If only. I kid you not - they spent an entire day packing. The lady of the house washed and scrubbed every bit of equipment before it was packed - we actually thought she was having a nervous break down.
Now I've always liked a bit of minimalism - in my music and home furnishings but being a messy sod kind of undermines the second one. But we've learnt that when it comes to camping - only pack what you need and make sure everything has its place in the van. Although I got a custom interior built for my van I took ideas from the various conversions on the market over the years, so we fit a surprising amount in our van. Surprising at least to all those people driving around in massive RVs with their life possessions on board.
It's the only way to avoid a very public nervous break down on a crowded campsite.
By the way we're in Moliets et Maa about an hour north of Biarritz - had to come here to get some sun after five days in the gloom underneath the sand dune.
