Pyroman Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 Compared with other children our age, my sister and I were incredibly well travelled and we could never have afforded it without the caravan. Hear, Hear! We never got as for as you've been but we did loads of the UK, France and Italy in a caravan from being nippers. and it was a fantastic childhood! These were the days before we had electric hookup so everything was gas or 12v Still remember the old gas lights in the van and watching french cartoons on an ancient black and white 12v television before the parents woke up.
Earthling Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 Didn't have a touring van, but my parents had a static caravan at Aberavon during the early to mid-60's, when I was 10 -14 years, thereabouts. We spent most weekends there during the spring/summer and Sept-Oct. Quite near to your neck of the Principality, Gareth. It was a lively old place then, the camp-site was in between the Sandfields housing estate and the oil-refinery (whatever it was). I can remember the Afan Lido being built, along with various pubs/clubs along the seafront. Miles of clean sandy beach, sand-dunes, sunshine, dirty Bristol Channel, Beatles songs on the fairgound juke-boxes, Rolling Stones, Swinging Blue Jeans et al. Occasionally, we'd drive into Swansea on a Saturday evening to the cinema.......that's where I saw 'Zulu' for the first time. I looked on Google Earth the other day and the campsite was gone, the refinery (whatever it was...gone), and the housing estate overflowed onto what was the campsite. Everything changes, nothing stays the same forever.
teejay Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 Is that the Bear Lake? We have the smaller Trout Lake which is great, but the sloping corners make the main living area feel a bit small when the door is closed. Sorry, didn't see this! We have the Outwell Columbia River, it's the polycotton version of the Nevada M. I think they only made it for a year and ended up paying not much more for it than the Nevada M's were going for. I know what you mean about the sloping corners, but it's fine for us, just the 2 of us in a 5 man tent gives us plenty of space! Only problem is, we were away a couple of weeks ago and we walked past a caravan sales place where we stopped for a coffee and then had a browse, Mrs Teejay now wants a caravan...
rich_tech Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 Didn't have a touring van, but my parents had a static caravan at Aberavon during the early to mid-60's, when I was 10 -14 years, thereabouts. We spent most weekends there during the spring/summer and Sept-Oct. Quite near to your neck of the Principality, Gareth. It was a lively old place then, the camp-site was in between the Sandfields housing estate and the oil-refinery (whatever it was). I can remember the Afan Lido being built, along with various pubs/clubs along the seafront. Miles of clean sandy beach, sand-dunes, sunshine, dirty Bristol Channel, Beatles songs on the fairgound juke-boxes, Rolling Stones, Swinging Blue Jeans et al. Occasionally, we'd drive into Swansea on a Saturday evening to the cinema.......that's where I saw 'Zulu' for the first time. I looked on Google Earth the other day and the campsite was gone, the refinery (whatever it was...gone), and the housing estate overflowed onto what was the campsite. Everything changes, nothing stays the same forever. I think your referring to the oil refinery/ICI chemical processing plant by the sounds of it, the sandfields has undergone a fair amount of restoration and regeneration works in recent years from what I have seen in visits to the area.
garethEds Posted June 16, 2012 Author Posted June 16, 2012 @elsiegee40 - Point taken. Knowing my boy I think 23 months is too young at this moment in time :-) However - it is on the cards for next year. GJE
garethEds Posted June 16, 2012 Author Posted June 16, 2012 Didn't have a touring van, but my parents had a static caravan at Aberavon during the early to mid-60's, when I was 10 -14 years, thereabouts. We spent most weekends there during the spring/summer and Sept-Oct. Quite near to your neck of the Principality, Gareth. Yes - not far at all. I was walking on that very Aberavon beach the other day. We used to have massive family get togethers on that beach once a Summer. Everyone - aunties, uncles, etc etc all met for one day and brought picnics. Back in the 70's early 80s. It went downhill for a while but NPT are investing more in it. My Gran went into a nursing home overlooking the beach a few years ago. Alas she is no longer with us but her being there took me to the beach quite a lot. It was a lively old place then, the camp-site was in between the Sandfields housing estate and the oil-refinery (whatever it was). I can remember the Afan Lido being built, along with various pubs/clubs along the seafront. Miles of clean sandy beach, sand-dunes, sunshine, dirty Bristol Channel, Beatles songs on the fairgound juke-boxes, Rolling Stones, Swinging Blue Jeans et al. Well I guess you know the Afan Lido was burnt down the other year. I've not kept up with developments so do not know if it's being rebuilt. A Harry Ramsden's opened up the other year and lasted about 9 months with their stupidly expensive fish and chips. There is an Apollo Cinema there - that's cool. A nice cafe and chippy now on the front. Always very busy. I looked on Google Earth the other day and the campsite was gone, the refinery (whatever it was...gone), and the housing estate overflowed onto what was the campsite. Any idea what the post code was back then? GJE
witch Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 We used to go to static caravans/chalets at Landanwg,(every whitsun) Pembrokeshire and Angelsey, as well as static camping in Brittany and the South of France when I was a child. Mr wITch and I took the children to static caravans in Cornwall, Devon, and to tents at various points in France when they were small. We have very good memories of it all but I don't really like camping in tents at all. I would consider my own camper van -fancy a converted T4 or similar. I'm not good at sharing facilities as you have to when camping. I would like to drive a camper around the States or Canada one day with mrwITch
jinnantonnixx Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Time for some ridiculous camping advice... This is my van last year at Newgale, west Wales. Reverse a Kangoo into an awning and hey presto... one motorhome. It's quite 'cosy', but it works. I bought a nice bell tent last year, really heavy cotton. Can't find any photos, but it's really easy to put up and recommended. The weather's been so bad I only used it twice last year and haven't been anywhere this year. Anyway, some actual sensible advice. Camping beds are usually terrible, and those polycell mats are purgatory. I bought some (oddly named) 'carp beds' (watch for typos) used by fishermen. This is the actual bed I bought (though I had it for £79 last year). TF Gear Chill Out 3 Leg Bed - Fishing Bed Chairs Fishtec Seriously, I've slept in worse hotel beds. They're fantastically comfortable. 2
Earthling Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Any idea what the post code was back then? GJE I'm not awfully sure we had postcodes in those days. I'm talking 1963-67. If there was apostcode, I don't know what it was.
Ste_Harve Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Well me and the wife have just bought our first caravan, and now getting rid of the trailer tent. Rather spur of the moment as we were planning a honeymoon abroad, but decided for the price we can get a caravan and use it a lot more, and next year won't be so bad to get away. I use to caravan when I was younger, but now i'm 29 and we decided it would be a cheap way to get away more. We're going to kendal in july for a weekend, and looking for somewhere for the bank holiday weekend in august, but can't really decide at the moment. We're taking our daughter who is 2 in august, she loves being in the caravan thanks to grand parents taking her away in the motorhome. Caravan is a 94 abbey county somerset 4 berth and i'm using the BMW 523i to tow it. 20 miles drag home and it was fine.
garethEds Posted June 18, 2012 Author Posted June 18, 2012 Well me and the wife have just bought our first caravan, and now getting rid of the trailer tent. Rather spur of the moment as we were planning a honeymoon abroad, but decided for the price we can get a caravan and use it a lot more, and next year won't be so bad to get away. I use to caravan when I was younger, but now i'm 29 and we decided it would be a cheap way to get away more. We're going to kendal in july for a weekend, and looking for somewhere for the bank holiday weekend in august, but can't really decide at the moment. We're taking our daughter who is 2 in august, she loves being in the caravan thanks to grand parents taking her away in the motorhome. Caravan is a 94 abbey county somerset 4 berth and i'm using the BMW 523i to tow it. 20 miles drag home and it was fine. Welcome to the clan. Some nice sites over the bridge if you are up for travelling. GJE
rad Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Pictures from our Wedding day. Can the weather brighten up please so we can use her fully.
Oaktech Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 I'm very much of the if you want to get away from it all, then camp, mentality... The way i look at it is that the cost of a caravan adds up to lot of nights in a travelodge and a lot less grief! 1
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