Car camping is not always fun, not always glamorous. Finding a place to park up depends on where you are coming from and where you are heading to. I made up my mind to park here before I left home. Often, when you are on a several day jaunt, you have to take a chance. You might drop lucky and find the perfect spot, or you might not get a wink of sleep if you are in a dodgy area. You have to use your common sense. Look around you. If it doesn't feel right, then move on to another location.
I was struggling to find a safe place when I was in the Lake District. Luckily I met an ok man who let me park at the front of his house. Another time I was parked in a churchyard, with permission, no gates, close to the front door of the church. I had to get out of bed in the early hours and move the car. Someone was walking around with a torch. I parked about a mile up the road.
I can stealth camp in the street. In Buxton I found a tree lined avenue with big houses. It was a dead end street going nowhere, so only the owners needing access drove past my car parked at the side of the road.
I would not park in an isolated location by myself in the countryside. If I choose a layby it would be where motorhomes and van lifers gather. Safety in numbers. Having spent years sleeping in a lorry this is not new to me.
On Saturday night I stayed at the Motorway Services at Wetherby. I recorded this short video just before I went to bed. Yes there were lights on, with cars coming and going, but that doesn't bother me. I use my skirt to drape over my head blocking out the light. Works perfect.
This morning I went to Crafty Club. It is sunny. Now I will start uploading another video onto yoootooob and take Billy dog a walk. It may appear here later, or I might post it tomorrow.
Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona
Ahhh camping season begins. Looking forward to all the places you will take us. EXCITING!
ReplyDeleteHello Tammy. I am making a list and filling in dates on my calendar.
DeleteCripes! Someone walking about the churchyard with a torch in the early hours. That sounds scary Ilona. H
ReplyDeleteWhen I parked up the church was still open. They invited me inside to have coffee with them. They said I could stay the night parked outside. Two people arrived and parked their campervan by the entrance, on the road. They walked around the walls reading all the gravestones for about an hour. I watched them. When it got dark they came back with a torch. I thought they were harmless so went to bed. Much later in the early hours I was woke up by a torchlight shining from a distance directly into the car. I don't know if it was the people I had seen previously or if it was someone else. The campervan had gone. This didn't feel right so I quickly got into the drivers seat and I was gone. A mile down the road I found a better place outside a school where other cars were parked.
DeleteRather you than me - I like my creature comforts as I get older. The travel - yup, up for that - but need to know I have a bed booked for the night, even if just in a Hostel.
ReplyDeleteI admit, is it nice to snuggle into a lovely hotel bed with an en suite bathroom. But as I like to go away with minimum preparation, putting a few things in a car suites my 'just do it' attitude.
DeleteIlona, you are very brave! I would not have liked having someone poking around during the night with the flashlight! What fun though, I do like camping. Thank you for taking us all along with you! :). (We tent camped for several years, now have a small camper again, it's my favorite thing to hitch it up and head for Lake Ontario...but your trips seem much simpler, yet fun!)
ReplyDeleteHello Della. There are all types of camping. I would love to tow a small micro caravan, they are so cute. But I don't have any free storage at my home. I could change the car for a campervan but if I keep that at home it is more obvious when I am away, a space on the driveway where there is normally a vehicle parked. I try and keep things simple. A car has the advantage of parking anywhere.
Delete