A vintage vacation!

I've fallen in love. Nope, not with Leo Di Caprio as the charming Jay Gatsby (although rather tempting) but with another sleek symbol of Americana from a golden age, a vintage airstream. Not just any old caravan, I'll have you know but a 1949 Vagabond, a delightful old dame, situated in an idyllic green field on the Isle of Wight and full of homely comforts from simpler times. Outside, she was all shiny metal, reflecting the clouds in the sky. Inside, she was warm wood, embroidered table cloths, Elvis mugs, homemade cakes and knitted tea cosy.

This love affair came about as a little planned escape for my birthday. A few days away 'glamping',  taking part in the Big Wight Enduro (a mountain biking event) and a chance to explore a yet uncharted (for us) part of England (the Isle of Wight). I've wanted to stay in one of these for a while, after reading about Vintage Vacations in a Sunday paper a few years ago and they so lived up to my expectations.

Inside, she was surprisingly roomy and light, with windows on all sides. The living area contained a proper sofa (that also converted to a bed), covered with a colourful crochet blanket and a table and four chairs. Next to this, a small, well equipped kitchen with a full sized cooker and fridge/freezer. Cunningly hidden in a tall cupboard was a power shower and sink (separate toilets were located a short walk across the field).

Separated from the kitchen by a sliding door, the sleeping area looked like a proper bedroom with a full sized bed, dressing table, cupboard, set of drawers and even it's own external door. 

Entertainment was provided in the form of a radio and I had also bought books and knitting, however, most nights I spent day dreaming with a glass of cider, listening to the birds, sitting by the camp fire, enjoying the peace and being outside. Even the walk to the toilet block through the morning dew, wearing some scruffy old pyjamas, jumper and wellies made me realise how much I'd missed camping.

Helen and Frazer, who run Vintage Vacations were warm and friendly and showed us around and how to light the boiler and empty the waste water tank (both easy). Eggs, logs and homemade jams were available from the farm site via an 'honesty box' and BBQs were available to borrow. Each caravan came with vintage deck chairs and 'pub' style table outside, as well as handy hard decking just outside for when the weather turned 'British'. What can I say? I loved it!

What is the allure of campsites, caravans, beach huts and shacks? Does it remind us of times long gone, of building 'camps' as kids? Is it because our lives are all so complicated that it's such a relief to have time with the minimum of things, to gaze into the campfire, wrapped in blankets under the stars and rise with sun? All I know is that I will definitely go back.

PS: Whoops, sorry, forgot to mention the Isle of Wight and the cycling event! Both were fantastic but I'll leave those tales for another day.....