Camping holidays: Heaven in a VW

Tag : authentic jeans

I'm not surprised the vans have such a wide appeal, because thereis something about them that just makes you smile as soon as yousee them. Maybe it's the jaunty colours and the matching names,such as Poppy and Daisy, that Stefanczyk has given them. Or maybeit's just the fact that a vintage camper van embodies a time that'snow long past, when the Beatles were big and blue jeans, ratherthan the features of the newest iPhone, was what really mattered.
Whatever the reason, hiring a camper van certainly allows you towallow in delicious nostalgia, even if it's just for a couple ofdays.
Although they are authentic vans, each has been fitted with a newengine, and given a thorough facelift inside. Doors have beenrelined and seats covered in cheery matching colours, and the floorfitted with practical laminate flooring. Each camper sleeps four,as long as they don't mind getting pretty up close and personal– the beds are very narrow. Stefanczyk can also supply anawning, which could, at a real push, sleep another two.
Theoretically, therefore, each van sleeps six people, so hiring oneas a gang would take some sting out of their only drawback, whichis the expense. Because buying this weekend of nostalgia, withmemories of a time when a packet of cigarettes cost 30p and a pintof bitter 10p, does not come cheap (see "Essentials" panel).
Once you've paid your bill, though, the delicious pleasure ofchugging along in a VW soon helps you to forget everyday cares suchas money. My children Jimmy Joe, 7, and Dolly, 4, were janglingwith excitement when we set out from Oxford in Daisy on Fridaynight. They jumped into the van, imagining that they were going tobe able to cook me supper, do the washing up, and make dens in thesliding roof as we drove along. Sadly for them, and a relief forme, each van is fitted with rear seat belts for child seats, and acracking sound system. The children had to console themselves withplaying with the cute little curtains, running round the edge ofthe van, as I slipped Johnny Cash into the CD player and turned themusic up loud.
Stefanczyk told me that VW vans were designed as passenger buses,and are not as easy to drive as a modern car. I found the first fewmiles pretty white-knuckle as I gave myself a non-crash course ingears and brakes that were a good half-decade older than me. Inever did master first gear, and I quickly learnt to start applyingthe brakes well in advance of an approaching red light.
But after an hour or so, there should have been flowers in my hair,because I felt I could drive all the way to San Francisco. I forgotabout the black clouds that glowered over the horizon I was drivingtowards, and the fact that my wardrobe for the weekend consisted,optimistically, of little strappy dresses and jewelled flip-flops.
It was lucky that Daisy made me think of flowers and happy, hippietimes, because the weather cruelly turned out to be British. Itrained a lot. Luckily, part of the pleasure of a camper is that, assoon as you arrive at your pitch, you are ready to start campingstraight away. Immediately we arrived in the giant puddle that wasthe camping field for the weekend party, we got the kettle on andsat up in our van, watching the earth-dwelling happy campersstruggling with their blow-up beds and mismatching tent poles. Ilove camping, but this was still a deeply satisfying experience,and it was nice to be able to provide hot toddies to theless-fortunate campers around us from our built-in kitchen.
Sleeping in the van was cosy: Jimmy Joe and Dolly snuggled up inthe roof above me, and I had the bed downstairs to myself. It wouldhave been a pretty tight fit with four adults, but with children itwas easy and extremely comfortable. Fun, too, for the children tobe able to fall asleep with the music playing downstairs. Ofcourse, if I had not been so keen on mixing (and drinking) toddies,I might have remembered to switch the ignition off before I went tosleep, which would have made Sunday afternoon, tangled in jumpleads, a bit less stressful.
Camper-van life is adorable for children. Part of this is due tothe diminutive size of all the fixtures and fittings. It was easierfor me to do the washing up kneeling down at the tiny sink, butDolly spent most of the weekend happily cleaning mugs and glassesin the little kitchen, which could have been built for her. JimmyJoe liked the fact that the sliding bunks meant that there wereendless places for him to make dens in his increasingly grubbysleeping bag.
And this is easy camping: each van is equipped with a full kitchenset, including cutlery, pans, washing-up equipment, a tin opener,bottle opener and corkscrew. This means that all you really need totake is bedding, provisions and diversions.
Funnily enough, after the first night, I even stopped worryingabout my hair straighteners. The vans are equipped with anelectrical hookup though using it in a Herefordshire field was notan option. No matter, because when we got home, muddy, exhaustedand extremely happy, I looked as if I had spent the weekend at amusic festival. My hair wasn't straight. It was wild. Just backfrom Woodstock, I thought. I certainly looked the part. Essentials
Drive My Camper (0870 910 9400; www.drivemycamper.com ) has classic Volkswagen camper vans for hire from its base nearWare in Hertfordshire. Vans are available year-round, with pricesfrom £60 between November and March; £80 April-June,September and October; and £130 in July and August.
On top of these, a sliding scale of nightly rates starts at£56, £76 and £103 respectively for one night,reducing for longer bookings. Extras, such as awning (£9.95),DVD-player (£6.50), a pair of additional campbeds(£4.50) and satnav (£7.50), are charged daily. Clover Stroud's new camping column starts next week in Travel.