So who wet the bed?
Some time ago, I awoke in the early hours. It wasn’t very pleasant since my bed was soaking. I was not in a habit of wetting the bed in my sleep, so confusion turned to concern. But I knew it wasn’t me, so I nudged my best friend David who laid close and fast asleep.
After he convinced me it wasn’t him and I could do likewise, we became wrecks, giggling uncontrollably. What had happened? We felt around and discovered the enormity of it all and, as we came to our senses, we noticed not only that it was very dark but also very stormy.
The pegs of the tent we were sharing had loosened in the wind and the downpour had created rivulets running down the slope we were pitched on, one flowing right between our airbeds.
An experience of a lifetime
It was in fact a long, long time ago and a little longer still. We were eight years of age and had both felt incredibly grown up until that moment.
It was a stunning north Cornish coastal village in the west of England, the name of which escapes me. And that is my first memory of the outdoor life. Other images of that same trip remain too. The scents of breakfasts being prepared and the huge swathes of sandy beaches in close proximity.
Since those days, I have had various exciting moments in tents, caravans, awnings, motorhomes and a simple sleeping bag on a French beach or a Finnish island. Sometimes roughing it, at other times in style.
The freedom of a caravanning lifestyle
Whether a caravan, motorhome or recreation vehicle, the global industry has come a long way since my earliest exploits.
The range of products, qualities and budgets is extraordinary. And there is no better place to obtain a comprehensive overview of manufacturers as well as gather a large dose of inspiration than in my old home town of Düsseldorf in Germany.
For over a week at the end of August the Caravan Salon becomes a place of pilgrimage for fans of the outdoors as well as those who toy with the idea of becoming new enthusiasts. A hiking fair runs parallel. View more details: http://www.amazingcapitals.com/dusseldorf/things-to-do/events/caravan.
