As usual we went away for Easter, and as usual, the weather was pretty dreadful! We joined a Caravan Club rally at Bourton on the Water, but it would be more apt to call it Bourton in the Mud because from the time we arrived on the Thursday prior to Good Friday, to the time we left on the following Tuesday, our car didn’t move. And nor did any other vehicles including 4x4s. But despite the worst the weather could throw at us, we had a great time.

There are a lot of people who never rally. One of the main reasons given is that they don’t want to be regimented. In all honesty, I can say that in nearly 40 years of attending rallies, I’ve never felt regimented. Nor have I ever been forced to join in any socials, communal BBQs etc when I didn’t want to. What I do believe is that I learned more about caravanning in my first year by attending a few rallies than I would have done in five years of caravanning on my own.

From the family’s point of view our son and daughter made a new circle of friends and were able to enjoy the fresh air safe from road traffic. And also as a family, we caravanned at places we would never have been able to caravan at if we hadn’t been on a rally – Longleat, Henley Regatta, and Blenheim Palace to mention just three. One final point: we’ve made friends with other caravanners not only all over the country, but abroad as well. So my advice to anyone, whether new to caravanning or experienced, is to try a rally or two. I accept they aren’t to everyone’s taste, but I do believe that they help increase the joy of our pastime.