It’s easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut when you’ve been doing something for a while, and even the most exciting hobby or pastime can be dulled with familiarity.
So here are five ways to revive even the most jaded motorhomer!
1. Get out in the winter
Yes, of course it’s cold but the winter also provides some of the most spectacular weather of the year.
Frosty, sunny mornings provide the sort of start to the day a lot of us dream about, while there is real satisfaction to be had by listening to the rain and wind lash at the side of the motorhome while you turn another page of a good book before taking a sip of something wonderful…
It’s also quieter and cheaper off-season, and few feelings are better than the one you get when you beat the system.
Our guide to seven secret caravan pitches.
2. Go vegetarian
If you cook inside your motorhome, why not go (partially) vegetarian?
It’s the smell of rancid and burnt animal fats that causes the horrible post-fry up stench that puts so many of us off cooking inside our motorhome or caravan, so making your kitchen a meat-free zone cuts down the smells by a factor of ten.
Anyway, cooking your meat outside on a barbeque, even in the depths of winter, tastes better than anything that has been cooked in an oven!
Browse our BBQ recipes for some inspiration.
3. Add Internet
Disappearing over the horizon with nothing but a road map and a loved one beside you is a mighty fine dream, yet no matter how much I crave solitude I find that I need an Internet connection too for streaming films, downloading books to my Kindle, and finding the hidden attractions of new places and areas.
Of course, you can tether your laptop to your phone and use its 3G/4G signal, but getting a dedicated 3G/4G router saves your mobile’s data allowance and if you fit a better antennae you’ll get a stronger signal in places where your mobile phone might struggle.
Satellite connections are getting cheaper all the time, which is worth knowing if you enjoy camping in the wilder parts of the UK and Europe. Prices start at around £15 a month plus the cost of the equipment, which is going to be around £500 including fitting.
The laws on towing a caravan.
4. Don’t over-plan
A flexible plan is the key to a better holiday or short break, and stopping where and when you want to is why so many of us love our motorhomes. So when you see a layby with a stunning view, or a sign for an intriguing attraction, why not halt there rather than pushing on to a (probably largely arbitrary) pre-planned stopping point?
5. Add an awning
Adding an awning doesn’t just give you extra space; it also allows you to extend your seasons, giving you somewhere to sit when it’s warm but drizzly, which is about nine months of the year in the UK…
It also gives you somewhere to put up guests for the night, making camping trips with the grandchildren so easy you’ll be tempted to take them out with more than ever before. While you might not fancy sleeping on an inflatable camping mat, they’ll love it – and you might just ignite a passion for motor-homing in them too!
Do you have any tips to revive our readers’ passion for their motorhome or caravan? We’d love to hear them in the comments section below!
For more tips and useful information, browse our caravan and motorhome articles.