Are we crazy to spend two weeks in a caravan when we have so many offers to stay with friends or family? Many think we are and simply cannot understand why we do it. They kind of get it when it’s summertime and the weather is good but why on earth do we do it when it’s cold and rainy? Why we choose to leave the comfort of a cosy home with all its conveniences to rough it in a rustic caravan park with an ablution block that could do with an upgrade leaves them astounded.

We have been at Chapman’s Peak Caravan Park for just over a week now and will be here till 1 May. The first few days were idyllic. The sun shone every day and there was no wind, rain or mud to contend with. However, things changed and rain and cold set in for a few days. We had strong winds and branches from the trees fell onto our caravan and car but no damage was done. The ablution block had leaves blow in and muddy footprints were everywhere and the staff certainly couldn’t keep up with the cleaning thereof. But really this did not bother us in the slightest. We visited friends and family for meals and coffee and quite frankly our caravan was warmer and cosier than any home we visited!

There’s a laundry here that has a perfectly good washing machine and dryer so no problem with fresh clean clothes and towels or us. Load shedding means that whether you’re camping or not cooking might be a problem. We have facilities that do not require electricity so should we wish to cook we’re sorted.

“How do you cope with the ablutions?” is a common question. “I simply could not bear to use a public loo or shower,” they declare.

Well, I get that. It is nice to have your own private bathroom and we certainly are used to that in our normal life. But heck it’s not that bad. You shower. You dry off and you get dressed in less than 20 minutes. No big deal! As long as the facilities are reasonably clean I’m perfectly happy. The other benefits of camping make up for the slight inconvenience of sharing facilities.

Life, I believe is all about experiences. Camping gives you different experiences. You meet people from all walks of life and this I find is so rewarding. I met a woman around my age this morning and we got to chatting. She shared with me that her husband was not well but that they were taking a break by coming on a caravanning holiday before his next round of treatment. Later I bumped into a rather frail-looking man who I guessed was her hubby. I greeted him with a cheerful, “Hi how are you?” He replied in song, “Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day.” And then paused. I sang back, “I have a beautiful feeling, everything’s going my way” And he grinned broadly. My heart was full and so, I am sure was his. What a positive attitude to life this man has and what an inspiration to others he must be.

During our time here we’ve chatted to others who are staying semi-permanently. One guy works in the townships teaching urban farming – how awesome is that. Another is a safari guide who stays here between trips. He takes groups four by four adventuring into the bush crossing borders to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and beyond.

Then there’s a little family – Mom, Dad and a four-year-old girl who has the most adorable black puppy who is devoted to her. They are free spirits living quite unconventionally and I’ve seldom seen a happier child. I’m not sure how they make their living and I didn’t ask. They look well and healthy so they’re doing something right.

We certainly do not have to slum it in the caravan while we’re in Cape Town. We can stay with our kids, other relatives or friends. And we do when we come for short stays but when it’s for more than a week we like to have our independence. We can then choose when to visit, go for medical check-ups if necessary, shop for stuff we can’t get back home, and chill at camp when we’ve had enough.

We had a long day of catching up with people today and when we came back to camp, I did the laundry while the Earl cooked us a delicious curry in the Remosco Pot. In all the time we’ve been here this is only the second meal we’ve had in camp. The weather is back to perfect and we sat outdoors and till quite late.