Wooden caravans

Not wooden, but these now count as retro.

Roderick.

How an old caravan changed my family's life Feb 27 2019.
Audrey has become a loved member of our family. Photo: Supplied
When you have three kids, going on a holiday can cost a fortune.
Flights for five people, even domestically, are really expensive and often you have to book adjoining hotel rooms to fit in your entire family which is yet another costly exercise.
And while camping is cheap, it's only fun when it's not raining or too hot which restricts travel dates. Also fitting the kids and all the camping gear into the car is pretty tricky.
We can't complain about the views Audrey gives us. Photo: Supplied
But we love to explore and holidays are really important to our family so, we saved up and bought an old caravan. We hoped it would give us the freedom to travel more without the crazy costs.
We named her Audrey, because all caravans, especially vintage ones, need a name.
She's a little rough around the edges, but what she lacks in looks, she definitely makes up for in character.
She's brought us together in so many ways. She's given us the freedom we desired. She's been a blessing for our family.
And with every adventure, our family grows stronger. There's something about hitting the road to explore new places together that makes you a tighter unit. Shared experiences also mean more memories to cherish.
The other fantastic thing about Audrey is she doubles as a guest room for when friends' visit from interstate. She sits in our driveway and we can plug her into power so guests have a television, fridge, lights and a fan or heater when needed. We pop fresh sheets on the beds, put flowers into a vase and stock some yummy breakfast goods in the fridge – just like a B&B.
The kids also use her regularly to escape the rest of the family and watch movies or do craft. They host sleepovers in her with their friends and she provides them a sense of independence.
My husband and I use her as a home office sometimes or a spot to hide from the kids.
And sometimes we have driveway holidays and sleep in Audrey while she's parked in the driveway, when we're in need of that 'holiday' feeling.
But when we do have a weekend free we can just hook her on the back of the car and go.
It can be a last minute, spur of the moment decision, as she is stocked with everything you need for a 'night away', has power and the beds are already made ready to go.
We can simply go to a local caravan park and be all set up relaxing at the beach or Barossa Valley in under an hour. It's so much fun to pick the kids up from school with Audrey hooked on the back of the car and whisk them away on secret adventures.
While the initial cost could of paid for one decent holiday for our family, instead we've been able to afford dozens of holidays as a family, and we can even take our dog along for the ride. She's paid for herself over-and-over again.
Audrey's definitely an important part of our family and will forever be at the forefront of some of our most precious family memories.
See also:
Why I let my teenager skip our family holiday this year .
6 lessons I learnt camping with four children .
The perfect holiday should be slow unwind .
< www.essentialkids.com.au/life/travel/how...life-20190226-h1brl0 >

We do the same with our "CAN" but without the kids being in the way.

P.S. Couldn't see any pics of Audrey.

Not wooden, but caravanning (or mobile homes).
190429M Melbourne Herald Sun - caravanning.
Roderick

We are out on the road with our "CAN" with a week to go. Have avoided work phone calls and we are having a heap of fun travelling about. Not trying to 'rub it in' but we did need it. Dee is already talking about another trip down to Sydney soon after we get home and before the Truck Show at Wauchope happens.
It is a tough life!

The thread widened to other classics, notably the USA airstream.
200205W-'CanberraTimes'-UK-caravans. This was in an article appealing for people with spare caravans to lend them to a makeshift village for people who had lost their homes in the recent fires. The stock photo wasn't Australian: classic UK style.
200103F-Melbourne'Age'-Gippsland-caravan.evacuation
190929Su-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Yosemite-caravan, USA (two photos)
191005Sa-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-airstream.caravan

Roderick















Roderick

191013Su-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Benalla-caravan.street.art. This was a style which was popular in the early 1960s: now 50 years ago.
180819Su-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-caravan-boat. Modern.
200219W-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-caravan.show-Yarra.barge. Publicity gimmick.
200222Sa-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-modern.camper.trailer.van.jpg

Roderick

190525Sa-Melbourne'Age' Motel-nostalgia article: photo of a mid 1960s caravan.
Roderick