06 Aug 08
In the end, four of us and that vast quantity of luggage had an uneventful - and fairly effortless - trip from Brighton to the top end of Norfolk for a wedding.
It wasn't a cheap trip - filling the Volkswagen Caravelle up now costs a good £90, given the price of diesel these days and the fact that I was only getting 30-33mpg - but it was nonetheless a lot more cost-effective and convenient than taking the train.
Denise - a good six feet tall in her boots - was impressed by the legroom in her central seat; Simon was happy that he didn't have to leave anything behind (admittedly, he was staying on in East Anglia for another week).
Dermot and I also had a reasonably comfortable night in the Caravelle: it's not exactly the full camper van experience (you'll need a Volkswagen California for that) but it was warm, dry, and considerably more civilised than crashing in a tent. Makeshift curtains were easily created with a couple of spare blankets and the tinted side glass and window-blinds offered a certain amount of privacy. Next time, however, we'll pack some extra cushions or camping mattresses, as the 'bed' is quite hard and uneven - and obstructed by that damn table.
