The decision to go camping this year was by default. A stray thought after a few drinks and the idea took root. We had decided that last year (2008) would be the last year that we would rent out the Villa for the summer. Then in June I took a booking for July, thinking it was for July 2008 only to realise a few days later it was for July 2009. Our booking Agent Individual Travellers didn't book a single week for us in 2008 and when we tried to cancel them for 2009, they said we should have done it by May of that year (before the season) and if we cancelled there would be a hefty penalty to pay. So we decided to rent out the Villa for 2009 as the last year. The house in England was also rented so we decided (without much option) that a caravan holiday around Southern Europe would tie in with our plans to visit Le Lavendou where we spent part of our Honeymoon, in August 15 years ago. I would probably gone for budget hotels, but that would have meant kennelling Sophie for 3 months

The search for a suitable van started in England just after Christmas. They seemed very expensive and when bought from an Agent we had to provide all the accessories like awnings water carriers, waste carriers etc. In the end we were introduced to an English couple local to us in Spain who had a caravan to sell, in good condition- with ALL the accessories we could want and a few we hadn't imagined existed. The bonus it was a price we could afford.

We paid for the caravan in mid April, if we had waited 2 weeks the exchange rate would have favoured us and it would have cost £320 Sterling less!!

Our Pajero 4x4 had to have the UK tow bar removed when we re-licenced it onto Spanish plates, so the first job was to get a new tow bar fitted. So I towed our special purchase with my Nissan Primera and with the help of Terry and Francis our neighbours here. They are seasoned caravanners and just as well the front wheel drive Nissan couldn't get a grip on the track and we needed Terry's 4x4 to save the day and get it up the track to the Villa. Friends Brian and Shirley arrived a few days later and helped me sort out the assembly of the various awnings and other accessories. They made it seem simple.

Fired with enthusiasm we set off for a trial week end near Marbella, Capo Pino to be precise. It went OK after we bought a special plug converter for the electric. Sophie's needs and the local rules about dogs is a little challenging, but we enjoyed the experience on the whole. At least pushing a 1.5 ton caravan around will keep me fit. It does have a manual hitch drive to help.

On that not I have now learned that trailers over 750 kgs have to have their own road licence and number plate in Spain. It's OK while I tow on an English plated car, but we need to use the 4x4 for the long journey.