Anticipation, expectation, trepidation!

[Aerialmark]

Yes same feeling and have it now. Currently counting the hours till we go, and now keeping an eye on M20 traffic, and the stack operation.

Good luck Andy and enjoy

 

[nicholsong]

Never sleep a wink at anchor even with 2 hooks out!

You would not like Med sailing where many of the ports, even marinas, are stern-to with an anchor out.

 

[olley]

Daughter and family left Ipswich at 10.00, down to chunnel and arrived in France at 15.35. Just a little jealous . they are of to Tignes for a weeks skiing.

 

[cruiser]

Just scared of what could go wrong on 32 year old van. I hope that i have had all the bits to go wrong fixed. Got a 8 weeks hol in portugal later this year. Looking forward to it.

 

[cyberyacht]

Always a certain element of trepidation before any major project/journey, particularly where documentation/ timed crossings are involved. Usually settled down after half an hour.

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[bigwood]

I drive management nuts with my pre trip planning. It’s my way of dealing with the excitement of the coming trip.
Having had to put our next trip off for nearly three weeks due to having to be here mostly for things to be delivered I am really excited to be on our way on Monday. I will be up at the crack of dawn packing filling tanks and waiting for management to appear.

 

[carolyn]

For me the anticipation and planning is almost as much fun as the trip itself, and that feeling as I nose the van out of the drive is just great. It’s always an adventure and almost always a good one.

 

[AXO66]

We settle down, when we get to the second roundabout from home, and can continue onwards, rather than turn back for something we have forgotten , then remembered.

 

[Abacist]

I used to get the pit in the stomach before setting off on a cross-channel passage when we had our yacht, mainly because as skipper, it was all down to me if something went wrong or the sea conditions changed for the worse. It’s also because of the need, when sailing off, to be almost entirely self-reliant, which is part of the charm of sailing. I loved the passage (as long as nothing broke or went wrong) and the arrival in a new port. Mrs MTV preferred the arriving bit!

I’ve never had the pit feeling when setting off in the MH. We can go places, each taking a share of the driving and now both enjoy the whole experience. It’s fairer on both of us, but I do still keep my ICC up to date so we can charter!

I used to crew for a partner and remember a Plymouth to Guernsey race well and the return! We set off at 6pm and could still see Plymouth breakwater at 3am! Wind picked up and in Guernsey in time for lunch. After a nice dinner with a worsening forecast and the harbour gate to get over we left in the pitch black. The skipper had an important meeting he could not miss and everyone had beaten him to it booking flights back! After half an hour we turned back - too rough and too dark and we left again in the morning with about 5 other boats. Never seen seas like it! 38 foot boat was like a cork being picked up by these monster waves and then surfing down terrified of broaching. Waves taller than the mast! Exhilarating to stay the least! He lost a mast on another occasion but I wasn’t with him then! Also heard a tale of a yacht pitchpoling over the bar into Salcombe! My Wayfarer was fun enough for me!

 

[Minxy]

I get a bit anxious we've not forgotten anything, I make lists in the week before departure, also put some things in the van.

I have a general list which I use for every trip which has everything listed that we need with us for each type of trip (a UK one doesn't need passports etc on so a bit shorter), sectioned into when to do stuff, eg check usual bits are in a week beforehand and update any copies of docs on our USBs and portable HDs, sort clothes. A few days before departure we start gathering up other things such as sat nav, tablet, chargers and plonk in washing basket ready to go in on leaving day. Similar for food, do a stock take a week before of what's in then replenish as necessary with fridge stuff going in the day before.

We overcome most of that by having duplicates for nearly everything - kitchen, bedding, towels, so when we arrive home what needs washing gets done and put back(our MH is well insulated so no damp). Even outdoor gear is mostly duplicated.

That leaves some clothing to decide on and in 2 months we rarely use half of what we take. Then food, booze, and documents of course.

Job done.

That's what we do, same with clothing as we probably only use a quarter of what we take (excluding undies).

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[Minxy]

With this being our first foreign trip for over 2 years (and 6 months since our last UK trip) we were anxious as we were out of practice in preparing for a long trip abroad so it was quite frantic at times despite the lists.

Hubby drove me crazy as he's a worrier so constantly bombarded me with queries ... have you done this, is that sorted etc. . There was all the household stuff to deal with too, eg any things cropping up non-holiday related that needed dealing with beforehand or whilst away, also my Mum's needs too such as toiletries etc for our time away.

We got there in the end but it was quite stressful at times and it took us a while to relax once we got away, still having to deal with my Mum but at least I don't have the worry of her being in her flat any more and know that the care home staff will take good care of her.

 

[steve69]

After 35 years of heading off on trips the pre-trip excitement has never waned.

For me, it's more of a feeling of ambivalence. I know I want to do this so why am I so wary?

 

[pampam]

CRUISER .....at least your older van wont have all those electrical doodahs and cells and computers which seem to always be the problem in younger vans .......at least they do in our house . Id much rather have something more mechanical .
Im same as carolyn i love the planning prepping and anticipation , sometimes more than the holiday lol

 

[Essgeebee]

How many of us, half an hour into our trip, still fret about whether we turned off the iron, cooker, heating, etc or ‘did I lock the back door’, before we left home?
Last time it was Mrs B’s CPAP machine that was left behind. Since neither of us gets any sleep without it, the 40 mile additional round trip to go back home to collect it was worth it… but annoying just the same.

 

[Minxy]

How many of us, half an hour into our trip, still fret about whether we turned off the iron, cooker, heating, etc or ‘did I lock the back door’, before we left home?
Last time it was Mrs B’s CPAP machine that was left behind. Since neither of us gets any sleep without it, the 40 mile additional round trip to go back home to collect it was worth it… but annoying just the same.

That's why we have lists which not only include stuff we need to take for the holiday but also things for home too like put lawn mower and fuel out, keys to neighbour (neighbour cuts grass), turn off water, check windows and doors locked etc, once done things are crossed off so we gradually get down to take handbag, wallets etc then we know we've done it all and can escape!

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[Lillibob]

Excitement and trepidation for me, excitement for the new adventure and trepidation about what is going to fall off the MH this time.

 

[scotzsue]

Am a bit of a list person, used to be in my head but with age write things down. Gave john a list of stuff he needed to print out to take on our next trip, all apart from the van insurance done. He better do it tonight as he is off on a break tomorrow. Not with the van so that leaves me to put in the non last minute stuff. He sorts out all his own, CPAP clothes and electronics and KTM if we are taking that, I sort out the rest, it can be a bit of a pain as van is kept in storage. I fret a bit on the last night and sometimes sleep poorly, but as soon as that engine is started to set off all the stress goes and I can feel my BP coming down. That's for long trips, am ok with short or fairly local ones. John worries about nothing.

 

[KiwiKampers]

The only time I get the "pit in the stomach" is if the trip involves going on the ferry in a 4m swell.

 

[ManTheVan]

Never sleep a wink at anchor even with 2 hooks out!

Ha! Should have bought a Rocna!!

 

[ManTheVan]

You would not like Med sailing where many of the ports, even marinas, are stern-to with an anchor out.

Yes, and then a bit of anchor chain knitting to undo in the morning!

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[Suenliam]

We have been going to France for a couple of long holidays for years with MHs both old and new but I never worried about reliability. We have insurance and most things can be fixed. I used to worry about leaving elderly parents but they are no longer with us. Then I worried about leaving the cats at home with people coming in to feed them but both cats have passed on now. So I should be worry free. Oh no ...... we are picking up a new campervan later this month and have booked the ferry for France in September. I am now worrying about adblue, solar panel electrics, LPG availability and all the other modern things attached to the new van. I really should stop reading forums and facebook. Ignorance would be bliss ......probably
Sue

 

[nicholsong]

We have been going to France for a couple of long holidays for years with MHs both old and new but I never worried about reliability. We have insurance and most things can be fixed. I used to worry about leaving elderly parents but they are no longer with us. Then I worried about leaving the cats at home with people coming in to feed them but both cats have passed on now. So I should be worry free. Oh no ...... we are picking up a new campervan later this month and have booked the ferry for France in September. I am now worrying about adblue, solar panel electrics, LPG availability and all the other modern things attached to the new van. I really should stop reading forums and facebook. Ignorance would be bliss ......probably
Sue

Sue

I think you are over-worrying.

Adblue - the same vans and trucks needing Adblue are sold in France.

Solar panels - what s there to worry about, once they are fixed and wired? Oh yes, the sun - well you cannot do much about that, but more chance in France.

LPG - easily available on the Continent. Called GPL in France.



Geoff

 

[Suenliam]

Geoff
Yes, I am sure you are right, but until we get the new van and work out how to work everything and assuming everything works, I can't help it
Won't stop me going though!
Sue

 

[Roadroamer]

we always think what have we forgotten till the end of our road then the answer is if we've forgotten anything OK will have to go without or buy it the enjoyment of the trip has started Happy Days

 

[John Barrett]

Hooray!
The pet passports issued in Benidorm passed muster at BF Portsmouth.
Trepidation has gone! Well, almost...
Salamanca is clean and comfortable, dogs happy in a shared kennel. Bit rocky and rolly.

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[nicholsong]

Hooray!
h.The pet passports issued in Benidorm passed muster at BF Portsmout
Trepidation has gone! Well, almost...
Salamanca is clean and comfortable, dogs happy in a shared kennel. Bit rocky and rolly.

Maybe the BF staff thought Benidorm is a sleepy little village in Herefordshire.

 

[sonar]

Well we have done everything we can do now so as we’re not full of Anticipation , or trepidation


the engine has been fully serviced everything has now been changed renewed replaced or serviced.

from top to bottom .inside and out. very confident now if something does go wrong or break we have done our very best .

everything is now quieter inside as well.
now time to enjoy. ..

 

[JaG]

I start weeks before going away for the first time. A month away this May and first thing...get everything for the dog in, then....what do we NEED like awning, disabled scooter, etc, what room is left for me after SWMO has put all her stuff in...shorts, T shirts and little else.
Time to leave. Did I?, have I done?, everything disconnected and...off we go to a normally fully planned itinery but, when we get there no plans whatsoever until we leave.

 

[maison]

Excitement and trepidation for me, excitement for the new adventure and trepidation about what is going to fall off the MH this time.

Surely not on a Hymer!

 

[PaddyM]

Got from Manchester to Milton Keynes and we realised we didn’t have our passports for the tunnel or the subsequent holiday in the van , o how we laughed at our silly predicament

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