A lighter… It may seem incredible, but a simple lighter can ruin our trip in a CAMPER. We may have an adventurous spirit, and even like TV survival programs, but if you have to light up the camping-gas to cook spaghettis by rubbing two sticks… Let’s accept it, we are not freaks. We don’t want to eat worms, but if you are in the middle of nowhere, as it should be, in your Camper and excited because you are going have your meal with a view to the horizon, and you forgot a simple lighter… you’ll end up eating worms!
This is why before closing your suitcases desperate to start your hundred-mile trip as soon as possible, stop for a second, breathe and check.
One of the things I do is to imagine how a normal day of the trip would be like, from the moment we wake up until we go back to sleep at night. Let’s do it, and this way we’ll see everything that is important and, apparently, not important.
A lighter… It may seem incredible, but a simple lighter can ruin our trip in a CAMPER. We may have an adventurous spirit, and even like TV survival programs, but if you have to light up the camping-gas to cook spaghettis by rubbing two sticks… Let’s accept it, we are not freaks. We don’t want to eat worms, but if you are in the middle of nowhere, as it should be, in your Camper and excited because you are going have your meal with a view to the horizon, and you forgot a simple lighter… you’ll end up eating worms!
This is why before closing your suitcases desperate to start your hundred-mile trip as soon as possible, stop for a second, breathe and check.
One of the things I do is to imagine how a normal day of the trip would be like, from the moment we wake up until we go back to sleep at night. Let’s do it, and this way we’ll see everything that is important and, apparently, not important.
Let’s begin our virtual day:
1— We wake up at 5am because an annoying mosquito is biting us hard. Solution: insect repellent (electronic or spray) and/or, in the absence of this, itch-soothing solution. You hadn’t thought of this, had you? Well, this is essential! And why not, it would also be wise to pack some kind of basic medicine.
2— We wake up at our desired time and, against all forecasts, it’s a terrible day. Let’s get dressed. We will omit the essential things, but it is possible that after a long walk or after taking a shower or when you are eating breakfast, you might want to be more comfortable with… Slippers or flip-flops for public showers? Yes, you’d better pack a pair, go. Don’t take too many clothes; but I recommend thinking of possible emergencies. Some kind of jacket? Wow, you almost forgot the jumper! August and in the South… You didn’t think of Sierra Nevada at 2,200 meters and 11 pm, and a sudden squall from the North; an after-dinner conversation and … no lighter. Pack some more warm clothes, you won’t regret it, and you will sure remember it if you don’t take it. (Foto paisaje frío) Ready? Dressed? And your couple tells you, with the wisdom of a grandparent: “Take a cap; it’ll stop raining and this afternoon we’ll have sun”. Do it; 5pm in August, for example, in Almería without a cap can ruin your adventure day. There is no adventurer without a hat, and there must be a reason…
3— So, let’s eat breakfast, get hold of your mobile phone, which has no battery because you forgot the charger… You know it’s vital, not just because of the phone itself from which you should remove instant messaging apps, but because it is essential to have it in operation in case of an emergency. You don’t have to answer your mother in law if you don’t want to, but you always need to have your phone charged and, although we’ll talk about this later on, it is also a good idea to download some kind of useful app, for example: Compass, torch, altimeter, etc., aside from the default GPS which is already included in all phones. If you love the stars, and even if you don’t, I encourage you to look for some kind of app about Stars, because you’ll see incredible skies during your trip in a camper, and there is an app that by simply pointing the phone towards the sky, it’ll describe and define constellations, galaxies, planets, etc. Many people say they know where the Pole Star is, but at the end…
4— Let’s continue with the possible plans you are thinking of. Imagine the options and alternatives and always bear in mind unexpected circumstances. A backpack is a basic element. Water is essential, so take a bottle, water-bottle or camel bag. And I think that a survival knife is also essential, it’ll be one of your best friends when everything else fails.
Having some knowledge on the place you are going to visit and knowing how to orientate yourself is very important. You need to prepare maps, routes and some kind of local guide of the area you are visiting. Don’t be completely confident about your phone and its coverage, or about how long its battery will last, so print the routes and maps. Also, having a “real” compass will avoid you appearing on TV in some kind of events/impact program. And this is also more fun! We also recommend to take a snorkel and diving goggles, because you’ll find unique places to go scuba diving such as Cabo de Gata or the coast of Granada
5— Return of the warrior. I’m sure you’ll thank me for the idea of taking some kind of comfortable shoes to substitute your boots. So make yourself comfortable and have some beers or soft drinks while you watch the sunset. And if you’re smart, you’ll be equipped with a simple camping table and chairs. You have a folding table and folding chairs, which do not occupy a lot of space when folded. Placing the table wherever you want is priceless. Now, in good company, go through the pictures of the day, because you took your camera, didn’t you? And think of any other accessories you want to take: Laptop or tablet, to read, listen to music o watch movies, books, etc. And the moment you are with your beer or drink remembering the day, your partner will look at you and say: “Wow, you’re red…”; and it’ll not be because of the alcohol, but because you didn’t think of the importance of a sunscreen lotion.
6— Remember that one of the pleasures of nature is taking a nap under a tree. The camper’s canopy will give you shade, but I recommend a sun umbrella so you can put it wherever you want. It is also very useful to take some kind of mat or similar to be able to lie down on the ground or eat without annoying bugs bothering you or use it as a canopy/shelter. How many picnics I was able to finish because I had one of those canopies on a day when it suddenly started raining!
7— It’s time to go to sleep. Finally it didn’t stop raining and it is colder than expected. Did you take an extra sleeping bag? If you like sleeping with blankets and not with sleeping bags, I recommend that you take sheets as well. They are, at the end, the ones that keep your body warm when you go to sleep.
8— In this last point we include all the small things that, although not being essential, you’ll find very useful as you read them: clothes’ pegs, a rope, road map (don’t rely on the tom-tom), some kind of board game, cards, music —essential— and, why not, a diary, and you can tell us your story afterwards!
Finally, don’t panic, because everything that we’ve talked about does not take a lot of space. Aside from you clothes’ suitcase, a backpack should be enough (which we should take to our walking routes, for example). Try taking a light and organized luggage, which will give you freedom of movement and you will not be bothered by the fact of packing-unpacking your luggage. Don’t forget anything, but don’t exaggerate: the fewer packages you take will make you feel freer! And this is the spirit of the trips in a Camper Van.
Now I am the one with doubts! I think that’s about everything, although nothing will happen if we forget something; we shouldn’t be so thorough, and if we do we’ll just improvise and put into practice our survival knowledge, because at the end it is these little things that can make a simple trip become an unforgettable experience. Ok then, we are not forgetting anything, aren’t we? Yes… The lighter! Take at least two. And that’s all, get on your Camper and, enjoy your trip!
