Rambling Nan

Here I am, about to embark on my first overnighter of the year, and aside from booking a pitch and deciding what to do while I’m there, I need to get the van packed with everything I’ll need. Now in previous years, I’ve written a packing list before every trip. This year I’m going to create a campervan checklist on the computer so that I can print it off a new one whenever I need it – surely that’s got to be easier on my poor tired brain…..

So what needs to go on the list? Well, that is going to be slightly different each time depending on where I’m going, why I’m going, what I’ll be doing and who will be with me. A one night solo trip to visit an exhibition for example will involve less packing than four nights at the Latitude festival with my teenaged grandson or a two night walking trip with both dogs. Some things however are constant.

I’m going to build my checklist in categories so that I can pick and choose a section depending on what’s appropriate for the trip I’m planning.

Campervanning Essentials

Some things are going to have to come with me every time. Most of these I hope I won’t need, but if they’re not there when I do need them – well I’ll be in a proper pickle. These stay in the van all season and get refreshed or replenished as needed.

• Phone charger
• Fire extinguisher
• Breakdown kit
• Insurance details
• Breakdown cover details
• Map book
• First aid kit
• Medicines (Nurofen, rehydrating salts, Imodium, antacid tablets, calpol for kids, antihistamine, burn-eze)
• Torch
• Spare batteries for torch
• Dustpan and brush
• Antibacterial cleaner
• Cleaning cloths
• Bin bags

I also keep a special notebook and pen in the glove compartment, in it I log my trips. It’s not essential but I think it’ll be lovely to look back on when my body doesn’t want to do camping any more.

Sleeping

For the summer, bedding gets stored in the van but it is washed and aired between trips.

• Thermal window blinds (these live in the van)
• Pillow and pillow case
• Bottom sheet
• Duvet
• Blanket

  And for each person I’m travelling with…..

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Air bed
• Mattress topper
• Blanket

Extra Living Space

Camping with P & J at The Secret Garden near Wisbech. This was in late september and the awning came in very handy for playing board games on chilly evenings.

Honey Bumble is quite a compact van so it’s quite handy to have a little bit of extra living space. A driveaway awning is a game changer – it means I don’t have to pack everything up any time that I want to explore the area I’m in. I can just zip up my table, chairs, cooker, dog stuff etc into the awning and be confident it’ll still be there when I get back. I’ve always found camp sites to be remarkably safe but would be very reluctant to leave very valuable bits and pieces unattended. So the Jackary, my iPad and other investments travel with me every time.

• Awning
• Tent
• Pump if required
• Tent pegs
• Mallet
• Groundsheet
• Carpet
• Awning fixing kit

Energy

I love being off-grid but that doesn’t mean that I can totally do without an energy source. I suppose I COULD charge phones etc from the camper van battery, but I’d prefer not to drain that too much. So I take along a trusty battery pack with (if the weather forecast is good) a solar panel.

• Fully charged Jackery
• Wires for jackery
• Solar panel

Doggy Stuff

My two canine companions don’t always travel with me, but when they do, their needs come first. They can share my first aid kit so no need for a specialist canine one.

• Bowls 
• Seatbelt attachements
• Harnesses
• Long leads for tethering on site (I tie the dogs to the van – I did try those tethering screws but the dogs pulled them out of the ground)
• Short leads for walks
• Poo bags
• Food – take extra in case we’re out longer than planned
• Treats
• Sealable container so they can’t eat all the food at once!
• A bone each to keep them occupied
• Microfibre towels for apres-swimming
• Blanket for outdoor lounging
• Medicines if needed

Cooking and Eating

Try to keep it as simple as possible – I might not need everything on this list for every trip and it’s perfectly possible to fry bacon in a saucepan if necessary, but the one thing I will never compromise on is food safety and hygeine. An upset tummy on a camping trip is just too awful to contemplate.

• Water carrier
• Plates, bowls, cups, cutlery – two of each per person, that way we won’t become slaves to the washing up.
• Teaspoons
• Kettle
• Saucepan
• Gas burner
• Cadac gas bbq
• Spare gas canisters
• Portable bbq and charcoal if allowed on site
• Washing up bowl
• Cooking utensils
• Cooking knives
• Chopping board
• Sieve
• Cheese grater
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring jug
• Tea towels
• Washing up liquid
• Fridge or cool bag
• Frozen ice packs

For my comfort and entertainment

• Folding table
• Folding chair (one for each person)
• Portable (emergency only) toilet
• Loo roll
• Bog bags
• Gel crystals
• Entertainment
• Pack of cards
• Book
• Craft to work on
• Art stuff
• Games 
• iPad
• Ipad charger

I do enjoy knitting socks while I’m camping – it’s a portable project that can easily be picked up and put down whenever I have a spare moment

Food for the trip

I like to plan ahead and take fresh food with me, so I’ll add to this list when I decide what ingredients I need. However it’s always good to have a few basics on board in case my plans change mid-trip. All sorted in a Dog-proof storage container.

Hot drinks making kit is stored in a biscuit tin within easy reach so that no matter what time of the day or night, or what the weather is like, I can have tea, coffee, soup etc with relative ease.

• Coffee
• Tea
• Cheeky packet of biscuits
• UHT milk or powdered milk
• Sugar
• Sachets of soup (stored in a waterproof bag)
• Cooking oil
• Salt and pepper
• Dried pasta
• Baked beans
• Tinned meat
• Eggs
• Cereal bars

Clothing

Again, this list will need to be compiled for every trip depending on weather, trips planned etc but I do try to limit what I take in order to save room.

Essentials include

• Wash bag and sunscreen
• Towel
• Hairbrush
• Pj’s
• Undies
• Socks
• Waterproof jacket
• Warm jumper for evening time
• Sun hat
• Spare footwear – in case one set gets wet. 

I’m pretty sure that covers everything – can you think of anything else I should add?