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Writer's pictureFiona Parker

The Parkers parked up

Updated: Feb 6, 2022



Aside from do we have a loo on board and are we keeping warm (yes and most of the time), the most asked question we get is where do we park at night?


Well, having had a week off in Covid isolation with not a lot to do apart from snug up in the van, read, watch box-sets and take a look back at all the places we've stayed since September, I can now answer that in amazing detail.....


From our first night of vanlife to today, we've stayed at 35 different places: laybys, an industrial estate, a campsite, caravan sites, off-the-beaten-track carparks, a Toby Carvery carpark, carparks overlooking the river Humber, a Bible College, driveways, parking spots by canals, woods, a reservoir, beaches, mountains, pubs, nature reserves and general roadside stopovers by houses and shops. Of those, 19 were one-offs, 10 were for a few nights and 6 are regular spots.


We've also had some non-van days. House-sitting, staying with friends, holidaying in a cottage and B&Bing in Blackpool. Which have all been a great respite but every time, in the end, we've missed the van! Usually because of the central heating and just feeling too hot and uncomfortable at night. So I guess you could say we've adjusted to vanlife pretty well and are suitably acclimatised.


So far we've never had any trouble where we've parked. No one's come knocking on the door asking us to move on. Or written polite notes and left them on our windscreen. Sometimes there's been cars pulling up pumping loud music. And gatherings of young people having a late night jolly. But they've never bothered us directly. Only made us reach for the earplugs or plug into a podcast. All in all we've felt safe and secure in our bed. For which I am ongoingly thankful.


Today is our 139th day on the road anyway. Just to be precise. And I'm looking forward to the Spring now, I have to say. As I'm writing this, I'm tucked under the duvet with a hot water bottle at my feet, one on my belly and another mug of tea to hand. All of which I prefer to central heating, but even so. Roll on the days of sliding open the door, sitting in the sun and watching the world go by. Whether it's geese or walkers or boats or sheep or dogs or cyclists or fellow campervanners or just the trees in the breeze.


Til then, here's a taste of things to come. From last week's Covidy retreat in Skeffling by the river Humber. A freak sunny afternoon. And a view of rugged beauty and delight....



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