we have our yearly h van rally and the 2cv national coming up which we both love attending. as our vans are a rarity, to have about 25 in one place together for any length of time is great fun~along with assorted 2cv's, 2cv vans and dyans~and it is always a great weekend, generally with a very french flavour to it and its so great to meet up with friends old and new who share the obsession that is the h~van!
this year is the first year for about three years we will be returning to our favourite 'campsite' at worth matravers~i say campsite, its only open for about 6 weeks a year and is a single hilly field, perched high above swanage bay looking across to the western edge of the isle of wight and the needles
we found the site by accident one hot summer when we wanted to escape from the heat and crowds of bournemouth, where we were living at the time. a drive through the sandbanks~famous for its concentration of millionaires houses and a short ride on the swanage chain ferry
would deliver us to the isle of purbeck and a short drive through shell bay, studland and swanage would bring us to worth matravers and a tiny farm with a tiny sign inviting us to camp.
we feel in love instantly~you drive down a narrow, rutted lane, manouver through a gate and find yourself in what could be the hilliest, bumpiest, most un-campsite looking campsite ever~with a small toilet and shower building tucked down by the farmhouse and a few water stands~find a fairly level place to park up, making sure that the best view on waking in the morning would be of the view down to swanage bay and across the sea. and so peaceful~far enough away from the little used minor road that led towards corfe and its famous castle a few miles away~the only noise is that of the sheep in the next field, probably wondering why they have been tufed out of their field~for that is what the site is for the rest of the year~a sheep field!
in the morning a small van comes round, honking its old fashioned car horn to announce its arrival, bringing supplies of bread, croissants, bacon and newspapers for those not wanting to leave the peace of the site, but who are running low on supplies.
we have spent many, many nights here and one time ventured to dancing ledge to swim~where many years ago a sea water pool was hewn from the rock
because getting there involves a walk of several miles and then some minor rock climbling to get down its quite deserted and swimming in the pool is an experience indeed.
so now you know why the thought of this years trip~or i should say trips~ are making me smile!