About

to you all from Chris and Sue, Harrogate, Yorkshire.

The ‘blog’ is all about caravan outings in our Sprite Alpine 4, which in our opinion, is a great caravan. We like all kinds of caravanning; caravan sites, 5 van sites and rallies, all year round. We are members of the Camping and Caravanning Club, Caravan Club and The Sterling Owners Club. Our towcar is a Škoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4×4, now having a bit more traction to get off muddy rally fields. Called the ‘Czech Connection’

Previous tow cars: Citroen C5 2.0HDi, Citroen Xantia 1.8 injection petrol, Citroen Xantia 1.9TD diesel, Volvo 360 2.0 injection petrol, Ford Escort 1.6 petrol, Ford Escort Estate 1.3 petrol.

Our camping history in brief:

We first started camping in a small ridge tent. Then progressed up to a larger frame tent.

Change came again and the next progression was a trailer tent, which was far better and the beds were off the ground with much more comfort.

After the trailer tent came our first caravan (1987), it was an old caravan and we gave it a try to see if we liked caravanning, and we did. The make was a 1976 Elite 13/4, built by Elite Coachcraft, Bridlington, at that time the price was £1,400.00 and was aimed at the mid-upper luxury market, we paid £500.00.

This caravan was not very good and needed lots of repair work, so we sold it to a scrap merchant for £500.00, so a cheap start to caravanning. We then bought an ACE Harmony, which was in a lot better condition and we got some good holidays out of it.

In 1995 we then decided to buy a new caravan, when we purchase a 1994 ACE Airstream at a good price. This was a two berth, because Carl and Kim were now in tents and later Carl was married and had his own tent and camping with his own family.

This caravan lasted until 2006 when it was time to buy another new one. Having looked at lots of different caravans, we decided on a fixed bed version and bought the Sprite Alpine 4, with no plans to change yet.