Hestia and Bertha | A caravan love story

Last week Tartarus and I took advantage of a pinhole in the horrendous weather to drive off the north end of the island (on a ferry.  I don't have chitty chitty bang bang) and go to see an Eriba Triton 430 caravan that was for sale in Callander.

Not only is Callander where my oldest pal lives, but it was actually for sale a few doors down from her in the same street!  What are the chances, eh? Anyoo, she was at work in the secondary school down the road, but I promised her that I would text her once we'd seen the van.

It was being sold by the lovely Jenne and after a restorative cup of tea we took a look at this lovely - tiny - little van.  Apparently it sleeps three, but only if the third person is the size of a Chihuahua.

Reader, we fell in love.

While we were waiting for the payment to clear, we went to visit my Bute Noir partner in crime in her natural environment of Maclaren High.  Which involves a white coat. I was wearing my *impressed face*.  I was even more impressed when we rocked up at Reception and the lady in the window not only knew who I was, but why I was in Callander and who I was there to see.  I assume my crime-fiction buddy had told her, but in wee villages, you can never be sure who beats the jungle news drum.

After a lovely alfresco chat with Seo, we went back to collect our new family member and drove home - carefully - up the side of Loch Lomond and across country until we were back at the ferry at Colintraive.

Of course, we didn't have a ticket for the new caravan.  The Calmac ladies pronounced her really cute and we boarded the boat and brought her home.

Now she is resting in the garden.  Which is starting to look like a traveller's encampment. I load up the wee video I shot to let you see inside.  This was the first time that the door had been open since we brought her home - so it's a bit shook up!  Also, my voice is about an octave higher than usual.  I think it's all the excitement.

We have renamed her Wee Bertha and I can't wait to take her out and about for our first overnight!

... and Tartarus better not sell THIS caravan without telling me!

Of course, we wondered how Nero would react to all this.  Let's face it, when he stands up in Bertha, we'll have to be sitting down.  There b'ain't a lot of floor space for a big dog and two adults.

We folded down the double bed to see what it was like and lo! Nero hopped into the caravan and hopped up onto the cushions.  Even though I was trying to push him off.  He's been in a caravan before, we reckon.  The little blighter will have a bed to himself at the other end of the van.  Or I will.  He's old and shoogly, with a John Wayne gait.  If he needs to sleep on the double bed with Tartarus, so be it. 

Camping and Caravanning Club or Caravan Club? This is the big question.