How did motorhome life start for us? After a week at the Elmia Husvagn Husbil fair in Jönköping, and after meeting lots of both new and experienced campers, we started to look back at how our own motorhome story once started...
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None of us grew up camping
Neither Peter nor I, Helena, grew up camping. When we were young, we didn't know anyone who owned a motorhome or caravan, and we never even tried living in a cabin on a campsite.
Peter's family had a summer house in the Stockholm archipelago and my family had a summer house on the west coast. In Peter's family we went boating and fishing. In my family we canoed and skied. But a motorhome or caravan? No, that was something that "others" did ...
When we met, we wanted to travel ...
When Peter and I met (about 20 years ago) we were both very keen on travelling. After having limited opportunities in the past, together we got a little better finances. We started with a few short trips, and after working hard to renovate and sell an apartment, we were able to realise our plans. two big dream trips – Transmongolian railway through Russia to China and New Zealand.
It was in New Zealand that it began
When I was doing research for our upcoming trip to New ZealandAs Peter's two sons would be joining us, I realised that a motorhome could be an option. By renting a camper van we would have accommodation organised and in addition avoid paying for two restaurant visits per day, for four people. I made the suggestion to Peter and he looked at me like I was completely out of my mind.
"Do I look like a camper, or what?" he exclaimed.
Peter was difficult to persuade, but after looking at a few different budget calculations, he too realised that a motorhome was a good option. No sooner said than done, we rented a campervan that was waiting for us when we landed in New Zealand!
The feeling of freedom took us by storm
After the initial shock - driving a motorhome, in left-hand traffic, just after an extremely long flight - we were saved. The sense of freedom took us by storm. We could drive wherever we wanted, stop for lunch whenever and wherever, and where we would spend the night could only be decided as evening approached. We started to think about having a motorhome at home in Sweden ...
We got the FREEDOM campervan.
Back in Sweden, we immediately started looking for a motorhome. I (Helena) had received an inheritance, and we had the opportunity to buy a used motorhome on Blocket. It was an Adria 660 SP from 2007 that we named ... FREEDOM!
Peter was keen to add his personal touch to the campervan, so he designed a new look, had it foiled and fitted lots of lights ...
A new life as a motorhome enthusiast
From never having set foot in a campervan, we fell in love with motorhomes. We still enjoy travelling in other ways, but the motorhome is always number one. We still have the same motorhome and it has taken us on lots of trips, both in Sweden and all over Europe.
We also started the blog freedomtravel.se, which today has evolved into a digital travel magazine that is both our job and our life!
Are you camping? How did camping or motorhome life start for you?
Are you camping? In a motorhome, caravan, tent or cabin? How did camping or motorhome life start for you?
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Helena from Finland says:
Nice to hear how your road to motorhome life went. Now you are really real campers😀. We started with tents or hotels. Then we bought a small van that we drove down to Europe with. What a luxury when the clothes were kept dry even though it was raining🤣. Then switched to a slightly larger van. Tom insulated it and built a bed. Even more luxury😀. Now it is a motorhome that applies🚐. In a few weeks, "Laban" heads south for wintering
16 September 2023 - 8:56
Helena says:
Yes, now we are real campers!!! 🙂 Glad to hear how it started for you too!!! And how wonderful it sounds with wintering! Where are you heading?
16 September 2023 - 12:22
Helena from Finland says:
Looks like there were two similar posts. The wonder of technology😂. Aiming first at the Moselle valley for a few days if the weather is ok. Then through France and down to Spain
16 September 2023 - 13:30
bmlarstravellingblog says:
What a great and fun theme for a blog post. We will probably have to think back and get something similar when we come home in the autumn.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
16 September 2023 - 10:02
Helena says:
Yes, it was really fun to think back! 🙂 Looking forward to reading your post a little later! Nice weekend!!!
16 September 2023 - 12:23
Anette Nilsson says:
I, Anette, have been camping with my parents throughout my childhood. First in a tent, then we bought a caravan and travelled to Italy in the 60s with it. My husband Stefan slept in a tent at some point with his family but had to change his mind when we had children. We had a caravan for 32 years. Travelled every summer in Europe with our 3 boys. 3 years ago we bought a motorhome and right now we are on a "Around Italy" trip of about 2 months. Prioritises southern Italy because above Amalfi we have been around a lot already when we have been on our trips. Right now in Gallipoli. Writes on our blog http://www.enturitaget.se about our trips
17 September 2023 - 8:05
Helena says:
Wow, many years of camping experience! And what a great campervan trip you're doing now!
17 September 2023 - 14:56
Ditte says:
Very nice to read about how motorhome life started for you. And the interest has continued - we are not camping people but have combined travelling abroad with having a boat and sailing. Then mostly sailing in Sweden and Finland.
Never got hooked on camping or motorhomes - We rented a motorhome when we were in New Zealand for a couple of weeks and it was very good. But travelling around with a campervan and staying at campsites where you are close together or on pitches has not appealed to us.
Have crossed the USA, from east to west in a Volkswagen camper and it was an experience and we took two months. But that was in the late 70s. Successful and fun. But it didn't add to the flavour.
On the other hand, sailing has attracted us but we have always avoided harbours where one is close together - our own bays or cliffs are what has been used - and that it is "private".
16 September 2023 - 21:24
Helena says:
You have really had time to test, many exciting experiences! And not everything suits everyone!
17 September 2023 - 14:57
Margaretha Lillvik says:
We started by borrowing a motorhome, then we were also saved. Have had 3 motorhomes, but the last one we have had for 13 years. Also started the blog "Pensionärsbillan" where we write about our travels. Unfortunately, there have not been so many trips with the motorhome after the corona, but this autumn we will leave again. There is nothing more wonderful than travelling around and discovering other countries.
16 September 2023 - 22:34
Helena says:
How wonderful that you will be going away in the autumn again!!!! Where does it go?
17 September 2023 - 14:59
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
Exciting to read about how it started! For me it was almost a bit the opposite, I camped a lot as a younger person, in tents and borrowed / rented caravans, but have not camped now for about 30 years. Far in there, there is probably still a small dream that at some point in the future may have its own caravan or motorhome, but now we have an inherited farm in the countryside to take care of so there is not enough time for much else.
17 September 2023 - 21:38
Janne says:
Started with sailboat life, then camper on pickup truck to go to sunniest weather in Sweden, also skiing, then motorhome with four-wheel drive. I also go to the mountains only when it is sunny and park at the slopes...
19 September 2023 - 6:36
Janne says:
.... In the summer, there are almost only guest harbours or next to other water, a bit of a boating feel...
19 September 2023 - 6:41
Lena - good for the soul says:
Hehe, I can't even imagine you without a campervan 🙂 .
I grew up with a caravan and so did Andreas. I had a caravan (in my previous life), but it is now a few years ago. We are slowly but surely becoming camper vans too. Maybe next year or the year after...
Hug Lena
19 September 2023 - 12:40