Our Rollerteam Granduca motorhome seemed to have more life to it as we left the Newbury Motorhome Show. Perhaps because it had the electronic innards reprogrammed to hopefully give us a better fuel consumption and more pull on the hills, or because we had fitted a smart new back-box onto the bicycle rack instead of the tarpaulin covering the stand-alone “room” in its carry bag and fold up chairs. But I like to think it was because  “Roller” was on his way to see his true love, the Hobby, that we first came across on 14th October 2003 at the beautiful and romantic Aire de Lauregais on the Canal de Midi, south of Toulouse, France.

We had originally set off at the beginning of October, having recently retired, in our Hyundai Santa Fe car for a three month trip in Europe. By the time we arrived at our friend A’s farm in the Aude ten days later we were thoroughly fed up with constantly carrying cases in and out of Hotels each night and morning and eating every meal in different restaurants.  We told A that we were considering buying a motorhome.  He was hoping we would join him in converting his farmhouse into five Gites but understood our desire to see a bit of Europe first, and suggested that we visit the showrooms just north of Toulouse to buy one. We could then register it at his address as we  were going to use his place as a “pied-a-terre”.

We parked at the Aire that evening in October both exhausted. I had negotiated the purchase transaction and temporary insurance entirely in French and Bernard, who had in the past driven a white van, had not test driven this vehicle , which was left hand drive, a little longer and wider than a white van, and had just driven on a main arterial road and then the motorway at rush hour.  We needed the break. 

Having bought some bread, cheese and water at the motorway service shop, we returned to our motorhome to find that an English registered motorhome was parked next to us.  It was a cute Hobby of a certain age but in great condition.  We spoke out loud in English and sure enough the door to the Hobby opened and our neighbours emerged. R and J invited us in to have drinks and with our bread and cheese we chatted long into the night. Although second hand it was the Hobby’s maiden voyage with her new owners and our Roller’s very first trip too.  We discussed the fixtures and fittings, the Hobby was more “Harrods” whilst the Roller was up to date more like “Ikea”.

The two motor homes spent the night side by side as we were all too tired and imbibed to continue onwards. Bernard and I just collapsed fully dressed onto the mattress of our fixed bed.

The three month window has turned into nearly six years to date and whilst travelling we have seen very few Hobbys.  Each time our Roller has given a little sigh, yearning for his Hobby.

So it was with great excitement that he sped on his way to our destination near Blandford. R and J have recently bought a bungalow and because they have gutted it, they have been living in the Hobby parked on the driveway. Roller’s engine gave a jump when he saw her as Bernard reversed up the drive to park next to her.

The two motorhomes spent the night together, side by side, vowing that this romance would continue.

Once again we humans chatted late into the night, reminiscing about the many fascinating places we had visited and the scrapes we had been in since that meeting five and a half years ago. Far too many to relate now. This reunion spurred me on to start this Blog about our journeys since October 2003. The stories below are in date order and to start from the beginning, please go to the ‘The Trail Begins’.