To think caravanning in December is crazy?

[elmerbananas]

It’s my mother in law’s birthday in a couple of weeks and she is hatching a plan to buy a caravan and travel round the country visiting all the grandchildren in the middle of December. She’s in her sixties but her husband is early eighties and has a heart condition. Am I being overly anxious or is this a completely ridiculous idea?

Even outside of coronavirus, do octogenarians go caravanning in the middle of winter? She reckons the person selling the caravan says it’s really warm but it’s a cheap old caravan so that seems pretty unlikely.

Then there’s the Covid risk. They’re in tier 3 so they’re not supposed to do this anyway. It’s over a 500 mile round trip to see everyone and amongst the kids and grandkids is a nurse treating Covid patients, a social worker and 3 kids in school and nursery. I just think, given the vaccines that are coming, this is such a stupid risk to take.

AIBU to say we don’t want them to do this?

Sounds completely ridiculous

Where is she planning on parking it? I have feeling campsites and caravan sites are closed in the winter...

Madness.

Some sites close, others are open. Depending on the caravan it may be fine. In terms of covid rules who knows.

But it's their choice to make.

My parents and all their friends were younger then, but growing up in the 70s/80s we always caravanned in December and it was always nice and toasty!

If they get cold they’ll go home.

Sounds crazy anytime of the year.
Sitting in a shed on a trailer, in a field, in the rain and shitting in a bucket in a cupboard.

And yes, they’re not allowed to do it.

I don't understand how you would 'tell them we don't want them to do this'. Surely they are grown adults and it's up to them? How can it possibly be your decision?

Lots of caravan sites are open over the winter. If you have good heating in the caravan you're fine.

She'll be wasting her time buying it now, I am pretty sure she won't be allowed to travel around in it in December.

My parents use their campervan year round, though not this year.

I'm not sure how you stop her apart from reminding her of the tier 3 rules and refusing to host them if they pitch up.

This sounds crackers.

She must be really missing her family. Maybe book a nice cottage for everyone all together for a weekend long post vaccine warm weather treat?

We're in our 60's. Have a modern caravan (it's warmer than the house!).
In normal years we'd be a way a couple of times in December and also in January & February.
We've knocked touring on the head for now. Not enough consistency on what facilities are open on sites.
I'm assuming your MIL will be doing the towing? What's her previous experience and what distances is she likely to be covering in a day? If she is set on buying the caravan, get an approved caravan engineer to do an inspection. It will also need a gas check if it's not had a service within the last 12 months.

do octogenarians go caravanning in the middle of winter That's not the right question. Octogenarians are individuals, they're not a homogeneous group, any more than "women" are.

But I know people in their late 70s who are doing all sorts of outdoor activities in the hills in winter including spending nights in converted vans, and they're not planning to give up when they reach 80. So it depends on their day-to-day health, the back up plans available (they need to be able to get to somewhere warm quickly if they get too cold, not somewhere at the other end of a 500 mile drive).

Then Covid-wise - they're not supposed to travel if they're in a Tier 3, but it's advice, not law. They need to consider the risk to themselves, and their risk of carrying Covid around all the relatives. They also need to remember that they won't be able to mix indoors, so it's not a matter of spending warm days playing with the grandkids in a comfortable sitting room.

Caravans are well set up for winter, we've been away in our caravan in December before, although our is newish and quite large. The Caravan and Motorhome Club have lots of sites open all year round and they are usually half to 3/4 full in the winter -fully heated toilet blocks as well so you don't have to 'shit in a bucket in a cupboard...'

Depends where you are I guess. Here in Australia it is normal.

Many people caravan all year round, and have Christmas caravaning holidays booked, what's the issue?

Not my idea of fun, but if you find sites open, I am sure they can just hook up and be comfortable.

It doesn't sound very safe for a person at risk to be in close contact with young children, but it's up to them. Life is short, for some it's better taking a risk than being miserable and lonely.

At the very least, they must book their campsite in advance. If restrictions don't allow that, it will be pretty obvious.

@UsernameN0Tavailable

Caravans are well set up for winter, we've been away in our caravan in December before, although our is newish and quite large. The Caravan and Motorhome Club have lots of sites open all year round and they are usually half to 3/4 full in the winter -fully heated toilet blocks as well so you don't have to 'shit in a bucket in a cupboard...'

Ah, its different with the Caravan club, dont forget the first rule of Caravan Club

I suggest she gets a kayak too, there are some great places to that around Britain - oh and an ice axe in case there are some frozen areas.

Meeting lots of people given the pandemic, unreasonable. In normal times if pitches and parking spots are available, why not?

We stayed in the ILs camper in the car port last Christmas as we hosted everyone and thought it best that my 80 y/o DGM had a bed inside rather than us. It was freezing and miserable and we gave up and went back inside at about 6.
If the van they're buying has a heater then they might be ok but it's with a cheap old one that seems unlikely.

Let them try it. I'm quite envious of their gall!

Thanks for your replies, I couldn't get a second to reply yesterday.

@JeanBodel I never suggested I was going to forbid them from doing it, of course it's their decision. But we're adults too and it's our decision whether or not to meet up with them on their crazy jaunt.

My initial reaction to the plan was that it was bonkers and I didn't want any part in it, but I wasn't sure if I was being unreasonable in thinking that way.

@MereDintofPandiculation you're right, not all people in their eighties are the same, I guess he's just seemed a bit more frail the last couple of times we've seen them, plus the scary mortality rate with Covid has made me start to see him as a lot more fragile just because of his age.

I admire her spirit and I completely understand the desire if they haven't seen much of family this year. Of course it's a ridiculous plan in a pandemic but I wish it wasn't.