Everyone remembers their first time, right? It’s always special and holds a magical place in your heart… I was pretty late to the party; I was pushing 40 and had been dreaming about it for the past 15 years. So early last year I decided enough was enough, it was time to follow my dreams and finally do it. That’s when I met Buttercup, a beautiful LWB VW Crafter. It was love at first sight and I knew it was the start of something special.
I was nervous before our first time, as you’d expect. I wondered whether we would get on ok, was the venue I’d chosen right, did I have the right equipment, and would it be as special as I had always imagined.
The morning of our great adventure together arrived. It was Easter, the weather was looking fine and after loading Buttercup up with nibbles, coffee, books and blankets, we headed south for the Cornish coast and the perfectly romantic Gwithian; a beautiful sweeping sandy beach, packed with surfers catching awesome breaks, dogs running around splashing in the shallows and children building sandcastles with moats and buttresses and decorated with lovingly sourced shells.
Our drive south took us across rugged and mystical Bodmin, dotted with pools of inviting emerald water, old tin mines stood proudly on the horizons alongside modern wind turbines looking like elegant ballerinas and we passed campervans of all sizes and styles heading on their own adventures. I wanted to wave but was unsure of the etiquette as we weren’t a sexy vintage VW.
We parked up at The Rockpool café, a fabulous spot where you can camp right by the beach. I gave a friendly, nervous nod to the other campervans… I wondered how many others were experiencing their first time too.
The day was filled with exploring rockpools, paddling in the cool surf, chasing the dogs across the soft sands, meeting new people and eating amazing food. I decided to get back on the surf board after a long absence, despite an hour in the water I barely stood up, but I didn’t care; to feel the power of the sea, smell the salty air, and laugh out loud as I was thrown back in to the dark blue depths, made me feel alive.
After a quick hose down, I grabbed my bike and headed up a long winding coastal path from the bay. I was rewarded with spectacular views of the lighthouse and sandy coves creeping off into the distance. As evening drew in, the sun glistened off of the water like a million diamonds, the wind whipped the sand in to tiny drifts, the smell of BBQs filed the air, and I smiled; this was just how I’d imagined it.
As I snuggled down with Buttercup embracing me from the elements outside, I felt a resounding level of happiness. Why had I waited so long; life was perfect, and she had made me the happiest girl in the world.
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