Feels like home …

Plettenberg Bay – after the rainy days and sleeping on a real bed, we were ready to get back into our tent 🙂

I’d scouted out two options near Plett, but we settled on Forever Resort near the mouth of the Keurbooms River. As one does, we parked our car and then took a walk around the campsite in search of the best available spot. Too sandy, too shady, too close to the pool … eventually, we found a smallish site on the riverfront, with just enough shade to make it comfortable. The position, view – everything – was just perfect. The only problem was that there were already campers on either side, and we didn’t want to encroach on their space. In the busy season, this thought wouldn’t have entered our minds, but because the park was relatively empty, it seemed rude to pick a spot right next to someone else. But no other square of campground quite made the cut!

As we stood around debating, pointing at the river and trees that would make up our “living room and garden”, the current occupant of the site to our right came out of his tent and welcomed us warmly. He introduced himself and insisted that yes, this was the best spot, and no, we would not be intruding. 

He did warn us about the little caterpillars that covered the ground, seemingly coming out of the paving. Nevermind, just sweep them away before you pitch your tent, he said. We set to work with the dustpan and brush we had in our minimal camping kit, the sight of which made our new neighbour disappear into his caravan and return with a broom. Much better – when we have a caravan, we’ll have space for a broom, too!

We later found out that our neighbours were “fulltimers” – moving their caravan from site to site as the mood took them, and summering in Gansbaai at a park aimed at fulltiming retirees. Our hearts leapt! That’s what we wanted to do!  Our new friends moved on the next day, but not before we’d exchanged contact details. If the rest of the camping community is this friendly and welcoming (which I believe it is) we are going to LOVE this journey 🙂