When Your Motorhome Feels Like New Trainers

Zagan the motorhome is still parked up by the sand dunes of Stella Plage, enjoying the free parking just for him and his fellow motorhomes, a few steps from a huge beach. It’s out of season and most places are shut, but the aire is still full with around 20 vans most nights. We decided that this lovely peaceful spot is a good place to get ourselves reacquainted with Zagan.

Charlie loves a beach and all the tasty free food he can find there

When we parked Zagan in his storage space back in July last year, we were travelled-out, and ready for some time at home with family and friends. We wrote a big list of jobs that needed to be done on him before we set off again, and got the major ones – new tyres and front springs, booked in. Then we got on with our lives and I will admit Zagan got a little bit forgotten.

We planned to go on a few trips away in him, a tour of Scotland or a few Britstops, but the thought of the list of jobs and repacking him with life’s essentials steered us towards alternatives such as a week in a cottage by the sea. By the end of March we were feeling ready to set off again, and the list of jobs was resurrected. Some, like buying new stuff, were tackled, others were left for another day and will be sorted while we on the road (or more likely ignored until we get home again!).

After nine months out of Zagan, being back in him feels a bit strange, yet perfectly normal at the same time. It reminds me of the new trainers I bought just before we left. My faithful €20 emergency purchase trainers from Portugal, when I realised that the ones I was running in were too small, are starting to fall apart. They have served me well, getting me around my first ever 10k in Fes and half marathon in Marrakesh, and many miles since. Reluctantly I headed to Decathlon, a short walk from where we live, to seek out replacements. After a play with their free gait analysis thingy, the assistant narrowed down the huge wall of trainers to a few pairs that would suit my running style (I never knew I had a style, it’s more of a shuffle). After much jogging around the shop, I bought the most comfortable pair and headed out for my first run in them. Suddenly I was aware of everything going on with my feet, every twinge of a knee or creak of a hip, all things that wouldn’t be noticed in my old trainers as they feel like a part of me.

Our shiny new trainers we bought back in June 2016 – both pairs have now been replaced

So why does Zagan feel like new trainers? Being back in him after nine months away I’m suddenly aware of every creak of the floor, I’m having to look in a few places before I find stuff I need and I am stopping and thinking how things work – which way do the locks turn, how does the heating work?

I know this feeling will pass in a couple of days and it will be like old times again, but right now we are sticking rigidly to our pre-set off check list and taking extra time and care with everything we do until life in Zagan is second nature once more.

Ju x