Surfing the turf of SA in their caravan, meet the ‘Surfing Gypsies’
Everyone has a different dream. Everyone imagines where they would be in the future. I can honestly say that 5 or even 10 years ago I never imagined we would be travelling the coast in a caravan, and surfing some of the best spots in South Africa.
Hi, my name is Luke, I am 16 years old and this is our story.
It all began around June when my step-dad, Jaco, started to get a bit itchy sitting around at home – my parents plans were to sell everything and buy a catamaran and we were going to live on it and sail around the world – but due to some circumstances we were unable to buy a boat so Jaco decided on the next best way to travel – camping. We love camping, especially if there is a surf trip involved!
It all happened so fast – we were selling everything, within the month we were eating on our camping tables. There was so much excitement at home when our new home (the caravan) rolled onto the front yard for the first time. At the time I was thinking it was impossible to live in this caravan with a family of four, but 2 months down the line it’s really not that bad at all.
There is more than enough space for everyone, I’ve got my own 3×3 canvas tent which is like my man cave outside of the caravan tent, Remi has a room inside the caravan tent and Jaco and Mom stay cozy in the caravan with all the luxuries, even Moms coffee machine!!
The next thing to decide was where we are going to stay for the next 4-5 months. A month at a time would make this camping adventure more affordable and also give us some routine for doing school in-between surfs.
For Remi and I, the wish-list was obvious, we are a surfing family so anywhere along the coast would be a bonus: 3 weeks in Mossel Bay, 6 weeks in Jeffreys Bay, 4 weeks in Victoria Bay Caravan Park and then back to Cape Town to see our family are the plans for the next few months.
The one condition for travelling and surfing full-time was that Remi and I could maintain our school marks as we continue with UCT Online High School and surf our way through the country. So far, so good, although Remi does get a bit more distracted than me. I try to stay focused as I am doing matric next year.
Mossel Bay was our first stop. We arrived at The Point Caravan Park on the most beautiful winters day and merrily set up camp overlooking the warm waves that Inner Pool was providing. It took us a full 4 hours to setup and then Remi and I went for a surf and got a couple of waves.
I am always amazed by the beauty that Mossel Bay holds, the sunrises in the morning, the dolphins swimming by almost every day, the whales and their babies, and the wonderful waves that keep rolling in.
The campsite that is one of my favourites is right across the beach with a huge ocean pool for avid swimmers, you have a beautiful view and the weather is just so pleasant.
Plenty of restaurants are in walking distance from the camp and Mom even got her groceries delivered to our caravan door, what a treat!!
A lovely skatepark in need of a bit of TLC is just a stone-throw away from the campsite and we also enjoyed playing pool at one of the facilities that the Caravan Park has to offer.
We really enjoyed the friendly staff working at the Caravan Park and also the very clean ablution facilities. We love camping in the first 2 rows on the beach-front so that we can watch the surf from dawn to dusk.
Normally when we go camping, I give Remi four or five days and she is guaranteed to make friends, but in Mossel Bay I think we were half way through the second day and Remi came back running into camp shouting “Mom! Mom! Mom! I made friends!”
We made friends with some super cool locals in Mossel Bay. I was surprised to be greeted by most of the locals in the water on my 3rd surf session, its very rare that hardcore surf locals will greet or talk to you anywhere. Surfers get very territorial over their surf-spots.
We had a great introduction to full-time camping with our first 3 weeks in Mossel Bay, caught many waves, Jaco and Mom also got some sessions in which was great, Mom took loads of pictures of us surfing which Remi and I are forever grateful for and we met some awesome people. One of our camping neighbours was a photographer and captured a beautiful sequence of Remi surfing (lucky). The stoke in the water was real, the happiness was shared among us all as well as the smiles on our faces.
Next stop is Jeffreys Bay Caravan Park for 6 weeks where Remi starts warming up for her first SA Junior Surf Championships.
Surfs Up!!!!!!
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