This year trying to organise full-scale rallies or meets has been somewhat of a challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, restrictions on travel and general rules stipulating how many people and where you can meet them has had an effect on all of us. This is where the Mini-Meet comes into it own!
What is a Mini-Meet? Quite simply put it is a group of friend getting together at a chosen location to enjoy what they enjoy doing. In this current climate of Government rules and regulations it means that small groups of friends who are scattered throughout the country can meet up in a simple way and stay within the regulations. Let’s be honest about it enjoying the great outdoors is something, as Eribarists, we all enjoy. All the advice suggests that being outdoors is better for us. So meeting up with friends at campsites and keeping to current guidelines on numbers and social distancing can mean we can keep our sanity and enjoy meeting others.
During this pandemic, we of course have to respect the ‘rule of law’ and obey the guidance, however fluid it becomes or however much we might disagree. It is not necessarily how we feel about it but how others might perceive our actions. When looking at suitable locations for a mini-meet you might want to consider the following points:
- Is the Campsite in an area that is suitable for an increase in tourism? You might only be a group of 6 people (3 vans) but how many others are doing the same? For example, Devon has seen some problems during the current crisis with people travelling from all over to try and avoid the COVID virus and putting undue pressure on the local resources, intended for local inhabitants.
- Is the Campsite you have chosen accommodating and suitable for a mini-meet? If it is a large campsite used by a lot of people are you going to have resistance and objections to sharing time together? Perhaps it is the smaller CL and CS sites that cater to minimal numbers that might be better suited. In these locations you can take up the majority of the campsite.
- How long do you intend to meet? If it is a few days are you all able to carry all your requirements so you are not dependent on local services? If not, are there sufficient sources of supplies locally?
- When you are together what do you intend to do? It is pointless to go somewhere if you intended to explore the local shops, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions if they are all closed.
If your intentions are to get out into the great outdoors and enjoy the fabulous countryside that we have in the UK and you are planning on being self-sufficient, then you are unlikely to have any real problems. Just keep your finger crossed that the weather is kind!
A lot of the above has been focused on the current pandemic and how mini-meets can be used to have contact with friends during these trying times. However, once we are back to normal caravaning there is still a good place for the mini-meet, it is a good environment to get small groups together who have specific interests, hobbies or who just enjoy each other’s company.
With smaller numbers, it is far easier to organise campsites to host and will enable you to visit virtually anywhere you want. Remember that the Certified Sites (CS) or Locations (CL) can be ideal quiet locations with a few pitches that could well do better to cater to your needs.
Likewise it is easier to organise specific activities or visits to locations with a small group then for large numbers.
As with all these activities their success relies on planning and advance organisations. Put a little time and effort in and you and your friends could be doing things you never thought you would and making the best of your life in your Eriba!
