Day 5 — Final Walks and Journey Home
On our last morning, we woke early and slowly packed the tent. The children were reluctant to leave. Camping had become an adventure for them — sleeping outdoors, helping with small jobs, eating simple meals, and spending every day exploring.
Before leaving, we may have taken one final walk by the sea, collecting a few shells and taking one last family photograph. Then we loaded the Mercedes Estate again and made our way back to the ferry.
The journey home to Leicester was quieter. Nitin and Shital slept for part of the way, tired from five full days of fresh air and excitement. Hansa and I talked about how worthwhile the trip had been.
It was not a luxury holiday, but it was rich in something more important: family time, simple pleasures, and memories that lasted long after the tent was folded away.
Looking back now, our 1987 Isle of Wight camping holiday was one of those special chapters of family life — when the children were young, the car was full, the tent was small, and the world felt wide open.
