From a Broken Awning to Tuscany: A Journey That Started with Peggy Peg

 

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"Action!"

As the cameras started rolling, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. When we first discovered Peggy Peg, I never imagined that one day we would be standing on a campsite in Tuscany filming product demonstrations with the Peggy Peg team. Yet here we were, Heavy Duty Awning Set in hand, doing exactly that.

It's not that we were strangers to creating content around Peggy Peg products. After all, we've travelled with them all over the world. The difference this time was the film crew, the cameras and the curious campers watching from nearby pitches.

When we first bought our Peggy Peg awning set, it was simply to solve one frustrating problem. We were tired of snapped awnings caused by cheap pegs that couldn't cope with changing conditions.

Little did we know that buying those pegs would become the beginning of not only a professional partnership, but also a genuine friendship with the people behind the brand.

So when Samy called and asked whether we'd like to join the Peggy Peg team for a content week in Tuscany, it wasn't exactly a difficult decision. Only after putting the phone down did I realise quite how far it actually is to drive from Wales to just south of Pisa. After travelling through more than forty countries over the last three years, you'd think my geography would have improved a little.

Still, not even two very long driving days were going to stop us.

No sooner had we arrived than the cameras were rolling. We spent the first few days filming product demonstrations, customer testimonials and promotional videos beneath the warm Tuscan sunshine. Fortunately, the weather seemed to understand that we needed blue skies for the new SunBreak video. Kim even dusted off her French to help record several of the European versions.

Fortunately for Harrison and Dorothy, the trip wasn't all about work. While we were busy filming, they happily spent their days playing with Marty, enjoying the campsite swimming pool and making the most of Tuscany's beautiful beaches.

Although Tuscany boasts more than 300 kilometres of coastline, it was the rolling hills and medieval villages further inland that tempted us most.

While Siena is undoubtedly Tuscany's most famous hill town, we decided to visit San Gimignano instead. Known as the Town of Towers, it can be recognised from miles away thanks to its remarkable medieval skyline. Unlike many Italian towns whose towers disappeared over time, fourteen of San Gimignano's original towers still stand today, earning the town its place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

As impressive as the architecture was, there was something else that had drawn us here.

The food.

It doesn't take long walking through the narrow cobbled streets to realise just how important food is to life in Tuscany. Delicatessens overflow with local produce, while restaurants serve traditional dishes prepared using recipes passed down through generations. Wild boar ragù appeared on almost every menu we saw.

For Harrison and Dorothy, however, there was only ever going to be one culinary highlight.

Gelato.

Not just any gelato either.

San Gimignano is home to Gelateria Dondoli, a multiple winner of the World Gelato Championship. Yes, apparently that really is a thing.

It's not often we go back for a second ice cream, but this time we did. Had it been entirely up to Harrison and Dorothy, we'd probably have gone back for a third.

Just as we were beginning to settle into Tuscany's wonderfully relaxed pace of life, it was already time to think about the journey home.

Thankfully, not before one final evening camping beneath a grove of ancient olive trees.

Looking back now, I realise that what once felt like a disaster turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened.

Had our awning not snapped, we probably would never have discovered Peggy Peg.

Without Peggy Peg, we would never have built the friendships we now treasure.

And without those friendships, we would never have shared such a memorable week together in Tuscany.

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Where in the World

Tuscany is one of Italy's most iconic regions, famous for its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, medieval towns and over 300 kilometres of beautiful Mediterranean coastline. It perfectly combines culture, history, food and outdoor adventure.

How to Get There

Travelling from Central Europe, Tuscany is easily reached by motorhome via the Alps. Our destination was just south of Pisa, making it an excellent base for exploring both the coast and Tuscany's famous hill towns.

Where to Stay

We stayed on a beautiful campsite surrounded by ancient olive trees. With excellent facilities, a swimming pool and easy access to both the coast and Tuscany's historic towns, it proved to be the perfect base for both filming and exploring.

Peggy Pegs Used

Throughout our content week, we used a variety of Peggy Peg products, including the Heavy Duty Awning Set, Fix&Go Anchor Plates 2.0, TieStraps 2.0 and the SunBreak. Tuscany provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the products in real camping conditions before they reached customers across Europe.

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Key Factors

Discover Tuscany: Rolling Hills, Italian Lifestyle and Lasting Friendships

Why visit Tuscany?

Tuscany combines breathtaking landscapes, historic towns and authentic Italian culture like nowhere else. From medieval villages and vineyards to world-class cuisine, every journey offers something unforgettable.

Getting there

Tuscany is easily reached by motorhome via the Alps. Its excellent road network makes it one of Italy's most rewarding road trip destinations and an ideal stop on a longer European adventure.

Where to stay

Camping beneath centuries-old olive trees offers the perfect Tuscan experience. It provides a peaceful base for exploring the coastline, hilltop villages and the region's rich cultural heritage.

Peggy Pegs used

Throughout our content week, we used a variety of Peggy Peg products, including the Heavy Duty Awning Set, Fix&Go Anchor Plates 2.0, TieStraps 2.0 and the SunBreak. Tuscany provided the perfect setting to showcase the products in real camping conditions.

Activities & Adventures

Explore the medieval streets of San Gimignano, sample authentic Tuscan cuisine, visit the world-famous Gelateria Dondoli and enjoy slow evenings beneath ancient olive trees.

Insider Tip

While Siena attracts most visitors, San Gimignano offers a quieter experience with incredible medieval architecture, fantastic local food and one of the world's most famous gelato shops.

Conclusion

Sometimes life's best journeys begin with an unexpected setback. Without a broken awning, we would never have discovered Peggy Peg, formed lasting friendships or shared this unforgettable week together in Tuscany.

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Marcus is a husband, a father, an adventure athlete and an award-winning writer, who travels the world in their Bailey of Bristol motorhome with his wife Kim and his two kids.

If you have any questions about their life on the road or simply want to follow their travels more closely, you can contact Marcus and Kim over on Instagram through @marcusleachglobal and @themotorhomingfamily