Author: ngow

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Dingwall

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Awoke on the Rome’s drive, had cereal in the van then a 2nd breakfast inside, tea and toast. Alison has won a literary prize for a short story and is now trying to get published.

Left about 11am, intending to head towards Inverness via Aviemore, we ended up stopping at Blair Atholl visitor centre for coffee and cake. Sped past Aviemore and headed towards Fort George spent some hours wandering around the fort, entrance price i8.50 per person the dog was free. They were setting up for an event with stands being erected and groups of people practicing sword dancing and a Pipe band.

Decided to head towards Dingwall across the estuary from Inverness, rang the site to check and then arrived at 5pm, small site, bit dated and right by a railtrack and a river/canal, they gave a big pitch but it was in the shade.

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Dundee, Broughty Ferry

Woke up to sunshine, in Scone site, took a walk to the river to check it out, tremendous great access and some good fishing opportunities although waders / boat would help.

The previous day Jacqui had contacted her cousin Andy to see if they would be around on the Saturday and if so would it be alright for us to pop in and stay on their drive assuming we fit. They were off to Edinburgh for the day to drop son number 4 off at Uni and would not be there till late afternoon, but no probs we could wait if we arrived earlier and yes we could stay. At this point I decided we need a 3pin EHU adapter as the only one we had was at home. Spoke to the warden on site and he suggested Perthshire caravans which was on the way.

On the main road from Perth to Dundee there is a large Caravana and Motorhome dealership, with a very good accessory shop, very modern clean and helpful. Found our plug, and a replacement Truma gas pigtail, just in case we continue to have issues with the gas.

Carried on to Dundee stopping at Asda to do a shop, large carpark excellent.

Arrived at Andy and Alison at about 4pm managed to reverse onto the drive we were met by James (Son 3) and Kirsten (daughter 2?) had a great evening Chinese takeaway, wine and beer. Grace and Neil turned up shortly after Andy and Alison.

Settled down in the van for the night.

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Setting out on NC2015, 4.9.15

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Left early on Friday the 4th September, trying to get past Oxford the plan was to stay at Perth tonight and then head on up to Inverness the next day. Not really bothered to look too closely at a map till the day before and booked Perth site Old Scone Palace a CC&C site.

We made very good time and stoping at Tebay services for a Burger, stretch legs and walk Geza. We arrived at the site around 5pm, the weather had been a a bit overcast on the way up and was threatening rain. Turns out the sites is based alongside the Perth racecourse and the River Tay. It turns out that you can purchase a day ticket from the site for the river, could quite happily spent a couple of days at this site.

Had a wander around the race course and BBQ’d some food the skies did open up and pured water but the awning protected us enough to not suffer too much.

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August 2015 Mini Tour

Travelled the length of England for a week, 1 Show, 2 rests, 1 Meet and 1 Rally

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Gibraltar Farm

On the way back from Ayr heading towards our next engagement at the Cottons Arms, Wrenbury for the Motorhomefun Bring and Buy Back to Basics Meet, we decided to to stop off halfway (ish) for one night and to have a shop. Found a site called Gibraltar Farm near the coast and Lancaster.

It is hard to find but worth the effort, the site is large with a few fields some for tent only (no vehicle !) and some caravans and van that were there for the duration, all very pleasant though with access to the fields, woods and the beach.

We camped up looking out over a field to the sea, could not see the sea as it was lower down but it was pleasant. Did have electric.

Access to the fields is via a farm track and a farm yard (bit smelly), the last bit has a downhill slope and a hairpin bend, so one vehicle at a time.

Dog loved the beach best accessed via the woods not the fields.
There is a cafe near the entrance and about half a mile down the road a pub or 2, and the harbour being a bit further down.
On the Friday am a van got stuck on the apex of the hairpin bend thanks to a car that did not wait, the van driver should have stopped but instead they tried to squeeze past each other result the car had to back up and the van was stuck. Worse when the passenger got out she did not close the door and when the van driver reversed the door became wedged on the back with the van unable to move back or forwards. The farmer tried to assist and with the help of other the van was rocked, the door closed and the van towed out. Sadly it appeared that the door pillar was bent and may have been a right off.

Met a couple who tour selling a Lancaster beer, they had a a caravan for touring and lived in a flat, which they were selling to buy and do up a Narrow boat, planning to live on the boat whilst touring the waterways of the UK.

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Ayr, Caravan Club

Left Glentrool mid morning arriving at the Ayr site are about 2pm. Alistair and Julie had already arrived and setup.  The site is within walking distance of the Town and located in the University or College area, near the river.  Certainly not going to win any prizes for being picturesque but if you want to be near the town then it works.

 

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Glentrool, Galloway Forest

Left Flusco Woods at about 11am Monday 17th Aug, having dumped all our grey waste.

It was only about 100 miles to the next stop of Glentrool Camping and Caravan Site, it is right on the edge of the Galloway forest and part of the Dark Skies initiative, so we hope to get  clear skies tonight and decent star maybe some more meteors if we are lucky.

The site has some statics, tent area and level hard standing for vans, each has electric and there is a drive over Motorhome point with drinking water available.

The facilities are very good even a Bothy (hut with Microwave and Electric Kettle) for the tents, the toilets and washing area is clean and modern, piped music. Â There is a dog walk (not long), ponies and a pond, small shop and wifi, which is ok. Â TV reception and Radio is nil.

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Flusco Wood, Penrith

Left the Myrtle Mates, Malvern on the Sunday 16th at about 11:00, Eric and Julia went first then ourselves, I think Paul and Cathy planned on enjoying the sun for a couple of hours and then heading off, the rest were staying on till Monday.  Drove 214 miles to Flusco Woods, apart from a slow down on the M6 around Cheshire J18 the traffic was easy but a bit slow.  Stopped at Stafford services was OK but as with all on a Sunday a bit crowded.

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We picked Flusco because it was roughly the right distance easy to find and had EHU showers and water, it is a well run site but hardstanding gravel pitches each with water EHU and a drain, we drove on to get the door on the best side but that meant the drain pipe would not reach, but best to empty in the morning anyway. Â I am not sure if any of the pitches at Flusco are level and we did need to use the levelling ramps, we are getting much better at it, but cold not get it spot on level.

Toilet, shower, washing facilities are all good and TV reception fine, there was site wifi which worked well.

Both of us took advantage of the showers very hot though.

Flusco caters for van and caravans no tent camping it seemed, there is a fantastic dog walk area, massive.  They also have a number of Park Homes where the views of the Lake District are stunning and if you coulod get one at the front would be good, they do seem to keep building another row in front prices appeared to be 80 to 125k, and they do not seem to sell very quickly.

 

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Malvern Myrtle meet

Met up with the myrtle mates at the Malvern Motorhome show, 4 van Paul and Helen with Gary and Julie, Eric and Julia, Paul and Cathy and ourselves.

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Arrived on the Friday 14th August about 17:00 slow but steady journey.

Had an exciting morning as Jacqui gave me 2 plastics bags which I thought were for the clothes to be transferred to the van so filled them with my clothes, meds, kindle, toiletries etc.., though at the time tis was good of her so as to not get my clothes wet as it was raining on and off.  Left them on the side and later saw Jacqui walkiing past the office window with them in hand, again thought thats good she taking them to the van, but what an odd way to go.  Later I saw her taking her own clothes and asked why she didn’t take them when she took mine, she then said I didn’t take yours, so I asked what she did with the 2 bags of bit I put out, to which she replied I put them in the clothes recycling bin!  Bit of panic set in could see the top of one bag but not the other no chance of forcing the lock or reaching them from the opening.  Rang the  operators but no use eventually they range back but explained no one in area till next week and a call out fee of 100 pounds, I explained that the items were needed today and a key best be found asap, she said she would call back.  In the meantime Jacqui had a brain wave and decided to ask the school caretaker if a spare key was available, luckily as it was school holidays he was in and there was a key in the office.  Very Lucky.

Malvern was the same as usual, but Myrtle mate was as always very good fun, we had a home made indian on the Friday night and BBQ meats, beans and salad on the Saturday, really very good indeed.

On the Saturday morning 4:30am out gas in the gas lite finally ran out, looked at it briefly but decided to leave till the morning. Â Any way could I get the hose unbolted from the bottle no chance, mole grips pathetic, Paul and Eric both had big purpose built spanners, had to take the bottle fully out and use WD40 but eventually got it off.

Then connected the hose to the 13kg bottle was fine but leaked did the soapy water test it really does work. Â Had to refit it about 4 times eventually got the connection gas tight.

So later went off the the show to to acquire a Spanner and a replacement Gaslite (could have waited till hoome but concerned by the leaky connection issues), found a spanner 4.00, found a gas supplier no lite’s so got a metal one and a note to say should be a gas lite. Â They were very helpful and even gave me a lift so that they could check the 13kg one to make sure it was safe. Â Thankfully it appears that it is or the guy was satisfied.

We also bought a Kayak a Sea Eagle (http://shop.spindriftltd.com/sea-eagle-se-330-deluxe-package—new-season-sale-price-28-p.asp), both saw it and agreed et the samll one that is useable and if it works and we use it then when able we can sell it and get a slightly larger one.

Saturday night was good fun geat food, great company, stayed up till the latish hours with Paul and Gary, will meet up again. Â They are all very nice generous people.

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Bak Rak

Purchased a G3 Bak Rak (http://www.bak-rak.com/base-rak.htm) and light board, also a easy fasten clamp total cost about 144 pounds inc delivery.  The product is well built and solid fixes easily enough, but suffers from one flaw, it rattles.  When bolted on it cannot be moved up or down or left and right, there is a bit of play in the actual rack up and down so any bumps or potholes will allow the whole rack to bounce over time this will have an affect and will sound awful.  So sadly it is not going to be used and will be put up for sale  on the sites at some point.

Have looked at other Bike Rack for the tow bar e.g. Thule and there is no play at all they are rigid and fixed, no rattles etc.. sadly a lower capacity and not as flexible.

  • Thule Europower 916 – http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products/carriers-and-racks/bike-carriers/towbar-mounted-bike-carriers/thule-europower-916-_-916000
  • Witter ZXE502 – http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/cycle_carriers/buyCycleCarrier.php?partNo=ZXE502