Postponed from earlier in the year the show was free to pre-register for and camping for the weekend for 30.00
OurStops – Google My Maps
A new Google map for our trips.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1o1cTvMWZhWIoL5ohPVqw1Z2kC_ZqkqYs&usp=sharing
Bala July 2020
Booked Bala back in May with the idea that it would be open by now. Turns out it is open but sadly it is busy busy busy.
Lots of families, lots of sailing, kayaks, sups etc…
The journey was long and wet, when we arrived it had mostly stopped but started spitting as we decided to erect the Vango awning.
After setting up awning the sun appeared and stayed out for most of the day. Lots of kids playing on the tyre swing — note to self do not stay on any pitch near a swing in school holidays or at weekend.
Had a wander to consider areas for pitching up with family headland is fav so far but anywhere would be fine.
Day 2
Day 2
Kids shut up about 22:00, so good night and no real noise till about 08:00. Watched Wynn’s via three midi worked very well.
Up late and breakfast toast Marmalade, coffee using new kettle
Unloaded bikes and decided to head off to Bala for a look around and a coffee. It was spitting and quite windy so we decided against the kayaks. On the way stopped at sailing club Jacqui almost fell off (again a steep sloping drop) have a difficultly breathing bit, which was brought on by the fall and putting effort in in the slopes. As this was happening I was stung by a wasp ??.
So keen to get to a chemist gave the sailing club a cursory glance and headed into Bala, bought afterbite own, cream and antihistamines. Followed by a coffee and ?.
8 mikes cycled there and back, popped bikes back into can and had another coffee.
Spoke to Molly and warden to check out where we would be in September with kids and agreed on the spare field not a lake view but sheltered quiet and easy lake access. Also beach for a fire ? when required.
Day 3
Up early breakfast toast and then sorted out kayaks and then set off for a paddle. All good we were out for just under an hour. Definitely need to pack a Thermos next time.
Bacon and eggs for lunch, payed with fitting bag to kayak and the luggage nets. Then fitted fins to try later.
Family Camp 2020
Arrived at Anita’s after an easy journey at around 18:00. Katrina had already got herself setup, not where planned but at the other end. Also one of her new airbeam bags had split the beam fabric so we duck taped it up.
Positioned van in an OK spot may have to move but easy for tonight. Had a bbq chicken and some rice, very good. At that point Lawrence and Lorna arrived and started their setup, very efficient.
New Mattress
Ordered a new mattress from Linthorpe beds, had a couple of quotes and was planning on using Custom Size Mattress Company but the price was forever going up, last straw was when I reduced the thickness and they then tried to tell me I had to have a thicker cool foam top layer at another 40.00, even though they had quoted cheaper for both bigger and smaller thicknesses with standard cool foam!
Linthorpe were helpful, although a bit confused as to the actual mattress model being used. After a small mixup it all arrived safely and was cut to the right shape. It is a bit thick 17.5cm, but workable and no topper required. It is a firm reflex foam with cool blue foam 2.5cm topper.
Only disappointing element is that the wrap has beading which we would have preferred it to not have.
The old mattress will be kept as an emergency spare.
So 3 nights sleeping on it and verdict is it is firm very firm no worries about the firmness! But it is comfortable, as good as the one at home, bit firmer mind as the cool foam topper is a bit thinner.
15 cm thickness would have been perfect and probably not affected the firmness.
Clumber Park, post lockdown
What a contrast to Lyndon Top, full when we got here at about 16:30. No hardstanding just grass pitches, only a few of them.
All well organised, clever bracelet system for showers and toilets. Bit wary of everything but that is just the number of people, not sure what we expected but less people I suppose.
Went for a long walk, about 6 miles or so. Ended up in Clumber Park by the lake, eventually found a cafe serving a coffee, best we have had for awhile.
Having pizza for tea with a coleslaw homemade(ish).
Discovered that our left hand side lounge window has started a leak again. Emailed SMC so that it has been registered. Put some tape on it for the time being. Not sure why it has started again but it has, needs sorting properly.
Lyndon Top, post lockdown
Our first trip away from home met up with Mick, Mew, Patrick and Christine for a 2 day break at Lyndon Top.
Inverter worked brilliantly.
Social distancing went out the window within about 10 seconds, well done New?.
Tried out the blow up awning, worked ok but have to check one of the air tubes, the one nearest the van was soft when we undid them.
Great walk to the pub and a little felt pint albeit in a plastic glass ☹️☹️??. It was a great day and we all enjoyed the freedom.
Good Bike ride on the second day, also met more funsters Martin and Jen, Brian and Shirley??? Bizarrely, we met Adrian and Annie from Frankia again who is following who???
Lovely day in all ways
SAP Maintenance
Set alarm for
Booked into SAP back beginning of June to get the Jacks and the VB Semi air checked over as been on for 2 years.
Set alarm for 05:00 so that time to wake up, have tea etc… before leaving just after 06:00. Set of perfect traffic light to Lincoln and virtually all the way especially round Doncaster.
Arrived SAP bang on 08:00 got through gates and currently waiting whilst they finish off a van to make room. Always the same but normally do not care as we are not waiting.l, but today we are waiting and waiting. We should be away by 10:30, as along away by 11:30 my karma will not be broken.
Darren, popped his head round the door saying ‘… you’re right the leg has moved so we need to fix, where are your batteries?’. This simple query was easily answered and after emptying garage and showing them the battery store. I asked why? We have to do some welding,. WHAT!!!
At midday Darren appears and explains all done and ready to repack garage. So they checked the Jacks, refitted one jack to chasis which required welding, change seals on 2 jacks, check oil level and checked the semi Air, cost 0.00.
Trip home was uneventful other than Royal mail failed to deliver a parcel, so we have to collect from Horncastle PO, as they cannot press a doorbell.
Inverter
After much contemplation have purchased a cheap 1000w pure sine wave (PSW) inverter with remote and inbuilt display from ebay. An EDECOA :
It is available from Amazon eBay and others selling for around 110-120 gbp, arrived quickly very well packaged with all the bits, seems very solid, love the fact that they supply spare for the connectors. Having got a Sunshine Solar 2000w inverter already then these spares are really appreciated. The manual is well written and comprehensive another surprise.
Our inverter history
Our inverter use over the years varies from nothing to full on with extra batteries. At its height we had a seperate bank of 220Ah batteries powering a 2000w PSW, this was for our coffee machine, hair dryer, etc… We then paired down to nothing relying on EHU once a week and 12v for everything. When fulltiming we purchased a small 300w PSW inverter from Bestek which was great for laptop, toothbrush, vac, etc… but due to plugging into 12v socket could only really manage 110w.
Having completed a couple of long tours 3 months and fulltiming for 7 months we have decided that being able to charge more than the Bestek can manage would be really handy specifically the eBike and Ryobi batteries.
Ideally
We have been for a long time considering Lithium and when we do switch will get a inverter (1500w) cabled in properly to existing sockets with decent battery/usage monitoring. As we will likely have to change the chargers and solar controller at the same time.
What type and features?
Has to be pure sine wave, cannot see the point in risking modified, it saves money granted, but limits what can be charged specifically toothbrush, shaver etc…
We would have got an 800w (maybe 600w) but could not find one that had 2 sockets, one for the garage (bikes) one for the hab area, USB sockets, display, remote control decent efficiency and that looked reliable. We could have bought an expensive one that we could use with the future Lithium setup with an app etc… but we do not know what kit we are going for yet. Victor, Voltronic and NDS all being contenders.
The display is probably fairly pointless but we wanted a way to check on the draw by the inverter, to make sure we are not doing something stupid. Attaching the unit directly to batteries means the inverter draw is not reflected on the existing van display panel which is a real shame, it can be done but to do so calls into question the wiring used by the manufacturer (not designed for inverter) where to connect, access, warranty etc… so something we shall leave to a competent installer.
USB sockets there are a couple of items that we use in the van garage Mifi/Wifi that can be run/charged from USB.
Remote control as we want to be able to turn the inverter on and off easily, we had one with the previous sunshine solar setup and it proved invaluable.
Why not reuse the sunshine solar?
It is 2000w, bulky, one of the connectors was damaged when delivered (supplier was not helpful) it has been repaired but … also requires 2 cables for the poles doubles the cable required and the routing of 4 cables is alot more tedious. And it is being used to supply power in the workshop along with a couple of batteries and solar panel (first lockdown project)
Power supply
We are not really concerned about the batteries and power as we only intend using an inverter when driving for charging larger items and there is spare amperage for this. We have solar not alot (120w) but by 10am the batteries are usually full. We have 2 Gel 80Ah batteries that gives us if required a max of about 100Ah to actually use, we never get anywhere near this maybe 20Ah used before sun or a drive tops us up. In practice everything but the bikes and Ryobi can be charged by solar during the day and we will not notice.
Where to fit?
Have found a massive void above the batteries in the garage that is crying out to be used, have considered lots of ways to fit the inverter securely into this space, shelving, on the floor, putting somewhere else. But every solution has some cons the easiest most convenient is attach to the side wall in this void using bolts to hold it secure and allow removal if required.
Directly above this void is the under seat space which is also ideal, but we use this space so would have to partition an area off.
How to fit?
Decided on 4 bolts with wing nuts, may change to locking nuts once in place but we shall see.
New panel cover with cut out for inverter access to controls and sockets
Connecting up?
Have 2 batteries have decided to use the connectors that join batteries together to connect up the inverter queried the sense of this on MotohomeFun and nobody said it was a bad idea.
Cables just using those provided by EDECOA, they seem thick enough and they state they are rated for the inverter.
To be honest when it came to fixing and connecting cables it proved easy partly because we had given it alot of thought.
Inverter switched on and with the cover off.
SMC Hab and Service
Our first trip in the van since lockdown started, set off 8:00 to arrive at SMC just after 9am, booked in for 9:30. Easy journey the vision splash on the RH side window has eased driving alone.
There is not a great deal to do, but wanted the previous warranty bits dealing with. Primarily wanted Frankia warranty stamp Thermoguard, Hab check and first 20k/2 year fiat warranty doing.
- Frankia warranty
- Fiat warranty
- Fiat 20k service
- Seat cover replacement
- Checkout the crazed spot on the roof
We were supposed to pick it up the next day, but as usual SMC didn’t manage it ended up picking it up late Friday. They faffed around doing upholstery and washing the van saved us a job, although we do need to clean it wax soon.
They also spotted some damaged decals so added that to the crazing warranty claim. Easy return journey actually very quick. Also by the following Tuesday the warrahty claim had been approved, just waiting on the decals.