Ice Breaker
Hello to All..
Thought it was time I posted my maiden blog. I joined the site and the world of wild camping 23rd May and I can say its been a real roller coaster ride.
I wont bore you with the detail but... picked up my '95 Hi-top Citroen Relay conversion on the Saturday same day I sold my much loved Kawasaki ZZR 600 - exchanging one life for another.
Joined this site, found some excellent pointers - (Thanks ALL) and set off the next day for a 3day adventure, not before the problems with
insurance, gas bottles, 3 way fridges, but hey " we are going regardless..."
Day 1 Richmond North Yorkshire through Keld onto Kirkby Stephen, excellent driving and views, upto Keswick. 1st wild camp at the rear of Lattrig car park, busy but hey what a view.
Day 2 6hours on Skiddaw, Ullock Pike and back to the van, a quick refreshment and then along the Newlands Valley up to the Hause for Wild Camp2, sheep using the van as scratching post, picture waterfall out the side door..class spot.
Day 3 very windy but, seasoned walkers, so brisk walk up to top of Ard crags
then down into Buttermere and breakfast at the stone bridge at the bottom of Honister Pass, (I will stay there one night) We then headed over to Maryport, St Bees Head, good views of Isle of Man to boot, pleasant drive back to South Shields.
I couldn't wait til my next days off..I had the bug, so June 2nd 3rd it was, finished night shift early, van on charge at 5am packed fuelled up and set off, only thing to do was pop into ASDA to collect a big Steak for the BBQ, tired and on auto pilot... I entered the UNDERGROUND entrance I always use at ASDA...yip end of holiday, 3' square hole in the n/s corner of my roof, units destroyed
...I spent the following 6 hours trying to find someone who could fix it for a resonable price,
1 "its a write off mate..."
2 "you need a new pod - £4000"
3 " I can do it for £3400..?"
4 "if you do the strip out and re fit ...only "£2200.."
Are these people mad, its about 30quids worth of fibre glass and resin, anyway I eventually found a skilled fabricator who did it for cash in hand £200 not bad eh, and he made a very good job coach lines match and all...yes it needs some paint but then it did anyway, saved a few quid on first quote.
so I decided it was as good a time as any to strip the headcloth and carpets...and do a refit, add all the extra bits I was going to do at the end of the season.
Now I'm about a week away from finishing it - I hope, next trip will be Luxembourg via Arras planned for the last week in July, I would like to do some wild camping around Belgium too...so if any of you fine knolwedgable folks can suggest a 7day itinery for that part of France/Belgium/Lux I'd be delighted to try it
Sorry for the long winded mail but I had to share it with someone
Storm
