I'm on holiday. At home

[Trotter]

Still here. Still not used the van. Getting Twitchy. I'm off work for the next couple of weeks. We had intended to go to Malta again, for our anniversary, but things have gone a bit pear shaped, for reasons, I'll not bother you with. Suffice to say another family member needs help with transport for a while. So at least one of us has to stay local. I couldn't really go off to Malta on my own, could I ? Could I???? No!
Any road up, every downside has an equivalent upside (equivalents and all that, Ying and his mate Yang ). This means I can break my cherry and get out in the van for a couple of nights, weather permitting, I DO NOT DO SNOW, no way Jose.
But, and I never thought it would happen, I'm getting cold feet, nothing to do with the weather. I've become a nervous Nelly. I'd like to get away for a couple of days. If the temperatures rise a bit, I don't fancy dumping my water overnight.
I like the Peak District. But at this time of year, I know I'd be asking for trouble. So South Downs, Dartmoor ? Bearing in mind this is going to my first trip, personal recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I am a full member, so any advise given would okay in the rules of the club. you know PM's and all that stuff.

Please bear in mind, if I can't get away, I've been threatened with the joy's of decorating. :scared:
Cheers all, Dadad

ps That bedroom really needs a coat of paint. I know it won't stop there, "While you've got the paint out......"

 

[Robmac]

Being a first trip, I would go somewhere fairly local.

Have a look at the POI's and see what is available within say, 30 miles of home, especially with the weather as it is.

Personally, I like pub stops. A nice country pub car park with nearby walks, a meal and a few drinks in the pub at night and a blazing fire, just the job at this time of year.

 

[jagmanx]

Dare I suggest a camp-site

EHU with a small fan heater will keep Mr Frost at bay.

Maybe a C&CC certified site or CL (check opening times)
Cheap at this time of year and maybe best.
Some have toilets as well as the usual Black Grey and Fresh water facilities

 

[Channa]

I agree with Rob and Jagmanx, after first trip you may well have 101 questions ...If the expedition becomes untenable weather turns worse or start getting mechanicals far easier to re group

good luck with whatever you decide

Channa

 

[Clunegapyears]

And take a notebook so that you can list all the things you wish you had packed on the van. And all the things that you have not used so you can remove them.
As previously stated, EHU and a small heater will keep you really warm.

 

[phillybarbour]

Anywhere near to home is the golden rule on a first trip. It’s about getting used to the van not really where you have gone on trip no. 1.

 

[Deleted member 58274]

Test everything

Good advice above...as said try the van out. Check everything works when both on and off EHU. Check fridge works on gas as well as 12/240v. Also the hot water on gas/240v...the list goes on !! Maja

 

[Trotter]

Sound advice

Thanks for the help. I'm a gung-ho kind of bloke by nature. Stupid, is another way of putting it. Without basic advice like this, I'd be on the side of a hill, freezing me bits, wanting to go home, afraid of getting home in the early hours, and having the sainted Nic give me her "What have you done now" look. Yup, as I said, "Thanks".

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Sound advice. I honestly hadn't given the CC with EHU a thought. I had not wanted to go down that route, but I can now see the advantage of having "facilities", until I get my act together. My earlier experiences include, on exercise as a squadie, many, many years ago, when your kit was inspected before going out. No excuses for not having the right kit, plus a few add ons suggested by more experienced guys, bit like on here then. And marshalling motorcycle race meetings, first in tents, and later dragging the family out in a caravan. Again, if you didn't have a bit, someone else would.

Okay then, I'll try to find a campsite, fairly local, and go armed with my notebook. I think I'd be fairly organised, but feel free to put your twopenorth in. Sometimes it's the most obvious item that gets forgotten. Mug, water, milk okay. Tea?

Might be worth taking a 1 year membership with one of the clubs. I really didn't want to do that, wanting to be more independent. That's why I'm here after all. Maybe a "training year". And then I'll be ready for retirement and the open road, Europe here we come. If they still want us.

thank's, Dadad

 

[Deleted member 58274]

Clubs

Hi, being in one of the clubs can be handy, a lot of CL's are affiliated to them and you're spose to be a member to use them (mind you....don't think we've ever been asked yet !!) Also, you can get discounts for insurance, ferries and the like. We quite like the magazines too, I cut out the articles on places to go. If you want to avoid sites, have you downloaded the POI's (lots of wilding spots) ...if you like pubs Bristops is good (free stopover in their car park if you use the pub) Maja

 

[Biggarmac]

It depends on which club has sites near you - but: The Camping and Caravan club online membership is a lot less then the Caravan and Motorhome club yearly membership. Also the C&CC has Temporary holiday sites in the main camping season which are cheap per night and useful for dumping waste and filling with water. Since you are probably going on your own the two big clubs charge per person on their main sites. At this time of the year it can be less than a tenner a night including electric for a person on their own. If you are over 60 the C&CC does age concession rates.
Here endeth the C&CC advert!

 

[rugbyken]

now live in rutland used to be leicester with family in northants couple of pubs around towcester and brackley either in POIs or if your only gonna get weekends for first year i would invest in ********* you can even get electric at some of them or at the least a meal and sometimes the log fire,

 

[Trotter]

now live in rutland used to be leicester with family in northants couple of pubs around towcester and brackley either in POIs or if your only gonna get weekends for first year i would invest in ********* you can even get electric at some of them or at the least a meal and sometimes the log fire,

I would invest in a *********, but the shop's shut

 

[Trotter]

As for dumping the water, that will never happen if the heating is on. And if it's cold, the heating will be on all the time.
You don't have to travel far to get away. Two miles or so will do, if there is somewhere to go.

I've heard horror stories about dumping water if temp goes below +2c. So that's going to be the temp inside the van then ? Not the ambient temperature? I'll be able to see how much gas I'll use, I suppose that would be cheaper than a site fee.
I'm coming over as a right tight wad. But then, that's why I (we) joined this club. So as not to have to pay over the odds.
Dadad

 

[Trotter]

White stuff

If this weather continues, Demi isn't moving off the drive anytime soon.
On the plus side, we've had time to sit down together and we've done some sums, you know, 'riftmatic and stuff. And I've made a decision, I'm giving the supermarket with the big yellow "M" just one more year of my life. So, wedding anniversary 28/2 retirement 1/3.
White van 1 Green DAF 0. It's written down in black and white, so it must be true.
Stay warm, stay safe, Derek