New arrival

Saturday was an expensive day! I went down to Stourbridge and collected my new van, seen below waiting in the wings. I felt a bit sentimental leaving my dear old van with them, but....

the new one drives like a dream! Sentiment rapidly disappeared - so much better to travel in.

All went well until the M1 - and then the back door flew open! So I pulled in and locked it. The weather really started to come down, but I got home before the worst. Then a knock on the door and a passer-by had come to tell me the door was open again! So I shut and locked it again - and now it won't open..... Grrrrr......

SMCF to the rescue again - sounds like a dodgy spring, loads of people have the same problem, and I shouldn't have pulled the key out without turning it back to the start position. Graphite spray recommended - after I can get it freed.

The weather was shocking all day so I haven't stood there fiddling with it, I decided a stuck locked door was better than a stuck open door in these conditions. It's back up at the farm now, but I haven't been able to load it up so that is a pain. I'll have to wait a week now to get it sorted.

Wet Wet Wet in Hawes

Arrived very late after a hair-raising journey in the dark across country, thanks to my insane sat-nav. Got a bit lost in Hawes which is not easy to do, but I went to their bonfire and fireworks display before checking in. Usual sterile Caravan Club set up, but you can walk in to town so that is a huge plus.









Spent the day locally, at the museum which had a short sculpture trail outside. My favourites were these lovely copper bats.

The weather was dreadful all night and most of the day, but I managed to dodge the downpours. The rain made the waterfall in the village centre pretty spectacular.

Walked through the village up to the Wensleydale Creamery, where you can watch the men in white wellies and blue hairnets supervising the cheese.

Back to the van for soup, soon accompanied by the drumming of rain on the roof.

On Sunday, more rain, so I headed home and emptied out the van completely, ready to hand over in exchange for my new one.

3 Cheers II

I've taken the plunge (again) and traded in my lovely old van for a lovely newer version. I went to AEG in Stourbridge and will soon be picking up a 2010 R20 Lo, with blue interior. Some small changes to the design but in the main it means I have a base vehicle that doesn't drip oil, have spongy brakes and should go up hills without me bouncing up and down on the seat to will it along.

It should be ready at the end of November, so my last trip in the Mark 1 will be to Hawes on 6th, and my first trip of 2016 will be in the new one. Which has a CD PLAYER!! Hurrah!

I stayed overnight at a CL called The Bumbles, but I arrived in the dark and left in the fog so it is the first site I stayed at where I didn't take a photo. Lots of distant fireworks overnight, otherwise quiet.