swap to the Wildax Pulsar
This blog documents my adventures in my van, currently a Vantage Kia called The 3 Cheers Mark III.
Monday, 7 April 2025
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Monday, 3 March 2025
First 'wild' camp, and Angela Barnes
Friday 28 Feb - Off to Great Ouseburn for the village quiz with Hugh, Sharon and David. We came joint third, one place down from last year. I took the van as I was en route to Pocklington, and did my first night not in an authorised place - the car park! I hesitate to use the phrase WILD camping, as I had heating, a loo and a cooker, and was 100 yards from a shop, so not exactly Bear Grylls.
I came to the rescue of a man in a BMW parked next to me, who couldn't reverse off the grass - used my traction mats for the first time and they worked a treat. I used them again in the morning and got off first time - phew! Saturday 1st March.
Major Stewart has shot his way around the world it seems. He took 8 world tours in 20 years - 1906 to 1926 - and the museum did have some interesting items from the Pacific as well as the heads.
Monday, 17 February 2025
Cancelled Due to No-show Snow
I was supposed to be meeting Paul and Sue near Lincoln, at a pub site called the Railway Inn, but an amber warning of snow was forecast for Harrogate, and also sleet all weekend at Lincoln. I didn't fancy driving in icy conditions, it's wobbly enough in the dry, so we cancelled.
In the event the snow didn't show up this time.
Later in the month I took the van in to have the windscreen washers fixed, but it was a 2 minute job so he didn't charge me! Maybe I could have done it myself - I must find out how to open the bonnet! I'll need to put washer fluid in at the very least.
Friday, 10 January 2025
Nithered in Matlock
Friday 7 Jan
Oh my god, the wind felt like liquid ice on my face, it was so cold the water pipes froze on site. The gods were looking after me though because the van started first time after a week covered in 8 inches of snow, and sub-zero temperatures.
First time at the Lickpenny site, really nice characterful site, stepped in to the hill, lots of vegetation. Let's see how long til CMC homogenise it beyond recognition. View from the top of the site looked like it was going to be great, looking forward to it tomorrow. Heating on and stayed put.
Saturday 8th
No view, freezing gloom. Unusually for me I'd had to keep the heating on low all night too. Walked down a narrow busy lane to the bus stop for Matlock. Soup and toastie for lunch then a pootle round the shops, including the huge, stuffed, and well-known Matlock Antiques and Collectables which is a tourist spot in its own right. This is part of the town trail, which goes through the park. Luckily I wasn't there in 1965 or I would have drowned.
Got off the return bus ride at Tansley, which left me a hell of a slog up a hill on a busy road without proper pavements. Hmm, now I appreciate the negative comments on the site reviews.
Sunday 9th
Short walk to the garden centre near the site entrance. Bit of an odd place out of season but I bought some fleece gloves and room scent for the van (to get rid of old curry smells!). Then more hunkering down and tea drinking. Still, nice to get away and decided it would be a bad idea to drive through Matlock in season, very congested even in January!