Just arrived home from the first trip of 2011. We've had our first ever caravan for exactly one year and must have experienced every weather possible in it.
Our very first trip last year (mid Feb) took us to the side of Kinder Scout in Derbyshire only to wake up on the second morning to six inches of snow! Wow - thankfully a very nice farmer towed us off the field, down his very steep drive and onto the main Glossop road - problem solved.
Our last trip of the year (end of Nov) took us to a cl near Bath, again morning two saw us waking up to snow. It had only just started and as we were in a wood, up a single track lane, miles from anywhere we decided to pack up and run - good move bit of snow soon became one foot.
Two months later and we had withdrawal symptoms. We needed a little trip to get us in the mood. We much prefer cl's as opposed to large sites but our problem is having a front wheel drive that doesn't like damp grass so hard standing is needed at both ends of the year. This means having to use sites as opposed to cl's. We have come across some cl's with hard standing but you have to drive across a field of grass to get to them and then try reversing onto a pitch - not much fun when you're being choked from clutch fumes.
We set off to Rutland caravan and camping site. No wind, no rain or snow. No traffic holdups on the A14, things are going well. Wait for it long windy lanes and thick fog. We can't see a hand in front of us!!
Even so we arrive safe and sound, set up on our lovely, large, hard standing pitch and are drinking the compulsory red wine within two hours of finishing work - this is the life.
Why do some people only caravan in the middle part of the year?
Hi Harold + Hilda, When I took first trip in the new to me van toured the west coast of Scotland,and returning via the East Coast- March/April, Every where we went it rained, it rained so bad could not see the bonnet of car, and it was a Renult scenic,on the leg across country A9, from Inverness to Avimore, rain so bad had to stop driving, and pulled into Carbridge village, to see if rain would ease up,the water was over the kerb and starting to flood the paths,stayed there for one hour till rain let up, and continued our journey,we decided to call it a day, and return home, and attempt the rest of trip a week later, as it was our first van for 20 years we were looking forward to a good trip, called the van all kinds of names during that spell of rain, RainMaker/ Raindancer/ Stormchaser/ or The Arc, the latter was nearer the mark, with all that rain, Still did not put me off caravaning, For your front wheel drive problem on grass parking van, could you not get mover fitted to van, that would elimanate the problem on grass and the clutch (£600+for clutch),would also help in restricted locations,
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
For your front wheel drive problem on grass parking van, could you not get mover fitted to van, that would elimanate the problem on grass and the clutch (£600+for clutch),would also help in restricted locations,
We intend to change the car later this year and buy a four wheel drive otherwise you're probably right we'd have to get a motor mover. When we bought the van having never towed we opted for ATC instead of the motor mover. Hindsight eh!
Im envious - we were due to go away tomorrow but the site is apparently waterlogged so we had to cancel. There arent many site around here that are open yet so we have decided to postpone our first outing of the year for a couple of weeks
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
We got our van 18 months ago and have had 20 trips out, I get withdrawal symptoms if we go over 3 weeks without going out, OH loves it too but with escalating fuel prices he tends to reign me in, we only missed December this year, had booked Chester for Xmas shopping then had to cancel as next day we had 2 foot of snow. we went up to Bamburgh in November, torrential rain, fog, wind, freezing cold, on a farm up a muddy track but we were like "pigs in S...t" loved it and a great pub down the road at seahouses where you could sit and watch the waves crash into the harbour. Stayed at Spen house near Boroughbridge too in November, woke up first morning and everything frozen solid and snow on the ground, loved that too. January took us to Derbyshire, pipes frozen up yet again, did lots of walking in the freezing cold and lots of drinking in the pub on site with a lovely log fire, Bliss ! Last week we spent 3 days in York, raining, but who cares, lovely City, lovely meal on valentines day next trip out March 7th Chester then wales for a week, Cant wait, Bring on the weather. We are lucky enough to have a modern van with lovely heating. J x
We've been looking at CLs with hardsanding pitches - last weekend we stayed at one with hard standing roads and pitches! Its was a great site called Puddle Cottage CL near Poulton-le-Fylde. Have a look at their website which has some good photos of the site, (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=9236).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: First Outing of the year
