first outing of the year and first since May last year (due to ilnesses and moving home etc).anyway after last weeks weather we were hopeful of a nice week away.
no typically the weather changed dramatically.snow and gale force winds brought down power lines meaning site had no electric with the warning it would be off overnight.added to this we had no gas and the site had run out so faced with this we loaded up the car with the kids and came home to our warmer more comfy house.
now were faced with a dilemma?do we go back and start again or just go back and collect the van and write the holiday off?the weather isnt set to improve until next week(when im back to work grrrr)and do get asthma attacks if i get too cold so really stuck between two rocks here.
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
You need to base your decision on whether you see caravanning as a means to an end, ie holiday accommodation in pleasant & equitable surroundings, or as an end in itself, ie "I've bought this caravan so I will damn well use it. Are we having fun yet?"
It may also be worth checking to see if your insurance covers you for leaving your caravan unattended overnight on a campsite, especially if your insurance company expects your caravan to spend its unoccupied nights safely tucked up in a gold star storage compound.
I know the old insurance on our last caravan did not cover us for this, as we once tried to leave it on site (fees paid) for a couple of nights between us returning home and my parents at the time traveling up to the lake district to start their weeks break.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Hi fife-bloke, Shame about the weather on your week off, I take it you are on a site on the East Coast, get yourself a new gas bottle and return to site, if you have spare battery take that too in case the power is still off, weather to be a bit better though cooler the rest of week, I think I would give it at least another try before capitulating. On many if not all campsites, if van has to be left unoccupied at night, the warden has to be informed (Who is on or off site in case of major incidents or disasters, so all those that are registered on site are accounted for).Hopefully you can spend the rest of your holiday on site, Good Luck.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
I would take gas and any other extras you need and finish the holiday,Kids love snow take a sledge,It will be nice snuggled in at night with the gas on,take candles for some light a bottle of wine and chill.
As a chilly mortal myself. I would agree with John & stocky13. Don't give up on your holiday. As your working then they do not come around so often as you would like.Take things needed back with you + a couple of hot water bottles for kids first then maybe you afterwards. Extra board games that nowadays are forgotten about playing, may help in the bad weather evenings. Just wrap up as you have been doing in the winter months and go "leaf stomping" kids with welly boots and take a hot flask & sarnies & walk in the woods, forests etc.
Do not let the weather break you, you break the weather by getting used to it. It will take me a few days when we get stated to climatise yet again, my hot bottle by my belly is lovely in or out of the bed.
I agree with stocky13. The kids will love the snow and there is nothing nicer than a warm caravan and a chilled bottle of wine when the weather is bad outside. I don't know if I will be able to get to our seasonal pitch tomorrow as at the moment its under a foot of snow, but I am praying! :)
Thanks all we are now back in the van all good again have taken the advice given we have hot water bottles fleece blankets flasks and a gas bottle - except I bought a blue one and it should have been a red one lol - I'll try and swap it tomorrow.
John you are correct we are on the east coast, we're up at Forfar ( surprise surprise lol) and so far so good again.
We did inform the warden we were leaving yesterday and it turns out we werent alone. At least 5 other caravanners left the van and went he including the pitch next door to us and the one 2 up. Next door is back as are we but 2 up isn't back yet.
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 04/4/2012
...except I bought a blue one and it should have been a red one lol - I'll try and swap it tomorrow.
How did you manage that? Better off with red this weather though!
Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 04/4/2012 ...except I bought a blue one and it should have been a red one lol - I'll try and swap it tomorrow.
How did you manage that? Better off with red this weather though!
When I bought the van jax it had 2 blue bottles in the locker although they werent connected. I gave them to my friend who uses gas all the time and always assumed it was a blue bottle regulator until yesterday lol. It isn't a problem I'll take it back and change it for a red one. God knows why the previous owners had blue bottles in there though
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 04/4/2012
Thanks all we are now back in the van all good again have taken the advice given we have hot water bottles fleece blankets flasks and a gas bottle - except I bought a blue one and it should have been a red one lol - I'll try and swap it tomorrow. John you are correct we are on the east coast, we're up at Forfar ( surprise surprise lol) and so far so good again. We did inform the warden we were leaving yesterday and it turns out we werent alone. At least 5 other caravanners left the van and went he including the pitch next door to us and the one 2 up. Next door is back as are we but 2 up isn't back yet.
Hi fife-bloke, just saw your reply, been off computer for a few days, away at Bunree, weather a little cold, sunny most of the time, and a few small showers, had very good trip.
You must have shares in that site by now. Glad you went back to enjoy the rest of your holiday, hope you enjoyed it. I have a change over valve fitted to my van and can use both types of bottles, in the event of site not having one or the other, pity they do not fit all caravan bottles with the one type of neck, then one regulator would fit both propane and Calor, I prefer the Calor snap on connector, much less hassle in dark or in rain if you have to change it. Hope you had good trip.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 04/4/2012 ...except I bought a blue one and it should have been a red one lol - I'll try and swap it tomorrow.
How did you manage that? Better off with red this weather though!
I doubt you will be able to simply swap it over as they will have no proof the bottle is unused. Probably cheaper to get the correct regulator for your red bottle. About £5
We had no choice but to leave the van on site for 14 days i had to take my husband to hospital and he was admitted he had a blood clot . But my wife check with our caravan insurance and they were alright about it.
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Topic: abandoning your van on site
Glad you went back to enjoy the rest of your holiday, hope you enjoyed it. I have a change over valve fitted to my van and can use both types of bottles, in the event of site not having one or the other, pity they do not fit all caravan bottles with the one type of neck, then one regulator would fit both propane and Calor, I prefer the Calor snap on connector, much less hassle in dark or in rain if you have to change it. Hope you had good trip.
