What are you all up to

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  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited May 2017 #5522

    Get  that  reduced  price  fuel  when  &  where  you  can  Ian  !!

    The  last  top  up  {  just  enough  &  no  More  !! }  I  got  on  M74  was  134.9p  per  blooming  litre  !!  ( Did  you  all  notice  my  staggering  display  of Self -Control  there   !}

    Tomorrow  its  off  to  check  on  one  of Paulines  Favourite  Sites

    Top  hole  Top  Lodge  at  or  near  Stamford  to  get  a  couple  of  Stream  Traction  Rallies  In  !!

    Take  care,  have  fun  &  report  back  later  next  week , please  !wink

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5523

    We've got up to another sunny morning here. We stayed overnight at Toddington Services on the M1 after a rather slow journey in traffic jams on the M25 and M1. On the way we stopped at Cobham Services on the M25 for lunch, Macdonalds Big Mac and fries with strawberry milkshake. Extremely hot weather but ok in the car with the aircon.

    We'll be leaving the services here soon to continue our journey on to the National in Sandringham.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,312 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5524

    Were you visiting somewhere on that route Malcolm? I would have thought orbiting anti-clockwise and M11, A11, A14, A142 to Ely, then A10 a faster route. However, might be just me, I can't say I like that bit of the M25 past Heathrow or the bottom end of the M1. I hope you have a less congested journey today.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5525

    You're right, SteveL. The satnav recommended your route but I decided to do the other route because of the service stop at Cobham and the overnight stop at Toddington services.  Also, we saved money on the Dart charge.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,312 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5526

    Shaping up to be another hot one in northern Brittany. However, the cooling breeze makes it pleasant, as long as you are careful about sun exposure, very high UV today apparently.

    This is a very laid back small family run campsite. The owners seem to work all hours doing everything, from cleaning to cooking / serving in the small bar. Nothing seems to stir until about 8 am at the earliest. Showers are only hot from 7:30, so it would not suit EasyT. However, unlike some sites in France the water is nice and hot.

    A bit of washing to do, which will dry nicely today. Then off for a walk the other way along the coast.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5527

    Sadly, coming to the end of our current tour. It's our last morning at Chatsworth and, having been woken by the rooks just after 4 and dozing off only to be woken again at 6 by the sounds of lorries and workmen moving several lots of metal fencing (they're preparing for a huge flower show later in the month) I gave up and took the dogs out for an early walk. It's already pretty warm and going to be rather unpleasant if you can't find shade later on I think.

    We'll move on later this morning ( before 12, Ian! ) - stopping off at a fairly new CL, Gate Farm near Solihull, just to break the journey and then home tomorrow morning.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,101 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5528

    It's already 30c here, another scorcher, after an early morning swim, I am now going to potter around in my own little Eden!

    May everyone's day be as nice!laughing

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,883 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5529

    Just got home from Seacroft at Cromer. Glad we were going the other way as it seemed to be wall to wall caravans and motorhomes from Peterborough to Kings Lynn and beyond!!!!

    David

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited May 2017 #5530

    Drove up to Newcastle this morning for my flying license medical. Blue, cloudless sky and very hot, but comfortable in the car.

    Hoped to call at a NT property on the wy back down the A1 but have you noticed the severe lack of them?

    So just drove back and cut the lawn when we got back.

    Had email to say my new Garmin satnav had arrived at local Tesco so collected that. Did bsttle with the Garmin web site to update it. Full report to follow.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5531

    We got home from the lakes today after an epic nine hour journey (three hours longer than usual.) Just before reaching the main Kendal junction on the M6 southbound OH overtook a lorry and we saw a large piece of lorry tyre on the road in front of us. It was too late to take avoiding action but a slight swerve meant we ran into it on the drivers side. Horrible noises and smell of burning, so we pulled off at the junction, the loose tyre had ripped off our water and waste taps and damaged the exhaust. We thought we'd seen smoke but it was water spraying from the tank. OH did some running repairs, which meant several extra stops to check all was ok . We ran into long delays through Cheshire, Birmingham and Bristol (we had to leave the M5 and find a way through.) Pretty grim to see all the caravan checks going on at Strensham Services, we were taking a break there and the unmarked police car had "follow me" flashing at the caravan in front of us.

    We had a nice break, not quite such a good ending! wink

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,216 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5532

    Brue glad your home safely. Must have been really frightening. Thank goodness you weren't hurt and the hopefully the damage wont be any worse than you've  described.

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,312 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5533

    Hope the damage was not too severe brue.  It is very frightening. A week ago here in France we were traveling on the motorway in heavy spray and lots of surface water, when a large something came  off an HGV in front. I think it hit our rear car tyre, certainly the car jumped and there was an horrendous noise. There was no way I wanted to stop in those conditions and the tyre pressure monitor showed OK, so carried on to the next junction. I was convinced we would find severe damage but to date I can't  find anything wrong. Fingers very much  crossed.🤞

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited May 2017 #5534

    Any one you walk away from Brue laughing

    Alan

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,764 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5535

    NT Belton house (Grantham) or NT Woolsthorpe Manor (near Colsterworth) Ian? Both just off the A1 and well worth a visit.

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,764 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5536

    Gosh what a nasty experience brue.  Hope all will be OK with your motorhome.

    We are off to Seacroft after half term David K so hope the traffic is better by then!

    We had a really good day at my Aunt's funeral in Kent today.  So lovely to see most of my family (some couldn't make it unfortunately)  and share affectionate memories of my Aunt. Lots of plans to meet up again.  I just hope they come to fruition.The journey home was a bit of a nightmare though as both the M25 and A14 were rammed with traffic. Sat in static traffic jams for ages.  It took us over 4 hours to get home.surprised

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5537

    Just looking in for a couple of minutes...sounds as though many found the roads extra busy today. Thanks for your replies, we've got a week to get repairs done before we're off again. Just hoping nothing is wrong out of our view. Too much travelling today, can still feel the road! 

    Hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend. smile

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5538

    We arrived at the National at midday, Friday and soon got settled in to our pitch. The journey from the motorway services at Toddington took about three and a half hours because of a couple of traffic delays on route. Plenty of sunshine and rather hot! At least it cooled down after dusk.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5539

    I noticed dawn breaking at 03:15 this morning. It seems to get lighter earlier here than in Worthing, perhaps because of being further north or maybe the clear sky also had something to do with it. I managed to tune in the tv this morning, no problem with tv reception here.

    We've just made a pot of tea using the whistling gas kettle. The ampage here is not sufficient to run the 2 kw electric kettle. We plan to attend the West Sussex centre welcoming committee at 1 p.m. We're hoping the weather will stay nice as it seems there is some cloud moving across the sky as I type this. 

    It's still early morning so it's reasonably cool at the moment. Some cloud cover may help to lower the temperature today.

     

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5540

    I've just re-arranged my bookings for Scotland to take into account our detour to the truma factory in Derbyshire to get the aircon fixed. So now we'll leave North Ledaig site on 7th June allowing two overnight stops on motorway services before arriving at the Truma factory on 9th morning. Then return to Scotland allowing an overnight motorway stop for 9th night before arriving at Bunree CMC site 10th to 12th June. Then Morvich 2 nights, Dunnet Bay 2 nights, Kinlochewe 1 night, Altnaharra 1 night and Brora 1 night. Then head south back to Worthing allowing 2 nights overnight stop at motorway services. 

    It's going to be an action packed holiday!

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited May 2017 #5541

    When at Dunnets Bay last year we visited this heritage centre. We were asked if we wanted a guided tour. We said yes and enjoyed it. A pleasant stroll around outside as well to the old quay area.

    http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/castletown/flagstoneheritage/

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5542

    Perhaps we could fit in a visit there too, EasyT. 

    I received a phone call from  Chipping Sodbury Caravans to say my awning is ready. So this will mean another detour on our way back from Scotland on 21st June.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,676 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5543

    I have to say Malcolm, I would have been rearranging my trip totally, rather than traipsing up and down the country like that!!

    Think of the extra fuel costs.

    Alternatively, could  you not have said to Truma that the date was in the middle of a booked trip and suggested a date when on your way south?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5544

    Probably about 3000 miles plus of driving Kj and no time to rest, but ours not reason why....wink

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5545

    I did think of that but it would have meant our aircon being out of order longer and unavailable for the rest of the holiday at possibly the hottest time of the year. The last few days have been very uncomfortable with no aircon.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,676 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5546

    I doubt it will be so hot up north though.

    A small fan could be used as a temporary substitute.

    If you want to keep to the date given, how about spending some time further south first (e.g. Peak District) then heading north but cut out a couple of stops or choose different sites that are easier to reach.

    There is always another year, and all that driving around will not make for a restful break.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,676 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5547

    When we found our air con had failed while in Italy, where it was really hot, a few years back, we bought a fan and found it very effective.

    Also when warm out we find a shady spot to sit in, or go out in the airconditioned car.

    Right now it is 28 degrees in our van, sitting in full sun, we have the roof and several windows open and the blinds down on the sunny side, and we are surviving fine without the aircon on, OH does not like it hot either, like you .

    We will put it on when we go out as all the windows will need to be  shut, but it would not take long to cool it  down on our return, especially if we had a fan  in use.

  • Yertiz
    Yertiz Forum Participant Posts: 324 ✭✭✭
    edited May 2017 #5548

    I think that's a conservative (not political!) guess Brue.

    The trip from North Ledaig to Truma, then back to Bunree is c700 miles! Let alone the c700 miles from Brora to Worthing at the end of your holiday.

    I think that on this occasion Malcolm you should take the advice offered and have a rethink.

    All that driving will do you no good, hardly a holiday

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5549

    We've been very hot in the Lake District, we turn our truma heater on to cold and circulate air that way. We shaded the van as much as possible and opened every window. I don't think heat will be a problem in Scotland, I know it's been warm up there too but it rarely lasts long does it? It's still warm here in the SW but thunder storms last night have dampened things down a lot. Nights in Scotland are always much cooler than here.smile

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,312 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5550

    Cool here today in Brittany, much more pleasant. Currently about 20 / 22C which we find a perfect temperature. Warm enough to sit about and not to hot for walking. It was about the same temperature at 1am when some squalls started rattling our roll out awning rather alarmingly, so we got up to roll it away.☹️

    Shopping this morning, enough to cover the next few days until we boat home. Bought a crab, which I have just cooked, so it will have time to cool before this evening. Currently it has an ice pack on it. We also bought some Oysters and a couple of types of Crevettes. These will go nicely with a salad and a bottle of Pouilly Fume, our favourite French white. Shortly off for a walk into the local village to get some fresh bread to go with it and perhaps some patisserie to go with a cup of coffee. Well we are on holiday.😃

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited May 2017 #5551

    We enjoyed meeting the West Sussex centre welcoming committee where they provided a hot dog to eat and a glass of wine to drink. The next thing will be the opening ceremony at 15:30. There's a bit of breeze now. We had thunder and lightning and some rain earlier but it's still rather warm. 

    Anyhow, we'll get 6 days of rest here before doing all that driving back and forth for our Scottish tour and hopefully a lot more comfort for the overnight stops once the aircon is fixed and sites with beautiful views and relaxing scenery on route.