Peterborough Show.

Well this past weekend we went to the Peterborough motorhome show in you know where Peterborough.
Once again we joined up with the funsters from Motorhome fun .co.uk and had a really nice time.
The weather was scorching on the Saturday and led to me and Nikki being sunburnt.
The show itself was massive with approx 4000 vans. We spent the night in the company of other MH owners and met a few new faces whom on the whole were really really friendly. We shared tales and woes of owning a MH with others. Many of the motorhome fun group have very large RVs and we discussed teh merits and woes of owning such vechiles. Although our conclusion was that they were extremely nice they did have there downfalls.
Nikki and I looked alaround the show at new and nearly new MHs to see if we could be tempted by any. Unfortunately there does not seem to many family styled vans that took our fancy. One that did was a little out of our price range. We opted to stick with what we have and wait at least another year before thinking about changing, especially in the current financial climate. We looked for a couple of simple things like an extra leisure battery, some new mats, and a new groundsheet. We were thrawted in all attempts.
The kids really enjoyed the show meeting with other kids and playing hide and seek untill midnight whilst we had a few beers. That is what it is all about.
Next trip is off to Watchet and Surrey at the end of May all dependant on what happens with the mighty CPFC on Sunday and then I am off to SPain onthe 15th May for a good old fashioned booze up..
CAnt wait, more soon
PANAGAH

SERVICE TIME AGAIN

Well today I have decided to give "nessie" a good service, again.

Now today I have introduced for the first time after a lot of debating and thinking to use fully synthetic oil from unipart. The guide showed it as the one to have so I thought I would splash out and have it.

I changed the oil filter and Fuel filter which is a bit of a bugger to get out, and of course the Air filter being K&N was removed cleaned and re-oiled. Bearing in mind that "nessie" is pushing 5 years old I also decided to drain and refill the cooling system which was a bit of a bigger job than I first anticipated. The wheels were off and the brakes inspected and remarkably the front pads hardly look used.It's now done and been tested with a thorough road check.

Ive written my book up as per normal to show whats been done and Ive worked out that my van is getting at least new oil and filter every 3-4kmiles. That aint bad going. I suppose by servicing yourself you are not tied in to expensive dealer charges and can be more flexible as to when you do it. For example Its now done to last me untill we come back from France in Sepember. If I know we are going on a long journey like to the alps for some skiing its quite simple to give some fresh oil before going.

Looking at going to the Peterborough show next weekend to see if we can get a few bargains.

My next travel plans are up in the air at the moment due to the Palace being nearly in a playoff position and therefore will be playing Whit week which in the past we have historically used to go to France. So it will probably be a little tour down to Watchet. Followed by a lads weekend in Malaga with some mad Palace fans, and then planning some weekends away and looking forward to goiing to France for a couple of weeks in August. We on this occasions are touring with some friends we have made so it will be nice to have company and a little trying to make sure we are all enjoying ourselves at the same time. However I am sure we are going to have an absoloute blast.

Another tour of scotland.

Well we are back from a fantastic 10 night trip of Scotland.

The tour took in some of the most stunning scenary I have ever seen. We tripped to the Isle of sky, wester ross and back through the Highlands to Glencoe, the Tay forrest. and back. Heres a taster of how it sort of went and a few pics. For more indepth pics click on the link in the top right and go to my webshots page for a short picture Vid.

Day 1) We set out on the what must be the worst travel day of the lot. The Thursday before good friday and the Easter break. We set off about 4pm due to the normal School commitments etc. We stayed stationary on the M6 for a little while, well a long while really. Our first destination was to head for Nikkis brothers house. He lives in a loverly bit of countryside near Sterling. The nearest town for you Scots people is Auchterader. and just a mile or two from teh impressive Gleneagles golf course.

We arrived about 10pm and settled in for the night. It was extremely windy but our boys saw there cousins and that seemed to keep them cheered up after a long journey.

DAYS 2-4

Jackie(sister in law) cooked us the customary glorious breakfast and we said our goodbyes and off we headed for the Isle of sky. Driving mainly up the A9 before turning cross country to splean bridge. The journey was testing very testing. We set out with high winds and a bit of rain. Not a great deal of traffic accept for the little bit around Perth. AS we continued our journey further and further North the weather started to really change. As we left the A9 and headed for invermoriston we encountered a blizzard. Visability was greatly reduced and the road started clogging up very quickly, we kept going and eventually after more stunning scenary and seeing some loverly wild deer we arived on the Isle of sky to meet up with some old friends and share a glass or two.

The Isle of Sky was ok. It was quite nice, and in line with many places in Scotland very pretty. On our arrival it was windy, rainy, sunny , snowy and cold allwithin about 1-2 hours. Our campsite overlooked the sea, had great facilities and a very friendly owner whom was only to pleased to help.

We got to sample our improvments for the first time. The SOG was ace and done its job of taking the nasty toilet smells right out the van. The swivel seat and the improved lighting improved space and lighting no end.

Days 4-8

We said goodbye to some of our friends Bill, Chris and grandchild Steph, and headed off with Ray giving us a guided tour of Parts of Scotland we did not know existed. We toured up to kinlochewe Caravan club site. A nice site with brand new facilities. The drive up was stunning. climibing through great places and seeing all sorts of wild life you dont often get to see in Crewe!!!

The tour bus then hauled us up to a place called poolewe. We stopped at a camping and caravan club site and enquired as to how much it would be. The answer was waaaayyyy to much more than we wanted to pay. We were then informed of a wild camping spot on the road to Cove. We soon found it and it was heaven. The thing you realise why you brought a Motorhome. a private sandy beach rocks for the kids to climb and stunning views accross the sea. It was quite simply the best place I had stayed or seen.

We set off the next morning to go to loch ness through a 5 hour+ drive. A nice drive that once again took in such stunning views (sorry to go on about hte view but if youve seen it you will kno wwhy) On arriving at Loch Ness camp site we were greeted by BOB. Now Bob is a chap that I have dealt with before. Loch ness campsite is a nice site, Bob is a nice man, put the m together? and you have a canny scotsman whom knows how to make the most of his site in terms of money. But th esites good and after a couple of wild camps we needed to re-charge and empty the waste fill the water etc.

It was on this site when we bumped in to another MH couple and as all MHs do got chatting. The chap informed me he had been skiing for a try at Avimore. Plenty of snow he informed me. Well since my skiing trip I am ski mad and the kids are no better. There then was our plan for the next day, a tip up to the Glencoe ski resort to see if there was any snow.

We awoke inthe morning to a really nice day and headed for Glencoe. There was little if any snow around, not to be detered we arrived at the Glencoe ski resort at about 12, to see the car park have lots of cars in. I had to investigate, on doing so I was informed all the runs were open and if I paid the money I could go up. Before poor Nikki knew what had happened our ski gear was on and up the Mountain we went. Once up there the snow was plentyful. Now I paid a lot of money to go to the alps skiing and really enjoyed all two weeks of it., But the Skiing at Glencoe was remarkable. A very well kept secret by our Scot cousins. Me George and Harley really injoyed our skiing and was taken aback by how good it was. Harley had a nasty crash whereby he needed rescuing by the mountain rescue ski team. I told him not to go to fast and to mind some of the obstacles but that's kids. When I got to him he was being treated with kid gloves, a quick get up you woose Im paying for this srted him out and he was back on his feet to enjoy the rest of the day.

After skiing we set of for another nights wild camping in the Tay forrest. We found a loverly spot in the forrest, and settled down for the night. On awaking the view outside had been even more improved by the sightin of an eagle in the snow. Yes in the snow , lots of snow. We were very high up and it had snowed heavy all night. yep all night. I had to get us out as quickly as I could. we managed to get moving and on a few occasions on the narrow mountain road we were nearly stuck, or should I say in need of my snow chains. eventually we managed to get back down to the lower ground and head off for Nikkis brothers for one last night.

This trip to Scotland was the third time we had been in the motorhome. Every time its windy wet snowy or whatever, but nethertheless, Scotland is fast becoming my favourite tourist destination. I would not like to go there in the summer when its awash with tourists but in the Winter touring westerross just makes me want to snuggle up in one of those houses in the middle of nowhere and go to sleep.

Nessie performed well and is now due a good old service. she has had a winter that has been harsh, touring the alps and Scotland, facing snow and more snow. She performed really really well. Now with her improvements she is just about where we want her, a bit of security, some air ride susspension and maybee Ill start to run out of ideas to improve her. We are keeping her though so on this service she will get a nice dose of synthetic oil, the cooling system drained and of course all new filters. to keep her going nicely through the summer months, a new cam belt will need fitting this summer as well.

So next stop is Peterborough show, so although I dont need anything, you never know.

Back from Newark.

Well we got back from Newark with no problems.

The show itself was one we quite enjoyed. we went with http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/ and met a few more like minded people.

However as the pictures will testify it was wet, VERY wet.

We purchased a couple of littel goodies, some wind deflectors and a couple of collapsable water carriers.

Next stop scotland whereby we will be able to give our recent improvements a well tested review.