July 2022, South Yorkshire Technology Corridor. Heatwave. Ending the school year on 40° with wildfires on the edge of the village. One of my ex-students left homeless after the blaze. Packing the van was an extreme sport. Although ventilation in Big Red is way more advanced than in the T6, internal temperature was close on 50° at times, so much so that the oven fan … Continue reading (The long awaited) España Road Trip 2022 – Part 1
Such a tale of woe, involving countless back and forth with the RAC and Citroën- nearly a month with the van off the road but eventually Big Red was returned and ready for adventure. We decided to test the waters with a trip out Retford way to the Bluebell Inn at Lound. Found it through the C&CC app and was reasonably priced, but as I … Continue reading Normal Service Resumed (Phew!)
Big Red has been with us a couple of months now. We haven’t been far. One tank of fuel ⛽️ – shockingly expensive one weekend in deepest Luncolnshire 🐑 🐏 a day out to Clumber and the Platinum Jubilee weekend in the field of fine wines 🍷 That’s about as much as we’ve done so far. Today was supposed to be a day out and … Continue reading Something’s been nibbling Big Red!
Summer 2018 was when we started our vanventures, a big decision to fork out a wedge on the beautiful black bus, and we swore we would keep it forever (cos that’s how long it would take to pay it off!!) but almost immediately, well when we saw the likes of the Grand California, we started to dream about whether a slightly roomier van was a … Continue reading Big News – Big Red Incoming
Half term came around and we planned a cheeky campout for 4 nights to get away. As usual we had no clear plan until the week before, and after googling and checking out many places online the length and breadth of the land, it was clear that lots of places are charging a fortune and either offering not a lot, or ramping up the extras. … Continue reading North Yorkshire Adventure
Due to the parade of frankly clueless campers marching in to the facilities block will armfulls of all sorts of toot in Kirkwall I feel the need to impart the rules of showering when camping for general enlightenment. What qualifies me to spout forth on this topic? In more than 40 years of camping I reckon there is no shower situation that could take me … Continue reading The rules for showering when camping
After the exceedingly pleasant crossing of the Pentland Firth we set a course for Dornoch Firth Caravan Park. Google, in its wisdom, sent us immediately past Ferry View and into the wilds, instead of to John O’Groats and the A9 to Wick. Although we were on the minnowiest roads, they were pretty straight and we hardly saw another vehicle. In 45 minutes we did 24 … Continue reading Big Orkney Adventure – The Return Leg via Dornoch & Lettershaws
One hour from St. Margaret’s Hope back to Gills Bay across the treacherous Pentland Firth, today in beautiful sunshine and spent almost entirely out on deck. Crossings had been good value and easy to book online – £216 to get there and back with 4 of us and the van. We did the recommended LFT tests before leaving home and getting to Orkney and there … Continue reading The Big Orkney Adventure – Sailing Away
Where to start? The purposes of this trip were twofold: to appreciate megalithic genius heretofore unseen and to escape the covid-ridden crowds elsewhere. Both objectives I can reveal were attained, and handsomely so. Let’s begin with the accommodation arrangements. Orkney Caravan Park at the Pickaquoy Centre on the outskirts of Kirkwall, a spit from the sea. Largish site, no views to speak of, curiously important … Continue reading The Big Orkney Adventure – Mainland
Campervan Capers 