Escape to England (Saturday)

After taking a leisurely start to the day, we find that most of the other hardy campervan campers also decide that it's the day to leave.  But due to inclement conditions they appear to be stuck on the site.  So with a bit of brute force and mostly the use of Kevin's 4x4, we push and pull and tow about 7 vans out of the snow and ice to the road.  This includes ourselves, but we are proud to say that we got the furthest under our own steam - after all we had the socks on the tyres...

So fond farewells later we hit the road, about 11am and start the trek south.  Exacly 1000km's on the trip meter.  Once we're on the A9 there's really no sign of weather related problems, except for a jacknifed lorry to the side of the road and one car we spot in a ditch.  We head for Edinburgh across the Forth Road Bridge, fill up and then Dave picks the A7 for the route south.  It's a lovely scenic road, but a bit windy for quick distance munching.  We finally get the M6 just north of Carlisle at about 4pm and stop for lunch!

More motorway miles later and a small scare of flooding on the M1 which proves to be nothing we sail home, arriving Watford shortly after 9.  So 10 hours door to door, with 2 fill ups and one extra comfort break.  I don't think that's bad, even though it's a long day in the saddle.  Trip meter now says 1850km.  Drop Dave off and head home to Fran.  I'll unpack tomorrow.

We're on are way hoom? (Friday later)

A walk in the woods which allowed some minor artistic talent to be expressed - see the photos!

 

On a bit of theme?

And later another walk to the pub for some beer and pool, 3-1 to Dave, but the table was wonky.

It would appear that the roads will be open either tonight or tomorrow morning so we're going to try and get home.

Powder but no play (Friday)

More snow overnight but only 6 inches or so, which still means we're buried.  So dug the van out, chatted to the locals and neighbours and went for a walk.  Wandered to the snow gate which unsurprisingly is closed with a gaggle of mountain rescue and snow ploughs parked up.

The plan was to wade up to the pub for a swift half, but that doesn't open until 5, so we've come to the cafe for coffee / hot chocolate and cake, which seems a reasonable compromise.  So we're sat in the cafe watching the bird tables covered in chaffinch, greenfinch and various tits!  Dave saw a red squirrel up here yesterday and apparentlty there was a pine martin scavenging earlier today.  The ducks that roost down below have gone for a swim.

Snow din (Thursday)

2 foot of snow overnight, maybe more.  Which kind of stuffs up any plans for moving the van.  All roads shut, resort shut, shop open.

So we just have to make the best of it.  A pretty slow day involving lots of digging with shovels and attempts at artistic photos.  The ducks seem to be enjoying themselvelves at least.

I spent most of the afternoon sat in the van with Robert Ludlum and Dave tried to find an incline to slide down.  He found the incline but struggled staying upright in 3 foot drifts.

It looks like we'll be staying here until the roads clear and we can get out of Scotland.  Which by all accounts isn't going to be very soon - they're saying Saturday or Sunday at the earliest at the moment, it's pretty extreme conditions.

Snow 'n' Socks (Wednesday)

Not so cold last night - woke at 7am to 2°C, which given the previous nights temperatures can mean only one thing - it's snowing,  Which is a good thing, probably, as long as we can get up the hill.  Which we can, and only a few other people seem to have the same idea.

Zero to nill visiblity at the top of the mountain with what we're told is 40mph winds!  You can feel snow in your face when it hits you at that speed...  And it doesn't abate at all, all day, but we persist and have a few good runs.  It's great snow /powder, the only problem is that you can only see about 3 feet.

End of the day and I've given up but Dave is off on his last run so I sort the van out for departure.  All the cars are slip sliding and they've shut the road to up traffic.  The ranger station tells me that it'll be ok because the volume of traffic down the mountain will keep it clear.  My arse.  I help a volvo slide out of his parking space with another 5 people, and then a mercedes.  I decide it's time for the Autosocks, so I fit them.

I met Shane, guess the nationality mate, who is after a lift so when Dave comes back we all get in the van, which is now full of snow and scoot off.  Sceptical as I am, it's nice to be proven wrong - the autosocks are brilliant to be honest, and about half way down I'm confident they can be removed, so we do.  Blimey, it's slippery now but we make the rest of the journey.  And drop Shane at the Youth Hostel, cobber.

Dave and I trek off to the lodge in a blizzard, but we've clearly made it because this has been published.  If you don't hear more in the next couple of days, someone please send the search party to Glenmore Lodge access road, Ta.

Sun 'n' Ice (Tuesday)

Another fine day. Late start since we decided to wait for reception to open and extend the stay until Saturday. Bought 4 more days worth of tickets too, it's only money.

First photo is a where's wally picture; answer down below.

A bit of videoing and general larking aboot oon the hill including lots more ice than yesterday. We need some more snow! Sorted with New Hope Trust to miss out furniture work on Friday so I don't feel guilty about staying on the hill.


Looked at a map in the evening to work out the way home and decided we will drive back via Nevis and Glencoe ski areas to take a look, but NOT stop and play!

Here's wally - what a ridulous outfit for a ski slope?!!

Decision made, probably (Monday)

Beer does wonders and clears/ clouds the head, so I think we've decided to stay in the same campsite and suffer the same delights of the Cairngorm resort for the rest of the week.  Why not, since the snow is good and there's more forecast.  Partly concerned that we'll never get home because they forecast something like 2 foot mid-week, but I've certainly got nothing else to do, and Dave has only got to make an attempt for Monday.

Red squirrel in the morning, shepherds happy? (Monday)

Usual start, slightly more relaxed (by about 10 minutes) since it's not the weekend.  Driving up the road our path was crossed by one of the little tree rats, "that was a red one, wasn't it?".  I've never seen a wild red squirrel, so there's a first.  They're quite cool.

We really needn't have bothered with the rush early start.  It appears that since the weekend and half term holiday are now over, everyone else is back at work.  We were right at the top of the top carpark and I don't think it was full until well gone 9am - that's about an hour later than over the weekend.

So first train and just loads of brilliant runs until the last train of the day, virtually non stop.  The best day of boarding I can remember for a while, mainly because of the lack of bodies on the piste.  I was sadly persuaded to wear my reflective jacket for the afternoon, so that's why there's a fetching picture here!

Oh, and I did my bit for ski/snowboard relations by being first on scene for a woman who probably had broken her leg right at the end of the day, and left her with the ski patrol.

Not one to complain, and Dave says I did handle things in a calm and admirable fashion...  we had a small issue at the campsite over bookings and double bookings and outstanding payments etc...  All sorted but not impressed with the onsite customer service - how would you feel when confronted with "we realise you're on holiday, but if you could try and be on site in our opening hours to sort out extra bookings then that would make our life easier".  Well if you worked more than 4 hours a day we may be able to comply, but sorry luv, we were up the mountain from 8am to 5pm and you open 9-1030 and 2-430.  And I tried to phone, and  I spoke at length to the central office in your absence.  Anyway, all sorted amicably now and winge over.

Beer and blog followed by some sort of pasta concoction will finish us off.  We're trying to work out if we should go to Glenshee to try something different or live with what we have here?  I'm sure a decision will be reached before the next post.

More Blue sky and loads of people (Sunday)

Last night got cold, down to minus 12.5 per the van thermometer, but we had heating all night so were toasty.  Unlike the silly campers in their tents!  Who would do that as a choice?

Woke up today to beautiful blue sky, and were at the campsite gate by 740am ready to rock.  But the site man hadn't opened it, so we sat for an age (10 minutes) watching everyone else tearing up the mountain.  We got a space in in the top car park in roughly the same position as yesterday, so needn't have worried.  Should explain that the top car park is right next to the resort, but the lower one is about a mile and a bus ride away.

Today I decided I would mostly, in fact totally, avoid all form of drag lift, which meant all day up and down on the train.  And Dave wasn't being such a girl and disappeared of on the t-bars which opened earlier.  It was a great plan until the train broke down, but I stopped for a sausage and egg roll and coffee and by the time I'd done with that the train was back.  Until 2pm when both Dave and I were onboard and it broke while in the base station!!!  All off and dead for an undetermined period.  So we retired to the van to consider options.

My option turned out to be sit in the van and read (sticking to my no drag rule) and Dave dissapeared off for a while to enjoy the gorgeous conditions.

Reunited, we have come to the pub as before and are currently enjoying so local brews and free wifi.  Happy days.  We believe it's going to get a bit snowy tomorrow so aren't totally sure how to play it, but at least we've had 2 days of blinding weather which is far better than those left in Watford etc have been experiencing.

Photos when I remember to bring the camera and laptop together...

Bluebird day (Saturday)

Up again at 630am with the sky all cloudy and grey. But we persevere and drive up the mountain before 8am. Half way up we break through the cloud into what is a perfect blue day. Proper busy today, since it's Saturday and most of Scotland seems to be here, but we still got in the top car park so no complaints.

A couple of T-bar and Poma lifts later and we're enjoying some fantastic snow. It really makes a difference when you can a) see where you're going and b) see the rest of the mountain and some scenery. Plus the powder and off piste excursions to make fresh tracks. Some of this snow is the best I've seen for a few years, I think Chamonix in 2005 tops it but it's pretty good. You might even be forgiven for thinking we were in a real ski resort ;-) I need to caveat with a small apology to Pete re the board which has engaged with some small rocky items, but it's not as bad as Dave's brand new board and I'll fix it up anyway.

I hate any form of drag lift and this resort is covered in them and my front foot is really objecting. So at any opportunity I head for the funicular, which they squeeze us in like sardines but at least it's not ripping my thighs.

We caught the last train up and I called it a day (about 415pm). Dave however soldiered on using the t-bars which he seems to have found some affiliation with, and stayed out till well gone 5.

Took a little drive into Aviemore on the way back to the site and bought loads of “healthy” snack food at Tesco! Then campsite and cracked open the Southern Comfort left over from my wedding, which seems about time! Another pasta and sauce meal, followed by the remainder of Shrek2, then another early night in preparation for another early start...

Evening Beer and Blogging (Friday)

My alcoholic friend wanted a beer and I needed to blog so we went to the cafe just off campsite.  No joy, it's closed, so the forest centre and the man there said the lodge was only a 5 minute walk.  At warp speed.

Anyway we found some beer and some free internet, hence the crazy posting.  Good beer, if a bit pricey, but better than the 6 mile walk to Aviemore.  Dave has got a big red Nevis pint and mine smells of Elderflower, so we're all happy!

Beers downed and stroll home complete (shorter than the outward journey?) we had food and watched about ½ of Shrek2, cushioned by some miniature single malts.  Worked out how to get surround sound using the van stereo, which is cool.

Mountain air (Friday)

Arise at 6.30am. Leisurely start and in the car park up the hill for 8am. It was already half full!!!

Bought 2x4 day tickets which seems to be the most cost effective option. And hit the slope - caught the first train up to the top. It's cold and visibility is questionable, but the snow is pretty flipping brilliant especially if you venture off piste a bit.

T-bars and super quick Poma (button) lifts do wonders for snowboarders inner thighs. And if like me you have a tendency to sit down at every opportunity, then you end up on your arse looking stupid slightly more often than is healthy!

Lunch in the carpark for sarnies, followed by more packed trips on the funicular to enjoy almost whit eout conditions. Mmm, not sure about this.

It threatened to turn blue, but it went the other way with the clouds coming down not up, so I packed up and left Dave on the hills. Obviously it then cleared to blue sky and he had a great hour or so right at the end of the day, for which he appologises.

Day one in the big Cairngorm mountain (Thursday)

Finshed the drive and got to Aviemore early afternoon, and found an LPG purveyor - very cheap, but the slowest pump I've seen so far...

Drove up the mountain and got the lowdown on the parking situation for Friday. The checked in at campsite and made ourselves at home. The temperature is dropping and next door tell us that it got to minus 15 last night! So we put the heater on constant.

Simple pasta and sauce, followed by Up on DVD finished us off. So beds up at about 9pm and sound nights sleep. It got to -9.5 on the temp thing.

Carlisle Mcdonalds for breakfast

Had a long drive up from Watford to the Lakes last night - note to self: check roadwork plans... we spent much of the 250 mile journey at 50mph! Anyway arrived at Tebay services assuming a free stop over, but they've started charging (sometime in the last 4 or so years) for stops over 2 hours. So we went up to the next junction and parked in a layby with the trucks.

Rather cold at -2.5°C, and uncomfortable. Dave's carrot cake wasn't caffeinated enough so with little sleep we travel on to Carlisle for breakfast and free wifi at McD's.

And Dave says my road rage is under control at the moment. Roadwork rage is a different matter.

Ready for the snow

Plans for Scotland are now well advanced. The Forest Campsite at Glenmore is booked for 2 nights and the weather is looking good... well it's forecast to snow later this week which bodes well as long as we can get on to the slopes! I understand they're having the best ski season for many years, so Dave and I are going to see what UK snowboarding is on offer.

The shovel's in and dug out a tow rope so hoping to be fully prepared for whatever. I really want to think I'll be able to get home again and not leave Rufus in a ditch! I think the royal mail failed to deliver my "snow socks" on Friday, so I'll run by the sorting office and get them tomorrow. If the package isn't these then I'm very curious.

Not convinced this is the perfect dry run for getting out to the continent in summer, but looking forward to getting some miles under the belt and try out the van in anger for the first time in the 3 months we've owned it.

More later in the week when we get on the road, including pictures?!?! ;-)

Weight matters

Just had Rufus weighed at Hatfield weighbridge. The operator tells me it's closing down in March due to lack of customers, which is sad but a sign of the times!

Result = 2420kg overall gross weight,
Front axle = 1260kg,
This includes full petrol and LPG tanks and important stuff like the spare wheel, jack and electric cable but excludes all people, clothes, food, water and bedding.

That means the payload is 2800mvw - 2420miro = 380kg

So we've got 380kg to play with which on my very basic reckoning should be more than sufficient. It's more than I thought and I'll stop mentioning the weight in every conversation from now on, maybe!

Where can the spare wheel go?

LPG is definitely a great purchase, but the only place for the tank takes the spare wheel bay under the back of the transporter... So, for 2 months the spare wheel has entertained me no end with it's passive company inside the van. Every movement or door opening or guided tour has involved first moving the really quite dirty steel chappie. So, it had to be evicted.

The logical place is on the rear of the van, replacing the bike rack. We're unlikely to want use of the bike rack, so some sort of replacement construction to hold the wheel is what's needed.

Cue genius and skilled contacts who know about this sort of thing and following some cold and frosty days of fabrication, drilling, welding, grinding and painting we have a rather great addition to the van. The wheel has been evicted and the whole internal experience is massively improved. Thank you Richard.

Christmas presents

Christmas and other purchases meant that there was some work to do to kit out the van to contain all the new toys. So a few happy hours during the course of December and January have been employed in setting up the Fire Extinguisher, Smoke Alarm, CO detector, Jack, Mains cabling etc... Including the silly little levelling spirit level that Fran thinks is a complete waste of time. I happen to agree, but it's a bit of fun. And the replacement stereo and new tyre have also gone in/ on. Thank you everyone that bought bits and bobs.

A few holes and hours later they're all fitted and we have a safer and slightly more comfortable place to be.

I'm planning to try a few days snowboarding in Scotland with Dave in a couple of weeks, so other handy things like the big red shovel is also on board...

First trips

Not wanting to enjoy the first sleeping experience on my own, Fran and I spent one night surreptitiously squirrelled away in the van on the driveway before I took her away properly...

The first running in for the LPG system involved a small round England jaunt taking in Brighton, York and Warrington. I just made it back as the first snows fluttered down 5 miles from home so missed all the chaos that ensued on the countries roads back in mid-December.

The LPG has done me proud, although I'm certainly not yet an expert on the autogas fillers at the petrol stations - there are 2 types on forecourts in the UK and the twisty one is a right pain, the other one with a big lever is much easier and confidence inspiring! LPG and the cold temperatures don't seem to mix too well, although we haven't had any real problems, just a bit of lumpy running before it's up to temperature.

The van is really quite a comfortable place to spend time too, and the left hand drive is no problem at all, except when pulling round parked busses! She cruises happily at about 70 (indicated), which I think is more like 65, and isn't too bothered by the wind. She also (nearly) fits in a car park space so supermarkets and the like are no problem.

I spent 2 nights in the van on this trip in what I would describe as parky conditions (brrrr!), about 0 degrees I think. The night heater isn't bad though and certainly takes the edge off. I doubt Fran would like camping in the cold, but hopefully most of the big trips away will be in more acceptable temperatures :-)

LPG or no money!

Rufus has a 2.5L straight 5 cylinder petrol motor and drags about 2 1/2 tonnes around, so the fuel economy could be better! I think running a vehicle for any significant distance at 20mpg or thereabouts is not financially sensible. So, having acquiried the petrol guzzling old girl it made sense to get on the LPG bandwagon as soon as possible.

I had a look around and did a bit more surfing. I also had a chat with the only other person I know with LPG and got details of his fitter. So, armed with information I went to see some polish gentlemen and also got a quote from the old landrover converter. Although cheaper, I wasn't fully sure about the polish chaps so I arranged for Ian Cavendish, from Greenflow Ltd to do the work. If Richard and Land Rover are confident in his work, then I'm happy.

The layout, quality and logistics of the westfalia meant that the only feasible option was to put a torroidal (donut) tank in place of the spare wheel, under the back of the van. This is great, but the spare wheel then has no home - a later post! The van now has two full size fuel tanks so is truly a dual-fuel vehicle. It needs a petrol tank too since the engine starts on petrol until up to temperature then automatically switches to gas. Plus there is a night heater on board which runs off the petrol tank too.

So, the van went in early November and was ready a couple of weeks later, fully kitted out. And after a bit of running in (~1800kms) the system was checked over and signed off as fit and well. Now we get 19mpg, but with LPG at just over half the price of unleaded it is the equivilent of mid/high 30's mpg. Which I think is pretty good. I reckon from brimmed with both tanks we should be able to travel about 800km / 500 miles.

Where we goin'?

The idea is for 3 main trips over the summer of 2010, and we guess about a month each:
1. France and northern Spain;
2. Norway, via Holland, Denmark, Sweden;
3. Auschwitz via what seems to be most other countries (Germany, Poland, Czech Rep, Austria, Slovakia, Switzerland?);

We may sneak in trips to Scotland (which we love) and maybe Ireland if we have time.

There aren't many constraints, other than money (which will be interesting!) and a June wedding back home. Pretty much the rest is up to us. We'd like to fit playscheme into July if at all possible too, which might enable Mark to go bag some Munros with Uncle Peter.

Given that the longest either of us has even really been away from home is about 3 weeks, this is going to be a learning experience. Not too nervous yet, sleepless nights are only just starting for fran, and there's lots of planning and reading to get done before rubber hits tarmac.

Van found

To Fran's great relief I finally found what I think we'd been looking for.

I'd discovered that Westfalia had been making the Nugget conversion for a few years and there were some older Transits out there with the layout Fran really liked. Then, almost in a fated sort of way I did a "Westfalia" search and turned up the T4 conversion called the California. A bit expensive, but the same layout, and on a VW chassis...

Certainly it met many criteria and following a speculative trip to Bristol to view, a small amount of haggling over p/x for the BMW and discussions at home, we agreed a price and Rufus (early name, not sure it will stick) became part of the family!
It's a 1999 Westfalia California Exclusive, based on the VW Transporter T4 platform. It's left hand drive and really quite blue (in colour!). It's a blinding piece of kit and we are well pleased with her. I'll do a post with more specs when time allows, but it truly is the business where van conversions are concerned.

I'm calling her "Rufus" unless I get a better suggestion, since the number plate ends in "RFS".

Van Search

How wonderful is the internet? How many beautiful, shabby, perfect, cheap rough old dogs of campervans are out there... And where do you start trying to find your travelling home. Ebay of course. Then there's too much so I have to work out what we need and can afford.

Original criteria were Small van, probably pop-top, 30+mpg, 2 berth, London LEZ compliant, ideally will fit in our drive (<7 foot wide).

Then the fun began. Not having a job, and with lots of time to surf and think I initially went down the build it ourselves route starting with Renault Trafic or VW T5. I seriously thought about the japanese imports (Bongo and Hiace), but we took a look at a few and they are too small for the type of trip we want, although I do like the 4WD! We went to a Motorhome show at Great Malvern and discovered a Westfalia Nugget, which is a fantastic conversion based on the Ford Transit, but they only do new ones for £40k and we dont have a money tree. Fran however was in love!

Anyway long story shortish, following a trip to Cornwall coupled with lots of research, the conclusion was it would probably end up being a VW T4 conversion. But you don't seem to get much for your money since they keep their value quite well.
But lots of surfing later and I'm getting a bit itchy feet. I found a couple of long wheel base T4's and contacted the sellers. And I almost went off up to yorkshire somewhere to have a look. But fate and ebay have taken me in another direction.

Original Idea

June /July 2009; So long EDS /HP, it's been 12 years. But it's not a problem, it's an opportunity ;-) And after much consideration (and a small amount of discussion) I went for it and took the redundancy plunge.

The thoughts were a) take some time out to reconsider the career options b) do some DIY and voluntary work c) do some travelling d) get a new job.

So finances! Actually the situation is pretty good and I can afford a good long break. How shall we spend some money? Canada; Asia; Europe... What is cheap? Maybe we could take the inlaws VW Bay round Europe. But it's 30 years old and not really suited for long trips away. Can we afford to buy one? Maybe, let's look into it... And so it starts. What about Fran's job - maybe she can have a sabatical.

Oh, the opportunity for some fun and games. And driving Fran potty with ideas and changes and destabilising stuff!

So amongst the new fence, decorating, kitchen and other jobs my brain is thinking about the possibilities. Hence this blog and the campervan around Europe in 2010 project.

First post

It's February 2010 and we're going away sometime in April. The idea of capturing some of the details of our travels via a blog has only just occurred to me, so there's going to be some catching up of the activities since this whole plan came together.
We hope you enjoy reading and that we have a decent go at documenting what should be a bit of an adventure... not in the grand adventuring traditions, but for Fran and I this is quite a big cheese moving moment.