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 Topic: First Trip of 2024
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26/3/2024 at 11:22pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
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| Site Reviews 2024: | 9  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
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| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
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| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
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| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
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The first trip of my normal camping season over the Easter weekend could be a wash-out, however, I am still looking forward to it.
The van's aftermarket air con unit in the cab failed to function last year, and I really struggled with driving in the hottest months without air con.
It has been fixed and I shall collect the van tomorrow morning.
Apparently, there was a small leak in one of the pipes, which resulted in the coolant being lost over time.
The leak was likely to be attributable to the installation process. However, since it was installed in 2021 and likely to be out of warranty; and I do not know who carried out the installation (long story); I just have to pay for the repair myself and be done with it.
Glad to hear the leak was not caused by something I did or did not do, PHEW! 
I am packing the trip as a cold weather trip for certain, expecting minimal opportunities to sit outside. It will still be fun being out and about - the dog would love running riot in the big field adjacent to the campsite, and I look forward to visiting a friend's pub in the city centre which is about 45min on foot for a leisurely stroll from the campsite.
Happy Easter and Happy Camping!
DK 
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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
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27/3/2024 at 4:56pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2328
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
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| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
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| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
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Tinkering with caravan stuff at home this morning, ready to re-equip it for the new season (it's stripped almost bare for winter storage and annual service inspection), no where particular in mind yet, just an urge to get away, then phone rings, a mate living on Exmoor, he 'cheerfully' announced he had heavy properly settling snow this morning! It melted once the sun was well up, but it dampened my enthusiasm a little! Don't fancy towing the caravan in snow, so maybe delay a week or two (CERTAINLY until the brats are back at school after Easter anyway!) and hopefully warmer weather more assured!
Enjoy your trip DK, hope your gremlins are all sorted.
Housework! - not a fan at home, but somehow almost find it therapeutic in the caravan, means I'm either going away, or already away, somewhere more appealing than home town!
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27/3/2024 at 11:29pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
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| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
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| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
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| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 27/3/2024
Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 27/3/2024
I don't go off in the van during Easter holidays, but we're off to Norway by air in a couple of weeks. While we can fly direct from Aberdeen, there are no sea routes.
We did a Hurtigruten expedition to Norway & Svalbard from Dover but man! it’s a long haul from Scotland. There used to be a route to Scandinavia from Rosyth, sadly we forgot the rule to “use it or lose it”.
When I have finally retired completely, only another 8 years to go, I shall drive the van to Norway and into the Arctic Circle via Denmark, stopping en-route and taking it easy.
In theory, I should have internet access when I am travelling to Norway and my EE add-on covers roaming without additional charge.
Perhaps I should do it sooner than later.
DK
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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
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 via mobile 28/3/2024 at 9:45am
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
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Joined: 10/4/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 5144
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 234 |
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| Site Reviews 2024: | 18 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 12 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 10 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 18 |
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| Site Nights 2024: | 37 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 25 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 32 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 25 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 20 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 30 |
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Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 27/3/2024
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 27/3/2024
Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 27/3/2024
… but we're off to Norway by air in a couple of weeks. While we can fly direct from Aberdeen, there are no sea routes.
…There used to be a route to Scandinavia from Rosyth, sadly we forgot the rule to “use it or lose it”.
When I have finally retired completely, only another 8 years to go, I shall drive the van to Norway and into the Arctic Circle via Denmark, stopping en-route and taking it easy.
In theory, I should have internet access when I am travelling to Norway and my EE add-on covers roaming without additional charge.
Perhaps I should do it sooner than later.
DK
Go sooner, while you & the van are both fit & well. You can always return to a favourite area. In May, the fruit trees were in blossom along the fjords near Bergen, very pretty. But the Motorhomes at the North Cape were parked up in miserable driving sleet & though the Sāmi had brought the reindeer herds over for summer grazing, there was still a lot of snow about. Make sure you have good blackout because the sun doesn’t set.
TBH, the scenery is less interesting further north; when the shoreline is facing the Pole at the top end (Kirkenes is as far east as Istanbul), there are no pointy peaks, few trees & a fair amount of brown slushy snow.
Not been to Oslo area, looks interesting.
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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.
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01/4/2024 at 5:23pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
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After the trip over the New Year weekend 2023 into 2024, the first trip out is the Easter weekend.
So, for 2023, I did not camping in January to March and November.
For 2024 - no trip in February, and none planned for November.
For 2025 - no trip in January after the NY weekend 2024 into 2025, none in February (away for 3 weeks in Japan), March and November.
I guess my "camping season" mentality came from my tenting days, as it was difficult for me to dry the 4-berth canvas Dutch pyramid tent at home if it was a wet pack up!
Having experienced a fridge with mould growth and a frozen water tank earlier this year, I believe I should get into the habit of draining the tank and emptying the fridge and allow it to air during January to March.
DK
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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
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01/4/2024 at 5:31pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 28/3/2024
Go sooner, while you & the van are both fit & well. You can always return to a favourite area. In May, the fruit trees were in blossom along the fjords near Bergen, very pretty. But the Motorhomes at the North Cape were parked up in miserable driving sleet & though the Sāmi had brought the reindeer herds over for summer grazing, there was still a lot of snow about. Make sure you have good blackout because the sun doesn’t set.
TBH, the scenery is less interesting further north; when the shoreline is facing the Pole at the top end (Kirkenes is as far east as Istanbul), there are no pointy peaks, few trees & a fair amount of brown slushy snow.
Not been to Oslo area, looks interesting.
I am thinking about going sooner, in 2026 perhaps, when the van is still in good working order, the dog still young enough not to have too many health issues, and I am still relatively physically and mentally fit!
I would need to choose the stopovers with care, to make sure they have good internet connection.
Mid-June to mid-July would be a good time for me to go as I can be away from base for a month without worrying too much about work and other commitments.
DK
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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
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