Where Have You Been In Your Van Today?

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Bit of a suspension overhaul today with THE suspension specialist’s @CRS Performance
After a recent coming together with a bas#ard pothole I’d snapped a front coil spring, so new front springs, new mounting bearings, new drop links and new rear seat rubbers/cups fitted today.
Always a pleasure to deal with these gentlemen…. thank you Steve, Rob (@BiTurbo ) and James.
Everyone has their own favourites, their own allegiances and their own opinions when it comes to suspension and obviously we’re all entitled to that…. but I wouldn’t go anywhere else for suspension work on my van…. even if it is about a four hour round trip. :thumbsup:
Lucky you I was over a 12hr round trip to @CRS :rofl:
Delighted with the results. Well worth the trip.
 
Currently touring Skye after leaving lovely Edinburgh Tuesday, nothing booked for the onward journey, just winging it.The weather has been pretty pants up until today..very wet and windy.
Travelled up via The Forth Bridge, Falkirk Wheel and Kelpies and across and down into Glencoe staying at the lovely Red Squirrel Campground by the river. I really felt for the people staying in tents as it was lashing down off and on.:whistle: … midge alert too!
On up to Fort William and the Glenfinnan viaduct which was very busy even in the rain.
Soon after getting onto Skye we looked at staying our first night at Camping Skye in Broadford but they were fully booked and turning away 25-30 units a day!!!!! Unreal…. Never knew Skye would be sooo busy….and it is bonkers busy, but away from the main ‘gateway’ campsite there is room if you turn up but defo not on any ‘premium, on the loch’pitches as these are booked up a year in adnavnce!! Prices vary from 20-35 pn.
Looked a getting a ferry to Lewis from Uig but all fully booked for a few days, online…went to the port to ask and we could go on standby but nothing guaranteed so we’ll save that for another time. Cost around £50 return, camper and 2 adults.
Plenty of park ups available around the island in some great spots but you probably won’t be alone.
In a nice wooded park up atm just up from the popular fairy pools but with 6 other mohos/ vans, and lots and lots of middies!! :devil::devil::devil::devil::devil:
I would say of you are heading to Skye and beyond book something well ahead.
The walk to fairy pools is a lovely walk but go early to avoid the crowds…. £8 for car park.
Further on down the road to Glenbrittle the beach is lovely and has a nice campsite right by the beach with great walks up the Cuillin Hills.
Currently at Sligachan Campsite right at the end of the Loch….great location but fairly close to the main road to
Portree with fairly dated facilities but adequate at £25 no ehu.We arrived at the camp ground around to a relativey quiet site but it’s really busy now so try to arrive earlier if possible.
Heading down to Arnadale tomorrow with a view to getting the ferry to Mailig and it’s fantastic beaches, if it’s not fully booked!! If not we’ll drive back the long way.

PS…..Found out my Vanshades fly screens and Skyline pop top fly netting DO NOT keep out the wee Scottish midgies…FFS!!!!🤯🤬



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Bristol Volksfest.. or mudfest.. :D

Photo leaving.. did a day visit..
weather wasn’t the best, a few gaps in the stall areas sadly, set up kinda weird too.. 🤷🏻‍♂️
loads of groups of kids, not there for the fun thing at all. :confused:
Apparently something posted on TikTok the previous night which led to groups trying to get in through fencing last night thinking it was some kind of music festival.
Did pick up a top.. to wear.. couple of stickers & some door card carpets :p

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Exactly. Unfortunately, this wasn't a trip I wanted to make and was not looking forward to at all, but just being able to stretch out in the back with (my own) cup of coffee when I needed a break was a Godsend. The last time I had to make a similar trip, it was in a car, and to add to the strress it cost me a fortune in food and hotel bills. This time I slept well in my own bed, had breakfast in bed (!!) and limitless coffee refills. Even managed a perfectly adequate cold water wash in the morning. Another time I might make use of the free showers at motorway services.
On a side note - how does anyone live in London these days and stay sane? I imagine it's still a fabulous city to visit as a (well-heeled) tourist, but I couldn't put up with the crowds and the pace. I was born & bred N.London (Spurs fan for my sins!) and started commuting to school on the Tube from aged 10 (on my own o_O), but having been away, with only fairly rare visits, for about 30 years, I just can't imagine ever living there. And as for affording to buy a home...how on earth...?

As it happens @GUMY I genuinely love London, always have and always will. As I said in the previous post, I’m always on the move and appreciate the jaw dropping spectacle of seascapes and mountains but another interest of mine is history and the Industrial Revolution. So the achievements of Victorian engineers like the Brunels and Stevensons, ‘Can do’ men who were not daunted by difficult terrain used the new knowledge and technology of the time to build anything anywhere. Brunels achievements are well known, building anything from bridges to ships and railways but Robert Stevenson, the first of a dynasty, built the Bell Rock lighthouse on a reef twelve miles east of Arbroath where dozens of ships, over the years had been wrecked, claiming hundreds of lives but nobody believed it was possible to build a permanent navigation aid on a rock that was mostly submerged. Robert proved it could be done back in 1811 and it’s still standing today. So over the next 100 years four more generations of his descendants lit all the Scottish navigation hazards, saving thousands of lives.


That was a long winded way of explaining my passion for London and other interests but when I’m driving back into town from where ever I’ve been in the UK, you might not believe this but I actually have a comfortable feeling of coming home, right into the centre. It’s my kinda of town. :D


"Hopton's Almshouses were founded by fishmonger Charles Hopton, who died in 1730. The 26 almshouses for 'poor decayed men' of the parish were erected in 1746-9 and opened in 1752. The residents, who included gardeners, watermen and fishermen were also granted £6 per year and 32 bushels of coal. In 1825 two extra houses were added. The complex includes two garden squares with centre lawns and roses, edged with shrubs. Outside the gates is a drinking fountain and cattle trough."

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Currently touring Skye after leaving lovely Edinburgh Tuesday, nothing booked for the onward journey, just winging it.The weather has been pretty pants up until today..very wet and windy.
Travelled up via The Forth Bridge, Falkirk Wheel and Kelpies and across and down into Glencoe staying at the lovely Red Squirrel Campground by the river. I really felt for the people staying in tents as it was lashing down off and on.:whistle: … midge alert too!
On up to Fort William and the Glenfinnan viaduct which was very busy even in the rain.
Soon after getting onto Skye we looked at staying our first night at Camping Skye in Broadford but they were fully booked and turning away 25-30 units a day!!!!! Unreal…. Never knew Skye would be sooo busy….and it is bonkers busy, but away from the main ‘gateway’ campsite there is room if you turn up but defo not on any ‘premium, on the loch’pitches as these are booked up a year in adnavnce!! Prices vary from 20-35 pn.
Looked a getting a ferry to Lewis from Uig but all fully booked for a few days, online…went to the port to ask and we could go on standby but nothing guaranteed so we’ll save that for another time. Cost around £50 return, camper and 2 adults.
Plenty of park ups available around the island in some great spots but you probably won’t be alone.
In a nice wooded park up atm just up from the popular fairy pools but with 6 other mohos/ vans, and lots and lots of middies!! :devil::devil::devil::devil::devil:
I would say of you are heading to Skye and beyond book something well ahead.
The walk to fairy pools is a lovely walk but go early to avoid the crowds…. £8 for car park.
Further on down the road to Glenbrittle the beach is lovely and has a nice campsite right by the beach with great walks up the Cuillin Hills.
Currently at Sligachan Campsite right at the end of the Loch….great location but fairly close to the main road to
Portree with fairly dated facilities but adequate at £25 no ehu.We arrived at the camp ground around to a relativey quiet site but it’s really busy now so try to arrive earlier if possible.
Heading down to Arnadale tomorrow with a view to getting the ferry to Mailig and it’s fantastic beaches, if it’s not fully booked!! If not we’ll drive back the long way.

PS…..Found out my Vanshades fly screens and Skyline pop top fly netting DO NOT keep out the wee Scottish midgies…FFS!!!!🤯🤬



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Thanks for that great report....We did the same trip in April 2018..not in a camper though, we were lucky enough to hire a brand new VW Golf GTD....great memories thanks again. Cheers.
 
That was a long winded way of explaining my passion for London and other interests but when I’m driving back into town from where ever I’ve been in the UK, you might not believe this but I actually have a comfortable feeling of coming home, right into the centre. It’s my kinda of town. :D
Totally get that - home is home after all. I guess I was just surprised to find that despite being born & bred and practically raised on the Tube, it doesn't feel remotely like home to me anymore.
 
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A (stressful) visit to manchester victoria baths retro market for aome tat with the Mrs. Hoping the Ercol sideboard will fit in the van...

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Ercol is hardly tat we have had our 2 side boards for 40 years S/H purchases originally probably as good nick now as the day they were made
You made a good purchase there hopefully not to much wonga
 
Ercol is hardly tat we have had our 2 side boards for 40 years S/H purchases originally probably as good nick now as the day they were made
You made a good purchase there hopefully not to much wonga
I appreciate Ercol. The Mrs is a super slueth with vintage fairs. We bought a painting last week for £35 of some zebras and weather. Turns out it's a £250 painting... so... if we deduct the £35 from the £250 we could have spent thats £215 saved and we can justify putting that towards the new (to us) Ercol sideboard. So... less than half of the cost of the sideboard. But it means, technically by buying the painting and saving that money we have got a massive discount on the sideboard... yes... am hungover can you tell

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P.s. i know Ercol isn't tat. There was however, a lot of tat there. Ercol and Gplan is obvs exempt
 
We had ercol and g-plan stuff from the grandparents. Had in in our first rented flat the sideboard (I thought) was super cool, I loved it (I think that was g-plan) and the table and chairs (not quite so cool but still good stuff). It was all from the 60’s and in perfect condition. Anyway when we bought a place I rented a garage to stored loads of stuff there including the furniture while we got sorted and it all got damp and had to be binned :mad:
 
We had ercol and g-plan stuff from the grandparents. Had in in our first rented flat the sideboard (I thought) was super cool, I loved it (I think that was g-plan) and the table and chairs (not quite so cool but still good stuff). It was all from the 60’s and in perfect condition. Anyway when we bought a place I rented a garage to stored loads of stuff there including the furniture while we got sorted and it all got damp and had to be binned :mad:
I feel the anguish. Mahoosive sympathies
 
Spent the last few days in @shropschris back yard, Adstone Way, Long Myndd, Stiperstones, Cardingmill Valley, Pole Bank etc.
Stayed at a great site in Wentnor. It had just changed hands and we were their first punters. The Green Caravan Park. @Dellmassive @czmate1999
It even has a Rally Field that would fit about 20 vans and could be a good location for a Midlands / Welsh borders meet?

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Cool the Green is a good site with alocal pub , glad you had fun in the Shire Another good site is Foxholes in bishops castle and Brow farm in Rattlinghope
 
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