Where Have You Been In Your Van Today?

Recently returned from yet another tour of Scotland. This time my son and I were touring around the extreme and remotest parts, as we were trying to make a film about the dynasty of Stevenson engineers who built most of the iconic lighthouses. We had planned on a ten day trip including the Outer Hebrides but the weather and tides were wrong for any boats out to the rock lighthouses. So the ones we visited were all land based, like the Mull of Galloway, The Butt of Lewis, Cape Wrath, Duncansby Head, Cromarty and even the little one at North Queensferry, virtually underneath the Forth Bridge. In spite of the trip being shorter than expected we still covered 2000 miles in eight days. A load of editing to do now but he's cobbled a few clips together for instagram.
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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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Recently returned from yet another tour of Scotland. This time my son and I were touring around the extreme and remotest parts, as we were trying to make a film about the dynasty of Stevenson engineers who built most of the iconic lighthouses. We had planned on a ten day trip including the Outer Hebrides but the weather and tides were wrong for any boats out to the rock lighthouses. So the ones we visited were all land based, like the Mull of Galloway, The Butt of Lewis, Cape Wrath, Duncansby Head, Cromarty and even the little one at North Queensferry, virtually underneath the Forth Bridge. In spite of the trip being shorter than expected we still covered 2000 miles in eight days. A load of editing to do now but he's cobbled a few clips together for instagram.
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Did you get the one on North Ronaldsay. The tallest land based lighthouse in Scotland.
 
Did you get the one on North Ronaldsay. The tallest land based lighthouse in Scotland.

Unfortunately not. North Ronaldsay is still on my bucket list, although mainly for the archaeology as I probably couldn’t climb up more than three flights of stairs these days. I did the Orkneys a couple of times last year, in the summer for the archaeology and at Christmas for the small chance of seeing an aurora. The Northern Lights didn’t happen for me but I managed to get to a few of the ancient traditional events like the ‘Ba at Kirkwall and Stonehaven’s Hogmanay Fire Festival. Both madness. :eek:
 
Just back from a 48 hour round trip from Merseyside to NW London on a family matter. First time driving down there in 5 years. Horrendous journey - crazy traffic on M6 and M1, horrible weather going down on Thursday. Lots of waves from other drivers, but not T6s and not the friendly type :( Van is filthier than after 2 weeks in Scotland last month. Parked up near Brent Cross, on a street I know from my childhood (Grandma lived there) and used the Tube to get to my final destination (Royal Free Hampstead 😢) Can't believe I spent the best part of 10 years commuting on the Tube. Thoroughlly depressing.
But the good news is, the van made the whole trip so much better: saved a small fortune at motorway services by having our own food and drink on board, and also avoided a hefty hotel bill by "wild camping" for the first time. Fortunately where we were parked was quite discreet and very quiet, and we had a very comfortable night.
 
Just back from a 48 hour round trip from Merseyside to NW London on a family matter. First time driving down there in 5 years. Horrendous journey - crazy traffic on M6 and M1, horrible weather going down on Thursday. Lots of waves from other drivers, but not T6s and not the friendly type :( Van is filthier than after 2 weeks in Scotland last month. Parked up near Brent Cross, on a street I know from my childhood (Grandma lived there) and used the Tube to get to my final destination (Royal Free Hampstead 😢) Can't believe I spent the best part of 10 years commuting on the Tube. Thoroughlly depressing.
But the good news is, the van made the whole trip so much better: saved a small fortune at motorway services by having our own food and drink on board, and also avoided a hefty hotel bill by "wild camping" for the first time. Fortunately where we were parked was quite discreet and very quiet, and we had a very comfortable night.

That’s the way to do it @GUMY. Now that I no longer have any family commitments and have converted the van to be totally self sufficient, it has become my partner, my transport and my 2nd home. It’s surprising how comfortable I feel when away. Not only because, after sixty years, I still love driving but to use an overused cliche, it’s the freedom. Freedom from family ties, freedom from geographic restrictions and the freedom to suddenly, on a whim, grab the van, point it in any direction and go exploring to somewhere I’ve never been before. I don’t need exotic and expensive places around the world. The UK has so much to offer that my little mobile home enables me to reach.
 
That’s the way to do it @GUMY. Now that I no longer have any family commitments and have converted the van to be totally self sufficient, it has become my partner, my transport and my 2nd home. It’s surprising how comfortable I feel when away. Not only because, after sixty years, I still love driving but to use an overused cliche, it’s the freedom. Freedom from family ties, freedom from geographic restrictions and the freedom to suddenly, on a whim, grab the van, point it in any direction and go exploring to somewhere I’ve never been before. I don’t need exotic and expensive places around the world. The UK has so much to offer that my little mobile home enables me to reach.
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...?
 
Just back from a 48 hour round trip from Merseyside to NW London on a family matter. First time driving down there in 5 years. Horrendous journey - crazy traffic on M6 and M1, horrible weather going down on Thursday. Lots of waves from other drivers, but not T6s and not the friendly type :( Van is filthier than after 2 weeks in Scotland last month. Parked up near Brent Cross, on a street I know from my childhood (Grandma lived there) and used the Tube to get to my final destination (Royal Free Hampstead 😢) Can't believe I spent the best part of 10 years commuting on the Tube. Thoroughly depressing.
But the good news is, the van made the whole trip so much better: saved a small fortune at motorway services by having our own food and drink on board, and also avoided a hefty hotel bill by "wild camping" for the first time. Fortunately where we were parked was quite discreet and very quiet, and we had a very comfortable night.
Traffic is huge these days. Have driven in my earlier years on motor cycle from up north and through London into Kent at peak times dicing with delivery riders weaving in and out of the traffic and thought it fun. I doubt that I would even conciser going any where near to London these days for anything, full stop! 💩👎
 
By the way if you know your journey and have a reasonable idea about refuelling places or distances, then a short departure from the motorways might save even more money by buying fuel at more reasonable prices away from the Motorway and could research cheapest fuel on your way. Motorway fuel is some of the most expensive and also M ways are not always the fastest way.
 
Absolutely! I used to pound the highways & byways with my work years ago, clocking up 1,000 miles a week on a regualr basis, but always in company vehicles (particularly fond memories of a MB 308D panel van) and always using a company fuel card. I never stopped to think about fuel costs, and literally only recently realised just how much more expensive fuel is at motorway services (not to mention the food and drink)!
Fortunately, my trusted steed (T6.1 110bhp) made the return trip on about half a tank of diesel this time :thumbsup:, and the ACC made life easier too on the few brief sections of M-way that were clear for more than a couple of miles.
 
Motorways are great if one wants enforced or involuntary rest periods and...................................................mega frustrations :devil:. They where once the way to cover very long distances at indecent haste without much thought or a map but now they are just a good way to keep everyone else of the roads that I like to drive on. :rofl:
 
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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:
 
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