Category: News & General

Countdown

Published on by Paul Hickman

With just 1 week to go until the “Big Trip” the countdown has well and truly begun. Truth be told I have been counting the days, weeks, months for ages!

So what do the last few days have in store? Well the management has just 1 day left at work before the panic sets in. I have lost count of the times that we have been away together weather that is just a weekend or a fortnight camping or roughing it in some 4* hotel, yet she still flaps when it comes to packing for a trip. Packing takes me all of 30seconds, I just empty the drawer into a bag, job done? Continue reading “Countdown” →

Towing Restrictions & Driving Licenses

Published on by Paul Hickman

I see this argument on an almost daily basis.
“What can I tow with my license?”


Everyone has an opinion but opinions are NOT fact and will not prevent you from receiving a nasty fine or even having your car and caravan seized at the roadside.

Continue reading “Towing Restrictions & Driving Licenses” →

Things To Do, before “The Big Trip”

Published on by Paul Hickman

It’s now only 4 weeks until our “Big Trip” so it’s back to Nerd Central, list making.

Wash the car. I have no idea why as I am not one for cleaning and polishing my car as a rule but I do like to start a holiday with a clean car. Which really seems daft as I’m going to drive slightly over 1000 miles and if it does not rain the car will be covered in dead bugs for sure. But I still don’t wash it again when I get there even though the site has an Auto Lavage area, (car wash).
So by the same reasoning I suppose I better wash the caravan? Continue reading “Things To Do, before “The Big Trip”” →

Thinking About “The Big Trip” Again

Published on by Paul Hickman

So back to thinking about our “Big Holiday”
I’ve had a bit of a re-think about the route. I’m thinking of going the Tolouse route again. We have never been down south via this route and after asking the question on some internet forums it seems that the Tolouse route generally has less traffic and is less hilly and just an easier drive.

Now the decisions start. When we get off the tunnel do we turn right or left?
Left means we are going to head down the A26/A1 and into Paris, across Paris to Orleans then down to Limoges on the A71/A20 and on to Tolouse. Which is probably the most direct route or do we…..

Turn right and go via Abbeyville, Rouen, Le Mans, Tours then cut across via the A85 and pick up the A20? Continue reading “Thinking About “The Big Trip” Again” →

New Mattress

Published on by Paul Hickman

A while ago, seems like for ever, we bought a new mattress for the van.

Well we have now spent our first 5 nights sleeping on this new mattress, and it’s the best thing we have bought for the caravan so far by a country mile.

Continue reading “New Mattress” →

Camping on a Budget

Published on by Paul Hickman

Let’s talk money, moolah, dosh, the almighty dollar! Well let’s face it we could all do with a bit more than we have right? So how do we make what we have go as far as possible?

Continue reading “Camping on a Budget” →

Why Camping In France?

Published on by Paul Hickman

Why France? What is so good about camping in France?

Well there are a number of reasons why we camp in France for our main holiday every year.

  • Weather
  • Price
  • Campsites
  • Facilities
  • Culture – People
  • Food
  • Wine

Continue reading “Why Camping In France?” →

Next Trip & Jobs to do.

Published on by Paul Hickman

No camping again for the last few weeks, seems like forever since we were last out in the van. The management has her list of jobs to do and there have been a couple of jobs I wanted to do on the van.

So the next trip is an extended bank holiday weekend on Angelsey. Halys is off on half term that week and it’s also her birthday so I have taken a couple of days off work.

I’ve managed to acquire and install a larger 110Ah battery and removed the broken under cupboard light and installed a strip of LEDs which also extend over the cooker and I have installed a triple 12v socket with usb ports at the front of the van to give some 12v power outlets at the front.

Continue reading “Next Trip & Jobs to do.” →

How do I blog?

Published on by Paul Hickman

Some may think it’s an idyllic process sat in or by a caravan in beautiful countryside setting, sipping a glass of wine. Ha! Nothing could be further from the truth. For me usually I’m at work waiting. I seem to spend quite a bit of time waiting. It also gives me time to think about what I’m going to write. There is no big plan for our blog when it flows it flows. Continue reading “How do I blog?” →

Caravan Food

Published on by Paul Hickman

When we tell people we go camping we quite often get a response like “Ewww what with all those creepy crawlies sitting on the floor and eating beans and sausages every meal. Not For Me! You must be mad!”

Well far from it. Even when we had a tent we never sat on the floor and I don’t think we have ever eaten Beans and sausages. One massive selling point about getting a caravan over the tent was that a caravan has an oven! An oven means that cooking becomes much more like cooking at home gone is the 2 rings and grill and we now have 3 gas rings, an electric hot plate, a grill and an OVEN! Continue reading “Caravan Food” →