Wales 20th August 2010

So our first real Camper trip, a long weekend in Wales, Shell Island our base. Dispite a rather long journey there, we had forgotton about V Festival, which saw us driving through Barmouth in the driving rain, the weekend proved to be fine if a little windy. With plenty of "rock pooling" and some kite flying and some rather good camping food and drink, a great time was had by all.
We covered just over 320 miles in 2 1/2 days, stopping for an ice cream at Snowdon on the way home!
The only "van" drama - a cracked indicator lens the result of a wayward stone.  

Top of the Hill - Good View 

The suns out 

My and our Camper

No not V Fest - Shell Island

Beau takes a rest

Snowdon

I have brought a Taxi!

So this is week 3 and some repairs! Time to fix the exhaust "tail pipe", and it was to be a "fix" as a new unit is going to be required, I guess before the MOT in February. So a new bracket and some Gum Gum exhaust paste and all was again well!


It looks as though a "non standard pipe as been used as the fittings are not quite right which means it was never going to be a long term repair.

 

Still a gleaming new unit (picture from Machine 7) is around £100.00, so not the end of the world, you can spend a lot more on various options but am going to stick with the standard, although I may push the boat out and get a Stainless end pipe!

Friday the 13th, no nothing bad happened, but a family meal arranged for the 6 of us, so Daisy was brought into duty and carried us without hitch to town. Saturday and a call from dear Niece Rach, who was at the "Bloodstock" music festival with partner Mark. The wet weather had left them feeling a little damp, so off we went to collect them. Whilst drying out and being fed, we discused some of the bands performing and turns out Twisted Sister where playing on the Sunday night, this had me looking through the old tickets to find I last saw them BEFORE either Rach or Mark where born - and lead singer looked old then!

Returned to Festival central, off they skipped, I returned home and cleaned out the mud!

Sunday, and the longest journey yet, 115 mile round trip for dinner in Northampton. We chose the A5 route rather than the M6 / M1 option, she did us proud, although we had forgotten that there are some "good" hills on the A5!.

Arriving, it wasn't just the four of us going out but, Father in Law, Nephew 1 and Nephew 2 with Girlfriend.

8, I guess I was over doing it a bit but, no problems and the short journey there and back was not an issue. (although I did promise myself a call to the insurance to see how many people I can actually take!)

Week 2

Week Two, and Daisy is in the care of Jonny and all at VWJava for a "service".

A call on Thursday confirmed she would be ready to collect on Friday, and also gave an insight into what may lay ahead!

The distributor had to be replaced, luckily a used one was available, the one in it had signs of much wear and a little "diy" to keep in it use! We had thought that the "carbs" needed looking at and this proved the case.

There was no "jet" so as a consequence little fuel getting in to the right place at the right time, it was a wonder to the the Java boys she was running at all!

Duly collected and returned home, running quite "sweetly". Sunday was due to be our first "big run" out - to Tatton Park, but due to some issues this wasn't to be, so an evening run to the Peak District.

Where better than the "Peaks" to test Daisy on some "hills"! A steady cruse along the A51, skillfully avoiding the Triathletes!, having to keep an eye on the speedo as not to exceed the 50mph limit, nice. This was Beau`s first camper trip and she seamed a little unsure at all the space behind but she soon settled down in the front.

Carssington Water, a cup of tea, and a walk, so out we got, mugs, kettle, tea bags, milk.... err water.... ok no tea then. Walking round the back I noted that the exhaust appeared at a slightly more downward angle than it ought, "its ok", Sally took a little more convincing, but I had soon "adjusted" to a more level angle.

The ride back was again steady, the "hills" not giving us any issue (sorry if it was you behind!) and a quick photo stop for the "sunset" saw the exhaust beginning to drop again. Never mind, onwards. Upon reaching Yoxall we got flashed from behind, opps, I pulled over and found the pipe now on the floor! - tip here - NEVER grab a running or recently run exhaust pipe - there hot! - with the smell of burning flesh in the air the short journey home was made in a quick time and date with the gumgum paste and a new bracket made for Monday night!

Pictures - Beau gets to grips with Daisy / the Sunset / the Exhaust

Camper T2 - Week 1

So, the end of the first week of our our camper van adventure, and several trips taking all and sundry "round the block" have seen my gear change skills improve somewhat!

Daisy is in the care of Jonny Java http://www.vwjava.webeden.co.uk/ at the moment, a service and once over. I guess I should have done this myself, but we decided an "expert" view my help make some decisions for us and his once over point us in the right direction as far as the urgency or not of some of the jobs we "think" we need to do!

We are hoping to have her back on Saturday so that we can make the trip up to Tatton park for the NWVW show, http://www.vwnw.co.uk/ fingers crossed for fine weather!