Exhausting......

Well, it happened at last, the exhaust has given up!

A new one is ordered and we are looking forward to a weekend of spanner work and swearing at rusted bolts!

It was all going well, the old unit off in under 1 1/2 hours, not too bad considering the state of the bolts etc... and then i noticed a small difference, the "inlets" are different! the old unit has two each side... the new one just one! ....the wrong exhaust! ..... oh s**t.

Trying to get the old exhaust back on and Daisy running was fun, and we now have a very noisy van! 

Old unit off... with ease!

New unit ready to go..

Opps... spot the difference!

Two pipes from/to the inlet manifold..... "should" only be one?!?!?

Winter woes......

Hat, Scarf, Gloves.... fleece.... coat(s) all in an effort to keep warm, so far in the cold spell we have not done too bad, taking it steady, the narrow tyres cutting throw the snow and ice well, with only one "moment" when a "white van man" decided he was going to pull out on us.....

We have had a frozen door lock, which we didnt help by pouring hot water to free, not thinking that the nice hot water would freeze as we drove along causing a well and truly locked door! we live and learn!

Bring on the Spring!      

Cold Spell...

Brrrrrrrrr....... driving in the cold and snow is never fun, in a van with no, ok little heating is just that little bit more of challenge!, and when "air" cooled..... just that bit more!

Often frozen inside, always out, you need to get moving to get what heating system there is working!, most days this takes around two miles, just in time for the first island, its all part of the "camper" experience after all and we learn to take it our stride, but next time your sat, all snug and warm driving along, spare us a little thought!    

Pitch Safe

We have to be honest, and so its never happen to us, but we often thought that once you`ve found your pitch, but then want to go out, how do you stop anyone taking the pitch?. Ok we have normally got a tent as well, but thought we would get something made to mark our spot!

Vista print came up trumps with this - and it was free due to an "online" offer!  

Camper Mart

We dont attend many VW / Camper "shows", but thought we would pop to Camper Mart, and see what we thought, and well, it was worth it, a couple of good contacts made and managed to pick up a set of hubcaps for a fiver!, the best of these will mean we have an ok set on Daisy, and will maybe see if we can sort the others out and get sprayed as a spare. We also splashed some cash, £7.00, on a Retro Suitcase to add some Campervanchic!  

New Year 2012/13

So, to finish 2012 and start 2013, we headed off on a small "road trip", down to Taunton and staying over at Quantock Orchard, a small site about 7 miles out of town. 

2013, and after a New Year Brew, we set off to Lyme Regis, somehow getting lost!, and needing to return northbound on the M5 for a while. Lyme was rammed and very busy, but the sun was out and a little swim in a chilly sea was a great way to start the New Year!

Before we set out for home we called in at Seatown, had a brew and some chocolate with a wave dodging walk... a great couple of days and way to see out one year and another in! 

Quantock Orchard 

Lyme Regis (car park)

Seatown.... we love Seatown!