motorhome newbie, old hymer, one year in europe....
Discussion
Totally agree with V40 - ace job you've done there.
Glad you're out using it in the cold weather. I don't (as a rule) like campsites, but some of my best experiences have been in the middle of winter when most people don't bother.
I, personally, wouldn't be too worried about using the heater if you have a CO Alarm. But I understand how you might want it checked first.
Glad you're out using it in the cold weather. I don't (as a rule) like campsites, but some of my best experiences have been in the middle of winter when most people don't bother.
I, personally, wouldn't be too worried about using the heater if you have a CO Alarm. But I understand how you might want it checked first.
Well here’s a bit of a thread resurrection. We are currently in a little camperplatz in Zeeland, Netherlands. We had loads to sort before we set off, and every day was about trying to get the van sorted before we left, the last thing i wanted to do when i finished a day was come back and write about it!
We were supposed to leave the uk on Sunday the 30th, but with a poorly little one, and a poorly wife, we just didn’t see the point in busting a gut to hit a date, so on weds the 3rd we left Dover, and arrived in calais at the beginning of our travel adventure.
Obviously, the first thing to do when you get to Calais is leave, so we headed north (west) and up into Belgium. So far stopping off in overnight spots or cheap places like tonigh, we’ve traveled through Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp.
All in lovely sunshine, and all nice places, we’ve been lucky enough to have decent places to stay, To be fair, even staying in a parking space in Ghent on a Friday night wasn’t bad. It took a little getting used to, but once sorted mentally, it was fine, and had a great view over the rowing lake just outside the city centre.
The van has been good. Things I’ve learned so far,
cruising speed is about 85kph
The fridge needs a service, badly.
The tap in the bathroom leaks, which ends up on the shower tray floor =wet feet in the middle of the night.
It leaks oil, a lot. Will investigate further at some point.
However, it has been comfortable, and a decent space to call home for the last week. Living compact is a double edge sword, on one hand cleaning takes minutes, on the other, your always tidying/packing away/cleaning. I’m also already grateful for a proper hot mains powered shower
I’ll try to update a bit more on here, but WiFi in a field is not often laid on, so will probably be a bit patchy. We do have our own blog for those interested.
Www.whilewewander.co.uk
Best
Craig
We were supposed to leave the uk on Sunday the 30th, but with a poorly little one, and a poorly wife, we just didn’t see the point in busting a gut to hit a date, so on weds the 3rd we left Dover, and arrived in calais at the beginning of our travel adventure.
Obviously, the first thing to do when you get to Calais is leave, so we headed north (west) and up into Belgium. So far stopping off in overnight spots or cheap places like tonigh, we’ve traveled through Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp.
All in lovely sunshine, and all nice places, we’ve been lucky enough to have decent places to stay, To be fair, even staying in a parking space in Ghent on a Friday night wasn’t bad. It took a little getting used to, but once sorted mentally, it was fine, and had a great view over the rowing lake just outside the city centre.
The van has been good. Things I’ve learned so far,
cruising speed is about 85kph
The fridge needs a service, badly.
The tap in the bathroom leaks, which ends up on the shower tray floor =wet feet in the middle of the night.
It leaks oil, a lot. Will investigate further at some point.
However, it has been comfortable, and a decent space to call home for the last week. Living compact is a double edge sword, on one hand cleaning takes minutes, on the other, your always tidying/packing away/cleaning. I’m also already grateful for a proper hot mains powered shower
I’ll try to update a bit more on here, but WiFi in a field is not often laid on, so will probably be a bit patchy. We do have our own blog for those interested.
Www.whilewewander.co.uk
Best
Craig
Yeah its odd, seems to have stopped again now. it looks like most of the taps have a cartridge inside that is replaceable for under a tenner. Obviously that’s too easy, and our screw holding everything together is rusted to bits. We should pass a camping store on our way to get the fridge serviced, so if they have one i might pick one up, and contemplate drilling out the old screw and bodging a fix. With regards to a plan, we are heading for Bergen in Norway as our most northerly point hopefully around July time, then turning around and hoping to spend winter all along the med from Croatia to Portugal.
Are you travelling? How’s it going?
Are you travelling? How’s it going?
Same here on the tap. Comes and goes, and the screw is rusted solid.
At the moment we've just finished a month in Scotland which was as great as we had hoped it would be, helped by the weather being pretty decent.
Finishing off a couple of weeks at 'home' catching up with people and some maintenance. Attacking some chassis rust, new water pump, fix a rattling solar panel, seal the leaky windscreen, and giving the whole thing a wash for the first time since November, 10,000 miles ago.
Also enjoying the weather, I love the UK in late spring and its good to get at least some of it this year.
Heading off the same way as you next week, but we're spending two months or so going right to the top of Norway and back. Then a quick trip home mid July and then alps/northern Italy/Austria for the summer. We're not really that good in the heat, and have the dog with us, so anything much over 25c is just not much fun so avoiding anything too far south.
At the moment we've just finished a month in Scotland which was as great as we had hoped it would be, helped by the weather being pretty decent.
Finishing off a couple of weeks at 'home' catching up with people and some maintenance. Attacking some chassis rust, new water pump, fix a rattling solar panel, seal the leaky windscreen, and giving the whole thing a wash for the first time since November, 10,000 miles ago.
Also enjoying the weather, I love the UK in late spring and its good to get at least some of it this year.
Heading off the same way as you next week, but we're spending two months or so going right to the top of Norway and back. Then a quick trip home mid July and then alps/northern Italy/Austria for the summer. We're not really that good in the heat, and have the dog with us, so anything much over 25c is just not much fun so avoiding anything too far south.
Well after calling around loads of garages, i think we have found someone who has taken pity on us. We’ve found a garage at the top of Holland who has had a look at the van, and ordered the parts necessary to hopefully fix the oil leak (suspected crankshaft seal, so new timing belt as well), and replace the back box and last section of pipe from our exhaust. To be honest i quite fancied doing the exhaust myself, but the issues of where to source one from, only having a basic socket set with me, and how to dispose of the old one has me leaving it with the garage to do.
In terms of travel, Holland is flat.
So, so flat. To be honest, the topography of the land hasn’t changed since we arrived in Calais. I’m sure ill regret it when were halfway up a mountain with a burnt out clutch, but for now, i don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but I’m bored of it.
Were travelling with our little one, so cities are not a lot of fun, and though we are doing them, we both feel the sweet spot will be finding smaller towns, and hoping from one to the next.
We are right on the edge of Friesland, and hoping that from here to Germany and into Denmark will be a bit more interesting. Despite having never been, the Scandinavian countries interest me, so i’m Hoping we see more and experience more than we have over the last few weeks.
One thing that strikes me is that everyone in a motorhome is 60 plus, so who knows where all these adventuring millennials are that i keep seeing on instagram?
It would be nice to engage with some people of our own age, and get a feel for a place.
The other thing is how blindingly obvious it is, that the young flock to the cities. Even a youngish family in the country is a rarity. I guess were doing something a bit odd, and most people will be at work or what have you in the week, but i hope to engage with someone within my own half of life expectancy soon.
Heading off to one of the islands near texal once the van is sorted, hopefully Sunday, and then on to Groningen, then Germany and up.
Craig
In terms of travel, Holland is flat.
So, so flat. To be honest, the topography of the land hasn’t changed since we arrived in Calais. I’m sure ill regret it when were halfway up a mountain with a burnt out clutch, but for now, i don’t wish to sound ungrateful, but I’m bored of it.
Were travelling with our little one, so cities are not a lot of fun, and though we are doing them, we both feel the sweet spot will be finding smaller towns, and hoping from one to the next.
We are right on the edge of Friesland, and hoping that from here to Germany and into Denmark will be a bit more interesting. Despite having never been, the Scandinavian countries interest me, so i’m Hoping we see more and experience more than we have over the last few weeks.
One thing that strikes me is that everyone in a motorhome is 60 plus, so who knows where all these adventuring millennials are that i keep seeing on instagram?
It would be nice to engage with some people of our own age, and get a feel for a place.
The other thing is how blindingly obvious it is, that the young flock to the cities. Even a youngish family in the country is a rarity. I guess were doing something a bit odd, and most people will be at work or what have you in the week, but i hope to engage with someone within my own half of life expectancy soon.
Heading off to one of the islands near texal once the van is sorted, hopefully Sunday, and then on to Groningen, then Germany and up.
Craig
Nice one, thanks for that.
Would be handy to be able to link via instagram, but until then....
A quick update with the van, we had oil piddling out of the cambelt side of the engine since we left really. I assumed it was as a result of the garage over filling the engine at the service (which they denied) anyway, after the rear section of the exhaust fell off, it was apparent we needed a mechanic to take a look. I tried so many, all full, or uninterested. I contacted a chap called willem up in the north of Holland. I picked him as he had a stingray sat in the workshop on his google images, and thought he might be a bit ‘different’.
He was.
Lovely bloke, lovely Worksop, and nice lads who worked with him too. We had a chat about the van, and came to the conclusion that the crankshaft seal was probably shot, he ordered the parts there and then, rearranged his working week, and fitted us in the next day (today) despite being full for the next few weeks, he told me his guys asked why he did it, and he told them “because if i or you were stuck in France, or Spain, or anywhere else, you’d hope someone would help you”
He worked on our van all day, an i mean all day.
The culprit was a scratch on the crank itself, likely from a puller used the last time the seal was replaced.
With that done, new belt and tensioners, and a new exhaust on the back end, hopefully we will be good for a while to come. I hope so, as our funds are taking a hiding at the moment.
The next handful of days look to be wall to wall sunshine, and as we pass out of Holland, into Germany, and nearing Denmark, i’m Hoping for a bit of a non eventful time. Starting tomorrow with a cycle around one of the islands off the north coast of the Netherlands.
The next update will hopefully be more travel and less garage workshop.
Cheers
Craig
Would be handy to be able to link via instagram, but until then....
A quick update with the van, we had oil piddling out of the cambelt side of the engine since we left really. I assumed it was as a result of the garage over filling the engine at the service (which they denied) anyway, after the rear section of the exhaust fell off, it was apparent we needed a mechanic to take a look. I tried so many, all full, or uninterested. I contacted a chap called willem up in the north of Holland. I picked him as he had a stingray sat in the workshop on his google images, and thought he might be a bit ‘different’.
He was.
Lovely bloke, lovely Worksop, and nice lads who worked with him too. We had a chat about the van, and came to the conclusion that the crankshaft seal was probably shot, he ordered the parts there and then, rearranged his working week, and fitted us in the next day (today) despite being full for the next few weeks, he told me his guys asked why he did it, and he told them “because if i or you were stuck in France, or Spain, or anywhere else, you’d hope someone would help you”
He worked on our van all day, an i mean all day.
The culprit was a scratch on the crank itself, likely from a puller used the last time the seal was replaced.
With that done, new belt and tensioners, and a new exhaust on the back end, hopefully we will be good for a while to come. I hope so, as our funds are taking a hiding at the moment.
The next handful of days look to be wall to wall sunshine, and as we pass out of Holland, into Germany, and nearing Denmark, i’m Hoping for a bit of a non eventful time. Starting tomorrow with a cycle around one of the islands off the north coast of the Netherlands.
The next update will hopefully be more travel and less garage workshop.
Cheers
Craig
Thanks for that. The van has fly screens on all windows and roof vents, and we’ve modified one for the door too. I was hoping by staying on the west coast maybe conditions/wind would keep them at bay rather than inland with still waters and less wind? Either way were going, and if its grim, it’ll be a whistle stop tour.
Well, the island we went to was fantastic. Shciermonnikoog is a small island off the north coast of holland. Traffic free and with less than 1000 residents, i guess this body of islands is their equivalent to the Sicily isles.
(I know, i know, i need to add some pics, i’m Getting there, but internet has been useless, so we haven’t uploaded much of late)
We spent the day on a fantastic beach, and cycled the island,, a ferry ride back to the mainland, and on again.
Passed through and along the north of a very flat, quite dull Netherlands, and then onto a greener Forrest riddled, but still ultimately flat germany.
We spent a couple of days in Hamburg which was a great city, pottering around a huge gardens right in the heart of the city,
http://www.whilewewander.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...
And then next, pootling along the harbour side. Well, the residential harbour side. I think i read that Hamburg is the third busiest port in the world. The amount of cranes and containers we passed along the motorway would suggest some truth in the claim.
http://www.whilewewander.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...
Since then we have continued north and arr driving up the west coast of germany heading to Denmark.
There are some pleasant nature reserve/estuary/marsh areas along the coast, but the beaches are basically silt, not that that stops the Germans enjoying themselves.
The beer choice here is superb, and the German folk seem largely a friendly bunch, though it does feel like this part of the trip is a bit of a ‘transition’ as even the locals struggle to suggest things we should see or do.
The weather is set to change today after weeks of sun, which has been getting progressively warmer. Today should see the beginning of a few days of storms, so i think we’ll head to a campsite today, put up our (excellent) kampa air awning, and take five before moving on again.
Oh, the van seems to be ok, still leaking oil. The mechanic basically said its an old engine, and weeps a bit from everywhere, it’s kind of to be expected. Probably true, though interestingly, he said it wasn’t the original engine, and looked like a car engine? 2.5 fiat non turbo diesel if anyone can shed any light?
Anyway, here are the chaps who sorted the cambelt and crank seal woes.
Cheery cheers.
Craig
Flipping eck, what have i done wrong with those two images folks?
(I know, i know, i need to add some pics, i’m Getting there, but internet has been useless, so we haven’t uploaded much of late)
We spent the day on a fantastic beach, and cycled the island,, a ferry ride back to the mainland, and on again.
Passed through and along the north of a very flat, quite dull Netherlands, and then onto a greener Forrest riddled, but still ultimately flat germany.
We spent a couple of days in Hamburg which was a great city, pottering around a huge gardens right in the heart of the city,
http://www.whilewewander.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...
And then next, pootling along the harbour side. Well, the residential harbour side. I think i read that Hamburg is the third busiest port in the world. The amount of cranes and containers we passed along the motorway would suggest some truth in the claim.
http://www.whilewewander.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...
Since then we have continued north and arr driving up the west coast of germany heading to Denmark.
There are some pleasant nature reserve/estuary/marsh areas along the coast, but the beaches are basically silt, not that that stops the Germans enjoying themselves.
The beer choice here is superb, and the German folk seem largely a friendly bunch, though it does feel like this part of the trip is a bit of a ‘transition’ as even the locals struggle to suggest things we should see or do.
The weather is set to change today after weeks of sun, which has been getting progressively warmer. Today should see the beginning of a few days of storms, so i think we’ll head to a campsite today, put up our (excellent) kampa air awning, and take five before moving on again.
Oh, the van seems to be ok, still leaking oil. The mechanic basically said its an old engine, and weeps a bit from everywhere, it’s kind of to be expected. Probably true, though interestingly, he said it wasn’t the original engine, and looked like a car engine? 2.5 fiat non turbo diesel if anyone can shed any light?
Anyway, here are the chaps who sorted the cambelt and crank seal woes.
Cheery cheers.
Craig
Flipping eck, what have i done wrong with those two images folks?
Edited by craigthecoupe on Wednesday 30th May 07:01
Thanks for the update.
I lived in Hamburg for 18months back in 2000/1 and holds a fond place in my heart. So you had a walk around the botanical gardens and the Fernseheturm. Are those blocks of flats down at the new HafenCity where the Elbphilharmonie is? All very new and impressive development which was only completed about 2-3 years ago (with massive cost overruns!).
Very jealous of your extended trip. One day......!!
Thanks for the updates and keep them coming! Safe onward journey.
I lived in Hamburg for 18months back in 2000/1 and holds a fond place in my heart. So you had a walk around the botanical gardens and the Fernseheturm. Are those blocks of flats down at the new HafenCity where the Elbphilharmonie is? All very new and impressive development which was only completed about 2-3 years ago (with massive cost overruns!).
Very jealous of your extended trip. One day......!!
Thanks for the updates and keep them coming!
Safe onward journey.Spuffington said:
Are those blocks of flats down at the new HafenCity where the Elbphilharmonie is?
Yes i believe so? It’s near the opera house. Was that part of the development or was that new too?
I did like it there very much. There still seems to be a good bit of digging up going on, but a block or two back from the water, near the town hall.
After Hamburg we headed north, via itzhoe to a great free overnight a few yards from the beach, well, grassy dyke with rocks, dirty water and jellyfish. I think living in Devon i have been fairly spoilt for beaches. Anyway, after a hot day reaching about 29, and an afternoon run, it was great to cool off at sunset with a cold shower by the sea.
Special thanks for the image help. It’s a pain in the tits with piston heads not hosting, but with a clunky work around, it appears I’ve made it!
Thanks folks
Brilliant adventure! I’ve really enjoyed reading it so far.
When you travel north through Denmark, if you head up to Frederikshavn to catch the ferry let me know. I know the place really well, if you need recommendations for camping stops/restaurants etc I know a couple of places off the beaten track I can recommend!
When you travel north through Denmark, if you head up to Frederikshavn to catch the ferry let me know. I know the place really well, if you need recommendations for camping stops/restaurants etc I know a couple of places off the beaten track I can recommend!
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