Plans for 2019?
Discussion
Nothing set in stone yet but we probably do need to get a plan together soon and book a few places. The caravan has been great for us in our first year of ownership.
My Mum is 80 next year and it's in August so we thought we should probably spend some time with her. She's in Essex, yeah not the best holiday destination, but the more rural bits of Essex have there charm. I remember spending time on Mersea Island and places like Frinton and Walton on the Naze when we were kids, might be nice to take my kids there. Whilst over that side of the country we'd probably have a second week in Norfolk again revisiting childhood holidays, went to the area around Cromer a few times when we were younger. That will be out main two week summer holiday.
Probably have a couple of half term breaks, did Whitsun and the autumn half terms this year which were good. Hopefully get a few weekends here and there also, haven't really managed to do that this year but with a bit of organisation I'm sure it will be possible to head off on the Friday evening after school for a break somewhere slightly more local.
My Mum is 80 next year and it's in August so we thought we should probably spend some time with her. She's in Essex, yeah not the best holiday destination, but the more rural bits of Essex have there charm. I remember spending time on Mersea Island and places like Frinton and Walton on the Naze when we were kids, might be nice to take my kids there. Whilst over that side of the country we'd probably have a second week in Norfolk again revisiting childhood holidays, went to the area around Cromer a few times when we were younger. That will be out main two week summer holiday.
Probably have a couple of half term breaks, did Whitsun and the autumn half terms this year which were good. Hopefully get a few weekends here and there also, haven't really managed to do that this year but with a bit of organisation I'm sure it will be possible to head off on the Friday evening after school for a break somewhere slightly more local.
Sell it!
We've just had a year fulltime on the road, and are now no-turning-back far into a house renovation, so still living in the motorhome. Once the house is livable then some lucky sort is getting to buy our Hymer.
We'll probably have a couple of weekends away early next year in the meantime though. I'm eyeing either Borrowdale CMC site or Keswick. Having spent all year in europe in the motorhome, it's a bit of a shock to find ourselves stuck out in the middle of nowhere on UK sites nearly all the time. So I'm doing my best to find sites where it's not essential to have a car.
I'd love to stay at one of the London sites and have a cheap few days in the city but sadly we're not LEZ compliant so it's a £200 fee from TfL each way.
We've just had a year fulltime on the road, and are now no-turning-back far into a house renovation, so still living in the motorhome. Once the house is livable then some lucky sort is getting to buy our Hymer.
We'll probably have a couple of weekends away early next year in the meantime though. I'm eyeing either Borrowdale CMC site or Keswick. Having spent all year in europe in the motorhome, it's a bit of a shock to find ourselves stuck out in the middle of nowhere on UK sites nearly all the time. So I'm doing my best to find sites where it's not essential to have a car.
I'd love to stay at one of the London sites and have a cheap few days in the city but sadly we're not LEZ compliant so it's a £200 fee from TfL each way.
Hmmm, well we’ve got two to plan using:
VW Kepler - first of all this needs fixing and need to get our backsides in gear to get it to the dealer before spring and get roof and a few odds and sods fixed so we can use it when it gets warmer again. There is a thought about selling it but we‘ll see how we get on around June.
Concorde - need to get fridge working on gas but already have a weekend near Frankfurt planned as a quick overnight in Jan and will then be bringing my daughter to Frankfurt during Feb Halfterm and driving down to the Alps for a snowboarding holiday in it for a week. Then it’ll be a case of making sure we use it during the rest of the year when not using the Kepler otherwise it too will be sold.
Would feel odd without motorhome(s) but need to get back on the housing ladder is high and having £100k ties up in two vehicles is a bit foolhardy when we don’t own property.
VW Kepler - first of all this needs fixing and need to get our backsides in gear to get it to the dealer before spring and get roof and a few odds and sods fixed so we can use it when it gets warmer again. There is a thought about selling it but we‘ll see how we get on around June.
Concorde - need to get fridge working on gas but already have a weekend near Frankfurt planned as a quick overnight in Jan and will then be bringing my daughter to Frankfurt during Feb Halfterm and driving down to the Alps for a snowboarding holiday in it for a week. Then it’ll be a case of making sure we use it during the rest of the year when not using the Kepler otherwise it too will be sold.
Would feel odd without motorhome(s) but need to get back on the housing ladder is high and having £100k ties up in two vehicles is a bit foolhardy when we don’t own property.
We have no plans for 2019 yet. We have had the winter welding and engine stuff completed on our T25 already for next year, although I need to check whether I have a slight hot running issue too. Will probably tackle additional interior jobs early in the year. (maybe new flooring, a lining for the high top and some light oak veneer in some places that are 'rough')
2018 our main trips were to Vendee in France and near Exmouth. Nothing so grandiose planned next year but looking for a good family campsite (with good facilities) within a four hour drive of Southampton. Any recommendations?
Mike
2018 our main trips were to Vendee in France and near Exmouth. Nothing so grandiose planned next year but looking for a good family campsite (with good facilities) within a four hour drive of Southampton. Any recommendations?
Mike
We're thinking about foregoing the usual couple of weeks on a Greek island nect year, and doing a fair bit more in the caravan instead.
Nothing arranged yet, but we like to do 5 or six nights every month (usually within about 100 or so miles of home) and will probably start that in March (mainly C&CC sites).
For the 'big' holiday next year, though, we're looking at a three/four week run around Cumbria, Scotland, and Northumberland.
Planning starts soon, along with a few repairs/mods to the old 'van in readiness.
Nothing arranged yet, but we like to do 5 or six nights every month (usually within about 100 or so miles of home) and will probably start that in March (mainly C&CC sites).
For the 'big' holiday next year, though, we're looking at a three/four week run around Cumbria, Scotland, and Northumberland.
Planning starts soon, along with a few repairs/mods to the old 'van in readiness.
Next year I'm unsure which direction to go in
It may be me getting older but the amount of work required for camping is starting to jar with me. It doesn't help that Mrs Ug insists on having a lot of creature comforts which combines to fill a 6x4ft trailer quite easily.
Obvious answer would be to upgrade to a caravan but it's just not for me. We also struggle to get on to the sites we like and find ourselves having to book further and further in advance these days.
I've always wanted a motorboat so looking at options for something near York in the near future but the costs are in another league. So may find all our gear (and there is a lot of it) up for sale next year.
It may be me getting older but the amount of work required for camping is starting to jar with me. It doesn't help that Mrs Ug insists on having a lot of creature comforts which combines to fill a 6x4ft trailer quite easily.
Obvious answer would be to upgrade to a caravan but it's just not for me. We also struggle to get on to the sites we like and find ourselves having to book further and further in advance these days.
I've always wanted a motorboat so looking at options for something near York in the near future but the costs are in another league. So may find all our gear (and there is a lot of it) up for sale next year.
Uggers said:
Next year I'm unsure which direction to go in
It may be me getting older but the amount of work required for camping is starting to jar with me. It doesn't help that Mrs Ug insists on having a lot of creature comforts which combines to fill a 6x4ft trailer quite easily.
Obvious answer would be to upgrade to a caravan but it's just not for me. We also struggle to get on to the sites we like and find ourselves having to book further and further in advance these days.
I've always wanted a motorboat so looking at options for something near York in the near future but the costs are in another league. So may find all our gear (and there is a lot of it) up for sale next year.
Narrowboat?It may be me getting older but the amount of work required for camping is starting to jar with me. It doesn't help that Mrs Ug insists on having a lot of creature comforts which combines to fill a 6x4ft trailer quite easily.
Obvious answer would be to upgrade to a caravan but it's just not for me. We also struggle to get on to the sites we like and find ourselves having to book further and further in advance these days.
I've always wanted a motorboat so looking at options for something near York in the near future but the costs are in another league. So may find all our gear (and there is a lot of it) up for sale next year.
Spain for 2 months Jan-Mar but then our plans are up in the air as Mrs O has to change her medication when we get back (she has MS) and that could be a long process 
If we can work it, we'll head down to the SoF for a month in very early summer and then across to Venice/Italian Lakes in September.
In between we'll be having regular trips up to Cheltenham (to see Mrs O's dad...who is 80 now) and regular 'local' trips for a few nights here and there...
If we can work it, we'll head down to the SoF for a month in very early summer and then across to Venice/Italian Lakes in September.
In between we'll be having regular trips up to Cheltenham (to see Mrs O's dad...who is 80 now) and regular 'local' trips for a few nights here and there...
Uggers said:
Obvious answer would be to upgrade to a caravan but it's just not for me. We also struggle to get on to the sites we like and find ourselves having to book further and further in advance these days.
Obviously don't know what sort of places you like but having a caravan opens up a whole new world of sites. Join the Caravan Club (& also the Camping and Caravan Club) and you can use their network of certified location (CL) sites. These have a 5 caravan limit and usually minimum facilities though quite a few have hook up now. With the caravan you don't need a toilet and shower block just somewhere to empty the chemical toilet. Much cheaper than the big places too, we were paying £15 a night on a CL in the New Forest during the summer holidays, any of the commercial sites would have been £30. oblio said:
In between we'll be having regular trips up to Cheltenham (to see Mrs O's dad...who is 80 now
Just putting two and two together. Wondering if it was you I was talking to at Briarfields when I was on the service point flushing the fresh tank on our Hymer a month or so back. Big tag axle autotrail with a recently smashed driver side mirror?
ker up, then planning our first family camping trip. I am predicting the kids are going to hate it.The only definite for us is Beautiful Days weekend towards the end of August, although we do have the two weeks prior to that booked off at work. I think SWMBO wants to have a bimble around Yorkshire so that'll be our main trip. We've got the week booked before the Easter weekend so will be off somewhere in the UK - possibly either The Lakes or East Anglia then there'll be the odd overnighter here and there. Unfortunately that's pretty much all of our holiday accounted for until September (except for the February half term when we're of to Florence and Venice for the week) so that'll be about it.
Do want to try and sort the battery though - if it's left for more than four weeks at a time it's flat which seems far too short a time for me. We've had a couple of auto electricians have a look but all seem stumped unless we're prepared to chuck a bucketload of cash at it. The other thing is the last time we were away (this year's Beautiful Days) it went into limp mode about five miles from home. When we had a look under the bonnet the next morning there was no coolant whatsoever, yet nothing under the van either. Strangely, after refilling and waiting ages to see if there were any leaks with the engine ticking over we drove it round for about an hour to discover it hadn't lost a drop during that time. It was also at the same level a couple of weeks later. Not sure what that's all about.
Do want to try and sort the battery though - if it's left for more than four weeks at a time it's flat which seems far too short a time for me. We've had a couple of auto electricians have a look but all seem stumped unless we're prepared to chuck a bucketload of cash at it. The other thing is the last time we were away (this year's Beautiful Days) it went into limp mode about five miles from home. When we had a look under the bonnet the next morning there was no coolant whatsoever, yet nothing under the van either. Strangely, after refilling and waiting ages to see if there were any leaks with the engine ticking over we drove it round for about an hour to discover it hadn't lost a drop during that time. It was also at the same level a couple of weeks later. Not sure what that's all about.
mike9009 said:
Narrowboat?
My parents own a 6 berth cabin cruiser which is nice the narrow boat style has never really appealed to me for some reason. My wife likes the open/social outside areas the sports cruisers provide. These are realistically distance wise only available in York or Loch Lomond. C0ffin D0dger said:
Obviously don't know what sort of places you like but having a caravan opens up a whole new world of sites. Join the Caravan Club (& also the Camping and Caravan Club) and you can use their network of certified location (CL) sites. These have a 5 caravan limit and usually minimum facilities though quite a few have hook up now. With the caravan you don't need a toilet and shower block just somewhere to empty the chemical toilet. Much cheaper than the big places too, we were paying £15 a night on a CL in the New Forest during the summer holidays, any of the commercial sites would have been £30.
We are quite specific in what we like. We like to be next to or close to water. Something for our son to keep him occupied, but not the haven type places which we like to avoid. These places obviously appeal to a lot of others too as most summer weekends are fully booked by May. So difficult to be spontaneous if a nice weekend is forecast.I'll have a closer look at the vans, it may work for us if we maybe share with close family. It then doesn't spend too long sitting around and gets used.
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff