She is a 2003 888 X pack special,which means she has a few little luxuries and extras thrown in.
I started camping in tents at a very early age and progressed over the years to more comfortable surroundings!
I have owned a VW type 3 campervan with a Wentworth conversion, and then moved on to a 5 berth caravan, a Lunar Freelander.
I have only owned my present campervan for about 6 months, therefore only had a few trips so far, but hope to add to the content as time goes on.
Thanks for viewing my blog.
Please feel free to email me regarding any information on the content of this blog.
email lamprisol@gmail.com
Easter 2012 at Sheepcote Valley
Easter 2012 was spent at Sheepcote Valley CC site in East Sussex.The jouney down from London on the Saturday was quite pleasant and the weather was fine despite the weather forecast showing the contrary!
As you check in you are given a map of the site from which you can feel free to select your pitch, or you can drive around until you have chosen a pitch, whether it be grass or hardstanding, and then return to the office with your pitch number.
This is currently priced at £5 for 5 hours use.
There is also a tenting area for campers
Another great plus to this site is the fact that Brighton Marina is on its doorstep, i managed to walk there in 15 minutes, if you dont want to take the van and fancy some excercise!
From North (London) on M23/A23 - after passing Brighton boundary sign & twin pillars join A27 (sp Lewes); immediately after passing Sussex University (on left) leave A27 via slip road at signposted B2123, Falmer, Rottingdean; at roundabout at top of slip road turn right onto B2123 (signposted Falmer, Rottingdean); in 2m at traffic lights in Woodingdean turn right by Downs Hotel into Warren Road; in about 1m at traffic lights turn left into Wilson Ave, crossing racecourse; in 1¼m turn left at foot of hill (last turning before traffic lights) into East Brighton Park; follow lane for ½m to Site entrance on left.
Wurzledubs 2012
Wurzle Dubs is an annual event set up by the Somerset group at Mill Farm.
I arrived around lunch time after a steady run from London, only being held up for a short while on the M5.
Mill Farm is a nice site hidden away down a long winding country lane in Fiddington, it's quite a large site with a well stocked shop, a take away, boating lake and a clubhouse with evening entertainment.
We were located on the rally field with ehu, and toilet block and to the best of my knowledge nearly 100 vans were present!
Below is a short video of the rally field.
This is me pitched up with fellow T4/T5 club members, we also erected an event shelter and a couple of gazebos which came in handy on the couple of evenings that it rained!
There were 10 Surrey members attending and it was nice to get together in the evenings with a beer or two and put the world to rights!
On the Sunday evening we were treated to a performance by the Mangled Wurzles in the club house with '' i gotta brand new combine 'arvester'' and many more little gems!
With lovely walks and scenery in abundance, and not forgetting some awesome vans mixed with really friendly people, that made for a fun relaxed weekend.
Four of my photographs were published in an article of this event in VW BUS T4 &5 magazine issue 4.
Mill Farm Caravan and Camping Park Fiddington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1JQ
Surrey T4/5 Meet Frensham Ponds
The sun shone and everyone contributed to the fine spread, see the VW cakes made by a clever member [yum yum].
Frensham Ponds is an idylic location with water sports going on and a lovely beach for relaxing.
We had a good attendance and everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, there is a large car park to cope with such get togethers and the fee is £2-50, less if you're a member of the National Trust.
Frensham Ponds
Bacon Lane, Churt, Surrey.
Brighton Breeze 2012 6/7 October
Brighton Breeze is an annual event that starts off in a convoy from Hook Road Arena and travels M23/A23 to Madeira Drive on the seafront at Brighton.
This year the Surrey T4 forum group combined with the Sussex group, and we decided to all meet up at Buckle Caravan Park in Seaford, pitch the vans and then take the train, just across the road from the park, to Brighton.
The day started well following all types of VW vans during the convoy and arriving at Seaford around lunchtime, my grandson accompanied me on this one, a campervan enthusiast in the making! After a brief cuppa and catching up with the Surrey/Sussex crew we took to the train and arrived in Brighton 30 minutes later, some of the surrey group were already parked up in the Breeze and first impressions were very positive.
Turns out that the whole show took over Madeira Drive from the pier right down to the Marina so I knew we had some serious walking ahead of us!
Buckle Caravan Park Seaford
Some really nice vans
and some not so nice!
Buggies and Beetles
Ouch!!
Grandson Reece checking out the longboards
On the Saturday night we had a splendid barbecue and a few drinks back at Buckle and with such a full day's viewing and walking we were quite glad to get our heads down!
On the Sunday we awoke to a glorious day with plenty of sunshine and the 7th was the day the Sussex group have their monthly meet held in Seaford right next to the beach.
So we showered and had breakfast and headed about 1/2 a mile down the road.
Below are some photos of the meet.
An awesome weekend and a venture that will be remembered for a long time to come.
Buckle Holiday Park
Marine Parade
Seaford
East Sussex
BN25 2QR
A Lakeland Venture
During September I decided to take a break in the Lake District, having been there once before with my parents when I was knee high to a grass hopper!
I always vowed I would go back one day even at that young age, and taking the camper van seemed like an excellent opportunity.
And so begins my venture, my destination Park Coppice CC park Coniston, chosen for its close proximity to the lake.
Going by my trusty Tom Tom the journey would be 302 miles from London taking something over 4 hours driving A3 M25 M40 and M6.
I had already decided that because of the long distance I would break the journey up into 100 mile sections, stopping at services for a cup of coffee and the loo!
The first 100 miles went really well with no hold ups and a clear run, the second 100 went just as smoothly, stopping at 200 for a much needed Burger King Whopper no less!
I arrived at Park Coppice, the journey taking about 4 1/2 hours give or take, and feeling quite relaxed, was a good drive!
Park Coppice is a Caravan Club site and is unusually laid out in that the pitches are tucked away in glades amongst the trees.
This makes the whole area very picturesque, calming and peaceful.
I had chosen a pitch that was about 200 yards from the vicinity of the lake but the site is massive, about 280 pitches I believe, so you can stay further '' inland '' if you like.
The wardens and staff were very friendly and helpfull, and there is a fish and chip wagon that visits the site on Sundays, Wednesdays and Friday evenings which was handy if I returned late after a day out.
The Reception, Shop and Information kiosk
The pitches are set out in seperate glades and are very spacious
A pathway leading down to the lake led to stunning views like these......
........once you'd got past these!
I spent most of my first day here relaxing and taking in the amazing scenery.
A lot of people were using this site for various water sports such as kayaking, there being a jetty for launching such vessels.
There were also steam cruiser and gondola trips available on Coniston.
The village at Coniston is very quaint with meandering streams, ancient churches and a backdrop which I think is known as Coniston Old Man
There's a lot of history in this little village including a museum, The Ruskin Museum'', dedicated to Donald Campbell who died on Lake Coniston back in January 1967 trying to achieve a world water speed record.
Me, only being about ten at the time well remember the news coverage this tragedy brought to the tv.
I found it both fascinating and intriguing to be standing yards from where Bluebird flipped over.
There is a memorial in the centre of the village and I tracked down Campbell's grave in a tiny cemetery behind some shops.
I had decided to visit the Kirkstone Pass, a very steep narrow road that leads to the Kirkstone Inn at the top, a very old pub with no mains electricity or gas!
The route is very scenic with mountains and lakes springing up all around you, but boy am I glad I had decided on a 2.5td when I bought the campervan, might have something to do with the fact that this particular road is more commonly known as ''The Struggle''
And so to the top..........
And down the other side......
Lake Windermere and the surrounding area has awesome beauty and views all its own. It was quite busy when I visited considering it was mid September, but I managed to find a niche or two to get some nice shots. One of which is panoramic!
The journey to Ullswater from Ambleside was fascinating taking me through Brotherswater where I stopped off to see a waterfall called Aira Force.
This was a lovely spot that is run by the National Trust where you pay a small car park fee and make your way to the waterfall via a 1/2 mile path.Some parts are quite steep but well worth the effort as you negotiate the quaint little passes and bridges.
The final part of my journey took me through Glenridding, Pooley Bridge down to Patterdale.
The weather took a turn for the worse at this time and my only effort of photographing Ullswater had to be short and sweet!
I had decided that I would visit Keswick, a small villagey type town with natty little shops aswell as the bigger outlet stores.Keswick was the perfect place to shop for some bits and pieces and a perfect end to my Lakeland Venture.
Park Coppice Caravan Club Site
Park Gate,Coniston,Cumbria,LA21 8LA
Clubs and Get Togethers
I have a few gripes with their arrival and departure rules, but on the whole the membership is well worth belonging to. I have been to many CC sites over the years including Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Wales, Devon, Cornwall and The Isle of Wight, to name a few
Secondly i am a member of VWT4 Forum.co.uk and i'm known as t4london.
I am in the Surrey Regional Group of this club and we meet every third Sunday of the month at Newlands Corner
Guildford
GU4 8SE
Below is a short video and a couple of pics of some of our meets, the last one in May had 33 vans in attendance a splendid turnout!
These meets are great for chucking ideas around with like minded people and we also go to shows and sometimes visit other regional meets.
We have a number of events planned for 2012, so if you're reading this, why not pop along sometime
we'd love to see you!
The 3rd club i belong to is Wildcamping for Motorhomes, this is also run by an active forum,
I am very new to the wild camping scene but hope to get out there and find some good ''wilding spots''.
By joining this club and becoming a full member, you get access to a downloadable database with over 4000 wild camping POI's.
My only experiences of wild camping so far are a 1 overnighter at Cheddar Gorge a very long time ago and, wait for it, an overnight wild camping outside my house. This was to try-out the comforts of the rock n roll bed.
wimbledondogwalkingclub.blogspot.com
All information and content correct at time of writing
to the best of my knowledge
CamperVan Ventures cannot be responsible for changes
that may occur from time to time.
