September Summer

We're enjoying a prolonged summer at the moment. This September is officially the driest since records began.  So it seems only right that we should make the most of it and take Buttercup for some last minute camping before it gets too cold. 

I should point out here that Buttercup though running like a dream still has a dodgy (ie not working!) heating system.  This is often the case with these old vans.  Because the engine is air cooled and at the rear of the vehicle by the time the air passes through the heating pipes to the front it is generally luke warm at best. And if like us, you suspect the pipes are riddled with holes the air is just plain cold.  Perfect for summer but not so perfect once the temperature starts returning to the normal for this time of year.  One of Dom's many jobs on his to do list is to try and fix this.  As I have yet to travel in a late bay VW that has fully functioning heating I'm not holding my breath!

Anyway, back to the blog...Last Saturday, the weather was gorgeous so we took the decision to pack up the van and head quite literally for the hills. We had to be back by Sunday afternoon but the sun was just too tempting. For once we actually had a plan of where we were heading. Well Dom knew.

I have to confess here and this will come as no surprise to readers who know me that my sense of direction is appalling! I can generally remember routes once I've travelled them a couple of times but show me a diversion sign and ask me to use my navigation skills and I'm useless.  Added to this is my car sickness which is made one hundred times worse if I even attempt to look at a map. Because of this, Dom and I have struck a deal now. I always drive on the way to our destination which means any map reading is done by him.  He drives on the way back and as he is like a homing pigeon we have a good chance of making it back.

Dom had found a lovely spot on the map so off we set for Llyn Brenig in North Wales.  This is a reservoir that was first filled in 1979 and is now the fourth largest lake in Wales. There is cycling, fishing, sailing and walking all with beautiful views.

               

What struck us both as we set off around the edge of the lake was the quiet. It was really still and peaceful and there were just a handful of other people there.  We'd spotted a beach on the other side of the lake and this is what we were aiming for. The closer we got to it the less people we saw until eventually there was just the two of us (oh and Lamby of course).

At the beach, there were some mini cliffs made from the rock that had been cut away to form the reservoir.  They made an ideal seat and allowed me to take some more photos of the surroundings.

                 

It was so quiet, we could actually hear this little stream running into the lake. That is until the quiet was rudely shattered by some people on motorbikes. I can see why the roads around here would appeal to bikers but we were enjoying peace and tranquillity. As they passed we heaved a sigh of relief and continued to enjoy the view.  Unfortunately, these bikes were determined to drive up and down the same stretch of road repeatedly for the next 20 minutes.  I know the country is there for us all to enjoy but I wanted them to disappear and leave the countryside for just the two of us. Selfish? Maybe but I'm sure anyone else who'd been there would have agreed!

That aside, we continued to enjoy the lake complete with our very own Ducks and Drakes competition which I won! I do believe the winning bounce count was 7.

There was just time for one more photo as the light changed before we headed back to the van.

We'd already passed our potential resting place for the night earlier in the day so all we had to do was pick up some frozen potato waffles (who says camping is glamorous) to accompany our dinner and we were set for the night. I should point out here that waffles are not something we eat on a regular basis, but they are easy to cook when all you have are a grill and hob.  

The evening was spent overlooking a valley and enjoying a glass of red. Even Lamby got in on the act.

         

And with views like this from your bedroom window what could be better?

Having a van is fantastic! I feel truly blessed and lucky that the sale of my old flat has allowed my dream to become a reality.  Our little weekends away might not be everyone's cup of tea. For some people an ideal weekend is a stay in a 5 star hotel with luxury on tap.  I can see the appeal of that too but there is something quite special about packing up and hitting the road. Sometimes you have a firm idea of where you are heading, sometimes you make it up as you go.  To sum up having the van and getting away for little trips is a simple life but undoubtedly a good one.

Surround Sound

After our most recent little trip in Buttercup, we've spent the last week or so tinkering and doing bits.  Well obviously, when I say me, I really mean Dom. I fully admit that the dream of owning a VW van again was mine and not his. I fully admit that part of the reason this dream is now a reality is because I knew I could rely on him to help with the maintenance.  But hey, he gets to enjoy lovely weekends away in her so he's not complaining.  Due to Dom's tinkering we now have three major improvements to the van and they shall be detailed below.

Air Filter

Our little van had been sorted by our mechanic but unbeknownst to him or us, the air filter was not functioning properly. We discovered this while we were away last time when we found it rolling loose in the engine bay. Despite repeatedly re-attaching it and it seeming firm the same thing happened once we'd travelled any distance.  This meant that our old friend the chugging had returned, a horrid smell of fuel filled the cab, she kept stalling at the lights and the power seemed pretty naff.  Look we know we're not going to get 70mph out of her but we were hoping for 50!

So on our return, Dom set to work.  Remembering an old tip from someone who repaired his bike once he came in search of coke can.  This is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack in our house. We don't drink coke! In fact we don't drink fizzy drinks full stop!  However, a dig around in our tin/can recycle box found some old Pimms cans (they don't count as fizzy drinks!) and Dom headed for the engine bay with his tool kit.

I wish I could tell you exactly what he did but I can't. All I know is the Pimms can was used to create a lining between the air filter and the pipe (?) it needed to sit on top of. This lining made for a snug fit and hey presto the van now runs like a dream.  If there are any VW fanatics reading this who want a more technical explanation please get in touch via the comment box.  We now enjoy journeys without stalling, chugging or lack of power. We motor along smoothly and can even tackle up hills in fourth gear... The moral of this story - drink Pimms and upcycle!

Bespoke Divider

Under the rock and roll bed is a large storage area.  This is perfect for our wellies, walking boots, shoes etc. However, the Power Management system for van (the thing that powers the fridge, water pump etc) is also located here and as we all remember from our Science lessons water and electrics don't really go.

Dom has been like a man on a mission selecting a piece of wood he could adapt into a divider.  Not one to be troubled by a problem like two separate pieces of wood that were too small, he set about making joining brackets, sawing off a corner so it fits snugly against the shaping of the area and attaching said divider to the storage box.

And while he has been busy doing this I have been able to blog, write, sort things for my business, get the weekly shop and generally get on with whatever I needed to.

Key message here - if you are passionate about owning a van, make sure you or your partner is passionate about Van DIY!

The Stereo System

Music is very important to both of us.  I listen to music all the time.  My music taste is eclectic with everything from Abba to Led Zepp nestling in my collection.  As for Dom, he's a musician and although he doesn't actually listen to as much music as me (and certainly not with the same wide choice) he likes to listen to his music on quality speakers.  

Buttercup came with a stereo so we asked the Camper Shak to re-position our speakers in the front cab and Dom bought an amp to make sure the sound would be even throughout.  As Buttercup's original stereo didn't appear to work, we ditched it. Luckily my dad and brother chipped in and bought me a new stereo (with DAB!) for my birthday.  Now it just needed fitting.

And this is where the issues began.  The wiring system in Buttercup left a lot to be desired.  Between Mike from the Camper Shak and Mark the mechanic they must have removed about 10 metres of unnecessary and useless wiring from various parts of the van.  They both said there was lots more to be done to tidy it up. And this was Dom's next job.

Despite being pretty handy with electrical stuff, nothing had prepared him for the random wires, connectors and strange bulbs he found.  More wire was stripped out and eventually we were left with the bare essentials.  Armed with a soldering iron, two steady hands and some help in the form of my slightly terrified and shaking hands we set about hardwiring the stereo in. After what seemed like forever the stereo was switched on...and we had sound!

Hurrah! 

We were so delighted we took her out for a spin just so we could listen to some decent music on a decent sound system.

We know that this isn't the end of the jobs that await us (well Dom) but at least now he can listen to music as he works!

And on that happy note, I'm off to make sure that our supply of Air Filter linings is kept healthy! Cheers!

Birthday Weekend in Buttercup!

You may recall that our last trip was cut short due to coughs and splutterings and general loss of power.  On our return we took Buttercup to Mark at www.mscprestigegarage.com who went out of his way to make sure she was fit and well for our planned trip last weekend.  This wasn't just any trip though, this was the weekend of my big 4-0 birthday so we really wanted to be able to celebrate in style.

Thankfully, with fully working indicators and horn and a cough that had been soothed we were able to load up and head off.

Our destination for Saturday afternoon was in the North Lakes so we decided to get half way there on the Friday night and do the rest of it in the morning. Having spent my Uni days at Charlotte Mason in the Lake District with a second year at Lancaster Campus I had only really used the A6 to get as far as Lancaster.  Well let me tell you, this is a mighty pretty road to use.  If you are in a car and in a rush, the M6 makes more sense but if you have time to spend and a vehicle like Buttercup who won't be rushed I can definitely recommend it. With limited drama, we found somewhere to park, cooked dinner and enjoyed a glass of bubbles that we had kept cold in the fridge we now know how to work.

The next morning we decided to continue up to the North Lakes in a leisurely manner. The weather was kind and a quick look at the map showed us we could go via Haweswater before ending up at the Hesket Newmarket country show (more of that later). Haweswater is a beautiful, quiet lake that's not really on the tourist route.  There is one road in and out that leads down to a small car park. Downhill in a van like Buttercup is great, engage neutral and coast.  But we knew that climbing back up that road would be quite a demand so what else could we do but go for a walk to allow her time to recover?!  And this is what we saw...

                               

As you can see, it's gorgeous! It's so unspoilt, quiet and off the beaten track. The running water actually sounds loud!  There used to be a village in this valley but it was flooded some time ago.  On a beautiful summer day it seemed idyllic but I would imagine it's pretty unforgiving in the winter.  The thought of living down here centuries ago, with only footpaths over the mountains to Shap when you wanted to bury your dead really shows how resourceful, brave and hardy humans can be.

From here we continued on our journey.  The road out of Haweswater wasn't as bad as we feared and Buttercup tackled the gradient and bends very well. Driving her is so different from a modern car.  Every bend has to be anticipated in advance, your feet dance permanently between brake and accelator.  The dilemma of keeping up power versus taking bends at a safe and sedate pace is ongoing.  It's certainly not dull!  And so we climbed up and continued on our way to the rendezvous with relatives at Hesket Newmarket. We just had time for a spot of lunch before we headed to the show ground itself.

I grew up in a seaside town that borders agricultural life but nothing had prepared me for the show we were about to enjoy.  It was packed with every kind of cow imaginable, sheep of every colour and terrier racing! Yes, you read that correctly!  Terrier racing! Basically different types of terrier dogs are lined up by their owners and then have to chase a foxes brush (as it is the country I can only assume it is a real one) while the said brush is wound in using a contraption that is basically a bike!  This is serious stuff.  Owners were keen to take part and much preparation was going on at the start line.  Dogs being dogs, there were several false starts and some dogs who really didn't want to do anything but run around the audience, sniff and leave their mark, but eventually the first race got under way.  The compere was hilarious and really should have a show of his own. I couldn't possibly capture his brilliance but possibly some of the funniest things uttered were

"Peddle harder Michael, they're catching you!"

"Oh now I've stood in something soft. These are new boots too with new grip.  I'll be lucky to get that out by the end of the month"

"My money's on that grey b&%$#r, he'll win see if I'm wrong!"

Genius! 

I've attended a few summer fayres in my time but this is the first time I've seen a real marrow contest, best entry by an OAP, and best egg category. I felt as if we were extras on Midsummer Murders or Miss Marple. Thankfully everyone remained alive this time.

Having spent a very enjoyable few hours, it was time to head off once more. We had yet another rendezvous to keep on Sunday in Saltaire so we had some miles to cover.
Driving over from the Lakes to Yorkshire is really spectacular.  The countryside is beautiful and when the weather is sunny (as it was for us) I defy anyone to find a more beautiful place than the UK.

I won't say exactly where we stayed on Saturday night as somethings should be kept quiet but let's just say that it was somewhere between Hawes and Hebden Bridge.  This really was how we'd imagined camping in the van to be. A quiet place with a beautiful view. My birthday was on Sunday and I can't think of a better way to wake up than with a view like this from your window...

                               


 In true camper style we even headed to the river for face splash!

And this sums up why having a van is so special. I love the freedom we have. Although we had a rough agenda this weekend how we got to each place, where we stopped for food and where we slept was very much down to us. There's nothing wrong with plans but a van gives you the freedom to just try things.  If you take a wrong turn does it really matter?  In this country there's only so far you can go anyway. 

A lot of people have asked if I have regretted buying an old vehicle that has already cost a fair amount to do up and will almost certainly cost me more as the years go on.  My answer has been the same for them all - NOT AT ALL!

And when you look at the pictures above, who can blame me.