Falling Up a Stile in Style

This year, the weather has been particularly poor. Days of wind, rain, gloom and occasional sun. No two days have been alike. Even the hardy Brits amongst us have shunned the idea of leaving the house without a waterproof. But the joy of having a camper van is just taking to the road when the weather looks even a little bit promising. 

Friday afternoon we checked the weather forecast, collected Buttercup and packed our things. 

Since turning 40 last summer, I've been compiling a list of 40 things to do/places to go now I'm 40. One of the places I found out about recently that I've never visited is the Crook O'Lune near Quernmore. Despite spending numerous weekends around the Trough of Bowland as a child and my second year of University at Lancaster Uni, this little gem had passed me by... This became the destination for Friday night.

Having set off late to avoid the escaping rush hour and holiday traffic we pulled into a peaceful layby near The Crook. There were no streetlights and the sky was perfectly clear. As we lay on the bed looking out of Buttercup's rear window we had a fantastic view of the starscape. Even better, I saw my first ever shooting star. 

The following morning we awoke to glorious sun. The Crook O'Lune was calling. This really is a beautiful little spot. The car park (no overnight parking) is just £1 and there is a little information map and cafe. Heading down the path to the river you have many choices. Walk up stream or down stream on either side, the choice is yours. 

We chose to head upstream away from the picnic groups and the actual crook itself. Ambling down the steps to the path we soon found ourselves walking along the grassy path next to the river. As with most country paths, this soon led to a stile. I'm used to stiles. I've climbed many of them very successfully all my life. Today however proved a bit difficult. Don't ask me how because I just don't know, when lifting my right leg to step onto the stile I cracked (and I mean cracked) my right knee. It was like cracking your funny bone but on a whole other scale, involving me hopping on the spot and biting my lip. I'm sure the swans on the river thought I was slightly mad. Since then it has gone purple and now a kind of grey/black colour...lovely!

Back to the scenery. It really was lovely. The only sounds were the running water and the occasional groups of families enjoying the surroundings. We eventually came to another little crook where the water ran smoothly and I had no choice but to go for a paddle (in my wellies!) 

The sun shone down and the sound of the animals was the only noise. It was like an orchestra of sheep, cows and ducks.

As much as we could have stayed, our journey took us onwards to Haweswater in the Lakes. Another glorious spot and perfect for campervans. The car park is small but it is used as a base for many wild campers (mostly in tents) so there is no issue about where to stay. 

As the sun was still beaming down we set off once more for a walk. As we knew it was going to be a gentle stroll we'd packed some chocolate and wine for the way. 

Having chosen a path that we thought would lead us to the little beach area we soon found that the bridge across the river had long since collapsed. This left no option but to climb over a barbed wire fence and cross using the new bridge. I have to point out that at this point NO wine had been consumed! Dom being tall and leggy was able to negotiate the fence no problem. Now my turn. Dom very kindly took my hand to help me over the fence and using my right foot (that old enemy again) I pushed off from the fence post with such velocity that we both lost our balance and fell in a heap on the, thankfully, grassy ground. Bursting into laughter we picked ourselves up reassured ourselves that the wine and chocolate remained in one piece and set off once more.

I'm sure you'll agree it was worth it ...

Whenever we go for a little trip out in our lovely van I can't help but think how lucky we are. It really is the perfect way to see the countryside. You don't need a grand plan, just a vague idea of a destination. Half the fun is the journey. Until the next one, we'll bid you a fond farewell

Thanks for reading. You can find out more about Little Lamb Tales and Little Lamb Phonics by visiting http://littlelambpublishing.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/littlelambtales?fref=ts

Unleash the Beast!

Last time I blogged, we'd had an eventful weekend in Wetton and Bedfordshire including hills, breakdowns and a wedding.

This blog sees us back in Wetton for the Toe Wrestling Festival! Yes, you read that correctly - toe wrestling. Surprisingly enough, the reaction from most people has been disbelief, laughter and downright curiosity. Prepare yourself for a guide to all things toe and foot related.

The Toe Wrestling Festival is not a new thing. The Royal Oak at Wetton had been the proud host of this event for several years. But like many local events, it grew to epic proportions and it was decided that the village simply couldn't cope. Enter Dom's friend Ian, the new landlord of The Royal Oak, who decided to bring back this quirky but undeniably fun festival.

We arrived as a group of six campers on the Friday night, enjoyed some fine ale and wine and took ourselves off to bed in preparation for the big event. In typical English summer style, the day dawned sunny, then cloudy, then hot, then cool. The bunting was erected, the marquee prepared with tables, mini-bar and kegs and the public started to arrive.

As my back is notoriously bad, I was the only one from our party who didn't enter the actual event. However, I did get a ring side seat and photographic evidence. 
First everyone's feet had to be examined by a chiropodist to make sure they were fit to take part (it's serious stuff!) 

Being seen by the chiropodist before us was a well built, muscular, bearded man draped with a Union Jack Flag. On the side of his right foot was a tattoo baring the words "Unleash the beast". It was pretty apparent that here was the Current World Record holder. 
As the men were called into the marquee, my poor other half Dom heard his name called out against none other than the beast himself. Locking big toes on the right foot and raising their left foot, the battle to force their opponent's right foot to the side began. It's fair to say, the round didn't take long! The event was then repeated on the left foot. Suffice to say, Dom did not come home with the flag. The Current World Record holder retained his Wetton title although the final between himself and a local musician was hard core and frantic. 

The girls in our group faired no better being paired against previous winners of the female title. Not surprisingly, the women's final was between said previous winners. In a game that surpassed the men's for excitement and grit, the final was eventually decided. The runner up left the field with a hobble! Toe Wrestling is not for the weak!

Buttercup's second trip to Wetton was just as eventful but for a very different reason. I can't help but wonder what will happen next time we come...

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A Weekend and a Half!

We've just got back and unpacked Buttercup from a weekend away. To say that it was eventful is a bit of an understatement so I thought I would share it with you.

A few months ago, my lovely friend Sarah invited Dom and I to her wedding. As I met her on a dive boat off the Australian coast I knew she wouldn't mind if we rocked up to her wedding in Buttercup. The staff at Newton Park Farm Barn http://www.newtonparkbarn.co.uk/ were kindness itself and said we could sleep in the van after the Reception. Perfect.

Then Dom's friend who is running The Royal Oak in Wetton http://www.royaloakwetton.co.uk/ invited us over so we decided to combine the two. 

Now as you have probably gathered by now, if you are lucky enough to own one of these lovely vehicles, patience is a virtue you must definitely acquire. There's no such thing as simply packing your bag, getting in the van and going. Instead Dom faced three hours of adjusting heating levers and other technical things before we were finally ready to go. 

Since we got her back from 81A, she's been running really well. She almost gallops along.  So as we were cruising towards the Runcorn Bridge with the sun shining, Dom decided to open the window. And that was the first of many little things that occurred to spice up the journey. The handle fell off and the window was left jammed open. We continued on the way...

We went cross country on good A roads as far as Leek. Once here, we encountered the only bit of bad traffic. Unfortunately, it was on a fairly steep hill (not Buttercup's favourite!). However, with just one minor incident of rolling backwards, fighting with the handbrake and first gear I managed to get through. From Leek we knew the roads were going to be small, narrow and winding. When I set off to someone's place for the first time, I tend to get in touch and ask them if there is a route they suggest. Dom is more gung ho than me in that respect and just likes to 'wing it'.  And so, having printed out a map of the MINOR roads that lead to the village of Wetton we followed a sign for Ford. 

"Don't worry" said Dom "All roads lead to Wetton."

I have to say here that the scenery was idyllic. The sun was shining down and the countryside looked beautiful. As we headed down a particularly steep valley I said 
"We'd better find another way back out tomorrow. It's all right going down, but I don't think Buttercup will make it back up!"
About two minutes after the words were out of my mouth and with absolutely no signs, warnings or otherwise the road performed a sharp hair pin and changed gradient to about 1:2! We'd been on a steady incline so I was in second gear anyway but as I hauled on the wheel and desperately hit the accelerator Buttercup ground to a stop refusing to move. Thankfully there was nothing behind us or coming towards us as we were stuck at the bottom of the hairpin itself at a precarious angle! I won't write what our thoughts or words were, I'm sure you can guess...

Gingerly, I tried lifting my foot from the brake and even though the handbrake was on we rolled backwards. With my foot firmly jammed on the brake, Dom took hold of the handbrake while I grappled with the first gear. Looking at each other we took a breath. Luckily I found the bite quickly, Dom took off the handbrake and with much squealing and protest, Buttercup set off up the hill. And then you have the awful dilemma, do you let her scream or risk second gear and stopping again. Thankfully I kept her in first because another hairpin appeared though thankfully not as steep. And with a huge sigh of relief from the two of us, and Buttercup, we made it. 

The gentle village of Wetton appeared on the horizon and we coasted into the village as if nothing had happened.

Wetton is a beautiful little village and the Royal Oak is most definitely the hub. Ian welcomed us warmly and showed us around. One of his regular visitors who camps at a local site had actually heard us coming up the valley. When he walked in he said to Ian 
"Ah I knew I'd heard a VW on that bend. It didn't sound too happy. It made it then!"

Back to the Royal Oak. This is a fantastic village pub and as it's a Free House, there is a good selection of real ale on tap. And as for the food, this was absolutely delicious! Plus, there is even a Gluten Free menu. The pub is dog friendly, children friendly and the staff are lovely. Ian is doing a great job with the pub and we can't wait to return for the Toe Wrestling Competition in July. You heard it here first!

The next day dawned with rain but thankfully we had mended the window last night with a trusty alan key. This meant we were up and away ahead of schedule to make sure we arrived at Sarah and Thomas' wedding with plenty of time to spare. Or so we thought....

It was Dom's turn at the wheel which meant I was left with the task of map reading. I'm rubbish at this. My sense of direction is shocking and I get travel sick if I look at the map for too long. I like to make sure the route is in my head before we set off but despite this we still (well obviously I mean me) managed to lose the road we wanted to be on. Originally, the plan was to avoid the M1 at all costs and pootle down the country roads. Plan B was put in to place and we joined the M1 just north of Leicester.

Motorways are not the places to enjoy a camper van of a certain age. Her sweet spot is about 55-60 mph so you certainly won't find us in the fast lane. However as there are permanent (so it seems) roadworks on the M1 that restrict everyone to 50mph we thought we'd fit in. However, an accident had reduced this to a slow crawl and eventual stop. Dom turned off the ignition and we waited for the road to clear. After about 5 minutes there seemed to be action but not however from us.

Dom turned the key - NOTHING! He turned again, still nothing. Brilliant! We suspected the battery and knew that a simple jump start would get us going but not without some help. There's no hard shoulder through this stretch of roadworks and the traffic including huge lorries was now trying to negotiate around us. Thoroughly worried that we would miss Sarah and Thomas' big day I phoned the AA. They were fabulous but couldn't rescue us from the inside lane. This would require the Highways Agency who would tow us to the nearest services where the AA would sort out the problem. I had visions of the wedding passing and even part of the night do before we got there but I couldn't have been more wrong. Just a couple of phone calls later they were on their way.

I cannot fault either the Highways or AA. Buttercup was loaded onto the back of the Highways lorry (which by coincidence was the same colour as Buttercup and the AA) and we were given an escort with lots of flashing lights to Watford Gap. "Aye, she's a lovely old bus you've got" the driver told us. "Yes she is, when she goes!" I replied!

Once at the services the AA took over. Well I say took over, you see by then Buttercup had decided to come out of her strop. The AA man turned the ignition and she fired up straight away!!! I KID YOU NOT! He checked her over and couldn't find the original cause. And so after a mere 30 minutes from my first phone call we were back on the road. The AA and Highways Agency were worth their weight in gold.

The journey continued but the clock was ticking too. The motor way was left behind and we were on the last leg. With ten minutes to go before the ceremony we pulled into a layby and hurriedly threw on our clothes. Any attempt at glamour and sophistication was flung out of the window. With the clock now racing ahead we rushed into the village, parked up and legged it down the road to the church. There were a cluster of villagers outside. 

"Has she arrived?" I called out?

"Yes, she's just gone in!" was the reply.

Feeling like extras in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Dom (who had just finished tying his tie) and I skidded into a pew at the rear of the church just in time for the vicar to welcome everyone! 

Phew! The wedding was lovely and we had made it!  And in the gap between the ceremony and the Reception I even had time to put on my jewellery and perfume. Blimey Buttercup you don't half know how to keep us on our toes. 

Next time we go away, we are hoping for something a little less frantic. We'll let you know how that goes....

Buttercup's Story Telling Début

The sun has been shining and it's definitely getting warmer as the camper season gets ready to begin. We've not blogged over the winter period as it would have made dull reading. We have taken her out for the odd day trip but nothing quite literally to write home about. Now, however, Buttercup has come out of hibernation and what has she been up to?

As ever with these lovely old vans there is always a bit of work that needs doing before the season can begin. Our to do list is always being added to but the last look included -

• the heating (we have none which is one of the reasons we've not pootled very far during winter)
• the carbs
• the side door to be re-hung
• shocks
• general prep for MOT

We took her back to MSC Prestige Motors in Burscough who gave us some good news - the shocks were fine and only bushes were required. Fantastic and big tick against that point on the list.

But as we all know, the world operates on yin and yang as we found out when we took her to 81a Volkswagen j81avdubs.co.uk to ask about the heating and a few other things. When we drove up the owner John had his head buried under about another 6 vans and we had to park around the corner a good 70 yards away. Despite this, his first words to us were "The exhaust sounds as if it's blowing". Those of the words of a man who has listened to many a VW camper van engine!

We booked her in for the following Tuesday as I needed her for her storytelling début at the Liverpool Food and Drink festival that weekend. Which brings me on to that very event.

When I first bought Buttercup it was purely for a hobby. A lovely old vehicle to pootle around the British Isles and if we got brave maybe even Europe.  It wasn't long before I saw her potential as a prop/aid to my storytelling facebook.com/littlelambtales. And so last weekend we spent two glorious days at the Food and Drink Festival in Sefton Park.

We arrived on Sunday morning and the park was shrouded in mist and grey cloud. This didn't look promising. Added to this the rain had come down heavily a couple of days before just in time for all the Porta-loos to arrive. Needless to say the site was very muddy and boggy in places. Even some of the up to date 4x4's were struggling with the mud in places. Gulp! Mud and old vehicles do not a happy marriage make.

Luckily, The Children's Zone was located in a relatively dry section of the site and I inched my way on in one piece. Having parked up I eyed up my pitch for the next two days. The ground was definitely not dry and inviting to sit on. Luckily, I had brought some picnic mats for just this dilemma. Sadly these didn't survive the day so on Sunday we had some lovely straw to sit on. The sun came out from behind the clouds and for two days, the festival buzzed with happy faces, delicious food and drink and entertainment galore.

Over the next two days, I told countless stories about food and eating. However, I spoke to just as many people about Buttercup. Children, parents, grandparents, previous owners, new owners, people who were considering being owners. They all came over to look at her, ask questions and peek inside. And I can't say I blame them, she's very pretty!

Buttercup's first festival was a success. But leaving the site did make me laugh. It is quite funny when other people have no understanding of what it's like to drive a vintage vehicle. People ask you to back her up a bit so they can get through without realising that finding reverse may just take a bit longer than their shiny new car. Buttercup's gearbox is great but she can get a bit grumpy if she's put in reverse before she's ready. "It's alright love, don't worry about  moving her now!" was the response of one stall owner. I only took about 30 seconds to find reverse honestly! And again, everyone driving new vans, pick ups, trucks etc has the benefit of power steering. Waiting for me to grapple with the wheel when they are used to full lock in 5 seconds was a new experience for some of them. That said, we soon cleared the site and were on our way home.  She did me proud and our adventures continue. Next stop a wedding in Bedfordshire.

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.