Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: Polar Bear on 10 June, 2023, 03:54:13 pm
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Camping, socialising, eating curry and perhaps a bit of cycling if you insist!
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Our new car camping tent arrived today. I'd be needing an electric assist cargo bike to carry this thing.
For anybody interested it is a Vango Brecon 450. And I got it at the half price advertised from Blacks even though they seemed reluctant to fulfil my order.
Nothing special but it will afford us space and comfort for our car camping dotage.
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Caravan and camping:
Customers will prebook and pay in full by debit card before they arrive.
Woah! Not "should prebook" or even "must prebook" but "will prebook"! I for one welcome our new site-owning overlords.
But what's this?
Single person tent (walk on) £13.00 per night
Walk on? But you will have prebooked!
It is possible to camp on our campsite without pre-booking; however, during busy times there is no guarantee of being admitted on to the campsite.
So perhaps you will not have prebooked?
:o
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The pre booking applies mainly to the caravan / motorhome pitches.
I am not sure if we have pre-booked before but I wasn't planning on it. Perhaps I should.
<Edit>
Thinking about it I pre-booked first time and paid on arrival. Subsequent visits I have just rolled up, paid on the day (cash or card has been acceptable) and pitched.
I shall call them for clarification. 🙂
Are you considering joining us then?
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Having had a look at the website I think that may be a hangover from covid. I will ring to check though.
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Are you considering joining us then?
September is beyond my planning horizon.
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I assumed "walk on" just meant no car.
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Me too. We have always done walk on but others OTP have arrived by car without a prior booking and been admitted no problem.
Bookings may be a good idea if more than a couple of folks are planning to join us.
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I assumed "walk on" just meant no car.
I hope that includes "cycle on"! I must have seen too many hairdressers' signs...
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I have emailed the site and have clarity over a few questions that I asked.
Outside of school holidays it is usually not necessary to book but also there is no guarantee of a pitch if you do not. The latter is obvious.
A tent is charged by the designated occupancy size so our relatively huge 4 berth tent would cost the same per night as a lightweight 4 berth. Fees are on the website.
They have agreed that I can charge the car on an unoccupied pitch with electric hookup on the Sunday evening before we leave and pay for just the juice. 👍
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We might be interested depending on health and wealth.
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Here's hoping that you may enjoy good health and much wealth then. 🙂
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I've pencilled (well, keyboarded) this into my calendar.
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Here's hoping that you may enjoy good health and much wealth then. 🙂
It seems unlikely, but you never know ;D ;D
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Bugger I'm horse sitting. Otherwise I could have brought the Palace (6 berth Wild Countryinflatable) and taken in lodgers!
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There is plenty of grass. Horses would be happy.
Not sure about the farmer though ... 🤔
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I'll be booking this coming week. It's only 2 weeks away now and we do like the area.
Anybody else still keen?
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It's on my calendar, but I've not done anything sensible like book a space or look at travel options.
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I am sorely tempted but Mr R is on a cruise at that time and I shall be looking after two dogs, one of which definitely doesn't do camping...
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Their website doesn't let you book online, and I can't view the tariff page as it's insecure. Does this mean I'll have to phone, and speak to someone :jurek:
Current plan seems to be to cycle from Liverpool & camp somewhere around Preston on the Tuesday or Wednesday, and then push on towards Lancaster & Silverdale the next day.
I note that there is a flood warning in force for the Cumbrian coast this weekend. Pack your wellies !
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The tariff page seems to load a pile of JavaScript which then fails to run. I've sent an enquiry via UKCampsite.
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A crude copy and paste.
Tariff - from 1st March 2023
Caravan / trailer tent / motor home (with hookup) £29.00 per night (Price for two people Additional adults - £2.00 per night, additional children - £1.00 per night).
Caravan / trailer tent / motor home (no hookup) £23.00 per night (Price for two people. Additional adults - £2.00 per night, additional children - £1.00 per night)
Awnings for Caravans, Motor homes and trailer tents £3.00 per night (annexes £2.00 per night)
Tent - 8 berth + £32.00 per night
Tent - 6 / 7 berth £28.00 per night
Tent - 4 / 5 berth £23.00 per night
Tent - 2 / 3 berth £21.00 per night
Single person tent (walk on) £13.00 per night
Gazebos at weekends, bank holidays, school holidays £3.00 per night
Tent awnings and extensions £3.00 per night (awnings to be a maximum of 2.4 metres wide).
One car per tent / caravan, extra cars - £3.00 per night
Dogs £1 per night each (only three dogs per booking, please keep on a short lead at all times)
Payment is taken in full for bank holiday bookings, we ask for a three night stay, please read our Booking Policy - phone or e-mail for further details.
Reception Hours
For caravans, motorhomes and campervans please check in with our stewards (situated in the caravan field) between 2pm and 8pm.
For tents please check in between 2pm and 8pm. We politely ask that all patrons check out by 12 noon. Unless otherwise arranged, any arrivals/ departures outside these times will be subject to a £5 surcharge.
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After a couple of dropped calls (she appears to be using a mobile with dodgy signal), I'm booked in, having explained that I'm in a tent, not a motorhome (for which they are fully booked).
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You have reminded me that I have not had a booking confirmation. I have tried both numbers and left messages on both.
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I booked earlier & spoke to “Amy”.
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And by coincidence Amy has just called me back.
All good. We arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday. And it is also confirmed that we can charge Heidi on Sunday evening / night.
So, is it just Andrew, Kim and us Bears?
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Tempting mate but can't due to domestics and increasingly dodgy knees. Enjoy.
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Tempting mate but can't due to domestics and increasingly dodgy knees. Enjoy.
I'm wondering about whether I have any future as a camper as getting up from a horizontal position when getting out of a tent is in increasingly major issue. I probably ought to give it a go some time this year as I haven't done any camping since lord knows when. But Silverdale is too far away for that week: I'm getting the car MOTd on Tuesday next week, and the following Sunday we are driving up to Lancashire to stay with college friends.
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Tempting mate but can't due to domestics and increasingly dodgy knees. Enjoy.
I'm wondering about whether I have any future as a camper as getting up from a horizontal position when getting out of a tent is in increasingly major issue.
Big Tent + camp bed seems to be a solution that usefully prolongs camping careers.
Similarly, barakta finds a rigid camping chair (this sort of thing: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mp/regatta/retexo-adults-camping-chair-oxford-blue/_/R-p-2a1951c6-60fa-463f-b6f3-4fad6dd29990) useful as something to pull herself up by.
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That implies car camping rather that cycle touring with tent.
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Indeed. Still, it's better than no camping.
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For those looking for a smallish tent with more standing room at the from I came across the Vango Galaxy 300 yesterday. I would like to see one in the field first but it looks like it might fill a gap for some folk.
We definitely would struggle to camp now without a car. Sad but true.
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Slight change of plan, too much domestic stuff to ride up today so I'll be training it to Preston or Lancaster tomorrow. Looks like we'll need the good sunscreen !
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Possibly a blessing in the heat.
If the sun/heat is too extreme for you at Lancaster you can get a chug-a-long train to Silverdale. iirc the service is hourly. It's only a mile or so from Silverdale station.
Good luck.
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Just about everything ready to pack the car in the morning after breakfast. I have done the obligatory checks on the car too.. Just charging a few AAA batteries for lights if needed.
We have waaaaaay too much kit now. 🤔
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Horribly sticky & humid in Liverpool. Overcast with a few spots of rain. Just about to leave.
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We're 20 minutes in and on the M6. Traffic is not as bad as feared and Aircon is keeping us sane at 22 degrees C.
Hazy but cloudless skies in the Coventry area. Outside to apparently 24.
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mllePB taking a break at the services on the M6 toll. No sign of chargers here but we've got 178 miles range for 128 miles to go and Heidi is sipping at 4.2 miles/kWh in spite of motorway speeds
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Knutsford and a break for me. No CCS free but we've plugged in the type 2 for a splash and crap ... 🤔 😉
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Uneventful train journey. I carried the bike over the bridge at Preston station as I was too lazy to walk to the lift….
Currently at Morecambe. Just going to find Eric & say hello.
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Knutsford and a break for me. No CCS free but we've plugged in the type 2 for a splash and crap ... 🤔 😉
Isn't it the crap that normally causes the splash?
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We will be calling at Booth's in Carnforth if any campers need us to collect anything.
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I’ll probably drop in myself. Currently on the canal towpath.
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Nice. We'll be there around 3 slow traffic permitting.
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All 3 of us are now at the campsite, Polar Bear is putting the kettle on.
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I have melted in the process of fettling panniers to fit my Reasonably Priced Mountain Bicycle. Have a cheap train to Lancaster tomorrow afternoon.
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Currently sitting outside my tent with a mug of tea, digesting first breakfast. It’s a pleasantly cool 19C.
The Bears have wandered off to the Co-op.
Update from yesterday. I arrived at Lancaster, had a bacon roll & pot of tea at the NAAFI cafe before picking up NCN69 to Morecambe. Said Hi to Eric then bimbled along the prom until it ran out, then followed route 6 along the canal to Carnforth. A quick shop at Booths where I met the PB’s who kindly put my heavy shopping in their car. A slight navigation error led to me taking the steep approach to Silverdale instead of the flatter coastal one. Campsite charged me £16 as I’ve got a 2 man tent. Not sure if they sneak around measuring floor area…. Facilities are fine.
I had a large sausage & a bowl of salad for dinner. The evening was spent outside PB’s Portable Pneumatic Palace watching the Stars & drinking beer.
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I have arrived at Lancaster on a horrible train. Hopefully my knees still work. Setting off northwards...
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Wow. The hoardes have been flocking in for the last 2 hours. Suddenly very busy.
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We have a Kim. At least I think it’s her. Riding an upwrong…..
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Today is overcast, relatively cool and damp on surfaces but not from the sky. There is an almost eerie feel to the place with folk busying themselves trying to figure out what to do for the day.
I haven't seen Kim yet this morning though we did retire to our respective tents at close to midnight.
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There are downmat noises coming from her tent…..
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I was catching up with several nights of poor sleep, it being a civilised temperature here.
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I’m sitting in a very nice summer house with the PB’s. Kim is still at the campsite. It’s just started to rain!
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How completely predictable. I'm now in my tent, which is just big enough to sit in a Helinox in.
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My Apple weather app says it will stop in about 25 minutes.
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mllePB and myself decided to try the small cafe, Blossoms for breakfast. We got here about 10 minutes after opening and all the tables except those by the huge east facing picture window are already occupied. I just cannot sit in a sun-soaked greenhouse window for my breakfast or at any time for that matter. 🙁
A new plan is required.
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... and I meant to add: clearly none of those already in there wanted to sit in the greenhouse seats either.
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True to form, the thunderstorm has arrived just as the Wet Office have started denying that it's going to rain. I dived for my tent just in time. Will come and join you when there's a lull.
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Poor PB volunteered to go off to the shops so will be out there in the elements. I’m in the big tent with Mme. PB. We are observing the build up & flow of water on the porch/tarp, it pools for a while then decants onto the exact spot where Kim has been sitting.
PB has returned.
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We had a flying visit from Torslanda. Lovely to see him again, but he had to flee before the storm hit.
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Great to see all of you again. Made me realise how much I've missed out on over the last few years, since we stopped going to Long Itch.
Made it home just before 14:00 and beat the rain...
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Well, I have been foolishly talking about Twitey's in May and Silverdale in September as "calendar" events ...
Cuckoo Farm also got a mention
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A scary amount of water just fell from the sky...
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59.8mm in Shap, which isn’t that far away from you good people.
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It’s stopped…..
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The wind has certainly got up overnight. I had to get up at 4am to take down the loudly billowing sail which also serves as a tarp. It turned out that the sound was scarier than the reality.
At present Castle Brecon is taking a battering from the wind. Kim and Andrew should be somewhat sheltered by the Rock of Gibraltar.
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I am generally failing to sleep on account of the wind. Mostly the noise, but the occasional alarming gust through my well-ventilated tent.
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It's all remarkably tranquil in the loo block.
I have struggled to sleep partly due to the unfamiliar noises Castel Brecon makes in the wind as oppose to a slippery and streamlined Hilleberg.
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Back at Castel Brecon listening to the rain and watching the west wall bowing under pressure from the wind.
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Snug & dry in my MSR Hubba Hubba HP. It’s wobbling a bit as I neglected to put out the side guys.
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The rain has held off. Heidi is packed and we are about to go and hunt down some breakfast at RSPB Lieghton Moss ...
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After a mild panic with me not being able to remember putting both my type 2 and my 16a commando leads back in the car we have made it to Charnock Richard. Heidi is now supping Gridserve voles happily whilst mllePB stretches her legs.
I have set it to charge to 90% as we will be off as soon as it reaches that in 25 minutes and we have 125 miles to go once we depart.
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Back in Middle Earth, where I was greeted with a phantom deflation of my front tyre. I've pumped it up nice and hard and will see if it goes down again.
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Just got home. Now to shove my be-dunged sandals in the washing machine...
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Tyre is now soft again. Suspect sink tactics will be required to find the leak.
Still, glad it was that and not my tent, which apart from being a bit too ventilated for last night's conditions (though just right for the previous two), coped admirably well. The main design flaw being that it's impossible to open the door without drip ingress when it's soaked.
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Type 1 Weather:
(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/silverdale_2023/IMG_20230909_151806_HDR.sized.jpg)
(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/silverdale_2023/IMG_20230909_193737_HDR.sized.jpg)
Type 2 Weather:
(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/silverdale_2023/IMG_20230910_170015_HDR.sized.jpg)
(https://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/silverdale_2023/IMG_20230910_170026_HDR.sized.jpg)
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Thanks Kim. 8)
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Looks like you all had fun 😀.sorry I couldn't join you :'(
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I'm sitting here, all alone in front of my screen, topless, running my hands all over my body...........
.... and finding more & more bloody mozzie bites.... >:(
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Andrew,
You have my most sincere gratitude. It is normally me who gets eaten alive by the bitey blighters.
The vision that you paint however requires many tankers of mind bleach!
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I'm sitting here, all alone in front of my screen, topless, running my hands all over my body...........
I was getting all excited and then I read on...
.... and finding more & more bloody mozzie bites.... >:(
;) ;D
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If you want my "Only Fans" I'll need a credit card number.... I suspect you'd be my only fan..... ::-)