Gibraltar Farm, Silverdale: Sept 7th to 11th 2023

[Polar Bear]

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?

[Canardly]

Tempting mate but can't due to domestics and increasingly dodgy knees. Enjoy.

[Wowbagger]

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.

[Kim]

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.

[Wowbagger]

That implies car camping rather that cycle touring with tent.

[Kim]

Indeed.  Still, it's better than no camping.

[Polar Bear]

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.

[andrewc]

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 !

[Polar Bear]

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.

[Polar Bear]

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.  🤔

[andrewc]

Horribly sticky & humid in Liverpool.  Overcast with a few spots of rain.   Just about to leave.

[Polar Bear]

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.

[Polar Bear]

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

[Polar Bear]

Knutsford and a break for me.  No CCS free but we've plugged in the type 2 for a splash and crap ...   🤔  😉

[andrewc]

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.

[Wowbagger]

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?

[Polar Bear]

We will be calling at Booth's in Carnforth if any campers need us to collect anything.

[andrewc]

I’ll probably drop in myself. Currently on the canal towpath.

[Polar Bear]

Nice.  We'll be there around 3 slow traffic permitting.

[andrewc]

All 3 of us are now at the campsite, Polar Bear is putting the kettle on.

[Kim]

I have melted in the process of fettling panniers to fit my Reasonably Priced Mountain Bicycle.  Have a cheap train to Lancaster tomorrow afternoon.

[andrewc]

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.

[Kim]

I have arrived at Lancaster on a horrible train. Hopefully my knees still work. Setting off northwards...

[Polar Bear]

Wow.  The hoardes have been flocking in for the last 2 hours.  Suddenly very busy.

[andrewc]

We have a Kim.  At least I think it’s her.  Riding an upwrong…..