So our annual journey to Cornwall began yesterday with me dropping off the woman at her place of endeavours, work in other words, a strange start to a holiday but it works for me!
Back at home now I pack the car and then with Cornwall 365 miles south I head 56 miles North.
Thirsk area to collect the caravan from the site it lives on and where we take our weekend breaks.
Home again after a very nice tow at 52mph. I have been for years a believer that cars have a sweet spot as far as mpg is concerned, my petrol powered 3 year old A4 avant works beautifully at an indicated speed of 52mph doing the eco driving stuff the handbook promised, shifting into neutral every now and again and its main party piece, turning the engine off with the systems being powered by the second battery.
Problem, very nice neighbours ask me if I needed their parked car moving, "No I say, the caravan is remote control".
This minor bragg ends in egg being thrown on my face, the mover actuating bar shears off, not before I try in vein to get the caravan to go in a straight line, then I realise the problem and quickly engage the other mover, phew, the neighbours are suitably impressed with my maneuvering skills as I thread the Coachman onto my drive.
45 minutes later, an array of tools the bar is removed, non repairable, requires a very large part from power touch, no time, maybe no part available, sod it, the thing still works and its easier to apply, so I cover the moving bits in grease and oil and call it a day.
Next clean the roof with Snow Foam.
Problem! for the first time ever the applicator that plugs into the pressure washer jams up, another 30 minutes lost to effect a repair, but now using a Vax with extension poles the roof and rear is pristine, just in time for the rain to fall in biblical proportions, time to fetch the gas.
Problem, for years the gas shop, a large compound has been Calor, after a 20 minute drive because of traffic I find its now a Flo Gas stockist only! Quick Google sees me at a garden centre. £24.50 later I have 6kg of propane!
At 17:30 precisely I'm away, the outfit is driven to my wife's work, she is stood waiting with hot pizza in hand, and we are finally off, destination Cornwall.
Well via a lay-by which is were I am now, listening to bird song drinking coffee and thoroughly satisfied with my lot, this is one of many joys of caravaning which I like.
From junction 40 of the M1 to Junction 10 of the M5 some 159 miles, the petrol car pegged at 52mph in eco mode, against Audi guidelines for towing but I dont care, with around 1500kg of caravan attached to the back, the car is full of ebikes, 2 holdalls of clothes, a top box with porch awning and various lets say, stuff, returned a surprisingly good mpg of............. 28.6 and thats with a good hour of rain too.
Next stop, Asda patchway, petrol and Macci Ds breakfast, then onwards to 14 days of holidaying!
Wreckers restaurant for cream tea anyone?
Back at home now I pack the car and then with Cornwall 365 miles south I head 56 miles North.
Thirsk area to collect the caravan from the site it lives on and where we take our weekend breaks.
Home again after a very nice tow at 52mph. I have been for years a believer that cars have a sweet spot as far as mpg is concerned, my petrol powered 3 year old A4 avant works beautifully at an indicated speed of 52mph doing the eco driving stuff the handbook promised, shifting into neutral every now and again and its main party piece, turning the engine off with the systems being powered by the second battery.
Problem, very nice neighbours ask me if I needed their parked car moving, "No I say, the caravan is remote control".
This minor bragg ends in egg being thrown on my face, the mover actuating bar shears off, not before I try in vein to get the caravan to go in a straight line, then I realise the problem and quickly engage the other mover, phew, the neighbours are suitably impressed with my maneuvering skills as I thread the Coachman onto my drive.
45 minutes later, an array of tools the bar is removed, non repairable, requires a very large part from power touch, no time, maybe no part available, sod it, the thing still works and its easier to apply, so I cover the moving bits in grease and oil and call it a day.
Next clean the roof with Snow Foam.
Problem! for the first time ever the applicator that plugs into the pressure washer jams up, another 30 minutes lost to effect a repair, but now using a Vax with extension poles the roof and rear is pristine, just in time for the rain to fall in biblical proportions, time to fetch the gas.
Problem, for years the gas shop, a large compound has been Calor, after a 20 minute drive because of traffic I find its now a Flo Gas stockist only! Quick Google sees me at a garden centre. £24.50 later I have 6kg of propane!
At 17:30 precisely I'm away, the outfit is driven to my wife's work, she is stood waiting with hot pizza in hand, and we are finally off, destination Cornwall.
Well via a lay-by which is were I am now, listening to bird song drinking coffee and thoroughly satisfied with my lot, this is one of many joys of caravaning which I like.
From junction 40 of the M1 to Junction 10 of the M5 some 159 miles, the petrol car pegged at 52mph in eco mode, against Audi guidelines for towing but I dont care, with around 1500kg of caravan attached to the back, the car is full of ebikes, 2 holdalls of clothes, a top box with porch awning and various lets say, stuff, returned a surprisingly good mpg of............. 28.6 and thats with a good hour of rain too.
Next stop, Asda patchway, petrol and Macci Ds breakfast, then onwards to 14 days of holidaying!
Wreckers restaurant for cream tea anyone?
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