Looking back over many trips this last year, four specific episodes spring instantly to mind and I say to myself, in hindsight why or how did I get myself into that situation?
1. travelling from liverpool to Buxton up the M6 Motorway in feb this year, The motorway infront had been closed due to an accident, so the sat nav gave me an alternative route, 3 miles longer but would get me out of the jam, so I took it.
Not knowing the area inbetween and towing my T/a, it ended taking me up and over the Snake pass in the pitch black and half way up in complete fog due to low lying cloud. Yes we got there but boy it was steep and twisting at times. would i do ot again???
2. again on a winter excursion, arriving in the dark onto a working farm type sight in a shower of fine rain mist, diciding if i swing the car onto the grass oposite the pitch, It will give me a great angle to reverse straight on, only to find the grass in front was more of a well manacured bog, The car drove on alright, but the moment I went into reverse everything bogged in axle deep in the brown stuff. Ended up a very cold and wet night getting myself out. then a cold shower in the toilet block as the heating was on the blink.
3.Found a great pub in cheshire with a small cl style camp site next to it with good write ups. Arrived to be greated by a freindly owner whom says take a large swing across the car park then enter sight and go up the hill to your pitch. All sounded fine until the car started to climb, but the length of car and caravan caused the back of the van to tip downwards until such point the steadies hit the floor. Stuck.
Ended up having to disconnect the car via weighting the boot to lower the suspension, once disconnected, lowered the jockeywheel so the nose was virtually on the floor and used the moover to get me up the hill. On leaving two days later it turned more into military manoovers getting off. lol.
4. At the end of our main holiday touring Germany, Heading back to the border of Luxemburg in the pitch dark when it started raining, Climbing up a long 3 mile gradient, windscreen wipers now on full, dropping down to 20 miles an hour as the rain is getting that heavy I cant see a thing, Next starts thunder and fork lightening. The kids screeming, Cars still passing at record speeds, (If I cant see how can they). and thinking this is supposed to be a relaxing holiday.
Id like to hope im not the only one to get myself into situations, did I learn from each of them - too right - will I ever do anything like that again? - im sure while im still caravanning by this time next year ill have a whole new set to add to the list lol.
This year so far 4200 miles, counties visited england wales France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Germany and very breifly 80 miles in Austria, 18 seperate camp sites and despite the above love every minute (well Almost lol)
Anyone else like to admit anything????
Cheers
John
1. travelling from liverpool to Buxton up the M6 Motorway in feb this year, The motorway infront had been closed due to an accident, so the sat nav gave me an alternative route, 3 miles longer but would get me out of the jam, so I took it.
Not knowing the area inbetween and towing my T/a, it ended taking me up and over the Snake pass in the pitch black and half way up in complete fog due to low lying cloud. Yes we got there but boy it was steep and twisting at times. would i do ot again???
2. again on a winter excursion, arriving in the dark onto a working farm type sight in a shower of fine rain mist, diciding if i swing the car onto the grass oposite the pitch, It will give me a great angle to reverse straight on, only to find the grass in front was more of a well manacured bog, The car drove on alright, but the moment I went into reverse everything bogged in axle deep in the brown stuff. Ended up a very cold and wet night getting myself out. then a cold shower in the toilet block as the heating was on the blink.
3.Found a great pub in cheshire with a small cl style camp site next to it with good write ups. Arrived to be greated by a freindly owner whom says take a large swing across the car park then enter sight and go up the hill to your pitch. All sounded fine until the car started to climb, but the length of car and caravan caused the back of the van to tip downwards until such point the steadies hit the floor. Stuck.
Ended up having to disconnect the car via weighting the boot to lower the suspension, once disconnected, lowered the jockeywheel so the nose was virtually on the floor and used the moover to get me up the hill. On leaving two days later it turned more into military manoovers getting off. lol.
4. At the end of our main holiday touring Germany, Heading back to the border of Luxemburg in the pitch dark when it started raining, Climbing up a long 3 mile gradient, windscreen wipers now on full, dropping down to 20 miles an hour as the rain is getting that heavy I cant see a thing, Next starts thunder and fork lightening. The kids screeming, Cars still passing at record speeds, (If I cant see how can they). and thinking this is supposed to be a relaxing holiday.
Id like to hope im not the only one to get myself into situations, did I learn from each of them - too right - will I ever do anything like that again? - im sure while im still caravanning by this time next year ill have a whole new set to add to the list lol.
This year so far 4200 miles, counties visited england wales France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Germany and very breifly 80 miles in Austria, 18 seperate camp sites and despite the above love every minute (well Almost lol)
Anyone else like to admit anything????
Cheers
John
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