The Changing of the Seasons

So, here we are at the changing of the seasons. There is generally some overlap between camping season and football season and this weekend was one of those occasions. Sometimes it is possible to combine both. Camping in the New Forest and an away trip to Totton for example. However, when Bedford are visiting the Bob Lucas Stadium, unless you are intending to camp around the Weymouth area (which I can recommend for most) then one has to give. In this case, we sacrificed a match for the sake of a trip to deepest Somerset. And deep it was too, 200 feet to be precise, at the lower reaches of Wookey Hole. In the end, this seemed like an excellent choice as Weymouth collapsed to another hugely embarrassing home defeat. I think the team are also mentally on holiday already.
We knew it was going to be a cold one before we set off, so we had on board just about the entire contents of the airing cupboard. Just about every sleeping bag and duvet that we possessed. It still wasn't enough. Add in the extra bedding that others couldn't fit in their car and Jezebel was indeed packed to the rafters. It was a good job I neglected to put the barbeque in or we would never have had enough space.
The camp site was a little basic. No, actually, I'd go beyond that, it was a lot basic. Verging on squalid. An unheated toilet block with two toilets and one shower. Luckily we were the only group camping in the Baltic conditions. The herd of rampant children that we had brought with us were able to charge around, bicker and shout as much as they liked, with the added bonus of no dangerous barbeque to run in to.

Drab. No stickers. Some garnish.

Milly, of Team 6 fame, had arrived first and they already had the hanging basket out and were desperate to show me the alloy wheels, the previously mentioned spice rack, the basil plant and other 'bling' that they had adorned their drab red van with. I'm told that the drabness is being addressed soon. I'm also aware that using terms like 'drab' is going to provoke some irate response within minutes of this going live. I'm still being reminded of calling Milly 'basic' last year before they installed the fridge, spice rack, under counter lighting, etc.

Infestation in the roof space.

We were forced to socialise each night in Milly. The cold weather, lack of barbeque and the fact that Jezebel was infested with a pack of wild children meant that this was the safest option. I was relegated to sleeping in a tent. Probably more peaceful than the van.

Not drab. Has stickers.

Visits to Diggerland, Wookey Hole and then South Devon put just over 300 miles on Jezebel's clock and barely an issue. Well, I say barely....the fuel gauge can be a little misleading at times. We knew there wasn't much fuel left, but depending on if you were going up hill or down hill, accelerating or braking or even going around a corner, the fuel gauge could register anything from completely empty to half full. The alternator is still not right, it's not charging either battery. The fridge spews forth it's contents at the slightest opportunity, we need to remember to put a peg in the door to stop this. The whole electrical thing needs sorting out in fact as I will need a power point to charge my phone and more importantly chilled beer.

Uncle Lucas, nephew & mountain of bedding.

So, a few learning points. We shall have to pack carefully before the Windy, we had far too much gear this time. I'd better remember the barbeque too. Time is getting tight, there are 67 days to go to get everything organised. Need to get the alternator fixed, electrical system working, a lock for the fridge, bumpers attached, VW badges attached, cupboard doors made and fixed, canopy roof attached properly, near side mirror glued in place, interior painted or carpeted. Got to somehow fit 41 days of work in too. Roll on June....