1993
8 January
Me: We purchased our van, a Toyota Hi Ace Hilton today. Now we can say we are staying at the Hilton!
It's old but will suit us fine as long as it keeps going. No doubt we shall have 'adventures' in it.
Much of the equipment for it can come from the house because we have lots of duplicate pots, pans, cutlery, dishes, mugs, duvets, pillows etc.
Much of the equipment for it can come from the house because we have lots of duplicate pots, pans, cutlery, dishes, mugs, duvets, pillows etc.
16 January
Me: Joe picked up the van and brought it back home and then checked it over. Drivers seat belt lock is broken which the dealer said he he would fix. Started stocking it out.
17 January 1.30-ish Mileage: 54547
Me: My first ride in the camper. Had to repack some of the items I had stored because of the rattling. Must remember in future! Went to Tesco to stock up on some food etc. items. Much has been provided from the house apart from this shopping expedition and we still need a kettle.
3.50 pm
Me:Took Cindy out for a quick trip to see how she liked it. She didn't! Panicked when driving along the narrow street in front of the house and overhanging branches of a tree scraped along the side of the van. She was straight into the front. Joe (his first law) was insistent - she wasn't to ride in the front! It took a lot to persuade her to sit on a seat in the back and she sat there trembling, terrified. She didn't like all the rattling and even refused a crisp!
18 January
Me:Think household pots and china are too heavy and add too much weight to the van if we are going to carry a TV and other paraphenalia. Went to the caravan shop and bought a kettle, 2 light saucepans, 2 large plastic plates, 2 ditto cereal bowls, 2 ditto mugs, a fie extinguisher, a teapot and a 10 lite water bottle. Cost £44.
(Later note: 19 June 1994: The kettle has sprung a leak and has been ditched!)
Later we measured the drive to see if the camper would fit.
Joe: Parked camper in driveway. A bit of a tight squeeze. Dealer phoned to say the seat belt was not in stock and he had ordered it and will phone later in the week.
23 January
Joe: Took camper down to dealer and had new seat belt fitted.
27 January
Joe: Took camper out to get Cindy used to it - went via Dorking, down to Horsham and back. Cindy not too happy.
Me: Understatement. She did not stop trembling.
3 February Mileage 54689
Joe: Out in camper again to get Cindy used to it. She was a bit restless and is still nervous. She doesn't like the bumps and rattles in the back. Jean has sorted out Cindy's bed - so she will have to get used to it.
Me: Famous last words!Yes, Jean has sorted Cindy's bed alright - in every possible permutation! She still doesn't like the rattles, bumps and bangs. Joe thinks she will get used to it.
Me: Famous last words!Yes, Jean has sorted Cindy's bed alright - in every possible permutation! She still doesn't like the rattles, bumps and bangs. Joe thinks she will get used to it.
10 February
Joe: Out in camper and picked up petrol (Mileage 54942) at Tesco, Gatwick and drove down the M23 - A23 and turned right just before driving into Brighton (A27)
Cindy still very nervous and jumpy. Went through Portslade, Horsham, Worthing and then through Arundel.
A29 up to Five Oaks then on to A264, past Horsham on to Crawley via Gatwick to home. 92 miles altogether. Cindy had a run on the beach at Lancing and seemed a bit happier on the way back!
Me: As we drove through Shoreham Cindy smelt the sea and became very excited - jumping through the hatch from the back and trying to get across my lap to the window and I had to force her back - obviously she remembers visiting Perranporth and her runs on the beach.
The beach at Lancing is having great piles of pebbles piled up to prevent the sea at high tide wearing away the sea wall.
Joe and Cindy at Sidmouth
21 February
Joe: Drove camper out of driveway on to the road to carry out water and oil checks. Needs oil. While I washed and polished the outside Jean did an excellent job of the inside. Cindy sat in her new seat where I had made for her and she seemed quite happy.
Afterwards we drove to Tesco and topped up petrol and tyre pressures. Mileage 54939. Bought oil and topped up when we got home. Cindy was still shaking but was not too bad this time.
Me: Now here we have a complete turnaround! Cindy was to ride in the back if I remember rightly. It was clear Cindy was not going to settle riding in the back of the camper. I tried lying down back there when I had a migraine one time and it was hell on earth! I can sleep in the back seat of the car but it is impossibly noisy and bumpy in the back of the camper.
The cab has bucket seats and between them a hinged engine cover on a level a couple of inches below the seats. Joe has built a little stand to go on top, topped by her bedding and Cindy sits there between us while I had her on her lead so she couldn't jump across Joe. It works very well and she is prefectly happy. Probably thinks she is one of us! Every now and then I will say to her 'Look, Cindy Cows (or horses or whatever) and she looks across at where I am pointing as though she knows what I am talking about!
Me: Now here we have a complete turnaround! Cindy was to ride in the back if I remember rightly. It was clear Cindy was not going to settle riding in the back of the camper. I tried lying down back there when I had a migraine one time and it was hell on earth! I can sleep in the back seat of the car but it is impossibly noisy and bumpy in the back of the camper.
The cab has bucket seats and between them a hinged engine cover on a level a couple of inches below the seats. Joe has built a little stand to go on top, topped by her bedding and Cindy sits there between us while I had her on her lead so she couldn't jump across Joe. It works very well and she is prefectly happy. Probably thinks she is one of us! Every now and then I will say to her 'Look, Cindy Cows (or horses or whatever) and she looks across at where I am pointing as though she knows what I am talking about!
22 February
Joe: Bought a second Calor gas cylinder which just squeezed in next beside the one in the gas compartment in the back.
23 February 9.15 am Mileage 54943
Me: Camper packed and ready to go. This is a sort of shake-down trip to find out how things go and hoping to make our way to call in and see Thelma in Sidmouth.
Joe: Headed south via Dorking through Shalford then to Haslemere. Then on to Petersfield, then onto A272 to Hinton Marsh. North on B3046 to Old Alresford, Hants, birthplace of Jean's Mum - when we got there we realised we had visited before. Took video of village and church. Mary Sumner, wife of the vicar in 1851, started the now global Mothers' Union organisation of Anglican women there.
Back on the A 272 and bypassing Winchester and on to the A33 / M27 / A31 to Ringwood and then on to A338 to Fordingbridge where the mileage was 55066.
On the way stopped for lunch near Rownham Services where we joined the RAC.
Arrived at 1545 at 21 Hillbury Road, Alderholt and parked the van on the hard-standing.
Me: I had pre-booked at a number of small sites along the way which could provide hard standings. It was soon getting dark and there was a small toilet block with a tap from which we could fill up the water tank.
We were the only ones there so Cindy was able to have a good run around.During the evening Joe decided to fill up the camper's water tank because we were have problems with the water pumping up from the hot water. I shall leave it to Joe to explain what happened.
Joe: After I had put in about 40 litres of water I noticed it was pouring out from underneath the van. Then realised the tap had been left open. No wonder the water wasn't being pumped up!!! I put in another 40 litres but the tap kept dripping.
Me: We decided that Joe would sleep in the top bunk, over the cab, and we would made the bed below for me. Through the night we both felt chilly (not cold) and have now decided we would make the bed up double below and use the upper bunk for storage. That way we can use both duvets.
25 February
Joe: Stopped for lunch at a Little Chef and took the opportunity to top up the water tank. Carried on down to our 3rd stop at Little Bulstone in Devon. The site there was a big field on a hill - with no hard standing and as we drove in it started to rain heavily. We parked at the top of the slope where it was flat and the taps were. There was no one there and Jean took Cindy for a run. and when they got back I noticed the ground at our door entrance was very muddy so moved the camper back about four feet, then connected to the electricity. It was still pelting down with rain and there was a hose pipe lying on the ground alongside and I thought nothing of it.
We then changed and got ready to drive over to Thelma's which was about 5 miles distant. I said that if we phoned for a taxi we would get soaked so had decided we would unhook and drive into Sidmouth in the camper.
I drove about 4 feet where I became bogged down. The ground was all churned up and then I realised the hose I had seen earlier had been left on and flooded the area where we had parked.
Jean took two of Cindy's old towels and threw them down under the rear wheels but it was no use. We were well and truly bogged down. No way would the camper move. We went down to the farm to see the owner and only after a long time did he answer our call and came to the door. He had a heavy cold and had been in bed. I told him we were stuck and he was not very happy but agreed to get his tractor our to pull us free. |Meanwhile we were getting saturated because it was still raining heavily!
He wanted to pull us out backwards but there was no tow hook at the back. Eventually he pulled us free and then started to tell us where to park when we came back. I told him we would not be coming back but would stay in Sidmouth. We shall never forget Little Bulstone Farm.
[Some time later Joe was chatting to someone on another site and mentioned staying at Little Bulstone. He didn't have a very good opinion of it either!]
Me: We eventually arrived at Thell's and she suggested we stay there for the night. We were too weak by now to resist such an offer and were glad we did because we had a lovely visit with them and a good chat. However the beds were most uncomfortable but didn't say so and both woke feeling that our backs were broken!
27 February
Me: We then made for Truro via Okehampton and arrived at Leverton Camp site at about 3 after driving round Truro to check out the carparks and call in to leave a note for Heather.
Tonight we had a small problem getting the electrics connected only to discover the electric power indicator light had blown. The electrics were working fine but the bulb did not light!!!
28 February 9.30 Mileage 55272
Me: Visited Heather and A and when they brought us back seemed most impressed by the idea of a camper. Left then for Calne in Wiltshire and it snowed on the way. Just snow showers but it is very cold. Cindy a bit of a pest for much of the morning. Up and down, up and down until I put her on a short lead kept her lying down in the afternoon. Icy cold at Calne - especially standing still. It was a freezing draughty night!
1 March
Me: Woke to discover a sprinkling of snow so decided to make straight for home in order to avoid getting snowed in somewhere inhospitable. Filled up at Ilchester then on to Marlborough. Mileage 55426. Total mileage for trip: 668
Joe: Left Calne about 9.30 - roads were clear all the way!!! One or two showers of hail. Went through Compton Bassett - a beautiful village with some lovelt old houses. Arrived back at Reigate about 1400 hours. All in all we learnt quite abit during trip. Although Cindy was no real bother she did get in the way. It was inconvenient when we were walking round Truro - one of us had to stay with her outside while the other shopped. We couldn't even have a cup of coffee together. So we have decided to put her into kennels in future. I'm sure she'd be a lot happier.
Me: We found we had a lot of items with us that we did not need and are able to remove them on future trips. We took too many clothes and have decided not to take 'hanger' clothes in future.
Our main meals were taken during the day and apart from soup just had a cold snack later. So frying pan not used.
Joe: During the trip, when going downhill, the camper was backfiring.
9 March
23 February 9.15 am Mileage 54943
Me: Camper packed and ready to go. This is a sort of shake-down trip to find out how things go and hoping to make our way to call in and see Thelma in Sidmouth.
Joe: Headed south via Dorking through Shalford then to Haslemere. Then on to Petersfield, then onto A272 to Hinton Marsh. North on B3046 to Old Alresford, Hants, birthplace of Jean's Mum - when we got there we realised we had visited before. Took video of village and church. Mary Sumner, wife of the vicar in 1851, started the now global Mothers' Union organisation of Anglican women there.
Back on the A 272 and bypassing Winchester and on to the A33 / M27 / A31 to Ringwood and then on to A338 to Fordingbridge where the mileage was 55066.
On the way stopped for lunch near Rownham Services where we joined the RAC.
Arrived at 1545 at 21 Hillbury Road, Alderholt and parked the van on the hard-standing.
Me: I had pre-booked at a number of small sites along the way which could provide hard standings. It was soon getting dark and there was a small toilet block with a tap from which we could fill up the water tank.
We were the only ones there so Cindy was able to have a good run around.During the evening Joe decided to fill up the camper's water tank because we were have problems with the water pumping up from the hot water. I shall leave it to Joe to explain what happened.
Joe: After I had put in about 40 litres of water I noticed it was pouring out from underneath the van. Then realised the tap had been left open. No wonder the water wasn't being pumped up!!! I put in another 40 litres but the tap kept dripping.
Me: We decided that Joe would sleep in the top bunk, over the cab, and we would made the bed below for me. Through the night we both felt chilly (not cold) and have now decided we would make the bed up double below and use the upper bunk for storage. That way we can use both duvets.
25 February
Joe: Stopped for lunch at a Little Chef and took the opportunity to top up the water tank. Carried on down to our 3rd stop at Little Bulstone in Devon. The site there was a big field on a hill - with no hard standing and as we drove in it started to rain heavily. We parked at the top of the slope where it was flat and the taps were. There was no one there and Jean took Cindy for a run. and when they got back I noticed the ground at our door entrance was very muddy so moved the camper back about four feet, then connected to the electricity. It was still pelting down with rain and there was a hose pipe lying on the ground alongside and I thought nothing of it.
We then changed and got ready to drive over to Thelma's which was about 5 miles distant. I said that if we phoned for a taxi we would get soaked so had decided we would unhook and drive into Sidmouth in the camper.
I drove about 4 feet where I became bogged down. The ground was all churned up and then I realised the hose I had seen earlier had been left on and flooded the area where we had parked.
Jean took two of Cindy's old towels and threw them down under the rear wheels but it was no use. We were well and truly bogged down. No way would the camper move. We went down to the farm to see the owner and only after a long time did he answer our call and came to the door. He had a heavy cold and had been in bed. I told him we were stuck and he was not very happy but agreed to get his tractor our to pull us free. |Meanwhile we were getting saturated because it was still raining heavily!
He wanted to pull us out backwards but there was no tow hook at the back. Eventually he pulled us free and then started to tell us where to park when we came back. I told him we would not be coming back but would stay in Sidmouth. We shall never forget Little Bulstone Farm.
[Some time later Joe was chatting to someone on another site and mentioned staying at Little Bulstone. He didn't have a very good opinion of it either!]
Me: We eventually arrived at Thell's and she suggested we stay there for the night. We were too weak by now to resist such an offer and were glad we did because we had a lovely visit with them and a good chat. However the beds were most uncomfortable but didn't say so and both woke feeling that our backs were broken!
27 February
Me: We then made for Truro via Okehampton and arrived at Leverton Camp site at about 3 after driving round Truro to check out the carparks and call in to leave a note for Heather.
Tonight we had a small problem getting the electrics connected only to discover the electric power indicator light had blown. The electrics were working fine but the bulb did not light!!!
28 February 9.30 Mileage 55272
Me: Visited Heather and A and when they brought us back seemed most impressed by the idea of a camper. Left then for Calne in Wiltshire and it snowed on the way. Just snow showers but it is very cold. Cindy a bit of a pest for much of the morning. Up and down, up and down until I put her on a short lead kept her lying down in the afternoon. Icy cold at Calne - especially standing still. It was a freezing draughty night!
1 March
Me: Woke to discover a sprinkling of snow so decided to make straight for home in order to avoid getting snowed in somewhere inhospitable. Filled up at Ilchester then on to Marlborough. Mileage 55426. Total mileage for trip: 668
Joe: Left Calne about 9.30 - roads were clear all the way!!! One or two showers of hail. Went through Compton Bassett - a beautiful village with some lovelt old houses. Arrived back at Reigate about 1400 hours. All in all we learnt quite abit during trip. Although Cindy was no real bother she did get in the way. It was inconvenient when we were walking round Truro - one of us had to stay with her outside while the other shopped. We couldn't even have a cup of coffee together. So we have decided to put her into kennels in future. I'm sure she'd be a lot happier.
Me: We found we had a lot of items with us that we did not need and are able to remove them on future trips. We took too many clothes and have decided not to take 'hanger' clothes in future.
Our main meals were taken during the day and apart from soup just had a cold snack later. So frying pan not used.
Joe: During the trip, when going downhill, the camper was backfiring.
9 March
Joe: I have arranged for Neal Shephard, a neighbour, who always services the Capri, to have a look at the camper - the backfiring and also check the brake cylinders as we noticed slight staining on the rear tires which could be brake fluid. Neal did a full service. One of the plugs was broken and the lead to it was US. The brake cylinders had a slight leak so Neale renewed them. The exhaust had no seals so was emitting gases and noise. Altogether it cost £179.02, I would have thought the dealer would have at least carried out a service. Neal was quite impressed by the camper.
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