Day whatever it is on this Trip!

I can only really describe today as being friendly. It was a bit of a later start than I like, as I didn't want to disturb Colin, the boatyard owner, too early. He's a lovely bloke though and was much taken with Little Dai. It didn't matter time wise as I've wanted to go and play on the Shipley Glen tramway for a while but usually I'm heading for home. It's another interesting place, the remnants of a lot of Victorian amusements in the area. I had quite a chat with some of the volunteers, and enjoyed the excursion. The weather was variable but ok.

I then headed over the tops to the caravan site at Hebden Bridge, it was a bit breezy in places and my right foot was starting to cramp up from all the braking going down steep hills with hairpin bends. Good fun though. The site office was closed when I arrived but that didn't matter, find a pitch and book in later is the system. It's a bit noisy, the river runs right behind the back of the site!

After dinner I wandered up the hill to the local community pub. I had been warned that they'll talk to you! A lovely, friendly pub where you're accepted as a local simply by being there. I ended up having a pint or two more than I'd planned but never mind. It's the first time I can recall a barmaid with an extensive knowledge of whaling and the production of ambergris.

I will definitely be back here soon, if it was a full facility site I'd happily spend a week here but as it is I think s couple of days wouldn't hurt.

Having woken up at my usual time of 6am I took the opportunity to do my ablutions and have a shower in the relatively quiet facilities block (quiet apart from the chap who clearly needs to give up the Woodbines). A bacon and tomato sandwich followed before I got packed up. I tend to have a last walk to the toilets (which I did) and drop the barrier card off hehe leaving - good job I didn't do the latter as unusually you need the card to get out as well. Even then it took three attempts to get it to open.

Rather than head straight to the M1 I set the satnav on Eco Route and went over the tops past Sheffield. It was a glorious morning and a really nice drive, couldn't have done that when towing though.

After killing a little time I headed to the boatyard where I'd been promised parking. After a bit of confusion we guy sorted out and I'm securely moored next to the canal behind a locked gate. I'm sure the owner doesn't want, and wouldn't take, anything so I've passed some drinks money on via my friend to be given to him later.

After a short wait, when I chatted to the Canal and River Trust guys who were going the PR and advice stint I was collected and we headed for the pub. Lovely to see some old friends. It gets boring after that as it mainly involves beer, with interruptions for food and a pointless quiz. Since of us did move on from The Fleece to the local Wetherspoons for a while, then for various reasons were all headed out different ways. I wended my way back down to Dai where I'm currently supping a last beer before bed.

I'm totally off grid this time so the Porta Potti will come out before bed!

Leeds-ing Astray, Day 1

As I'm going to a bit of a do in Leeds tomorrow I decided to take the opportunity of a long weekend. Today I travelled up to Castleton in Derbyshire, with a few drops on the way.

As usual I planned around railways, this time the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. The weather was fairly awful driving up, and realising I was going to miss the 11 o'clock train anyway I wandered around Leek for s while (partly because there was a free parking space so I used it).

it was still raining when I arrived at the railway, and really there's not a lot to see, the cafe etc. only open on weekends. I got a few photos before the train arrived, which turned out to be a diesel despite the signs saying steam. I'm not really surprised on a cold wet weekday.

The three mike run up beside the lake is pretty enough and I've come away with s few photos. Strictly shaking of course it's a reservoir feeding the canal.

After that I pointed Dai towards the caravan site, stopping in Buxton for a quick lunch. The site is quite a large one, but reasonably peaceful until I could hear a brass band playing. I had seen some signs for something on in Castleton, having walked down to the town after dinner there's the Castleton Garland procession happening. Couldn't get near enough to see anything so I'm in the pub!

The Peaks Inn had a good sign on the door for all walkers - Muddy Boots Welcome!

Not so Wild Camping in Essex

Another long weekend away in Dai, and the first when I wasn't stopping on a caravan site. The occasion was the first River Festival at the marina where my brother keeps the yacht. I was parked up in the back of the yard there but not exactly wild camping as I had mains hookup and the toilet/shower block was handy.

Over the weekend I finally got to the bottom of the alarm setting itself. I now know that if I set the alarm whilst I'm out I must turn the ignition on and off when I disarm it, other wise it will rearm again. The new gas struts on the roof have made a huge difference as well, I can now trust that the thing won't come crashing down on my head, so I'm pleased that's worked out well.

The river festival itself went well enough for a first time, they've got something to build on anyway assuming they go ahead again next year. I'll happily go again. I must admit to being bored with the M11 and A14 so coming home I set the satnav to shortest route, Dai is OK on motorways but is happier at 50-60 on smaller roads.

I've now just got to get ready for the next trip out, a 4 day weekend trip to Leeds via Derbyshire. Two nights will be on club sites but the other well again be off grid - a friend has organised the pitch and at the moment I don't know where!

We Have Lift-Off

I only got one job done over the weekend, mainly due to the weather.

I picked up the new gas struts for the roof a few days ago (quite by chance the supplier is local) so in the sunshine early Saturday morning I decided to try and fit them. The old struts were 180N (18kg in effect) each, after a lot of thinking I decided to go up to 330N as the old ones were a lot weaker than required.

Getting the old struts off was easy enough, it's only two nuts to undo them compress them a bit to ease them out of the brackets. Of course I remembered to prop the roof with a bit if wood first. Getting the new ones in was a lot harder though as I could barely move them! Having fitted one I checked it, put the prop back in and fitted the other. I then tried it again but the roof wouldn't move - until I removed the prop again, doh!

Overall very pleased with the result though, the roof now elevates and stops there instead of having to be pushed up with the hope it will stay up. It's a little bit harder bringing it down with the canvas inside as it did need a definite pull down but that's a small price to pay. It also means I can make decent use of the storage tray that's hinged under the roof, I plan to use this for clothes.