We’re Back

After what seems like an eternity since we lost our van and tow-car in December’s fire and the subsequent farting around with various insurance companies throughout the subsequent weeks, I’m pleased to announce that we’re back into the world of caravanning with a vengeance.

Bag a Bargain

I explained in my last post back in January about the acquisition of a new tow-car. However it’s only last Friday that we’ve got to the stage of picking up our new van, a 2002 Fleetwood Colchester: 4 berth, rear bathroom, one owner from new.

Fleetwood Colchester 4 Berth

This we bought about 3 weeks ago from a dealers in Huddersfield having negotiated them down from the £6500 forecourt price to £5000. Amazing what the power of a cash sale and no-trade-in coupled with a ‘poor month’ for the dealers, can do for one’s bargaining power.

We would have picked it up sooner, if it wasn’t for our original choice for a tow-bar fitters letting us down. External storage has also been arranged, so no more storage on the drive for this one even if it did fit on!

Rally Ho!

Some friends of ours whom are avid ‘ralliers’ had booked us onto a Caravan Club Rally i.e. in a field with no amenities apart from a cold water tap and a drain, organised by the Yorkshire Dales Centre by way of a celebration of getting our new van.

Traditionally we’ve been Club-site people i.e. toilet and shower block, 240v electric hook-ups, water, drains, hard-standing and Wi-Fi etc, so we were a little apprehensive at the thought of spending two nights relying on our battery for power and our own toilet (including number two’s usage).

Jervaulx Abbey

Jervaulx Abbey, nr Masham – North Yorkshre

However we needn’t have worried. Our friends had booked us into a field next to the CL (Certified Location) site of Jervaulx Abbey near Masham in North Yorkshire. A beautiful part of the world. We hit lucky as well, the weather was probably the best so far this year – temperatures in the twenties and blue cloudless skies. Not bad  for April.

So having picked up our new van from the dealer on Friday morning, we took it home, filled it with stuff and then set off up the A1 towards the Jervaulx Abbey rally in the afternoon.

Jervaulx Abbey

The site itself is a nice one. Directly next to the Abbey and a nice tearooms which served some excellent carrot cake. There’s a small stream which juxtaposes the site which is ideal for walking the dogs along as it takes you up into rabbit and pheasant strewn fields. It gives them a good chase about.

Floyd and Lucy by the stream

First Time Pup

Regular readers of this blog will know that we already have a dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross bitch, called Lucy. She’s now two and a half. However this get-away also marks another first above beyond it being our first rally and first get away in our new van, namely; it’s the first get away for our new addition to the family which takes the form of Floyd – our six month old Staffordshire-Bull Mastiff cross, which we’ve had since he was 6 weeks old.

Floyd – closest to the van, talks things over with Lucy in the foreground

Both enjoyed the experience.

Community Feel

Caravanning itself has a very communal feel to it – which is part of its attraction to us and many others. On Club sites this is apparent, however on Rallies as we found out at the weekend, this community spirit is elevated even higher. There’s a social gathering outside someone’s awning once ‘legs are down’ and people come and knock on your door to introduce themselves. It’s not at all clicky as one may think. Kids run around untethered and people are very open and friendly.

So will be be going on another rally (given also that they are dirt cheap) – yes I think so. Watch this space.

Tags: Jervaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, Rallies