Camper Jam

[DaveyB]

How did squeezing 20 vans into an unknown plot go?

It was pants to be brutally honest. Mainly thanks to some rather overzealous Marshall’s with clipboards and laminated plans! We could not have been hemmed in tighter if we’d tried. There was loads of room but because we were in a pre-designated plot with white lines that were too narrow to fit a van and an awning, and too short to fit 2 vans back to back, it made it pretty rubbish.
Yet, walk over the track to “home is where you park it”, it really was a case of pitch it wherever the hell you want and in any fashion. No lines, no marshall’s, no worries.
Our area felt completely cut off. Whilst it was good to see new members, I didn’t get round to talk to all of them as I would have liked, and because it felt like several smaller groups I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bust, just not as good as I’d set out for it to be.

Plus got home, threw everything out the van, hooked up the trailer, drove straight across to Rutland Water to go and pick up Daughter. Knackered, ready for a shower and bed.

Then need to kick VanDoc’s arse tomorrow. Hilo man wasn’t at all impressed when he walked up to the site at lunchtime to look at one fairly innocuous issue I had gone to talk to him about, only for him to find a different, slightly larger issue.

 

[Lord Mfwic]

Although thinking about it (the 2 row idea with awnings in the middle) I doubt we would have had the depth to place a van plus awning opposite each other, if that makes sense?

 

[Davenjo]

Should we forget club camping next year and try “home is where you park it”? So long as we get a few of us arriving for opening we could bagsie a decent sized area??

Although thinking about it (the 2 row idea with awnings in the middle) I doubt we would have had the depth to place a van plus awning opposite each other, if that makes sense?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Ed Webb]

Sometimes you've gotta make do with what you got. And long strips will never be communal no matter what you do. You'll still have the guys on the end a little out the loop as such.
Sounds like you guys had a nice weekend, certainly had the weather. I'm gutted to have missed it as working nights in this weather is vile.

 

[DaveyB]

It goes to show how small the world really is though.
The gent parked two vans up from me, used to work for a company that I now deal regularly with; appointed a chap into a job to deal with Fire Safety for him, who used to do my job before he retired. Oh, and he lives about 15 miles from me. Bizarre or what.
What is truly awful though is that although I know his name is Merv, I haven’t a clue what his forum name is. How bad is that.

 

[Blitz]

DavyB your right. First lot in got shoe horned into the first few pitches. Then thank God when we turned up it was just dump it and full the rest of the field .No way I could have fitted into a proper pitch size. Being in a LINE doesn't help socialising but I think we all did ok. Great friendly bunch and the Mrs was impressed

 

[Lord Mfwic]

It goes to show how small the world really is though.
The gent parked two vans up from me, used to work for a company that I now deal regularly with; appointed a chap into a job to deal with Fire Safety for him, who used to do my job before he retired. Oh, and he lives about 15 miles from me. Bizarre or what.
What is truly awful though is that although I know his name is Merv, I haven’t a clue what his forum name is. How bad is that.

@DaveyB I think he's @VDubnewby666

 

[DaveyB]

@DaveyB I think he's @VDubnewby666

Have looked on the map but he is not showing, within the town where he lives.

@Blitz, thank goodness for your sake you were a bit later, cos if the marshalls would have seen your set up I reckon they’d have toppled over and gone belly up to the sky.
Mega impressed though that you were able to get all of that brood and two tents in the shuttle. Now that was military precision!

 

[DaveyB]

Have to say the best bit of the weekend was getting up on Saturday only for @Pauly to say “is your rear tyre meant to be that flat?”.
Bloody flint and stone driveways had put a small slice in the tyre. Had to be done there as the TMPS did not kick in, and i’d have equally noticed it when putting the van up on the levellers. Flat as a pancake over night.
Absolutely rocking the rusty steel spare wheel look right now. Thank ‘eck the ground was so well baked I was able to jack the van up in situ and swap the wheels out.
Just to add insult to injury, as driving out of the site today the TPMS did chime up because it reckonised I was using a different wheel with different pressure.
Going to have to sit on the spare for a couple of weeks until I can get some new tyres sorted, as the rears were fairly low and brushing the indicators. Probably why it punctured.

 

[Ed Webb]

Have to say the best bit of the weekend was getting up on Saturday only for @Pauly to say “is your rear tyre meant to be that flat?”.
bloomin flint and stone driveways had put a small slice in the tyre. Had to be done there as the TMPS did not kick in, and i’d have equally noticed it when putting the van up on the levellers. Flat as a pancake over night.
Absolutely rocking the rusty steel spare wheel look right now. Thank ‘eck the ground was so well baked I was able to jack the van up in situ and swap the wheels out.
Just to add insult to injury, as driving out of the site today the TPMS did chime up because it reckonised I was using a different wheel with different pressure.
Going to have to sit on the spare for a couple of weeks until I can get some new tyres sorted, as the rears were fairly low and brushing the indicators. Probably why it punctured.

Spare wheel Side on Sunday?

 

[VDubnewby666]

Hi @DaveyB
Thanks for the ‘gent’ bit -is that a polite way of saying old bloke
It was great to meet you this weekend along with all the other lovely people. I’ve now got to try to remember peoples names and link them to their forum names‍
Perhaps we should have some kind of link to page that holds the names of forum members along with their real names? As long as each gives permission for others to access - might be useful.
BTW I found a 3 mtr strip of figure 8 when I packed up, think it might be Pete’s ( can’t remember his forum name Doh! I know it’s got ‘medic’ in.
Finally ( unlikely) a great big thank you to @Fish , @DaveyB and anyone else who organised this forum event. We (Chris and me) really enjoyed it, loved the company and can’t wait to see you all again. Special thanks to Gary ( don’t know his forum name) and Pippa for providing the tv so we could watch the footy in comfort.

 

[Pauly]

@StandbyMedic may be worth sending him a message ?
Gary @Lord Mfwic

 

[VDubnewby666]

@StandbyMedic may be worth sending him a message ?
Gary @Lord Mfwic

Thanks @Pauly , glad you can id everyone

 

[DaveyB]

@VDubnewby666
Let me know if you need a hand with owt on the Velle. If I can help, being just up the road, l’ll do what I can.

 

[Fish]

@StandbyMedic

BTW I found a 3 mtr strip of figure 8 when I packed up, think it might be Pete’s ( can’t remember his forum name Doh! I know it’s got ‘medic’ in.

 

[Lighty]

Haven’t been home long, threw the kids into bath and then into bed and if I find the energy, I might even think about unloading the van tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for being so friendly and approachable and putting us newbies at ease. Didn’t take many pics but here’s a selection of the ones that I did

 

[Peatey]

@StandbyMedic

I've just texted him as well to let him know, just to cover all bases

 

[VDubnewby666]

@VDubnewby666
Let me know if you need a hand with owt on the Velle. If I can help, being just up the road, l’ll do what I can.

Thanks @DaveyB

 

[StandbyMedic]

Hi Guys

Sorry for the late reply.

Huge thanks to all for a super WE, great to meet so many. It was way better than I anticipated. Didn't expect to see the England game so bonus.

So the 3m strip is mine, think i may have thrown it under the van when doing musical vans on the Friday afternoon. Great excuse to meet up and get it back

Sorry I didn't get to say bye to everyone but in our thoughts. Just shows what a strong and thoughtful group you are by the number of posts and texts I have had, really appreciated. I may have had a flat battery but couldn't have been in better hands.

I have found where you buy the trailers in Worcester, Standby !

 

[Zoe]

We had great weekend and it was nice to meet and chat to you all. Hopefully we can meet up again soon.