tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23162643596708137722024-03-19T02:27:46.263-07:00Tracey & Pete on the roadTracey & Pete are travelling around the UK and Europe in their 2007 Airstream International 684.
They are very, very happy.Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-34046154093956634662013-09-26T05:43:00.000-07:002013-09-26T05:43:26.284-07:00Rockhill Rendezvous 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year our Airstreams ranged from a 1954 Globetrotter to a new 5 berth European International. It was Dolly, new to Rockhill, the Globetrotter that won this year's Open House, People's Favourite prize. The glass bauble is so sweet and delicate, and a tiny prize really, but it's just a little gesture, a bit of fun. I would expect that we each love our own Airstreams the best, but on the whole people don't vote for themselves (on the whole!!!). And our favourite vote slip this year said, "My favourite Airstream belongs to... everyone's)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QNCBCoIRv0Cqusk0SAuSuurAJPX0Qi4t7DZiu4h0ciLzq_SPrZYQPJtwBNXt7k8J_lUc0piXPlmImrOA-1CXHjXDgjgpXs5z7J3HtNL4aucOMhMwewuppklqXeLgZAdtdsNv28XSycXa/s1600/Flamingos+at+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QNCBCoIRv0Cqusk0SAuSuurAJPX0Qi4t7DZiu4h0ciLzq_SPrZYQPJtwBNXt7k8J_lUc0piXPlmImrOA-1CXHjXDgjgpXs5z7J3HtNL4aucOMhMwewuppklqXeLgZAdtdsNv28XSycXa/s400/Flamingos+at+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Numbers were down this year, sadly. We had explanations and apologies from most absentees, and we missed them. As I'm sure I've said before, you get a growing core group of Airstream buddies who come to the gatherings, then we have newbies who join that core group, and some who try it once or twice before deciding it's just too much fun and we don't see them again. Some dip in now and then, some come to every meet. It's a very fluid sort of community. This year seven of the Airstreams were newbies, and they fitted right in. What a lovely sight, seeing new people being welcomed into the group. Not everyone finds it easy to break into an established crowd, and it's up to all of us to make the effort to help them feel a part of it as quickly as possible. This year I think that worked really well. Over time proper friendships get forged, and even future travel buddies hatch their plans.<br />
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Our trusty marquee came in very handy this year, with the weather trying, and failing, to spoil our fun. Actually, I think that contributed to us spending more time all together.<br />
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At this point I ought to mention the meeting that we had to discuss the future of UKAirstreamers. It was a good turnout. Pete and I had thought that we would be handing over the running of UKA, worried that there might be a perceived conflict of interest, now that we're servicing Airstreams. But the gathered Airstreamers let us know that they don't see a problem with that and they want us to continue. We really weren't expecting that, agreed to go away and think about how we can manage to do that, and the topic continues to be discussed for a limited time on the <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Home.html">forum</a>.<br />
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Anyway, that was just the serious, business end of the weekend. The rest was the usual abundance of warmth and enjoyment and beautiful countryside, topped off with those shiny Airstreams that are the random element that brings it and us all together.Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-26888541325603782102013-09-04T07:45:00.000-07:002013-09-04T07:45:18.687-07:00Win an Airstream!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPBHN2OoHtEDttWoei_xF516WoXaXYFluDs2wPk1RFvCtVdUkCF8WZJiUD1W-QUi3HosY0gn3FtdnsxKyA4vZ94JMxhYEloxe4t4bEo0jDXdYgcI4tSKAvyGOhAvlGZ17Nq-EG13_LwZF/s1600/Airstream+Bauble+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPBHN2OoHtEDttWoei_xF516WoXaXYFluDs2wPk1RFvCtVdUkCF8WZJiUD1W-QUi3HosY0gn3FtdnsxKyA4vZ94JMxhYEloxe4t4bEo0jDXdYgcI4tSKAvyGOhAvlGZ17Nq-EG13_LwZF/s400/Airstream+Bauble+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Open House at Rockhill Rendezvous is a couple of hours on
the Saturday when everyone gets to mosey and nosey around each other's
Airstreams and admire the ways they have been preserved, restored, upgraded and
adorned.</div>
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Like everything at the Rendezvous it's just a bit of fun, and
in that spirit we decided last year to present a tiny but perfect prize for the
'peoples favourite'. We couldn't think of anything more small yet perfectly
formed than an Airstream bauble from <a href="http://www.vintagevacations.co.uk/">Vintage Vacations</a>. It is an exclusive and
proper glass bauble, designed just for them. They have generously donated this
year's prize, it arrived in the post today and it is up for grabs for whichever Airstream wins, for whatever
reasons (we just count the votes!). </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-10733600443762180432013-09-02T11:57:00.000-07:002013-09-02T11:57:01.858-07:00Rendezvous Return<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzr9m7Myqojhx_67JlLJf07h5OCy23KJSFpggBblXIQY0I5kO23svMlA3KquT3TiN5MJpVPKghRfSp2F4NRNALdZQQO4zRDEt0bxdBLuQJusZW_5-7wUpwbcpjIJCBxzx1ug0sxua5rz_/s1600/marquee+is+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzr9m7Myqojhx_67JlLJf07h5OCy23KJSFpggBblXIQY0I5kO23svMlA3KquT3TiN5MJpVPKghRfSp2F4NRNALdZQQO4zRDEt0bxdBLuQJusZW_5-7wUpwbcpjIJCBxzx1ug0sxua5rz_/s640/marquee+is+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Is this our annual blog post? Well our travels may have slowed temporarily, but the Airstream Gatherings go on. And here we are again, preparing for another <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Rockhill.html">Rockhill Rendezvous</a>. Another long weekend of great company, Airstreamy chat, shiny beasts, drinking, dancing, putting the world to right around a campfire, pampering, knitting, exchanging news and views on all things Airstream. Did I miss anything? Probably. There's a lot going on in our heads at the moment.<br />
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We were very fortunate to have a small but perfectly productive team of helpers with us this weekend, and we got the marquee up, plus most of the bunting and string lights. It's a great start and has given the preparations a real boost.Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-47793281841367855252012-09-02T15:29:00.000-07:002012-09-02T15:29:54.811-07:00Rockhill Rendezvous Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri0l37YoTPeEcxxYFwfM9uQCnEh7vmkQe0cxVCBrlvsbyVkUd2lRDglrd_d9UL_8IRSc7lqo-Pp5jgPgyO8FCIiy_Pc6FY5h7_a6B1s0O_H8Cy2MRuYV2UfVl1L1IWUl5tfOOrOOuruo_/s1600/Airstream+hideaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri0l37YoTPeEcxxYFwfM9uQCnEh7vmkQe0cxVCBrlvsbyVkUd2lRDglrd_d9UL_8IRSc7lqo-Pp5jgPgyO8FCIiy_Pc6FY5h7_a6B1s0O_H8Cy2MRuYV2UfVl1L1IWUl5tfOOrOOuruo_/s400/Airstream+hideaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
returned to Rockhill Farm almost two weeks ago, warmly welcomed and tucked into
our freshly-mown little pitch. We had spent a couple of months here last year
and it is really special to be back. The local village had asked to use our
marquee for a bit of a do of their own, and part of the deal was that we would
get some help with putting it up. And, although we felt a huge sense of
achievement last year, having raised the beast with four young-ish adults,
three boys and a grandad, it made a real difference having a few more grown men
(and my best friend visiting from London) on the team. It was good to get it in place in good time too, because now that the weather is improving Carl should be combining during the next few days, and hoping to get it done before the Rendezvous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZeS1sHODS1TOwDtp4czdDhFLVDZrN306L9P-O_h3Cj5OFYz19-hKSI_lK5GrS6KVeaLRzAlO9Lf_Qgpd1_ZUmwe60LN9XgtCaG4Lxls9NUWTDj4kbp0PrnEJuCkBBhkxyPraV-LRJJ1D/s1600/rain+water+on+marquee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZeS1sHODS1TOwDtp4czdDhFLVDZrN306L9P-O_h3Cj5OFYz19-hKSI_lK5GrS6KVeaLRzAlO9Lf_Qgpd1_ZUmwe60LN9XgtCaG4Lxls9NUWTDj4kbp0PrnEJuCkBBhkxyPraV-LRJJ1D/s400/rain+water+on+marquee.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removing rain water from the canvas<br /></td></tr>
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The weather has obviously been on everyone's mind this Summer, it being so wet and all. I must admit that it has bothered us a bit. So many events have been cancelled this year. But we made the most of a sunny weekend to get the tent up, this fine weekend has also given us a boost, and a whole bunch of Airstreamers are crossing their fingers and spreading optimism on the forum.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj827x_DhMoHvDWOEljZ4A0Ex-N-Pdu9bKYOn7R8kUCzI2z-W8Aqv899wTPGq2l3AokYa5opM3NIzXTgRpcnL9Tic5tSUHwOpsFSfbrtbitaOFfZlSI0wPjL3kbUqmWSWq1Jh18MDIB08yz/s1600/Rockhill+Rendezvous+marquee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj827x_DhMoHvDWOEljZ4A0Ex-N-Pdu9bKYOn7R8kUCzI2z-W8Aqv899wTPGq2l3AokYa5opM3NIzXTgRpcnL9Tic5tSUHwOpsFSfbrtbitaOFfZlSI0wPjL3kbUqmWSWq1Jh18MDIB08yz/s400/Rockhill+Rendezvous+marquee.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to look like a marquee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzL6f7eWUWKbLU_CbcRq0uOI9xRDTZ-RTprhVZyFBHnB2DvJYIjKPwePcM6ujs07VITfzP__kFsx1Ac6ARZK3CkJjC8q4SMdRIWIlmYdpYMHRmueTLiAONmzmtmMWLsqAoeNPEf__s7q9/s1600/Rockhill+marquee+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzL6f7eWUWKbLU_CbcRq0uOI9xRDTZ-RTprhVZyFBHnB2DvJYIjKPwePcM6ujs07VITfzP__kFsx1Ac6ARZK3CkJjC8q4SMdRIWIlmYdpYMHRmueTLiAONmzmtmMWLsqAoeNPEf__s7q9/s400/Rockhill+marquee+finished.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXsl3qKn1zoPCN0AYjuBxSaju-SZN-HHE1BSjBaM1L4BBqBs3MzdX7hEyYzMSF8p2wKdXYloVGwBjF8UIgGY8jw7WKqVcyR0Bu0qmGlQzbnVWoeLUmO9FJvGF6B0Bza6pE7Ne0WpbxiTo/s1600/pegging+out+the+marquee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXsl3qKn1zoPCN0AYjuBxSaju-SZN-HHE1BSjBaM1L4BBqBs3MzdX7hEyYzMSF8p2wKdXYloVGwBjF8UIgGY8jw7WKqVcyR0Bu0qmGlQzbnVWoeLUmO9FJvGF6B0Bza6pE7Ne0WpbxiTo/s400/pegging+out+the+marquee.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pegging out</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rockhill Rendezvous is getting close and the excitement is growing. The village 'do' happened last night, and Pete and I attended. It was fun to see another crowd enjoying themselves in our marquee. We had a good evening too. Plus, the site looks so pretty at night with all the festoon and fairy lights. I started to imagine how thrilling it is going to be next weekend, to see it with thirty-plus Airstreams sitting there. So, as I write, we have four days to go, bookings are still coming in and we are currently expecting thirty-three aluminium beauties.</span></div>
Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-90211058514315297052012-05-02T05:57:00.001-07:002012-05-02T07:53:33.875-07:00Prepped and Primed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
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The first <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Gatherings.html">UKAirstreamers Gathering</a> of the year is just around the corner. We are having two this Spring, one in the South and one in the North. Even though lately our Airstream has become as much a home for us as a means to travel, it feels as though having a Spring Gathering is a good way to kick-start the dusting off, the airing out and the towing for anyone who hasn't ventured out yet. It's also a jolly good shindig.</div>
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So, this time next week we will be hitching up and heading to Dorset in time to greet the 18 (at last count) other trailers and motorhomes that will be rolling in. We are going to be on a camp site for this one, but it's an Airstream-friendly one with a separate rally field where we can be all Airstreamy together. Looking at the list, almost half of those coming will be vintage, and there are a couple of motorhomes too. It will be a lovely, varied selection for us all to feast our eyes upon. We are also expecting a few new faces, as well as some old stalwarts, and some who we haven't seen for a while. Should be quite a dynamic crowd.</div>
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The weather around here, and most of the country, has been tediously crappy in a grey and wet sort of way, so we'll need a lot of luck if we're going to pull off the al fresco bits of the weekend. We <i>are</i> bringing a cool shelter with us, and we have survived hoolies and hail storms at past Gatherings. It leaves you with a distinctive memory of the event, but sunshine makes it easier, naturally. So fingers crossed and good vibes all round!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGFyP0Ar_9lIDyWctMi_zp-yCIPwyyFJy2FMOO7rE8bnFX9zhNRg0i5dZKCx9fNV2o9V4CnAIpfvPzq5Y4UaZ8e4bq0A8T1juUqZkx9WBWFu7hMvLZc1CJ9IvYYlqqnfrKFK4Rj6YYpo/s1600/Airstream+Vintage+Motorhomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGFyP0Ar_9lIDyWctMi_zp-yCIPwyyFJy2FMOO7rE8bnFX9zhNRg0i5dZKCx9fNV2o9V4CnAIpfvPzq5Y4UaZ8e4bq0A8T1juUqZkx9WBWFu7hMvLZc1CJ9IvYYlqqnfrKFK4Rj6YYpo/s640/Airstream+Vintage+Motorhomes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-37993995022568180072011-10-14T06:27:00.001-07:002011-11-29T16:06:47.784-08:00Rockhill Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTRXCEUfJVZnwkrfb6rf4FhK7DRrOxCtEDhWoHNe5FH2VXn0O2Nq9H_70DNFvAouAx4RXTDeVQrlRBcbLt_CJfr5oXmpR8r6OuOub6N-ZHAXb1awfOgq_v4Kp_BY1UjDmyjBRo7lu3M75/s1600/Airstream+heavenly+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTRXCEUfJVZnwkrfb6rf4FhK7DRrOxCtEDhWoHNe5FH2VXn0O2Nq9H_70DNFvAouAx4RXTDeVQrlRBcbLt_CJfr5oXmpR8r6OuOub6N-ZHAXb1awfOgq_v4Kp_BY1UjDmyjBRo7lu3M75/s400/Airstream+heavenly+sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Two weeks ago we finally wrenched ourselves away from Rockhill Farm. The best thing, in fact the only good thing, about breaking my leg was that Carl and Gaynor encouraged us to stay, at least until I was discharged by the hospital. In the weeks that we were there we hung out with the family and became neighbours, but in a really good, matey way; not in the chilly, curt way that I remember from my urban, pre-Airstream life. And since we had arrived there in late August to prepare for Rockhill Rendezvous, we had become pretty attached to the place and the family. But as we prolonged our goodbyes we consoled ourselves with the realisation that, in no time at all we will be back round the kitchen table planning the next Rendezvous.<br /><br />We're actually not so far away. We have moved back to the bolthole in Worcestershire that we hunkered down in last winter. So, what we haven't got around to until now is reflecting on the <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Home.html">UKAirstreamers</a>' September Gathering, or Rockhill Rendezvous. Unless a blog entry is prefaced with something like, "Today we did this amazing thing" you can probably assume that we are usually recalling something from some weeks back. And there are all sorts of reasons for it this time. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrRmZfSX0wseaItJj8EZftwmClHlDch1RhtW82zAzysx-GM57NyQlbftfiFnT6ZwHR8yvCLvras9ZzfqAg2z7T3t-ieU8PcA1DGxzuXv1xjyc1XxJ_LDfwxcEBRJKwE6pHr5PuKLkzkAB/s1600/Five+Airstream+Motorhomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrRmZfSX0wseaItJj8EZftwmClHlDch1RhtW82zAzysx-GM57NyQlbftfiFnT6ZwHR8yvCLvras9ZzfqAg2z7T3t-ieU8PcA1DGxzuXv1xjyc1XxJ_LDfwxcEBRJKwE6pHr5PuKLkzkAB/s400/Five+Airstream+Motorhomes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I broke my leg four days before the start of the gathering. That meant that, apart from finishing off the two hundred meters of bunting with Gaynor, I simply had to stay out of the way in the lead up, during the event itself, during the clean up and during the post-gathering-blues period. Post-gathering-blues is something that Pete and I have observed ourselves sinking into after each of the UKAirstreamers gatherings so far. It's the kind of slump you get following on from being really focused on one thing and hoping that thing goes well, plus a little bit of "What now?" Anyway, the whole time Pete was too busy having to do everything I would normally do, on top of his own responsibilities, to be able to think about sitting down to blog. So here are some photos taken by Pete, and some observations from someone who did a lot of the planning but didn't actually get to see how it all went (me). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Gc0Ue_VLKwqnbMNHlJfSfOsxdXENe0t3oF8cvH2RzpCykG0DVMC9V3RmtrdbgHfDzrjfJKcPMElIbSm0L5s4BXK07xTUIZEBxDUNXsxuL1TTP-aJn5QVK0yxFej7s-GohtBQKeb2ph9/s1600/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Gc0Ue_VLKwqnbMNHlJfSfOsxdXENe0t3oF8cvH2RzpCykG0DVMC9V3RmtrdbgHfDzrjfJKcPMElIbSm0L5s4BXK07xTUIZEBxDUNXsxuL1TTP-aJn5QVK0yxFej7s-GohtBQKeb2ph9/s400/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We had decided to make it a long weekend event this year, from Thursday till Monday, and it was a popular idea. For some reason which has now slipped my mind, Keith and Jane who own a 1966 Overlander, had a surplus of cheese and wine that they offered to share with the Thursday crowd. So that got things off to a lovely, convivial start. My movements for the whole weekend were limited to manoeuvring myself on crutches between our trailer and the marquee, and that's where the cheese was, so I tucked in and received sympathy whilst getting used to having people bring me drinks. And as far as I can remember, that was it for Thursday; a gentle getting together with introductions and catching up. Pete, meanwhile, was up at the farm house watching the world's slowest printer meander it's way through the first twenty copies of the brochure.<br /><br />Friday was when the majority arrived, and from our trailer window I could observe Pete, Carl and Gaynor and other willing helpers finishing off preparations. Meanwhile Andrew enthusiastically donned a UKAirstreamers high-viz waistcoat (donated by Paul and Jules at <a href="http://www.mackerelbus.com/">Makerelbus</a>, who also printed our T-shirts and giveaway stickers, and were gutted they couldn't attend due to their replacement axle not turning up), welcomed arrivals and guided them to their pitches. Later, from my outpost in the farmhouse where I was finishing off printing the brochures, I caught a glimpse of a mini convoy arriving, which included Axel and Jack who had travelled all the way from the Netherlands specially.<br /><br />On the Friday evening, with sponsorship from <a href="http://www.airstreameurope.co.uk/">Airstream Europe</a>, we laid on drinks and nibbles (including two rather fine local ales form the Ludlow Brewery). Tony and Elaine, Airstreamers and folk singers (and all round good sorts) provided us with lovely, gentle music whilst the rest of the crowd mingled, made introductions and got reacquainted. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyGLR8wPQEBZyh7oRh1kjBQNt6lzWcKGXUI7W107AiMXEIziUAto1nnAjp3UCKdWUg7PmlFX_4V5EgqeGtMev9U5X_PSDjNUZUst1WLRUg1Nt_FrMQFVxAdETMFHVqs1s34fcVlqiUV5i/s1600/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyGLR8wPQEBZyh7oRh1kjBQNt6lzWcKGXUI7W107AiMXEIziUAto1nnAjp3UCKdWUg7PmlFX_4V5EgqeGtMev9U5X_PSDjNUZUst1WLRUg1Nt_FrMQFVxAdETMFHVqs1s34fcVlqiUV5i/s400/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Saturday was fairly busy, but with time for people to generally hang out and do their own thing. There were pampering sessions in Kerry's <a href="http://www.mylittlebeauty.co.uk/airstream/">My Little Beauty</a> salon-in-an-Airstream, and in the afternoon there was the Open House. We had tried this out at the <a href="http://ukairstreamers.blogspot.com/2011/05/that-went-well.html">Spring Gathering</a>, and it seemed popular. Basically, it's a two hour period where your door is open to visitors to show off your Airstream. Unless you don't fancy it, in which case you just lock your door. Like everything else, it's optional. But I get the impression that the two hours can go by really quickly.<br /><br />But it has to come to an end because in the late afternoon and into evening there's the Bring 'n' Barbie. You bring food to barbecue for yourself, and food to share. It's a lovely communal activity and it's always great to see people mucking in and sharing and helping each other to all the goodies on offer. Our live music sessions took place in the marquee, on the Airstream stage which was generously donated by Sam and Hazel at <a href="http://www.vintageairstreams.co.uk/">Vintage Airstreams</a>. On Saturday night we were entertained with blues-roots-folk, by the very lively, and occasionally gravelly <a href="http://babajack.com/">Babajack</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAR_59lcCndrN6BMJyZQviVHD9q16pqOm-aDRmH8If0SxDE1jVMx32opyJPNfUIjEpWFCk8_Os9KKcQo0md9TyE2LUK88JwURBKUCXosLywxVgh0kxfZRfmmzPUCgNsZNeNvCRQjVqNE_/s1600/Babajack+at+Rockhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAR_59lcCndrN6BMJyZQviVHD9q16pqOm-aDRmH8If0SxDE1jVMx32opyJPNfUIjEpWFCk8_Os9KKcQo0md9TyE2LUK88JwURBKUCXosLywxVgh0kxfZRfmmzPUCgNsZNeNvCRQjVqNE_/s400/Babajack+at+Rockhill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday was an altogether chilled out sort of a day, apart from the energetic ones who played softball, or rounders, or a hybrid of the two. It was supposed to be Vintage and US versus new European, but I think the teams merged a little to make up numbers. But somehow it was decided that the Vintage team won, captained by Carl, who may have since had a special plinth made for the cup he was awarded. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5Ffl4ZiOVEoRuvnqV5GCN84KKNS0ZfrR5K9omUpFfUWZVqZFRzARE587TzxageRSsdId_4vJ20ZZq6nrEvpIOYB7VVzQaW577UimQbhnJu3DMAvoA46ZwSoKv2kBgP0W-OZCg0wpPtz1/s1600/Rounders+at+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5Ffl4ZiOVEoRuvnqV5GCN84KKNS0ZfrR5K9omUpFfUWZVqZFRzARE587TzxageRSsdId_4vJ20ZZq6nrEvpIOYB7VVzQaW577UimQbhnJu3DMAvoA46ZwSoKv2kBgP0W-OZCg0wpPtz1/s400/Rounders+at+Rockhill+Rendezvous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second ever Unhitch and Stitch took place in the afternoon. Blankets were crocheted, a homemade bow was repaired, young girls were taught the basics of crochet, knitting techniques were exchanged, and tea was drunk, naturally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNIudYCrqK6Sj8JOQbi3F2lcAqJiBbC-qETcNj4PTBQ1tkaqpBxdPmkCQnzbaGiR85w8HrbH4eAJJVPX8ysjfkxESROv6SpyWmn7PXshb8sYWxRPEpcivrJK3A5JQherRjRVVp-vEozpc/s1600/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNIudYCrqK6Sj8JOQbi3F2lcAqJiBbC-qETcNj4PTBQ1tkaqpBxdPmkCQnzbaGiR85w8HrbH4eAJJVPX8ysjfkxESROv6SpyWmn7PXshb8sYWxRPEpcivrJK3A5JQherRjRVVp-vEozpc/s400/Airstreams+at+Rockhill+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the evening there was an impromptu get together to finish up all the food. And on the Monday the field gradually emptied. I know I've missed out a lot, but that's because I missed so much. We had a much bigger proportion of vintage Airstreams than before. We equalled our Spring record for the number of Airstream motor homes seen together in the UK (5). We beat our previous year's record for the total number of Airstreams and totted up 38 (plus the Airstream stage makes 39). But most importantly, lots of people came to tell us what a lovely time they'd had, and that's what it's all about.</div><br />TTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-76246009621648178772011-09-16T13:15:00.000-07:002011-09-16T13:15:38.161-07:00Rockhill Rendezvous Marquee Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since you can never rely upon the British weather we took the bold move of purchasing a marquee for sheltering and entertaining in during Rockhill Rendezvous. Here are some photographs of the teamwork invloved in raising it over a period of three days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ready for the Airstreams!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx7m4tfGjFcZ5l9T_JfdJ1ApRf02U0tDJby1DVfOF8ev1IvpR1N4LgC32otZyGGeIvakn0R1NQBxMwUoSMnQ1XNOxdwBBc-1UTQoVOxmFSTmexSlezhLF534LquzHv2Uw0emvdktM-bLf/s1600/rockhill+marquee+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-50877684891374729322011-09-05T04:53:00.000-07:002011-09-05T04:54:42.794-07:00Ready To Rock And Rendezvous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrjimfc0CjBnIvic16kFVw0b_O_GpD60z-RAYfKUaOBQtq5y3J-uI7Lct7diVm5kdiRPD8zFlzN4apLGvDxOKAe8UXkX1HuUr9DQ3bolA91FvbbSIqGblhKvubQlvKDh9S3F_9NSpChap/s1600/Airstream+International+in+Shropshire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrjimfc0CjBnIvic16kFVw0b_O_GpD60z-RAYfKUaOBQtq5y3J-uI7Lct7diVm5kdiRPD8zFlzN4apLGvDxOKAe8UXkX1HuUr9DQ3bolA91FvbbSIqGblhKvubQlvKDh9S3F_9NSpChap/s400/Airstream+International+in+Shropshire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How many times have we said, "It sucks to be us."? Heavy with irony, of course. It's almost become a catch phrase, and a bit over-used since we arrived at Rockhill Farm to get into gear for the next UKAirstreamers Gathering. Henceforth to be known as Rockhill Rendezvous, only a few days away, and tweaked and plumped up to be just like last year's lovely weekend, but just that bit more special.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In precisely three days that view will start to be obscured by a "field of silver dreams", as one of our Airstreamers recently described it. With or without the aluminium beasts, what a beautiful place, and what a privilege to spend some time here. Carl, Gaynor and their boys make us feel right at home, and we all team together and do our bit to get the place ready for our Airstream chums, old and new.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have a "new", bigger marquee so that bad weather won't be an issue. And we've got live folk and blues performances on Friday and Saturday evening. There are daytime events where Airstreamers can swap tips and help each other out, plus some fun and games on the Sunday for those who enjoy a bit of friendly, vintage-versus-new rivalry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most importantly though, we hope to simply provide a weekend of the coolest and friendliest camping, with a big camp fire to gather around and chat and laugh into the small hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are a UKAirstreamer and you haven't booked your ticket, what are you thinking? Click on <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Rockhill.html">this link</a> if you've just realised you're going to miss out on something a bit special.</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-72620824161877454242011-06-22T06:53:00.000-07:002011-06-30T15:45:36.669-07:00Ghent stopoverOK, ok, I know. "Surely'" you are no doubt thinking by now, "they can't <span style="font-style:italic;">still</span> be pootling along in a convoy, can they?"<br /><br />Indeed we are not. We have found ourselves, post Gathering, in deepest, darkest North Netherlands. It's been a busy week-and-a-bit. We've been putting the finishing touches to the September Airstream Gathering (details very soon!) and there were all sorts of shenanigans going on on the UKAirstreamers Forum after Pete Ritchie of Vatco did a runner with people's money, leaving work undone and trailers in pieces. There was a good deal too much undignified mud-slinging from a small group of Forum members and I felt the need to roll my sleeves up and wade in to do some heavy moderating. It was, pretty much, a full-time job for a few days.<br /><br />So now we're boondocking again. This time we're in the back yard of a wonderfully generous Dutch family, Axel, Annieta, Sven & Lyn. And luckily, Axel has superfast WiFi, so I've been spending most of the time on t'interweb.<br /><br />"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I hear you interject. "But what about the convoy and Ghent and Venlo and all that Airstreamy stuff? That's why we read this rubbish!" <br /><br />Be gentle, dear readers - it's been a hard week. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...<br /><br />Where was I? Oh yes...<br /><br />We spent three nights in Ghent, and I think we all needed it. <br /><br />It's not that we'd driven far or for a long time, but the excitement and stress of the preceding few days left a lot of us feeling more than a little drained.<br /><br />Luckily (for everyone else on the campsite), we had an area to ourselves. Which was nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTzS0I2DypLMtegpfBho0mYmE1JSVvOb6oyb9EpypLsjdWdWPJ_KzenPp9d9A26GSRKLKP2T8kDFonEpu_Sf0Ee2PHSlQKAB-Yc-9KgnR8LBWGbdn4s46t4T8xzWBH5rLZJvbNPttyr4/s1600/Campsite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTzS0I2DypLMtegpfBho0mYmE1JSVvOb6oyb9EpypLsjdWdWPJ_KzenPp9d9A26GSRKLKP2T8kDFonEpu_Sf0Ee2PHSlQKAB-Yc-9KgnR8LBWGbdn4s46t4T8xzWBH5rLZJvbNPttyr4/s400/Campsite.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088344340831538" /></a><br />Our first full day there brought good cycling weather, so a small, intrepid group of explorers set out to find the heart of the city. It's possibly worth pointing out that the campsite was a municipal affair, functional and clean but nothing award-winning. It's also worth pointing out that the site was on the edge of a huge recreational area, with sports facilities of every kind and even a lake with a man-made beach, all of which made it a pleasure to cycle through - once we had figured out which way we were going.<br /><br />The trip into the city was mostly along a canal, making for easy cycling. It was our first introduction to the way the cyclist can be treated on the Continent, and it was royally. Cycle lanes are abundant and not just half-a-yard scrounged from the side of the road. They are usually wide and up on the pavement, but in <span style="font-style:italic;">addition</span> to the pedestrian bit. Utterly joyful to ride on - once we had figured out which way we were going.<br /><br />Ghent itself was an interesting city. Much of it has survived more wars than you can shake a musket at, and the typically Flemish buildings are everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrf8a7mhX7yiNptbwKens6JgU6mKru9KUjrdswD5BK1ae44MMcHHwZthE1H_D9zTwKEvc_9ll3cjiDLrLlD2IoIKpuZ0Ws4YvLeMaOvhuhMxCPnyS2aFSIM0ZpTOLf4RghyRp8eUna4A/s1600/Ghent+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrf8a7mhX7yiNptbwKens6JgU6mKru9KUjrdswD5BK1ae44MMcHHwZthE1H_D9zTwKEvc_9ll3cjiDLrLlD2IoIKpuZ0Ws4YvLeMaOvhuhMxCPnyS2aFSIM0ZpTOLf4RghyRp8eUna4A/s400/Ghent+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088384217806962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvQ__pmhx2u9GFIcb2LB4iXEDHqV5LFS-4Pnz1_4Xs9CbLIJm3t8sh53mVOQ_auxjML3cJWYDZipZGbHY_r4Q8-OtNUAZ3nP4L9caq06x9Sy0rnfgseVtXI0PEq1MwCaD4c2JB6htC7Y/s1600/Ghent+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvQ__pmhx2u9GFIcb2LB4iXEDHqV5LFS-4Pnz1_4Xs9CbLIJm3t8sh53mVOQ_auxjML3cJWYDZipZGbHY_r4Q8-OtNUAZ3nP4L9caq06x9Sy0rnfgseVtXI0PEq1MwCaD4c2JB6htC7Y/s400/Ghent+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088365498845538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmGNUkZtSeS21lVGcENqn4UX6Q65qNv7uzqWjMZuxYAAANheJlEfWQCF35dXXXWyPS6-ILr67Zs96f0Ud6GaQrTWVHSinXU2E4b-9ksCvBoEmWINi6DA81P2F49Qz29toJ-YQ6T4NR-g/s1600/Ghent+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmGNUkZtSeS21lVGcENqn4UX6Q65qNv7uzqWjMZuxYAAANheJlEfWQCF35dXXXWyPS6-ILr67Zs96f0Ud6GaQrTWVHSinXU2E4b-9ksCvBoEmWINi6DA81P2F49Qz29toJ-YQ6T4NR-g/s400/Ghent+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088359380255938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pyP6gpuzPt21dUBquzRxuLlf1RfnQesXIFkZ5tCDG__yapOVu9yIUdfxOlw8q0MzVbrHNNZSJV2ngivdGL3gsaO1KgmtXak7phP6ymrXluRmSOD5cwzpkNT5MthJbuuoQRZ2BgyHLvw/s1600/English+bookshop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pyP6gpuzPt21dUBquzRxuLlf1RfnQesXIFkZ5tCDG__yapOVu9yIUdfxOlw8q0MzVbrHNNZSJV2ngivdGL3gsaO1KgmtXak7phP6ymrXluRmSOD5cwzpkNT5MthJbuuoQRZ2BgyHLvw/s400/English+bookshop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088350554635762" /></a><br />Perhaps it's worth a quick lesson in how to pronounce the word "Ghent" like a local. You'll need a good helping of spit for this one - half a pint or so should be enough. Then, with the aforementioned bolus nicely positioned at the back of your throat, take a good run-up and try to say "Gent", "Kent," and "Hent" all at the same time and without choking. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Ghent is in the Flemish part of Belgium.<br /><br />We spent an hour or so wandering around, before the biological cry for lunch went up, then we wandered around for another half an hour or so, trying to find a supermarket where we could rustle up a picnic. We finally found a lovely big deli, posh enough to be at home in Selfridges and expensive enough to have been airlifted from Harrods. But we managed to find something in foreign to nibble on by the canal. Which was nice.<br /><br />After lunch, we had a wander around more of the city, coming across some History, in the form of Gravensteen Castle..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA9TdyfaPm5OeOobmpOQRwpTBtpGQZfcnzxHXXcTISj-K96_ddYM8eR7siw_uWMciyVz-6xGEHmSZP7r2i1q9HPc5-aIUStNqhl7AqKpatZdaWktjl1b5dm2SmIvsjL1sfhN2WJjZK3I/s1600/Castle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA9TdyfaPm5OeOobmpOQRwpTBtpGQZfcnzxHXXcTISj-K96_ddYM8eR7siw_uWMciyVz-6xGEHmSZP7r2i1q9HPc5-aIUStNqhl7AqKpatZdaWktjl1b5dm2SmIvsjL1sfhN2WJjZK3I/s400/Castle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624091296435855394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcx0V-MlykCZYEgXbd9gmPOsWIdKgNo7s91B9AX7SOKEJ_vQ-Xr6si2W3WRyooZX7VHX0m0XRl6Uq_ir3JXkhTnYYbo8Ly78Xc9A-kABl9kmRhtHIJI9HgCmC5X93iy45w17K2BLbXsb0/s1600/Castle+gate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcx0V-MlykCZYEgXbd9gmPOsWIdKgNo7s91B9AX7SOKEJ_vQ-Xr6si2W3WRyooZX7VHX0m0XRl6Uq_ir3JXkhTnYYbo8Ly78Xc9A-kABl9kmRhtHIJI9HgCmC5X93iy45w17K2BLbXsb0/s400/Castle+gate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624091294045150498" /></a><br />Apparently, the castle was abandoned by it's aristocratic occupants some time in the 14th Century, and over the next few hundred years, lots of houses were built against its walls and in its courtyard. At the end of the 19th Century, just as it was about to fall down, the castle was bought by the city and the first thing they did was, interestingly, tear down the houses and restore the dungeons. A progressive housing policy if ever there was one.<br /><br />The city is built on a small canal system and you are never far from a pretty view of unmistakably Flemish houses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVQmZV_Zi16O9vfI4MsOfQ8HV4h9-FGF9_u0jpzOG3MaPNnlE5ptsPuC8d-SIygtfvMLFAHXnEdjEZYh4C-Xvm5-KiynqTFVou3EveF0iSx3CLVNVkhZ20mel6_w_hS11Bu43-8Hk7-4/s1600/Canal+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVQmZV_Zi16O9vfI4MsOfQ8HV4h9-FGF9_u0jpzOG3MaPNnlE5ptsPuC8d-SIygtfvMLFAHXnEdjEZYh4C-Xvm5-KiynqTFVou3EveF0iSx3CLVNVkhZ20mel6_w_hS11Bu43-8Hk7-4/s400/Canal+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624092012319179682" /></a><br />Another high point, which sadly we didn't have time to explore, is St. Baaf's Cathedral. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1cWNhvs4xa56DH0Cdx0SN2k5mLLiAU5-bEQScFj1Kpa41tN4LV4gKXDx3vDOcYR_mKQW6MftI2aQu9N-CcgH5CeEeHiEG7rHoaLyZSBHbgo7zWRtRtoXICbsTaFLWmLn7ziF7JLOFDg/s1600/St+Baafs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1cWNhvs4xa56DH0Cdx0SN2k5mLLiAU5-bEQScFj1Kpa41tN4LV4gKXDx3vDOcYR_mKQW6MftI2aQu9N-CcgH5CeEeHiEG7rHoaLyZSBHbgo7zWRtRtoXICbsTaFLWmLn7ziF7JLOFDg/s400/St+Baafs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088739173774514" /></a><br />The Cathedral hosts one of the world's great art treasures, in the form of (deep breath) the early Netherlandish polyptych panel painting, "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the van Eyck brothers. Saint Baaf, by the way, is the patron saint of Ghent and, possibly, rough channel crossings.<br /><br />Ghent has the largest pedestrianised area in Belgium. We saw little of that, since they've dug it up to build an underground car park. Still, there are plenty of open spaces, including the Vrijdagmarkt which hosts the rather splendid <span style="font-style:italic;">Bond Moyson</span>, or Socialist House of the People, built at the end of the 19th Century in the Macaroni style. I really don't make this stuff up! Honest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGiwkbaxLQPVUR8u_ZlkT0LIsRrzpW7Zgo3Q7HA8Z4BGCkybs3VJaZva0u29KIE3LwdgpXT3sY9fPtY5KRcHqFGIjF38pxgs-l1n8QaFkrtzKlwNmoNrKNw3GGdhEWca1OofdsHbTkfk/s1600/Socialism+woz+ere.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGiwkbaxLQPVUR8u_ZlkT0LIsRrzpW7Zgo3Q7HA8Z4BGCkybs3VJaZva0u29KIE3LwdgpXT3sY9fPtY5KRcHqFGIjF38pxgs-l1n8QaFkrtzKlwNmoNrKNw3GGdhEWca1OofdsHbTkfk/s400/Socialism+woz+ere.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088730575886546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMh7FBB_M8x9OhAfvrg1u4i7Zcu70VRclXHG1MutvwqqHFfWoGS6wqy971yQIseo-VE1pKvrlWKwgmgw2ixyZ7xq6qOjFK_BfyWv_yUDCHvXD9sFFfePQlRvSBOjXq7aCMWbDI_qDfNU/s1600/Jacob.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMh7FBB_M8x9OhAfvrg1u4i7Zcu70VRclXHG1MutvwqqHFfWoGS6wqy971yQIseo-VE1pKvrlWKwgmgw2ixyZ7xq6qOjFK_BfyWv_yUDCHvXD9sFFfePQlRvSBOjXq7aCMWbDI_qDfNU/s400/Jacob.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624088729610434626" /></a><br />The guy on the plinth here is Jacob van Artevelde, the "Brewer of Ghent" (good title!). Back in the early 14th Century, he managed to mix politics and weaving to make Ghent one of the most prosperous cities of the time, by getting in with the English wool trade. Sadly, politics being what it is, his popularity took a nose-dive when he backed the wrong king and he was murdered by an angry mob in 1345 (the vote used to <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> count back then). He is pointing at England, the source of both the city's prosperity and the wrong king.<br /><br />We spent three nights in Ghent. Having planned to visit Brugge on day two, it was inevitable that it would piss down, so instead we stayed in. I think the feeling was common across the camp, as by late afternoon, once the rains had subsided, many a snoozing Airstreamer could be seen in their chairs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBzcx_Bp8-ynKfH6J6WyK8yrk93r2DTwsItsb2qudlrJvRm1_NEGgltuLdtzWkcbS5NNQxx2arVIaguqiJMvIP9gL6VxYlvlnGa84uAdB4UAsjs-hKM1tD5R_K0AOVj5TcGGxz8x0Fg0/s1600/Lazy+afternoon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBzcx_Bp8-ynKfH6J6WyK8yrk93r2DTwsItsb2qudlrJvRm1_NEGgltuLdtzWkcbS5NNQxx2arVIaguqiJMvIP9gL6VxYlvlnGa84uAdB4UAsjs-hKM1tD5R_K0AOVj5TcGGxz8x0Fg0/s400/Lazy+afternoon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624136568650292770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Y-Qq7b4NEShrWuhDR2X1uTRZZvmyks4M1PWWLxtVOjQdTt9V-xj5k1rBNQpkYwNhUtlr7Z9ehAtXHkvZBtLYWmzuEt7GjaSGmhW7pEgxBkWtmjfKlRhkO9jiLvvLl20yhrSFdYepQ8/s1600/Bill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Y-Qq7b4NEShrWuhDR2X1uTRZZvmyks4M1PWWLxtVOjQdTt9V-xj5k1rBNQpkYwNhUtlr7Z9ehAtXHkvZBtLYWmzuEt7GjaSGmhW7pEgxBkWtmjfKlRhkO9jiLvvLl20yhrSFdYepQ8/s400/Bill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624136562052688642" /></a><br />Friday morning came and everyone was up early to get ready to leave. The pitches were arranged like animal stalls, so hitching up was carried out with military precision.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJK2bHQfNGYUtYAxPOECob8umd6ZBFPEuZkbzyyjP9uH0B1ZQBbTWVuXNfEjVEFFW_JxakroTnkpNt2JUQ1flwP5sc7qACzsQJ-_u7k0ImelT9-csGxu4aU5G76Mqg3Cbd2cssPv6KrM/s1600/Hitchin+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJK2bHQfNGYUtYAxPOECob8umd6ZBFPEuZkbzyyjP9uH0B1ZQBbTWVuXNfEjVEFFW_JxakroTnkpNt2JUQ1flwP5sc7qACzsQJ-_u7k0ImelT9-csGxu4aU5G76Mqg3Cbd2cssPv6KrM/s400/Hitchin+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624136563374713570" /></a><br />Some of the group were, perhaps, more ready than others,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkslsNpYVVrU7B_2ALHsb1a5eIey1wTWXOUA6AwT3RCVlCmFJEz4tRy5d_Sq72W2-nmsxpg6MilNMHTMUdyG_WFa_451QpJ10IrjZCrhunwwhJQCFE_zGVx_FdM_kRndp6k4dQYuiiC_k/s1600/Ready+or+not.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkslsNpYVVrU7B_2ALHsb1a5eIey1wTWXOUA6AwT3RCVlCmFJEz4tRy5d_Sq72W2-nmsxpg6MilNMHTMUdyG_WFa_451QpJ10IrjZCrhunwwhJQCFE_zGVx_FdM_kRndp6k4dQYuiiC_k/s400/Ready+or+not.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624136577253826258" /></a><br />But we were all lined up and ready to hit the road on schedule.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f6uAl6QULe0gf2YLig7NxU3SuerTMZeWQPm-Z2gaQ00DSMXh3hdPXYp5SMPeGJfgsUwnnrlCXMTuSPClqMGAw_LMx0qp2hOh4QNJ0nIkqVcUiKw9ICKuBlotpg8kqpBfXwU5HmBihZA/s1600/All+lined+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f6uAl6QULe0gf2YLig7NxU3SuerTMZeWQPm-Z2gaQ00DSMXh3hdPXYp5SMPeGJfgsUwnnrlCXMTuSPClqMGAw_LMx0qp2hOh4QNJ0nIkqVcUiKw9ICKuBlotpg8kqpBfXwU5HmBihZA/s400/All+lined+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624136552827484066" /></a><br />Venlo, here we come!<br /><br />To be continued...<br /><br /><br />PPetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-11911399671375059402011-06-16T09:31:00.000-07:002011-06-16T09:53:21.550-07:00Euro Trip day one... Kent to GhentUp at 6am. I’m confident that I’ve seen 6am from the <span style="font-style:italic;">staying-up-all-night</span> end many times more than I have from the <span style="font-style:italic;">getting-up-far-too-early</span> end. I’m equally confident that I’d like to keep that ratio.<br /><br />It was a rush to get ready. Luckily, we have volunteered ourselves as “caboose” in the convoy. Most people believe we have taken up the responsibility of shepherding the rest of the party, making sure nobody gets lost, picking up stragglers, fixing break-downs etc, etc. Actually, it just means we don’t have to be ready until after everyone else. Which is nice.<br /><br />We all gathered in the adjacent field to have our pictures taken for <a href="http://www.caravanfinder.co.uk/caravanfindertv/">Caravan Finder TV</a>. Apparently, we’ll be appearing on a screen near you soon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTco83lB4-cAaN99ZCvmQe5Fj5pk0EbP13cwcOl-X2pPzURZZTGgMwX4e-3wDoz-wD9HXDujRYSu_iDH0gFv1N44cW4-vCDLapt-T80q_KVzH_mqqO8QN6MEmCM2sXHSYj95Ki374Vak/s1600/Team+UKA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTco83lB4-cAaN99ZCvmQe5Fj5pk0EbP13cwcOl-X2pPzURZZTGgMwX4e-3wDoz-wD9HXDujRYSu_iDH0gFv1N44cW4-vCDLapt-T80q_KVzH_mqqO8QN6MEmCM2sXHSYj95Ki374Vak/s400/Team+UKA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857517609410722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn5v1NFpku-mmY-lGKtt4yWuz2lnzyJGYfPP8RigmGks3s5Xwcat140xHqEdTS9bgeTE6Qm9yfLRXo9k9fvZvHQV9c0c01RoMTjKFgrUlN7Ee8NxyUwSqUpVZI2V6QYdwZ-jmwEQV4H8/s1600/From+Behind.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn5v1NFpku-mmY-lGKtt4yWuz2lnzyJGYfPP8RigmGks3s5Xwcat140xHqEdTS9bgeTE6Qm9yfLRXo9k9fvZvHQV9c0c01RoMTjKFgrUlN7Ee8NxyUwSqUpVZI2V6QYdwZ-jmwEQV4H8/s400/From+Behind.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857251246031202" /></a><br />And then we were off.<br /><br />First stop, a local motorway services to re-group after the journey through town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zuMcMhgsEAsky6CNLVVxtQFBOzZjipcTLGuyS4sLJ6mlnubcBYKYG8QlaLOxKqzpvBsbyi4xrhtJJC38BsiQwMiHqew6R0VQBlgKIiU8qixZIVJ0yBgftfLbEsAWvNkGljeL4UckxMM/s1600/First+stop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zuMcMhgsEAsky6CNLVVxtQFBOzZjipcTLGuyS4sLJ6mlnubcBYKYG8QlaLOxKqzpvBsbyi4xrhtJJC38BsiQwMiHqew6R0VQBlgKIiU8qixZIVJ0yBgftfLbEsAWvNkGljeL4UckxMM/s400/First+stop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618859215956759874" /></a><br />And then back on the road to Dover. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVkSlKAf3X-iALNa0P81KJ0n1nFzFbeoNOnKODikg6fMvvkV4SM6DeFGAf3pXXLlxmMqwhPyc76VL27LdDwWGFvuekZ9CXjJNtam7sfztUfC3FwIiCDz4IONJhZVN9CNaUbfTQfga5hI/s1600/What+a+view.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVkSlKAf3X-iALNa0P81KJ0n1nFzFbeoNOnKODikg6fMvvkV4SM6DeFGAf3pXXLlxmMqwhPyc76VL27LdDwWGFvuekZ9CXjJNtam7sfztUfC3FwIiCDz4IONJhZVN9CNaUbfTQfga5hI/s400/What+a+view.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857653194207202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDgJGKgOhxuvMkixoQyGLDrVWkEH0046k-IH_YCZfqvIdXoamnyFG-BS5Ao_p0NL8Veh3lLwK8mo8Uk-IaMGEwKlt0zlswjj0txhItVZweGIIpJHFAx80uUT3-1fgpes3DqwiY2HR1gc/s1600/Into+Dover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDgJGKgOhxuvMkixoQyGLDrVWkEH0046k-IH_YCZfqvIdXoamnyFG-BS5Ao_p0NL8Veh3lLwK8mo8Uk-IaMGEwKlt0zlswjj0txhItVZweGIIpJHFAx80uUT3-1fgpes3DqwiY2HR1gc/s400/Into+Dover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857501839701090" /></a><br />Big ferry port, but not big enough to fit all of us into one lane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyNvxrdhS99fMSK3HM15LKPIulINQ1p2TV2kgEUhlnDKtH3Aa9bB6Cg9AxGDXhZPoLTsSQ9Vy2DYd6tN2zwqP3yH4SArH_LZLVe_Sl-wU66fGQKjJ-ejIMaVs0AHbm4oK7Dgdte3iBEw/s1600/At+the+ferry+port.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyNvxrdhS99fMSK3HM15LKPIulINQ1p2TV2kgEUhlnDKtH3Aa9bB6Cg9AxGDXhZPoLTsSQ9Vy2DYd6tN2zwqP3yH4SArH_LZLVe_Sl-wU66fGQKjJ-ejIMaVs0AHbm4oK7Dgdte3iBEw/s400/At+the+ferry+port.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618856931341619314" /></a><br />We got well-and-truly split up getting on the ferry, but spirits were high as we waved bye bye to the White Cliffs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQrTT4SFW13pboPb0j-YDJVHP5Ig7tCpxZ1nImAnQiwBUa98Ey-IQTMP6PnkPRIi6PvE03ts0TYFALxW_6q12iEgVN4qlJoVtS577QeF4E5JE9f6U7MyE7pB-BGdzTqv0JgYeACLJgPo/s1600/Wave+bye+bye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQrTT4SFW13pboPb0j-YDJVHP5Ig7tCpxZ1nImAnQiwBUa98Ey-IQTMP6PnkPRIi6PvE03ts0TYFALxW_6q12iEgVN4qlJoVtS577QeF4E5JE9f6U7MyE7pB-BGdzTqv0JgYeACLJgPo/s400/Wave+bye+bye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857652179173378" /></a><br />And fed the wildlife.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uohSVBEexffTqoK_c-D8_j1q3zAuAhqBvjq3gW5T_u6dLC_ADql1n_oN6LwYWZxEE67WAtP30ZruP7McRcLuuRg8gq7PPxFMXuAuJp5M-S0IzPKFlR5w3Px053wJ_xTlYkvYDRrwQUI/s1600/Feeding+the+wildlife.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uohSVBEexffTqoK_c-D8_j1q3zAuAhqBvjq3gW5T_u6dLC_ADql1n_oN6LwYWZxEE67WAtP30ZruP7McRcLuuRg8gq7PPxFMXuAuJp5M-S0IzPKFlR5w3Px053wJ_xTlYkvYDRrwQUI/s400/Feeding+the+wildlife.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857243841870898" /></a><br />Regrouping at the other end was tricksy. Luckily, we all managed to pick the correct exit lane and gathered together in a customs area before hitting the road.<br /><br />This was my first time driving on the Continent, and since all I had to do was follow the Airstream in front of me, it wasn’t too much of a headache. And what a view I had!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuzqph3yOCkztnOMghLp8hp6G8dT6VVoC94WeGYkeHAAqRJ4GAiM1vrEX-bMapVbnuffzIAbvvHtVy1p1Zq9cFuj3dM7ADuhGgAsKYUKMq6DRP16WHLxYoL4ib6lrPd4anCjU5amAVx8/s1600/On+the+Continent.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuzqph3yOCkztnOMghLp8hp6G8dT6VVoC94WeGYkeHAAqRJ4GAiM1vrEX-bMapVbnuffzIAbvvHtVy1p1Zq9cFuj3dM7ADuhGgAsKYUKMq6DRP16WHLxYoL4ib6lrPd4anCjU5amAVx8/s400/On+the+Continent.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857504760496850" /></a><br />We managed to pick up the tenth member at a pre-arranged Aire without any difficulty. The Aires we saw seemed to range from something like our motorway services, to little more than glorified lay-bys. <br /><br />We took a couple of pit-stops (in the glorified lay-by type of Aire) along the way to give the dogs a pee-break. It also gave the humans a chance to stretch their legs and have a giggle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovCE6y1N7c2RuIiIQU0gxb5s7YOfP5gG9S20iED-HktYNsBbO0sXv6UQ4Hqh6Aqa3YUUzL24rvBcaZMt8tkTPtO4bn33cBIIP2MrrnuR_R3QbcqR3lMWFjLq8Gu-b2Dpxw2gGnc1y4H4/s1600/Pit+stop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovCE6y1N7c2RuIiIQU0gxb5s7YOfP5gG9S20iED-HktYNsBbO0sXv6UQ4Hqh6Aqa3YUUzL24rvBcaZMt8tkTPtO4bn33cBIIP2MrrnuR_R3QbcqR3lMWFjLq8Gu-b2Dpxw2gGnc1y4H4/s400/Pit+stop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857511313638146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfaJY0MDDOCwaDgPafb3JFKXRfxLV4Jn75HNXHuRQJ-PGZ_z8WimSe0bcNANiM4WflPy7qiow-E7cxkhd1V0fnpRvbeU9CHoisK_sOItDKK9f8WZlwE78o2pERLTevVK8Nxky8jcI8jI/s1600/Aire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfaJY0MDDOCwaDgPafb3JFKXRfxLV4Jn75HNXHuRQJ-PGZ_z8WimSe0bcNANiM4WflPy7qiow-E7cxkhd1V0fnpRvbeU9CHoisK_sOItDKK9f8WZlwE78o2pERLTevVK8Nxky8jcI8jI/s400/Aire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618856922217184642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj8e4FwxNQOEvDaW4kKD04k9OhUbpn5iJegd9U2tx7DAkgeodEGx7VMuZD3b8IqhR4No8yV1jKuyj0ZeJO4d9dE6sUe0pSgMh3CBnEg8742TNZNLUNWaxY5ZB6wS96_WcRxbXG2aFOjs/s1600/Aire+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj8e4FwxNQOEvDaW4kKD04k9OhUbpn5iJegd9U2tx7DAkgeodEGx7VMuZD3b8IqhR4No8yV1jKuyj0ZeJO4d9dE6sUe0pSgMh3CBnEg8742TNZNLUNWaxY5ZB6wS96_WcRxbXG2aFOjs/s400/Aire+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618856917421946274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44DtWndZPpRwB19W9k0XrYIGSvq8YFXGmVqwWF4elxhpDQ8red3IVNfPo4ADJI3hZiz7EmItWz4y6kRqeaLFTO3fkK385V559Z6XvskBjYP2di64x-yFQ5VRvmcKsMThnl1aiiGrUGxE/s1600/Grumpy+old+men.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44DtWndZPpRwB19W9k0XrYIGSvq8YFXGmVqwWF4elxhpDQ8red3IVNfPo4ADJI3hZiz7EmItWz4y6kRqeaLFTO3fkK385V559Z6XvskBjYP2di64x-yFQ5VRvmcKsMThnl1aiiGrUGxE/s400/Grumpy+old+men.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857254870855394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nWJ97R5WyRkP9KflDdXZ1WXQPGTMFCuxM-D3a-W8ffElSQRKHal20nBucUQYBV7RkTPoAF1isbN37CgrkLX9j6a74Vrqfd2Mk6dg9NmEZ0svKE__ehvBSJ7M2bYXyNVOVtiTWd8MPuk/s1600/Happy+Poppy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nWJ97R5WyRkP9KflDdXZ1WXQPGTMFCuxM-D3a-W8ffElSQRKHal20nBucUQYBV7RkTPoAF1isbN37CgrkLX9j6a74Vrqfd2Mk6dg9NmEZ0svKE__ehvBSJ7M2bYXyNVOVtiTWd8MPuk/s400/Happy+Poppy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857258967357282" /></a><br />And so, after only about 110 miles and a ferry crossing, we arrived in Ghent. That’s where it got tricky. Things like traffic lights and roundabouts seriously dented our ability to keep together and us tail-enders became right Charlies. Despite what people might say, we didn’t take a wrong turning, I just wanted to go back and have another crack at that roundabout. Honest. As an aside, another advantage of going at the back is that no-one can see if you make a pillock of yourself.<br /><br />But we all arrived safely (eventually), and the evening was spent chilling and chatting into the night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1Ru3UQywyW6RvikjRrCCStdCweB5ViK0emtF9Ej0v5wPTb5xBRs99tv8hXHHFcvnRpLU-wqVCeZ8uiOSJBqRMEsRGoCLlkmwDcl52gr_hawimXx2w9-K5_bTWsp5UJ5H0kK5nYSHKY/s1600/Safe+Arrival.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy1Ru3UQywyW6RvikjRrCCStdCweB5ViK0emtF9Ej0v5wPTb5xBRs99tv8hXHHFcvnRpLU-wqVCeZ8uiOSJBqRMEsRGoCLlkmwDcl52gr_hawimXx2w9-K5_bTWsp5UJ5H0kK5nYSHKY/s400/Safe+Arrival.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618857514307498658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6EOkaSX1BRMfvCtnWvT9JGHQpnj4u32YoQtnrVsFWyx4Gm0ck-Pwwtwm6s8LP5h28x3kNtlouQNy3Q0YT8gogskmYtoyRWPgJpZJPNnoXIG_mXUzMEOxtVO0sOVOsl_vuZp8LeB01O8/s1600/All+lined+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6EOkaSX1BRMfvCtnWvT9JGHQpnj4u32YoQtnrVsFWyx4Gm0ck-Pwwtwm6s8LP5h28x3kNtlouQNy3Q0YT8gogskmYtoyRWPgJpZJPNnoXIG_mXUzMEOxtVO0sOVOsl_vuZp8LeB01O8/s400/All+lined+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618856926341521154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9U7VCSWnxo5OOpLcvyaWt4o08M9kT4RuiYHEEgnjKTIJ_VCtkCOl6iT_c_TAvsGY5hORCqVYIuESPzFhOQiDMxjcbo_dSk-7jRiMTba9sob9CJXak_lX9rCT2k5sWlkQJjHstWSDolY/s1600/By+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9U7VCSWnxo5OOpLcvyaWt4o08M9kT4RuiYHEEgnjKTIJ_VCtkCOl6iT_c_TAvsGY5hORCqVYIuESPzFhOQiDMxjcbo_dSk-7jRiMTba9sob9CJXak_lX9rCT2k5sWlkQJjHstWSDolY/s400/By+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618856940987079298" /></a><br />And so to bed.<br /><br />Internet access is proving to be something of an issue, but I have <span style="font-style:italic;">plans</span>, so hopefully I'll be able to keep you updated soon. Stay tuned...Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-52005354459412190052011-06-13T15:58:00.000-07:002011-06-13T22:31:19.396-07:00We're off to see the Wizard...We're sitting in a field with eight other Airstreams.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34g6DLR9tZ81O9yHM6b_BKuBHerzJT5yafx61DggNwawIOdy0RozsDgE9YUq50zRVrvED_c939LXvEyyrScXUKkdqd0Iggr_0tam5Dk7GEZ5PxVsykW-77aDyQpOQgnDiFVo4aVNsza4/s1600/The+team.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34g6DLR9tZ81O9yHM6b_BKuBHerzJT5yafx61DggNwawIOdy0RozsDgE9YUq50zRVrvED_c939LXvEyyrScXUKkdqd0Iggr_0tam5Dk7GEZ5PxVsykW-77aDyQpOQgnDiFVo4aVNsza4/s400/The+team.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617843033055354914"></a><br />It's ungodly o'clock, we're all up to make final preparations and to have our picture taken before setting off for the ferry port of Dover. In convoy! Depending on the point-of-view of other road users, we'll be the best thing on the road <span style="font-style:italic;">ever</span>, or the largest waste of tarmac in Kent. Still, we'll all be having a good time!<br /><br />I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that we're quite excited.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2tSc9kb5dRdcMGs41HuLU6Fw87VKfJmYi7snRuh5YktM3_Rk6QVuO6hUcSgrBowHQLfe-bPiAwxsGmIRG-BoEU1CG_N31zdnlWEPC00xaHzA-eDjluD_qweEtdJP1fHYQN6MRfEwjl4/s1600/More+Trailers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2tSc9kb5dRdcMGs41HuLU6Fw87VKfJmYi7snRuh5YktM3_Rk6QVuO6hUcSgrBowHQLfe-bPiAwxsGmIRG-BoEU1CG_N31zdnlWEPC00xaHzA-eDjluD_qweEtdJP1fHYQN6MRfEwjl4/s400/More+Trailers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617844676372837570"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2lK-CscmoGmy3vdPH1-TAmP2vX97xGIVL1asLbmNmrb4fPQUvYL0TnBjxki1XHhYYO56CjK1SbBiQfhDRGch9tJsRkgx6KZqrcpofEDn3VcwYa89FUGSELeWazln3DCF3R8zfApFSK0/s1600/Our+corner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2lK-CscmoGmy3vdPH1-TAmP2vX97xGIVL1asLbmNmrb4fPQUvYL0TnBjxki1XHhYYO56CjK1SbBiQfhDRGch9tJsRkgx6KZqrcpofEDn3VcwYa89FUGSELeWazln3DCF3R8zfApFSK0/s400/Our+corner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617844669426091666"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BKaZb90MaoD6wUX_h6v7FPq2NdzkM9awVTm1Lzyh6I5fADd-J3y4o9EHQjLJ7LnyUD9jj-mXDlxSC1ULMT-j7pDEWTrZUj_Q-flqDcdXfvxpQcaRET_Kvp0d0jPaPri9LbJQn1KEWxU/s1600/Andrew.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BKaZb90MaoD6wUX_h6v7FPq2NdzkM9awVTm1Lzyh6I5fADd-J3y4o9EHQjLJ7LnyUD9jj-mXDlxSC1ULMT-j7pDEWTrZUj_Q-flqDcdXfvxpQcaRET_Kvp0d0jPaPri9LbJQn1KEWxU/s400/Andrew.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617846599020836162"></a><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOhQZA4Dp62EZbOzPyWnI57IwLYaDt9UKV2GpN9fc98sVO17S8uUqWKEkHSJb5MB2MqaIDFCzTb9FuiWHlVA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-27321524772679113692011-06-11T06:14:00.000-07:002011-06-11T07:07:45.720-07:00A quick catch-up before we head off into the sunset...It's been a really busy couple of weeks. I'm sure many of you have lives that are constantly busy, but<span style="font-style:italic;"> Having Loads To Do In A Very Short Time</span> is a bit of an alien experience for us. The reason we're so busy? We're leaving the country.<br /><br />Fear not, dear reader - it's not for good, just for a few weeks. We're heading over to Europe for a bit - more on that later.<br /><br />In amongst all our preparations, we popped down the road to see Airstream Europe's launch of their new Service & Repair Centre near Cheltenham.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqf0ZNjpRxYdud-SW1bsDzBuj-9EMtU2fHT7Sc_HX9fUnmdnsyC5BuWdtqFlsZraN6rFOYfVRRMwk-zdABAMZzLh7_Li9dFEsYnBKJcUw0gqfwjLv4deo-rmyr-wsfNPUKBbiq6cnuIg/s1600/Cheltenham+Base.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqf0ZNjpRxYdud-SW1bsDzBuj-9EMtU2fHT7Sc_HX9fUnmdnsyC5BuWdtqFlsZraN6rFOYfVRRMwk-zdABAMZzLh7_Li9dFEsYnBKJcUw0gqfwjLv4deo-rmyr-wsfNPUKBbiq6cnuIg/s400/Cheltenham+Base.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616951280862717234" /></a><br />It also (more-or-less) coincided with the launch of their re-branding, so now you can call them "<a href="http://www.airstreamandco.com/homeindex.html">Airstream and Company</a>." We wish them every success!<br /><br />We've also been working on the UKAirstreamers September Gathering - details soon...<br /><br />The long trip from our site in Worcestershire to the rendezvous in Kent was broken up by a couple of nights boondocking with our Airstreaming friends Glynis & Pete. And we couldn't have hoped for a friendlier welcome. They are two of the loveliest people I know, and while we were there we met up with <span style="font-style:italic;">another</span> two of the loveliest people I know - Simon & Emma - former Airstreamers who have been part of our Airstreaming "family" from the start. It was a wonderful couple of days, though it is just possible I might have drunk too much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU1M5rXFMdSaXnKqiYsbqVwE5-3Qwd9DjMQiMCBlOhqh29sGdZ4cQolS6r99IpzI_1jSqvFj635upNzo6lRqml352RqUugA_2XRVZy4jX-xxY69fIa5z2E2ds-9nuGObFizFWga4TEAo/s1600/Glam+Boondocking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU1M5rXFMdSaXnKqiYsbqVwE5-3Qwd9DjMQiMCBlOhqh29sGdZ4cQolS6r99IpzI_1jSqvFj635upNzo6lRqml352RqUugA_2XRVZy4jX-xxY69fIa5z2E2ds-9nuGObFizFWga4TEAo/s400/Glam+Boondocking.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616955480212503810" /></a><br />Not a bad spot to park an Airstream!<br /><br />And so we made our way to Kent, spending a deeply unpleasant hour or two on the M25 Orbital Car Park. Why Kent? because we're meeting up with eight other UKAirstreamers and all heading off on Tuesday, in convoy to a European Gathering in the Netherlands next week. At the last count, there were 49 Airstreams booked in for the weekend! You read that right, forty nine!<br /><br />I wouldn't say we're excited, because that wouldn't cover it. Giddy might be better.<br /><br />And I suspect there may be fairy lights.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF6SL8oSIYEngyHuUgBQVyIt_zAj-T2QYpzRW511PXVc4z2M6IiiIKp-CFjyq9cIKZeHVrogAFQWwCAxnMroXYvRC1g1yvcqxSr6zuk1-TJ5F0SW1FsGL-Ja3WXAvi1xTNl2sEqVm5dg/s1600/Us+by+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF6SL8oSIYEngyHuUgBQVyIt_zAj-T2QYpzRW511PXVc4z2M6IiiIKp-CFjyq9cIKZeHVrogAFQWwCAxnMroXYvRC1g1yvcqxSr6zuk1-TJ5F0SW1FsGL-Ja3WXAvi1xTNl2sEqVm5dg/s400/Us+by+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616956509763130786" /></a><br /><br />P xPetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-45377019411287135482011-05-26T03:00:00.001-07:002011-05-28T04:53:14.696-07:00That went well!The Gathering, that is, not the plan to blog about it every day. We were too busy having fun to summon up the energy to tell the blogosphere about it daily. Sorry if we disappointed you.<br /><br />So, how did it go? Very well, I think! Wednesday and Thursday were filled with preparations and shopping during the day and drinks and laughs in the evenings. There were only a small handful of early-birds, but great company.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1ZomzpkLRgN5Qo0DdKpsiXmdBOh68wJT88HRXUPlBBwvlOUXHYG9YEyxJZq8hioOENFFpr_9UubcoMz4G64jcwpTuWxZzbnPdfsOi9MRCtCz44Oz_fgNqmfzRH5YA5e0oLO8vPkjIdw/s1600/Just+us.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1ZomzpkLRgN5Qo0DdKpsiXmdBOh68wJT88HRXUPlBBwvlOUXHYG9YEyxJZq8hioOENFFpr_9UubcoMz4G64jcwpTuWxZzbnPdfsOi9MRCtCz44Oz_fgNqmfzRH5YA5e0oLO8vPkjIdw/s400/Just+us.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611093274173910018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijN6M52s5ISKSLFXnrtgMbK4v2hipWsbCaIkGqiisA1DmgYTnm6ZiWj0cLrnVmprmP2K2ZXcy8hkzmxgRhSSifcfoaihzb3F8th1ZmyqSRecCNZDUaJiFC79DueVFo6PdYScDqt9nzaw/s1600/Early+birds.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijN6M52s5ISKSLFXnrtgMbK4v2hipWsbCaIkGqiisA1DmgYTnm6ZiWj0cLrnVmprmP2K2ZXcy8hkzmxgRhSSifcfoaihzb3F8th1ZmyqSRecCNZDUaJiFC79DueVFo6PdYScDqt9nzaw/s400/Early+birds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973374396141106" /></a><br />This is Eric and Bill arriving on Thursday, after pushing their 300 motorhome all the way with a bubble!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ibkHXfhE2kCiwmjEwvjkAm7jvXbcsYH3J8dkyO8fkZw4bnibyo-4MkCSItObp-qRgneqyOiLrZmWVZnnbRnZ_FsBNuWruCBGFOdu392mpvu3vRXS6E7E_Qv4NL5XBeF2p-dMhFbEOe0/s1600/Eric%2527s+arrival.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ibkHXfhE2kCiwmjEwvjkAm7jvXbcsYH3J8dkyO8fkZw4bnibyo-4MkCSItObp-qRgneqyOiLrZmWVZnnbRnZ_FsBNuWruCBGFOdu392mpvu3vRXS6E7E_Qv4NL5XBeF2p-dMhFbEOe0/s400/Eric%2527s+arrival.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611093278119346082" /></a><br />Friday was the big day, with almost everyone else arriving. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievf87kiJn64YHL243ep0pqoOdkLoiN7Vug00eSGE5ZYu2BNfZGQuSNSSX4zQ-kvulPrilAbOM6uz3EQ6fCSyRY-e6MAm8zS5zjxDrAIZlCbi4vUkaiB2yrSW7zsTis3CDHhDctBJ3TrE/s1600/Filling+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievf87kiJn64YHL243ep0pqoOdkLoiN7Vug00eSGE5ZYu2BNfZGQuSNSSX4zQ-kvulPrilAbOM6uz3EQ6fCSyRY-e6MAm8zS5zjxDrAIZlCbi4vUkaiB2yrSW7zsTis3CDHhDctBJ3TrE/s400/Filling+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611093285458205090" /></a><br />There were some really nice outfits...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIvvZhA5WSinNABxVBwLCdzJX9mDks6TiLuA3U7lr-KEi_4FqM9X5_9ngCqOSJvxCJOy3zquHOXei7mDFelbM1ljNJAOfcsCG0KchUjHKQAZ_6D57WXqpjTcv4YloBCu0UZPUbJevOV0/s1600/Nice+outfit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIvvZhA5WSinNABxVBwLCdzJX9mDks6TiLuA3U7lr-KEi_4FqM9X5_9ngCqOSJvxCJOy3zquHOXei7mDFelbM1ljNJAOfcsCG0KchUjHKQAZ_6D57WXqpjTcv4YloBCu0UZPUbJevOV0/s400/Nice+outfit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611093281288834978" /></a><br />including this one, which belonged to the site owners, Eddy & jackie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J695treP_t5ux3FqCsFovuwuVVY0KAlVoOdRyt_d0-Ad8vQrLb8pUWtSwIHd4-xmQmBs6_dJc0lsNAKyVS65yu5wHKZo32o9aA-kNn8TOuzSK0GeZA9ZPNLaW4PIbAtsZi3HPiGP4Jw/s1600/Nice+rig.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J695treP_t5ux3FqCsFovuwuVVY0KAlVoOdRyt_d0-Ad8vQrLb8pUWtSwIHd4-xmQmBs6_dJc0lsNAKyVS65yu5wHKZo32o9aA-kNn8TOuzSK0GeZA9ZPNLaW4PIbAtsZi3HPiGP4Jw/s400/Nice+rig.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610971004490552642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVD2at8YBNRfh2IOdBmMmC3_-GCw3amtDZaHfSaQQvttARg8aodP21sP6UuiUWwT2u5vicX8Trn2N_oUR6neDIT1wHTc8Hha5Mg6l-ukxZbtdir3WLtuFQDdcul-sJE4mcNkhuGLoU14/s1600/Nice+outfit%2521.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVD2at8YBNRfh2IOdBmMmC3_-GCw3amtDZaHfSaQQvttARg8aodP21sP6UuiUWwT2u5vicX8Trn2N_oUR6neDIT1wHTc8Hha5Mg6l-ukxZbtdir3WLtuFQDdcul-sJE4mcNkhuGLoU14/s400/Nice+outfit%2521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973374852240898" /></a><br />We had some lovely trailers and 'vans, including this combo of a 1961 and a 2009 Bambi...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ubVLGvFVMg_M5Pfi_ch_GRxOQscUOFk1yfMYNChzE1UbH4UiF6UfXlnt8uOYjb9BhzKElb6HA18tRSU1wg98EC_d7v5zAOJYK7F6mkJkZkgXKetoSMpSuQ-FWaf0JxLJtnHnGkxadAE/s1600/Bambi+comparison.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ubVLGvFVMg_M5Pfi_ch_GRxOQscUOFk1yfMYNChzE1UbH4UiF6UfXlnt8uOYjb9BhzKElb6HA18tRSU1wg98EC_d7v5zAOJYK7F6mkJkZkgXKetoSMpSuQ-FWaf0JxLJtnHnGkxadAE/s400/Bambi+comparison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973372635494370" /></a><br />And FIVE Airstream motorhomes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccJuIbcR5fx6kC57ONbRSHT7-iXUUcP_aDmXtUvYBtUdyzJZoq4FazzZ2GC3DmLCfc-wVLZ_-ZxSwOwJG0D2mA_Ufskwgd-vr5lOZCWBUeVagEs8hTHUV8AuLUU__RSSbh1VdiEouZV0/s1600/MH%2527s+and+bubble.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccJuIbcR5fx6kC57ONbRSHT7-iXUUcP_aDmXtUvYBtUdyzJZoq4FazzZ2GC3DmLCfc-wVLZ_-ZxSwOwJG0D2mA_Ufskwgd-vr5lOZCWBUeVagEs8hTHUV8AuLUU__RSSbh1VdiEouZV0/s400/MH%2527s+and+bubble.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973028437483058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP3zwAZSVtROPHHESmA0UsyTXzF-RXDl66VyTbxYz-8IPTKDnmosFLGeHoYrof6I6Is8Oyb1bpq8rxgy54nvphWAiRdwwmTiwKzRgqc71u8Z1iMvuqOsFZT4rZp6aGZ2uRNZxeOwN2Jc/s1600/Five+motorhomes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP3zwAZSVtROPHHESmA0UsyTXzF-RXDl66VyTbxYz-8IPTKDnmosFLGeHoYrof6I6Is8Oyb1bpq8rxgy54nvphWAiRdwwmTiwKzRgqc71u8Z1iMvuqOsFZT4rZp6aGZ2uRNZxeOwN2Jc/s400/Five+motorhomes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973366189230162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCnVq1F61K2zmxO42RcN5tNd46JPQO2VYadJo5emZgRzL6RL3RH05MNiucpDV1QP_X8CfBW-M_Nh15rQP0RI00bIjojSUNPAqmRiY81AetgzPGILhIDCM2xBky4MXkrqUaX9ntb30Ww4/s1600/Local+taxi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCnVq1F61K2zmxO42RcN5tNd46JPQO2VYadJo5emZgRzL6RL3RH05MNiucpDV1QP_X8CfBW-M_Nh15rQP0RI00bIjojSUNPAqmRiY81AetgzPGILhIDCM2xBky4MXkrqUaX9ntb30Ww4/s400/Local+taxi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973035386590146" /></a><br />There were some smashing old British, European and American caravans too, thanks to some new friends from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=144124619046">My Cool Caravan Facebook page</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg-F_23Bvsu90OYOcmHa6Sxphcy3zvLnTdNPi0_69JlCLuNfnMOQvvyJhx6Ar0dp9w-Lj54x6uAjy8s0z-KrCjnPN2RECBTIAw_9LvFA1GWXCUVgIyvgBrYxrIwxQqm_hIbuNdY80WvE/s1600/Combo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg-F_23Bvsu90OYOcmHa6Sxphcy3zvLnTdNPi0_69JlCLuNfnMOQvvyJhx6Ar0dp9w-Lj54x6uAjy8s0z-KrCjnPN2RECBTIAw_9LvFA1GWXCUVgIyvgBrYxrIwxQqm_hIbuNdY80WvE/s400/Combo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611152056197603986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71dbzW_5PKiIOtlsYtXaO3LX6qz5ntLzHPPRlVNgaWsW4vlKk7LDBIOhzzHF_5Rr2exmzFkpRIMMhUST2d43O-_9CRqzxad6C6aQl3fgy6SWeKSSxup-aN3ZlvVDWEaAsULB4RwKsIcc/s1600/Vintage+classics.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71dbzW_5PKiIOtlsYtXaO3LX6qz5ntLzHPPRlVNgaWsW4vlKk7LDBIOhzzHF_5Rr2exmzFkpRIMMhUST2d43O-_9CRqzxad6C6aQl3fgy6SWeKSSxup-aN3ZlvVDWEaAsULB4RwKsIcc/s400/Vintage+classics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973022279279730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaKQQJTjsZ8CaeKw75Lm542Kxsuo_QCuDp-ECKrHwRk98N96VoczVjV4ScECHoIP7bDILY4w2WOqIcvyAcX-R-wuECyTMrZKsEQ9ENkD0kzHYRNG_4BpDhprvWY9DvGcy0Qy66_iWscw/s1600/French+can+can.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaKQQJTjsZ8CaeKw75Lm542Kxsuo_QCuDp-ECKrHwRk98N96VoczVjV4ScECHoIP7bDILY4w2WOqIcvyAcX-R-wuECyTMrZKsEQ9ENkD0kzHYRNG_4BpDhprvWY9DvGcy0Qy66_iWscw/s400/French+can+can.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610971010046197266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdJBCyuV9d5lUVahEVowLTMcddBQdNgmN2MkixD3wHHo1l5niEXci9bZVpGHGwqZ4HvrzkZBx9_KXa8uhc5rgayT-m1hMxpLRJiUU188wKdGIuE2Jfdw708UpKx470sBrj9-4P4d5Ug/s1600/Safari.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdJBCyuV9d5lUVahEVowLTMcddBQdNgmN2MkixD3wHHo1l5niEXci9bZVpGHGwqZ4HvrzkZBx9_KXa8uhc5rgayT-m1hMxpLRJiUU188wKdGIuE2Jfdw708UpKx470sBrj9-4P4d5Ug/s400/Safari.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611152170159061554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf9SIFagEQvmPEoFw6d9lxuvaOlp_0bYRVOptZ0nAWlRXDMa8TG3TtBV2AMH_mUs2zKVBi0mtraHQlGnY3qmRM5S8wWnGGsmilxrI3iLP6VUqk-gWVkPZ_RULWpKtME0oZmA5SsekKCA/s1600/Line+up.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf9SIFagEQvmPEoFw6d9lxuvaOlp_0bYRVOptZ0nAWlRXDMa8TG3TtBV2AMH_mUs2zKVBi0mtraHQlGnY3qmRM5S8wWnGGsmilxrI3iLP6VUqk-gWVkPZ_RULWpKtME0oZmA5SsekKCA/s400/Line+up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611152168265872674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiojPf1I0VVvPanb-r0L2-zoqLyIjU0HRTmNHDpi3SZUNK51Th81LBiouHEhy2wJujyQB6oprLANKTKik1VUfUt-xpZVAmWeUN7aFZcs6O4O-OH7skEykWATYDfY1fBnIYlN7dggmn2pQ/s1600/Shiny.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiojPf1I0VVvPanb-r0L2-zoqLyIjU0HRTmNHDpi3SZUNK51Th81LBiouHEhy2wJujyQB6oprLANKTKik1VUfUt-xpZVAmWeUN7aFZcs6O4O-OH7skEykWATYDfY1fBnIYlN7dggmn2pQ/s400/Shiny.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973032099035682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYr4kmYx_mqUOG-GLmVfehwZsjehMRXBUSYA149fh4gTxBocge-aVY9EA-RXpwG22sYicu1m39h1DUAs6AVNDN-47sQErrV5IOjzlY_Jc87F3IPhh8HYcMsKzApwnbiWMqFCn8nBSR8o/s1600/Westfalia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYr4kmYx_mqUOG-GLmVfehwZsjehMRXBUSYA149fh4gTxBocge-aVY9EA-RXpwG22sYicu1m39h1DUAs6AVNDN-47sQErrV5IOjzlY_Jc87F3IPhh8HYcMsKzApwnbiWMqFCn8nBSR8o/s400/Westfalia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611154939164844258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpotYUah1DI_RcHx4EKhAfM4luiFpqbLCz-F1ivT6XSqcrNsrFxBjoeKlLshtjhxndRZGX9FefEzdBgByf-ewKueUi_6OfiHpO2BzYG4fsn1Uko2CV2YqfW_4KbBX_yt7gapDiglk7Cvo/s1600/Spot+the+difference.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpotYUah1DI_RcHx4EKhAfM4luiFpqbLCz-F1ivT6XSqcrNsrFxBjoeKlLshtjhxndRZGX9FefEzdBgByf-ewKueUi_6OfiHpO2BzYG4fsn1Uko2CV2YqfW_4KbBX_yt7gapDiglk7Cvo/s400/Spot+the+difference.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611154866581385762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawCd-hko-Qat222hxaPXw6ASQzptuBzHALEHiVvjL3J2DxnutIm1TLGml1ny6ta6MsqaIU4cvbiXCpB_D2yTk7F8A7mySlBMrSPW6M_a2QLI7pPDnuWHHHcfGT-vcPpuBjHTqdvCjr4/s1600/Shasta.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxawCd-hko-Qat222hxaPXw6ASQzptuBzHALEHiVvjL3J2DxnutIm1TLGml1ny6ta6MsqaIU4cvbiXCpB_D2yTk7F8A7mySlBMrSPW6M_a2QLI7pPDnuWHHHcfGT-vcPpuBjHTqdvCjr4/s400/Shasta.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611154763211209090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IiTQuRFGn_sgGTuwQXLNXiuK6AZZmnLE6IJUFTHvLUK1rfdO0J_G91IFAdVbo69tNK5hzp5YK4n0ZcdZReFbeVxIKtHlBat0DMDviijMGiY7nxIcGzwhZIpRcbB-5LcW4folFW7oP3A/s1600/Good+company.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IiTQuRFGn_sgGTuwQXLNXiuK6AZZmnLE6IJUFTHvLUK1rfdO0J_G91IFAdVbo69tNK5hzp5YK4n0ZcdZReFbeVxIKtHlBat0DMDviijMGiY7nxIcGzwhZIpRcbB-5LcW4folFW7oP3A/s400/Good+company.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610971009814369618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GCZWcvO9Tn_GBJXlU8d8AcsZU3aXoi6pXbJxcUku6Jo0x5i1VIxafF9lcZ4DAKVZ2q1nq8VsUWjhVhSWu1eJgFe4wgFOlyZ9yTxexsBSFwU0u9YV0d95cz_A20oqq5U8zlWaGzRAhIg/s1600/Flags.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GCZWcvO9Tn_GBJXlU8d8AcsZU3aXoi6pXbJxcUku6Jo0x5i1VIxafF9lcZ4DAKVZ2q1nq8VsUWjhVhSWu1eJgFe4wgFOlyZ9yTxexsBSFwU0u9YV0d95cz_A20oqq5U8zlWaGzRAhIg/s400/Flags.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610973024812444210" /></a><br />The weather was, shall we say, challenging at times. I managed to get a bit of a tan, but it could just be windburn. Strong gusts and the occasional horizontal rain made us run for the barn at times, but I think spirits were generally high, even for the poor souls under canvas! <br /><br />This was our fifth Gathering and a bit of a departure for us. For the first time, we joined up with other caravanners and I think the result was spectacular. Everyone seemed particularly excited about the "open house" on the Saturday afternoon and the chance to have a nose around all these fantastic machines was taken up by almost everyone. Altogether we got 25 Airstreams and 11 cool caravans and motorhomes together, and they all looked amazing!<br /><br />I don't know what it is that makes Airstreamers click, but they share a trait or two with vintage caravan owners. Everyone who came was a pleasure to meet, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them all for coming and sharing their pride and joys. And I'd especially like to thank Eddy & Jackie of Victoria Farm for being so helpful and accommodating. <br /><br />I can't speak for everyone else, but we had a great time. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipES6hq_DuMD_G98dUeSdJJOTEOVVlrtUVJfqGDuxN5rYCP_KHjbbVwweCF13isdnz5GTRX0DN6N1g7x_osAgCnbbj5w05tqbowcArYsyYGqBVQiPkTo8xUs-E-1ag-B1ymhUE1CUFsuI/s1600/Night+around+the+fire+pit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipES6hq_DuMD_G98dUeSdJJOTEOVVlrtUVJfqGDuxN5rYCP_KHjbbVwweCF13isdnz5GTRX0DN6N1g7x_osAgCnbbj5w05tqbowcArYsyYGqBVQiPkTo8xUs-E-1ag-B1ymhUE1CUFsuI/s400/Night+around+the+fire+pit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610970994070000642" /></a>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-18126825859618845892011-05-15T13:02:00.000-07:002011-05-19T02:16:09.423-07:00Countdowns and LaunchesIt's only one day until the Fifth UKAirstreamers Gathering!<br /><br />The fifth! I can't believe it's only just over two years since we put the word out on <a href="http://ukairstreamers.blogspot.com/2009/03/airstream-heaven.html">this blog</a>, calling up any Airstreamers who were watching and getting them to join us. We had nine Airstreams that weekend. This time we have twenty five coming from all over the country to join us in Leicestershire.<br /><br />It was from that first get-together that UKAirstreamers was born. We needed a way for UK owners to keep in touch, so I made a <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Home.html">website</a>, added a <a href="http://www.forum.ukairstreamers.org/">forum</a> and, in the process, learned more about web programming language than is healthy. The UKAirstreamers Forum now has nearly 200 members while the website gets around three thousand page-loads a month! I must admit, I'm quite chuffed.<br /><br />Here's what we achieved last September <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.skylens.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Skylens Aerial Photography</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span><a href="http://www.airstreameurope.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Airstream Europe</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ1V8Pgf-EkdDE6_BBoPOlM87LqrkTMcqbU77p8-vBtUHua2EaDn12tvLyLDa1UhZ1qUmBmmSnQlRNFBGZStQFPBx44Rvr8FlewoT00nRaAPeFBO63yK8WK5gewHV7p8VFN5adCGFr_w/s1600/Ludlow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ1V8Pgf-EkdDE6_BBoPOlM87LqrkTMcqbU77p8-vBtUHua2EaDn12tvLyLDa1UhZ1qUmBmmSnQlRNFBGZStQFPBx44Rvr8FlewoT00nRaAPeFBO63yK8WK5gewHV7p8VFN5adCGFr_w/s400/Ludlow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608345195664578402" /></a><br />So, we arrived onsite a couple of days ago and we'll be spending today shopping, prepping and otherwise arranging things so that (we hope) everyone has a good time. People often ask me why we do it. To be honest, it isn't hugely different from my old job, and who doesn't like putting on a party?<br /><br />We'll try to blog throughout this one, just to see if we can. One day to go. Stay tuned...<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, last week we popped up to Tebay to see the launch of Airstream Europe's new Series 2 684. And very nice it was too!<br /><br />Wally Byam, the founder of Airstream, once said "We don't make changes, we just make improvements." Or something like that. And I can see that philosophy in the new Series 2. The layout is more-or-less the same with some changes in the furniture to allow a larger bathroom, more space in the bedroom, bigger lounge and (I think most importantly), improved systems (water and electrics).<br /><br />There is another launch event over the first weekend in June. This'll give you Southeners a chance to see the new Series 2 and have a shufty at Airstream Europe's new Southern Service and Repair centre near Cheltenham. Details, as they say, can be found on their <a href="http://www.airstreameurope.co.uk/">website</a>.<br /><br />If you can't make it to that, here are some pics of the new Series 2. <br /><br />Spoiler alert!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmBvPfGedg0BZfKofy4eSnz8Oq1gG2CCRmN_IDcjr9KTrSnPKGufgc1QbQLJYw2b75pTjixGfP86PCl7Kn3026zsNKjS7JU-q1R9iuuSdijb6YeFppnMUTRE68rN0YfX6Z7lVkNto9vo/s1600/Showroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmBvPfGedg0BZfKofy4eSnz8Oq1gG2CCRmN_IDcjr9KTrSnPKGufgc1QbQLJYw2b75pTjixGfP86PCl7Kn3026zsNKjS7JU-q1R9iuuSdijb6YeFppnMUTRE68rN0YfX6Z7lVkNto9vo/s400/Showroom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608347426782661122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lifLO2_aUy_o-5WH9ORs2VHLNWIWfU_o1BVzEFsKLNIbcAj2Ez6zs9oz1ik6oBzganBLg3_SX2JG7PeY3_X4ittCKtrCB_vlH6cCBcj7F28jq7iDJPO-ivgh_OdIas-9FqAGe6iWw84/s1600/Lounge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lifLO2_aUy_o-5WH9ORs2VHLNWIWfU_o1BVzEFsKLNIbcAj2Ez6zs9oz1ik6oBzganBLg3_SX2JG7PeY3_X4ittCKtrCB_vlH6cCBcj7F28jq7iDJPO-ivgh_OdIas-9FqAGe6iWw84/s400/Lounge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608347429065216338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBboP_ry6jI1bFl6s4pp05Q7l2O7h4xNMSQTQoIh8FGNH1jtAV5HPglpcn7xJ6deQ6z56JxK1yA0xNcENDq5_QSOPdNkpINS9J1H1hQUeapHbbwraIQhPgiUDbncUJ25lV0-MuAXPcr4/s1600/Kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBboP_ry6jI1bFl6s4pp05Q7l2O7h4xNMSQTQoIh8FGNH1jtAV5HPglpcn7xJ6deQ6z56JxK1yA0xNcENDq5_QSOPdNkpINS9J1H1hQUeapHbbwraIQhPgiUDbncUJ25lV0-MuAXPcr4/s400/Kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608346536508791426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UkEoT5yZ6nkzZV-fw7H223GKWyQlhcJT_rko0bwMKG0EvQpMEFMtK1m_rjMwLLAWIr4NB3D1pV_03sWjyuj6TXyTKxumzCj1ze4rv8X-yL5A8g2QE3Fv482-bu5R3I4Jy8QTRkOTHyU/s1600/Fridgentv.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UkEoT5yZ6nkzZV-fw7H223GKWyQlhcJT_rko0bwMKG0EvQpMEFMtK1m_rjMwLLAWIr4NB3D1pV_03sWjyuj6TXyTKxumzCj1ze4rv8X-yL5A8g2QE3Fv482-bu5R3I4Jy8QTRkOTHyU/s400/Fridgentv.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608346531908207282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLwthl8gQDjdYyO5foA9PYwiO-EX1B01KR55ZO22fanLtLtGXT8kZ1f-doNEa3QSvxpkvF5DjesODPd1jzHNQq9oAF2byxW5X9Wo4ektvw3pTViQUDiBNCEvm1fTXulSQJWxqkts9QmE/s1600/Kitchen+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLwthl8gQDjdYyO5foA9PYwiO-EX1B01KR55ZO22fanLtLtGXT8kZ1f-doNEa3QSvxpkvF5DjesODPd1jzHNQq9oAF2byxW5X9Wo4ektvw3pTViQUDiBNCEvm1fTXulSQJWxqkts9QmE/s400/Kitchen+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608346528576882946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjLP252QEkXIOFREK3I4MrZXcgOHmTBL8NxqYKd39hDMAekMIT1heUiJZtLiCs8nqkgHQtyHc-XEQrFbqNHTN_xg7qeZfZHU005qtjEvp19G2j94oBEJ0Xlng5RWRgdmoFxCSWtzH338/s1600/Length.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjLP252QEkXIOFREK3I4MrZXcgOHmTBL8NxqYKd39hDMAekMIT1heUiJZtLiCs8nqkgHQtyHc-XEQrFbqNHTN_xg7qeZfZHU005qtjEvp19G2j94oBEJ0Xlng5RWRgdmoFxCSWtzH338/s400/Length.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608346525018442066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IraSeEUAu2APBIaRskR4MLvZrbLnoo7Xhb_iUE9xN3de8sVjdXZ4VIPU4OuP1OWBiOqiZI0F_Y00_gaIf__yDby6pgURQ9E2Lss7Z-bVRkk6oqt55O9nEgXrKzVxkM9rlljFrdnTy7M/s1600/Bathroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IraSeEUAu2APBIaRskR4MLvZrbLnoo7Xhb_iUE9xN3de8sVjdXZ4VIPU4OuP1OWBiOqiZI0F_Y00_gaIf__yDby6pgURQ9E2Lss7Z-bVRkk6oqt55O9nEgXrKzVxkM9rlljFrdnTy7M/s400/Bathroom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608346524530142114" /></a>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-27264140564862522902011-04-03T03:32:00.000-07:002011-04-26T12:00:49.287-07:00The First Barbecue Of the Year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A few weeks ago we received an invitation to a party.<br /><br />Nothing too unusual you may think, and we do indeed regularly receive party invitations from friends. But the conversation usually goes something like this...<br /><br />Friend - "We're having a party. Can you come?"<br />Us - "Love to. When is it?"<br />Friend - "Next Friday. Where will you be?"<br />Us - "On the Isle of Benbecula*."<br />Friend - "Wear the fox hat?"<br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(* Substitute any point in the British Isles that is as far from Civilisation as possible**. I often wonder if our friends are somehow tracking our movements and waiting until we can't possibly attend before actually inviting us to anything.)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(**Wherever it was, rest assured, a motorhome got there before us)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, it was with no small delight that we received an invitation to a party that, rather than simply being on a local continent, was actually in the next county at a date and time we could actually achieve. Of greater note, however, was the purpose of the party. It was to the launch of <a href="http://www.weberbbq.co.uk/">Weber Barbecues</a> Airstream Roadshow.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've been to many launch parties in my time, but since I used to work as a theatre lighting and sound technician, this was the first one I didn't actually have to do any work at. Even more gratifying was that we were invited simply as representatives of the Airstream community in the UK. Well chuffed!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, one Tuesday morning in March, we made our way to the <a href="http://www.grillacademy.co.uk/">Weber Grill Academy</a> in Oxfordshire. And what a brilliant day we had. As the only vegetarians in the village, I expected to be treated to nothing more than the smells of barbecuing meat, but we were made to feel very welcome and offered some very delicious veggie food.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The main purpose of the day was to show off the newly refurbished Airstream that will be travelling around the country promoting Weber's range of BBQ equipment while also teaching the world some great barbecuing tips and recipes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">We were treated to a couple of hours of hands-on training in the arts of smoking, baking, roasting and grilling - all on a barbecue. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Never again will our veggie barbie be limited to blackened burgers and rubbery sausages! In fact, we made a pizza (on a barbecue) that was so good it went straight into my All-Time-Top-Ten-Pizzas-Of-The-World list!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">As for the Airstream itself - it was a beaut. A 1975 International Sovereign, painstakingly restored and converted. The work was done by <a href="http://www.arcairstreams.co.uk/">American Retro Caravans</a> in Somerset, and a very fine job they did too! The outfit will be a one-man operation - the set-up and break-down taking about an hour each. Dan, the man from Weber, will be appearing at a place near you soon...</span></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpDENsygbWrXO8VTDhMLaUGdZKunsl3LChL7si1Rgyz4LjQyST3eHHYsOYqElKVU2bstgKb_n5NNYB9zANBfZkxP8DO1BE-gFnZZOSAm5jzvFt-e8zTdJ1jxXnnnlITA5qiEwyiS_W7E/s1600/Weber+outfit.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpDENsygbWrXO8VTDhMLaUGdZKunsl3LChL7si1Rgyz4LjQyST3eHHYsOYqElKVU2bstgKb_n5NNYB9zANBfZkxP8DO1BE-gFnZZOSAm5jzvFt-e8zTdJ1jxXnnnlITA5qiEwyiS_W7E/s400/Weber+outfit.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599468882606302818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ANW2QRlc1j6LKXs6vw05pmadzb5AVpb6Yt0Xzp-pUMSQ7hiAkKNtbLfajKaSo7ZR9BbIp8lg2al4G1qS617qLj_XjG-v45aSJSqRv7dlfhmyBK6QH903OAnOI1h_7IsQ_5GoVEZqmBE/s1600/Weber+stage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ANW2QRlc1j6LKXs6vw05pmadzb5AVpb6Yt0Xzp-pUMSQ7hiAkKNtbLfajKaSo7ZR9BbIp8lg2al4G1qS617qLj_XjG-v45aSJSqRv7dlfhmyBK6QH903OAnOI1h_7IsQ_5GoVEZqmBE/s400/Weber+stage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599468888056355282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXUDB_Uepse0c_4aowPeH5bRyu-U9inxbRWwUsdTC0iqKWfL4XB2UFm16_bt44e0B58cx7tZUy628Ry5yk6UJbRFkgaValbaVe1EFrYwN0gp8zmQ3mg6YTM6ssKuNC0fp6z2CUmZKMvA/s1600/Weber+interior.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXUDB_Uepse0c_4aowPeH5bRyu-U9inxbRWwUsdTC0iqKWfL4XB2UFm16_bt44e0B58cx7tZUy628Ry5yk6UJbRFkgaValbaVe1EFrYwN0gp8zmQ3mg6YTM6ssKuNC0fp6z2CUmZKMvA/s400/Weber+interior.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599468885571270018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEDxK1kljr3RmVVtmXibw3RjP2il_lIFy3t_ngTBgq-iEizDYNI9D-nOQn4WUWU__tJHajEoMZdV9zZkIG0bonFBszpTvVhEt-7Tr9IiicoGDfyXp3hibmF5gLYgM858gO7ifBGHVxsU/s1600/Interior+rear.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEDxK1kljr3RmVVtmXibw3RjP2il_lIFy3t_ngTBgq-iEizDYNI9D-nOQn4WUWU__tJHajEoMZdV9zZkIG0bonFBszpTvVhEt-7Tr9IiicoGDfyXp3hibmF5gLYgM858gO7ifBGHVxsU/s400/Interior+rear.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599468878760612818" /></a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are more details about the restoration/conversion </span><a href="http://www.weberexperience.co.uk/building-the-airstream"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you get a chance, check the </span><a href="http://www.weberexperience.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Weber Experience website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and go and have a look at the roadshow. Not only will you see a very nicely finished Airstream, but you might even learn something new about barbecuing. We did.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Say "Hello" to Dan from us!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">P</span></div>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-35809724068282955172011-03-03T04:01:00.000-08:002011-03-03T04:01:28.439-08:00Airstreaming Plans for 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JQpyU16vKn4iR4xHEd31K0MR7VyTuomuIvV8Sr9Sz1XhUC9cYtvGKVfP4nAwuM1G1EhhJLNZbbTEn44tm8Bn65Ezq36saixc943mLK70JrvrV8QOWYU1-WZQR6t6lEkyizp_hoof5NC-/s1600/Airstream+Logo+Raindrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JQpyU16vKn4iR4xHEd31K0MR7VyTuomuIvV8Sr9Sz1XhUC9cYtvGKVfP4nAwuM1G1EhhJLNZbbTEn44tm8Bn65Ezq36saixc943mLK70JrvrV8QOWYU1-WZQR6t6lEkyizp_hoof5NC-/s400/Airstream+Logo+Raindrops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Home.html">UK Airstreamers</a> are gearing up for an eventful and adventurous summer. Having spent the winter months in one spot, by the time May comes around Pete and I will be ready to hit the road again and get a fresh outlook. We are looking forward to the fifth and sixth <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/UKA_Org/Gatherings.html">UKAirstreamers Gatherings</a>, in May and September respectively, meeting some new Airstreaming friends and catching up with our old ones. It's hard to believe that it is only two years since Pete first put the word out on this blog that we would be heading to a campsite in Wiltshire and would love other Airstreamers to join us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The UKAirstreamers community is talking and meeting and sharing experiences, and it is still growing. At our Spring Gathering this year we are also looking forward to meeting some cool and retro non-Airstreams since we are joining forces with the team at <a href="http://www.mycoolcaravan.com/">My Cool Caravan</a>. Just three weeks later we are taking part in a convoy of ten to twelve Airstreams, boarding a ferry together (just imagine that) and chugging along, hopefully still in convoy, to meet up with a fleet of European Airstreamers in Holland. Organised from this end by fellow Airstreamer Andrew, and from the European end by Dutch Streamers Kai and Pieter, we will apparently be part of a 40-strong throng. What a great chance to connect with and become part of the extended Airstream community.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And from there a couple of us are planning to stay in Europe for the remaining summer months and explore the North. It's going to be an inspiring summer. I think it is timely for us too, since last year our movements were largely dictated and guided by visiting friends and family and didn't necessarily take us to new places. This year there should be plenty of new experiences to keep us on our toes. It feels good to have an adventure to plan and look forward to.<br />
T</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-10973491542979117662010-11-27T06:04:00.000-08:002010-11-27T06:14:05.607-08:00Winter's Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_nNVQclbmrBRj3oJaReklgk5GW63NVIR5tIk3DFiUc2HKRQx345Gtiapnn4oJ2DBXgiT4A91kcprI3r9u6VFDTRrtGs4TipbJFGqvTKUsx8cdnJ7IyMX8y7XRjGcmOf3su2rmTd__FE9/s1600/frosty+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_nNVQclbmrBRj3oJaReklgk5GW63NVIR5tIk3DFiUc2HKRQx345Gtiapnn4oJ2DBXgiT4A91kcprI3r9u6VFDTRrtGs4TipbJFGqvTKUsx8cdnJ7IyMX8y7XRjGcmOf3su2rmTd__FE9/s320/frosty+roof.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are now in winter mode. As soon as it gets dark our homemade window insulation panels go up. They don't stop the condensation but it is reduced and we think that the temperature inside the Airstream is improved by a degree or two. Every little helps when we are experiencing the earliest widespread freeze for seventeen years. We also make sure that the internal water tank is full before we settle in for the evening. The external one often freezes overnight and you could end up witthout any water for your morning cup of tea. A bad start by anyone's standards.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Yesterday evening we braved the zero temperature and some mist and made the mile-long walk in the pitch dark to our very pleasant local pub where we enjoyed a few pints of Piddle In The Glass. I'm not trying to insult the brewer, or the pub, it's the name of one of the ales from the local brewery in the village of Wyre Piddle. Naturally, each of their brews is named with a pun on the word 'piddle'. Well you would wouldn't you? And, because when you stand at the bar ordering a drink whose name is almost a complete sentence you tend to abbreviate it to one word, Pete found himself ordering "A pint and a half of Piddle please." Nobody batted an eyelid, except for us two gigglers. The beer itself was lovely, quite fruity and golden, well balanced and entirely quaffable.</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Today we awoke to a light dusting of the white stuff so perhaps another of their ales would be appropriate, Piddle In The Snow.</div><div class="MsoNormal">T</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-24786387101368546862010-10-15T12:27:00.000-07:002010-10-15T12:27:19.474-07:00Hazy Day<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCsqQk0kp7o8AJ1oi6hZKkGY1rc3x-GH0RTcx1K89qMgbavm6RM9fTP2jVG5zlRYO5cEApU878vAS7J-veHa4_E4w7gbnT54iwRs2Riq5fqK-5Y03jzpa7is3d5npo9hie7CM-3mJ5-DD/s1600/Coniston+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCsqQk0kp7o8AJ1oi6hZKkGY1rc3x-GH0RTcx1K89qMgbavm6RM9fTP2jVG5zlRYO5cEApU878vAS7J-veHa4_E4w7gbnT54iwRs2Riq5fqK-5Y03jzpa7is3d5npo9hie7CM-3mJ5-DD/s400/Coniston+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
While the Land Rover was having its Make-Money-Disappear functions tweaked we soothed our souls on and around the shores of Coniston Water.<br />
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Smoke from a bonfire had merged with a morning mist and hung in a thick ribbon in the still morning air above the lake. Above the haze the sky was as clear and as blue as you'll ever find in the Lake District. The blue reflected in the glassy smooth water and the autumnal shades on the trees were psychedelically enhanced through my rose-tinted glasses. Usually when you remove your pink lenses the world can look a bit drab, but not on this day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G5UdqW1ghV45CkSwYiRdSlMne_1pjrj1BBlqewPxvMgzojeA_c0vrpqSoZqZMnsR-ht-lmxwmMu1qpZszn_bcclatI7nqhe_cH8HfS7VfsVEpPn8dBC9yD8kMuh6c9QvCHZfRpje0Q43/s1600/Coniston+haze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G5UdqW1ghV45CkSwYiRdSlMne_1pjrj1BBlqewPxvMgzojeA_c0vrpqSoZqZMnsR-ht-lmxwmMu1qpZszn_bcclatI7nqhe_cH8HfS7VfsVEpPn8dBC9yD8kMuh6c9QvCHZfRpje0Q43/s400/Coniston+haze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We found a log to sit on by the shore. A fighter jet, a helicopter and a tiny sea-plane were the mechanical reminders that we were grasping at a few minutes retreat from the twenty-first century. Ruskin would be pulling out his wiry old beard!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12KC0Ca_G1T35gxwSSVPP7W9dgpNnM9nY_79xzTXl9F28eKt4x1M12yREHBmCL8SN7AGJ5jQznTsuWqiS6WCfXWjxUI3ePg3lePcXqocikV_tZWlxjkwuLl05dByx_PuVpXeTP0MlaeVD/s1600/Coniston+Shoreline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12KC0Ca_G1T35gxwSSVPP7W9dgpNnM9nY_79xzTXl9F28eKt4x1M12yREHBmCL8SN7AGJ5jQznTsuWqiS6WCfXWjxUI3ePg3lePcXqocikV_tZWlxjkwuLl05dByx_PuVpXeTP0MlaeVD/s400/Coniston+Shoreline.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">T</div>Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-85919234878049778722010-10-14T06:11:00.000-07:002010-10-14T06:13:41.915-07:00Autumn Pit Stop<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_11QKLiQafU0omq62gG-c9pNZgZPdDMRU5VElRf95jD4RlVCqCvpa4vrMpGKnIKHR46DOKbSX_DMv5JC8-EpCDfLih3I1jb0L03l1lj19BoH17LSqshyphenhyphenQBxSdDGr3wexEhIzG-J-2K50g/s1600/new+Airstreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_11QKLiQafU0omq62gG-c9pNZgZPdDMRU5VElRf95jD4RlVCqCvpa4vrMpGKnIKHR46DOKbSX_DMv5JC8-EpCDfLih3I1jb0L03l1lj19BoH17LSqshyphenhyphenQBxSdDGr3wexEhIzG-J-2K50g/s400/new+Airstreams.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We are back in the Airstream after staying with Pete's parents while the trailer was being repaired and serviced. Followers of this blog may remember that a wheel fell off about a year ago. Well, we have returned to Cumbria for the first time since then and had the damaged side panel replaced. We felt a twinge of tension as we drove along the same road where the incident happened and remembered the exact spot as we passed it. Well, we had stood there for about an hour in the darkening, rainy dusk, waiting for the recovery vehicle. Click <a href="http://ukairstreamers.blogspot.com/2009/11/check-your-nuts.html">here</a> for a reminder of the story.<br />
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I had to avert my eyes as John and Scott removed the old panel. It was a cross between a visit to the dentist and watching a documentary about face lifts. You know that some brutality is inevitable for a renewed outcome, you're curious to know what is involved in the process, but you have to watch through your fingers.<br />
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Here's the old panel...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNxCNvEzp3LxDzgI_IMZ3HRcjWhtgGV-Vb9Lan-71hfLIcFxVMS5DHx4M30IXIDR46C5yce_M3wZJcGFAk4VzKX3PynsvjoPJoADY-c4nQeXPM1I2URje5dC4TDU_SZAAttwQgC7NLQty/s1600/old+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNxCNvEzp3LxDzgI_IMZ3HRcjWhtgGV-Vb9Lan-71hfLIcFxVMS5DHx4M30IXIDR46C5yce_M3wZJcGFAk4VzKX3PynsvjoPJoADY-c4nQeXPM1I2URje5dC4TDU_SZAAttwQgC7NLQty/s400/old+panel.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...And the new one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z6gjMCS4uwqsLP2kRr3UmLV_Qh0KkSr89Lhd7TV-M-iiRC9tyZx9X7MuGO47bnKBm1DPKyddVXMlKyR5gPfnwOM6uZaX4OByG6ELSPkzAAbhRGVZjnHSLBR9X_FVkTIS0md-4dsf-Uz_/s1600/new+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z6gjMCS4uwqsLP2kRr3UmLV_Qh0KkSr89Lhd7TV-M-iiRC9tyZx9X7MuGO47bnKBm1DPKyddVXMlKyR5gPfnwOM6uZaX4OByG6ELSPkzAAbhRGVZjnHSLBR9X_FVkTIS0md-4dsf-Uz_/s400/new+panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Now it's all smooth and new. The trailer has had it's annual check up, it has had a power wash. The rig looks renewed and proud and we are very happy to be back on board. Needless to say, we have been obsessive about torquing the wheels since last year's painful incident.<br />
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And by the way, since arriving in Cumbria a fault developed with the airbag system in the Land Rover, which has also had to be fixed. I'm sure that all of our previous vehicles added together were cheaper than the upkeep and repairs on the Land Rover. Plus, it has occurred to me that one of the reasons we hunkered down in one place for six months from last November to March was because we'd had the trailer wheel fall off, four new tyres and repairs to the suspension on the Land Rover, then someone without insurance drove into us on a dark and misty night. Her old banger came off worse than our big ol' tank but that wasn't any consolation to our bank account. Going anywhere would just have been tempting fate.<br />
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TTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-33798516527555930592010-09-17T08:15:00.000-07:002011-03-03T04:02:48.431-08:00Gathering Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQUHYhmFGmmFKuIRW_2MZEHM24W5iaQCxoYZyja1krpC-ygma8mRGd0L7tOG71JaRuJVZzgYV_1Er_Nh_AyxJTQRPXi9BUoSUxcIBuaetB7M-T7cV8Bzju0GzizrJZLYU11RBKzlo7B6U/s1600/IMG_8202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQUHYhmFGmmFKuIRW_2MZEHM24W5iaQCxoYZyja1krpC-ygma8mRGd0L7tOG71JaRuJVZzgYV_1Er_Nh_AyxJTQRPXi9BUoSUxcIBuaetB7M-T7cV8Bzju0GzizrJZLYU11RBKzlo7B6U/s320/IMG_8202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I think we have just about caught up on our sleep. I've been waking up from deep, deep sleeps feeling pretty spaced out while Pete has had spasmodic sleeps disrupted by thoughts about last weekend and already planning for next year. And to think, this time last week a convoy of eight Airstreams appeared in this field, gradually followed by another twenty-one. As far as we have been able to ascertain, that is the largest gathering since the last caravan of American visitors of the Wally Byam club in the nineteen sixties. Certainly it's the largest collection of Brits with Airstreams, ever.<br />
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But as wonderful as that is, and as preoccupied I was about seeing Airstreams en masse, looking back on the weekend my memories are more clearly dominated by images of people getting to know each other, catching up with each other, hanging out together, and having a lot of fun and huge amounts of laughter. And that is very special indeed, most gratifying.<br />
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Of course we were too busy maintaining an illusion of effortless organisation to concentrate on getting great photos but here is a selection of what we've managed to cobble together between us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxsVv2pUTPBd-BzowtdtqHTLSniMp6f2N9zgnyKv2YsHtShEYXtBGxt3zipf-RLW4gLtxwkyFy0pvQ6x9OWu9kqmA2yLV94BRVCIxpOMoNtTnWiCrl1o_JDcZN6q4hB2GAl2e2SFE5tkY/s1600/IMG_8332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxsVv2pUTPBd-BzowtdtqHTLSniMp6f2N9zgnyKv2YsHtShEYXtBGxt3zipf-RLW4gLtxwkyFy0pvQ6x9OWu9kqmA2yLV94BRVCIxpOMoNtTnWiCrl1o_JDcZN6q4hB2GAl2e2SFE5tkY/s200/IMG_8332.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfMFHx4rjDLDrbBaacefQU5TBvMLTd9cKnkpTxYkrVe9o9cUErFcoW235yJJfFxfjmBFyA6ntdfdEtDWeW8UGCRAUM1pLkwekX1kurL30YRJtUWm1na3XJkecFLWkLp6rFl0ScrEgR74v/s1600/Bulldogwtmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfMFHx4rjDLDrbBaacefQU5TBvMLTd9cKnkpTxYkrVe9o9cUErFcoW235yJJfFxfjmBFyA6ntdfdEtDWeW8UGCRAUM1pLkwekX1kurL30YRJtUWm1na3XJkecFLWkLp6rFl0ScrEgR74v/s200/Bulldogwtmk.jpg" width="152" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xhbBQOYFYuObORB4qzHM1uWZ68t4PzllPRP7CRidOWc50I7iLujIBTanxXBN9Pk3o7OvJnPXpqJE0q-AuiryUvcovfYSkXwUs9PLqwuPp7qoeToaIVqvaxqF8vUaIsPK13aQqeKcDjOI/s1600/Convoy+Arrivalwtmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xhbBQOYFYuObORB4qzHM1uWZ68t4PzllPRP7CRidOWc50I7iLujIBTanxXBN9Pk3o7OvJnPXpqJE0q-AuiryUvcovfYSkXwUs9PLqwuPp7qoeToaIVqvaxqF8vUaIsPK13aQqeKcDjOI/s320/Convoy+Arrivalwtmk.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEtNY-qP_ZOW8-uAGowDpm3F82rCFnrdOoie8a830J1DmLF4o-ZO2CpZoaivav4wfPHntE4Go_oWvejbPQVjni0Wi7G-PYNNVpleyshvCtd5G00W3qIFggIJ7dY8MBQShjcoohTLengtf/s1600/IMG_8329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEtNY-qP_ZOW8-uAGowDpm3F82rCFnrdOoie8a830J1DmLF4o-ZO2CpZoaivav4wfPHntE4Go_oWvejbPQVjni0Wi7G-PYNNVpleyshvCtd5G00W3qIFggIJ7dY8MBQShjcoohTLengtf/s200/IMG_8329.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cUTzsa-u7VxrAHTnR7kcIzdcAPpmvJ2E5TNB1HKX9NpVkSJJRTKlZj5gzUJg6ixkUAPDcOqPhZleyWtmecAWOATefjaUtG5nOcYwisHkEKPji2FnvIi8-8ACRx5c_xyKXUWJfASG9nF3/s1600/IMG_8337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cUTzsa-u7VxrAHTnR7kcIzdcAPpmvJ2E5TNB1HKX9NpVkSJJRTKlZj5gzUJg6ixkUAPDcOqPhZleyWtmecAWOATefjaUtG5nOcYwisHkEKPji2FnvIi8-8ACRx5c_xyKXUWJfASG9nF3/s200/IMG_8337.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><br />
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The weekend included vintage and new trailers and motor homes, dating between a 1959 Tradewind and 2010 European Internationals; there was the arrival of a convoy of eight; drinks on Friday night under the shelter of the party tent as it chucked it down with rain outside; old friends and new, mingling and meeting; a bring-and-share barbecue; campfires; lanterns; late nights; Sunday breakfast in the sunshine; 'unhitch and stitch'; baseball; people becoming more and more relaxed as the weekend unfolded; children crying when it was time to leave. It rained some of the time but the sun shone for much of the weekend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwKse9tHaXtpGoXfg4q8HNHwAwFJySc2lxfIeh3EGj77EWjWhZwGKBOTAaa3IY5SUlP2w8yvKakZpPJnuNqdDXZaQY9mpfpofQ0ZPwlCQD9uIZDnpmpG6n605cIZgDbvZffaRc-25JIWn/s1600/IMG_8349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwKse9tHaXtpGoXfg4q8HNHwAwFJySc2lxfIeh3EGj77EWjWhZwGKBOTAaa3IY5SUlP2w8yvKakZpPJnuNqdDXZaQY9mpfpofQ0ZPwlCQD9uIZDnpmpG6n605cIZgDbvZffaRc-25JIWn/s320/IMG_8349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7PeC238a7U6-JJ0GSA52UJcdOb-Q2Hkre-MdVupi5seEUSQqUi0Yu_B7YIAxvA4Cez-555JGeE0MvFSrRt5O8tYBacFx63mJepr6KqjGbyBpjQ5OhUEnpHedrB1B8uF_Cn-2X1BYaPmp/s1600/Lanternswtmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7PeC238a7U6-JJ0GSA52UJcdOb-Q2Hkre-MdVupi5seEUSQqUi0Yu_B7YIAxvA4Cez-555JGeE0MvFSrRt5O8tYBacFx63mJepr6KqjGbyBpjQ5OhUEnpHedrB1B8uF_Cn-2X1BYaPmp/s320/Lanternswtmk.jpg" /></a>Unexpected hit of the gathering: the flush loo. We had expected something basic and chemical but Carl supplied us with a cute wooden hut, painted inside, with curtains made by Gaynor and photos of their 1959 Tradewind on the walls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkhUbpBK5U65mU4M-7MPlBjtovuHRyJTKvfvDGeBp37m3r4KLX764m6m0wCK8RYMXxCP2pDP3uC0USKzfzM6Sp8q2yDOJlu3io0TjbKq5lBtM9YhXEHh4goaiga6VwWamzHSb7CCfJHrA/s1600/Eddie+goes+Cowboywtmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkhUbpBK5U65mU4M-7MPlBjtovuHRyJTKvfvDGeBp37m3r4KLX764m6m0wCK8RYMXxCP2pDP3uC0USKzfzM6Sp8q2yDOJlu3io0TjbKq5lBtM9YhXEHh4goaiga6VwWamzHSb7CCfJHrA/s400/Eddie+goes+Cowboywtmk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Carl and Gaynor, Connor, Jordan and Rory have all mucked in enthusiastically, and made so much happen just the way it should. From inviting us to their farm in the first place, to running in the water, putting up the party tent, supplying us with firewood, and so many extras that helped us to have the perfect weekend.<br />
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Many, many thanks to everyone who came and took part, and enjoyed themsleves and contributed to such a brilliant weekend. Shall we do it all again? It's already being planned.<br />
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There are more photographs on the <a href="http://www.forum.ukairstreamers.org/">UKAirstreamers Forum</a> on the Meets Rallies And Gatherings thread. And there is more about the 'Unhitch and Stitch' on <a href="http://nomadicknitter.blogspot.com/">Notes From A Nomadic Knitter</a> (Tracey's blog).Traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-55486650712501086362010-09-02T05:58:00.000-07:002010-09-02T06:52:20.773-07:00The fourth UKAirstreamers Gathering<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTU4o8683uQ-Q2noU_3_8TaQJFtwCSS6Yls6twvCYULJZ-MhA3J2YPbPJUNdjwePW28MqlfwejYwYPzHjVGveknT9k_qQF4PIqxg9rdPFy7KQ05NyZkIOOFX10i2-jKtMEXHTc6O83DQ/s1600/Panoramawtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTU4o8683uQ-Q2noU_3_8TaQJFtwCSS6Yls6twvCYULJZ-MhA3J2YPbPJUNdjwePW28MqlfwejYwYPzHjVGveknT9k_qQF4PIqxg9rdPFy7KQ05NyZkIOOFX10i2-jKtMEXHTc6O83DQ/s400/Panoramawtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512308844801313554" /></a><br />Back in March of last year, we posted here that we were going to be in a particular spot at a particular time and if you had an Airstream, come along and join us. I also posted on the US <a href="http://www.airforums.com/">Airforums</a>. It wasn't a particularly efficient way of getting in touch with Airstream owners in the UK, but we managed to get eleven together in a field in Wiltshire. Despite a hailstorm during the barbecue, a good time was had by all. You can read about it <a href="http://ukairstreamers.blogspot.com/2009/03/airstream-heaven.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdHaUzEx0rQl_xKxJqdrqQuWuGHefdFpjFXnuc-UjQ3ye27GPGKfBeTE-D4Qe2q2mzw7XGQO_VXJmv86Tsyax4JpAwPFWoXAgGEiDW-LBv-7FNsPbo2Zytb87InF0a_V5aTOFsR8a8Mk/s1600/Trailerswtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdHaUzEx0rQl_xKxJqdrqQuWuGHefdFpjFXnuc-UjQ3ye27GPGKfBeTE-D4Qe2q2mzw7XGQO_VXJmv86Tsyax4JpAwPFWoXAgGEiDW-LBv-7FNsPbo2Zytb87InF0a_V5aTOFsR8a8Mk/s400/Trailerswtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512308848779607426" /></a><br />Out of this was born <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org/">UKAirstreamers</a>.<br /><br />What began as a means by which a handful of Airstreamers could keep in touch has grown into a resource-ridden, useful tool for dozens and dozens of UK Airstream owners to share knowledge, information and just chat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJE2v8bq5stEoQ0H0UOvVbxUpYDjG6tWImIuro6RzGYWUamAXuNS13nXlCiQh8qLu0tcN-dlJi3Jhyrc2XwX8UC_32zcqOfSL7KZGXJtizAPQW2zy3uaumQL0f7EvP2Ea00Xg5EAFh9M/s1600/Airstream+Rowwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJE2v8bq5stEoQ0H0UOvVbxUpYDjG6tWImIuro6RzGYWUamAXuNS13nXlCiQh8qLu0tcN-dlJi3Jhyrc2XwX8UC_32zcqOfSL7KZGXJtizAPQW2zy3uaumQL0f7EvP2Ea00Xg5EAFh9M/s400/Airstream+Rowwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512308829194359106" /></a><br />A year and a half later, we're about to host our fourth UKAirstreamers Gathering. This one promises to be the largest ever collection of Airstreams in the UK! We have (at the last count) 28 Airstreams and their owners coming to spend the weekend of 10th - 12th September with us near Ludlow in Shropshire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1NRi_eRvZzHM99N1NhwJndnPMU5ym-8KrdqeP0ikKXUBnZEQ-7WmYHEMGpw7mhhdwl0X9tM7C5d6OwetmbLJYVXym-tKb518MmnICsHopZhjWOnMRjvjckNYRxCHz8e2sT4h1CTIZdQ/s1600/Bambiwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1NRi_eRvZzHM99N1NhwJndnPMU5ym-8KrdqeP0ikKXUBnZEQ-7WmYHEMGpw7mhhdwl0X9tM7C5d6OwetmbLJYVXym-tKb518MmnICsHopZhjWOnMRjvjckNYRxCHz8e2sT4h1CTIZdQ/s400/Bambiwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512308831952932594" /></a><br />It isn't too late to join us! I'm sorry, but this isn't open to the public, but if you have an Airstream and would like to bring it along for the weekend, please email me at pete-at-UKAirstreamers.org (you know the drill, replace the "-at-" with @).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v5EhEMEEntQhvmpDk5tkuVR8zjLsVqSWLoZq0ScDmPvmrV2Jw6z24ITbVo4zVj2jXyKxvn198PWIVf7-P-3KBmv7JvaUxE0BxHcYtDaFe_RDUxIWp5Z0CoEDGW-L5OTDOkbs3Tb2GsY/s1600/Nightwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v5EhEMEEntQhvmpDk5tkuVR8zjLsVqSWLoZq0ScDmPvmrV2Jw6z24ITbVo4zVj2jXyKxvn198PWIVf7-P-3KBmv7JvaUxE0BxHcYtDaFe_RDUxIWp5Z0CoEDGW-L5OTDOkbs3Tb2GsY/s400/Nightwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512308837039690578" /></a><br />Don't worry if you can't make it - we'll be posting pics here and doing it again (twice!) next year.<br /><br />PPetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-38195689448575935002010-08-15T12:16:00.000-07:002010-08-17T08:16:44.633-07:00We missed it!The Fourth of July was a date to celebrate in some old colony or other, but a few days earlier, the First of July was a much bigger event in the UKAirstreamers household. You might have missed it (like we did), but it was a bit of a milestone for us (if we'd remembered) - it was exactly two and a half years ago that we set off on our one year trip.<br /><br />I’m going to mark the occasion by sharing some of our better photos (out of the 25,000 or so we've taken) and by offering our own <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Semiquinquennial Campsite Awards</span></span>.<br /><br />It’s possibly worth pointing out that these awards have no value, no physical mantelpiece-filling aspect and, most importantly, no alcohol-fuelled, star-studded ceremony. They are just the rambling thoughts of a lightly seasoned traveller. I don’t intend to please or offend – it’s an entirely subjective meander through the highs and lows of our travels. If you don’t agree with any of my comments, please drop me an email at pete@yeah.whatever.com. I won’t get back to you.<br /><br />Firstly, I’ll start with “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best Campsite</span>”. I was going to keep this one secret (we don’t want everyone to know!), but since it isn’t really a campsite and since you’re not allowed to wild-camp there any more anyway, here it is…<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSlEsFFCYszeaL-lXQJa3ZNdJHBzhYJguvSclEd1B2HC3TVTvtjkc60dkLza_zxG4ZNPEsUKDUx1W0jG7WVmsn1opHls91u0NigX4beN5k3DBMBseRm31iB2dcPFkxW9yI6wwiuiLW78/s1600/Barra+Beachwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSlEsFFCYszeaL-lXQJa3ZNdJHBzhYJguvSclEd1B2HC3TVTvtjkc60dkLza_zxG4ZNPEsUKDUx1W0jG7WVmsn1opHls91u0NigX4beN5k3DBMBseRm31iB2dcPFkxW9yI6wwiuiLW78/s400/Barra+Beachwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728030865351362" /></a><br />We spent four nights next to the airport on the isle of Barra in the Hebrides. You might think that being next to an airport isn’t the best place to spend your hols, but since the runway is a beautiful, white beach and the three planes a day can only land when the tide is out, it’s actually a wonderful place to be. Add the bonuses of (a) joining a fellow Airstreamer, (b) a friend flying in from London for a couple of nights, and (c) long, hot summer days and you have a perfect spot. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0F_6ilq85P8lMJ_5n6BI7un35hu-TedUpeN87v1IqT4Ls0AR0X3DksmOwbFzLEf0fdD_i5ObaUP1qa74X98R29NGAOPDbUQr4YBapgqbjWSR_wVel5m9x1I1sbts_IrAuktHkd-kuS4/s1600/Airportwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0F_6ilq85P8lMJ_5n6BI7un35hu-TedUpeN87v1IqT4Ls0AR0X3DksmOwbFzLEf0fdD_i5ObaUP1qa74X98R29NGAOPDbUQr4YBapgqbjWSR_wVel5m9x1I1sbts_IrAuktHkd-kuS4/s400/Airportwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728027464344530" /></a><br />Sadly, coastal erosion has forced the local council to close the officially unofficial wild camping spot there. It will be missed by many.<br /><br />There are a couple of places which “won” mutliple awards. Firstly, there’s a little CL or CS (I can’t seem to find it in either book now!) near Cromer in North Norfolk. It gets the “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Cheapest Site</span>” award for charging us a meagre £5.50 a night including hook-up! It also gets the “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Slowest Tap</span>” award. You could take the Aquaroll up to the tap and set it running, then go to the shops, have a couple of pints in the pub, read a short novel, catch up on your soaps and still be back to the tap before it began to even dream of overflowing. But with sunsets like this, who’s in a hurry?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmHpdPQY9i-XOCgM3JSxBHW6v38E91HZZn1gARM0SI5jooCeDKoGurZQuiUXjd0YAEKq-Md_fAQ2YzwHrIa8KHsRimp06h-5GBXB_6b-2D0z-nnRtaI6K96KmdMghzCxX0a6dFheFT64/s1600/Norfolk+Sunsetwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmHpdPQY9i-XOCgM3JSxBHW6v38E91HZZn1gARM0SI5jooCeDKoGurZQuiUXjd0YAEKq-Md_fAQ2YzwHrIa8KHsRimp06h-5GBXB_6b-2D0z-nnRtaI6K96KmdMghzCxX0a6dFheFT64/s400/Norfolk+Sunsetwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728606397321394" /></a><br />On the other hand, “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Fastest Tap</span>” goes to a triple award winner! There’s a <a href="http://www.pickaquoy.net/campsite">campsite up on Orkney</a> where the water seems to be fed from several hundred feet above the highest point on the island. It was one of those modern plastic taps, which goes from off to torrential in a quarter turn - the 40 litre Aquaroll filled in just under 12 seconds, providing you didn’t mind wearing most of the last two-seconds worth as it rocketed out of the top. The same place wins the “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best Address</span>” award. You can reach it at… <span style="font-style:italic;">Pickaquoy Campsite, Peerie Sea Loan</span> (you couldn’t make it up), <span style="font-style:italic;">Kirkwall</span>. This place must be special because it also wins the “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Most Ridiculous Booking System</span>” award. The campsite is attached to a sports-and-leisure centre and all bookings are made on the same computer system as the theatre seats. Which means that you are allocated a pitch when you book, rather than, for instance, when you arrive. The consequence of this is that you may have to move several times if you want to stay a while during busy weeks because someone has booked your pitch. Ludicrous. On the other hand, it’s very handy for Kirkwall, which is a smashing little town. Another added bonus came when we went out for the day and came back to find<span style="font-style:italic;"> another airstream parked right next to us!</span> What are the chances?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXbAtezL6bAgYlAIsjenjz_EF7RHZoEJHhv52yM_qIlBtl_PFCedwJwfRgAlAKQ3aQnxl02vE9niPg63TbeAhrrnNg8DGKqWOrCetCmIXVgUzvtTew1sPwkfRV4TX9yzYc8GNs3gFnZY/s1600/Pickaquoywtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXbAtezL6bAgYlAIsjenjz_EF7RHZoEJHhv52yM_qIlBtl_PFCedwJwfRgAlAKQ3aQnxl02vE9niPg63TbeAhrrnNg8DGKqWOrCetCmIXVgUzvtTew1sPwkfRV4TX9yzYc8GNs3gFnZY/s400/Pickaquoywtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728613427074834" /></a><br />“<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best Welcome</span>” goes, without a doubt, to the <a href="http://www.croftonhall.co.uk/">Crofton Hall</a> CL near Carlisle. We were the second people to stay there just after it first opened last Autumn and were greeted by the owner with a bottle of wine! The manager is one of the friendliest people I have ever met and his whole family were thrilled to see an Airstream. It’s worth mentioning that the grass pitches are huge and each has its own electricity and water supply. If you’re ever in the area, stay there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBAklULOruzCxV8Rp40fqLqbkHsYiFBiKsxzqps8VhZzeH0vl49d_pl-cnia4ihSQrcqCezN9ayqi8ifHBt5L-Due88Qsazf_Kgnkwkc6oklZmVIayza4Sn_uaSxbnPhEBdWN7bDD6BQ/s1600/Crofton+Hallwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBAklULOruzCxV8Rp40fqLqbkHsYiFBiKsxzqps8VhZzeH0vl49d_pl-cnia4ihSQrcqCezN9ayqi8ifHBt5L-Due88Qsazf_Kgnkwkc6oklZmVIayza4Sn_uaSxbnPhEBdWN7bDD6BQ/s400/Crofton+Hallwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728040229315426" /></a><br />“<span style="font-weight:bold;">Worst Welcome</span>” goes to the wardens on one of the Club sites (they’re probably not there any more, but I won’t name and shame). Having booked online, we arrived to a haughty “Well I don’t know where we’re going to put you?” We then endured ten minutes of huffing and puffing at reception and were “escorted” to the pitch, whereupon the warden asks Tracey “Can he reverse?” Some wardens are completely wonderful, some are complete arses. We won’t be going back there. Shit site anyway.<br /><br />Having stayed in so many imaginatively equipped CL’s and CS’s, I find it impossible to pinpoint a “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Worst Toilet Tank Emptying Point</span>” winner; there are so many candidates. There is, however, one clear winner of the “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best Toilet Tank Emptying Point</span>” award. <a href="http://www.witchescraig.co.uk/index.html">Witches Craig</a> Caravan Site near Stirling is a well laid out, pretty, beautifully equipped site. It could have been a contender for “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best Site</span>,” were it not for an adjacent, busy road. I wish I could remember the toilet tank emptying point more clearly, but I was so blissed out at the facilities that I’m afraid it’s a bit of a blur. All I remember is that it was undercover but well ventilated; at a sensible height so that you didn’t have to break your back to either lift the tank or hold it steady; a light came on automatically when you entered and went off when you left; the “target” was a large, stainless steel funnel with a stainless steel surround and when you flushed, the whole lot (funnel and surround) rinsed itself down. And there was a hand-washing point too. I’m sure there was more, but my poor, addled mind can’t quite remember that far back. In short, a site owner actually thought about what a caravanner needs (rather than just what he can be arsed to provide) and managed to tick all the boxes.<br /><br />“<span style="font-weight:bold;">Best View</span>” is a tricky one with many candidates. The big problem is that it’s so hard to find a spot where you don’t have to look at somebody else’s white plastic caravan. There have been a couple of times where movers might have been useful to get us into a prettier spot, but the winner is probably the view from our pitch at the Caravan Club Tintagel site. Straight out to sea. Smashing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdwdasdk-NvEzw4M_J3WFueqhxfMM8N_TjB-yNaQtZ6kq51GmtqcPeiXmTGsWu-qg0lKKTdcPn46Xs6PZoLncFk1wueJiz_2se_knDtkXFRE64sdx-oRFGpWtjOw6KbEAGlKhy7ZsG4Y/s1600/Tintagelwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdwdasdk-NvEzw4M_J3WFueqhxfMM8N_TjB-yNaQtZ6kq51GmtqcPeiXmTGsWu-qg0lKKTdcPn46Xs6PZoLncFk1wueJiz_2se_knDtkXFRE64sdx-oRFGpWtjOw6KbEAGlKhy7ZsG4Y/s400/Tintagelwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505729042722414386" /></a><br />“<span style="font-weight:bold;">Worst View</span>” goes to a site in Pitlochry. From our pitch (I’m not sure that three inches of gravel floating on a layer of mud counts as a “hard standing”), we could see nothing of the beautiful surroundings, only a row of static caravans lined up like huts on a gulag. It did, however, have free, blisteringly fast WiFi and rather good (if dated – they even had a mangle!) laundry facilities.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkS9xSuDqnW6m4TthgAx0SB9_0QMSOkP_NxoS9GdwL-mvHHVwWfxNBnmYEuMTiYcZXVPi9l4uKRD-BGuJ8Y3ZJa5aJRdMRrS26G7tnXtUfu-bXT-LippAoQyx_FsU1MFWiHwuQL8lm5s/s1600/Pitlochrywtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkS9xSuDqnW6m4TthgAx0SB9_0QMSOkP_NxoS9GdwL-mvHHVwWfxNBnmYEuMTiYcZXVPi9l4uKRD-BGuJ8Y3ZJa5aJRdMRrS26G7tnXtUfu-bXT-LippAoQyx_FsU1MFWiHwuQL8lm5s/s400/Pitlochrywtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505729037623698578" /></a><br />Of course, no awards ceremony would be complete without a few "thank-you's." When we set off, we though we might only be on the road for a year. So I'd like to thank our families and friends for their support and for storing all our "stuff" while our year-long journey expands. We couldn't have done it without <a href="http://www.airstreameurope.co.uk/">Airstream Europe</a> - they have been encouraging and supportive since long before day one. We have met a lot of Airstream owners along the way, and even done our best to create an <a href="http://www.ukairstreamers.org">Airstream community in the UK</a> - I'd like to thank all of them for allowing us to join in their journeys. And I'd like to thank you, dear reader, for your words of encouragement and for following us along the way. I hope you've enjoyed the ride a fraction as much as we have.<br /><br />That’s about it for now. There have been other campsites. Many others. Some are good, some are utterly forgettable. Hopefully, the recent upsurge in caravanning holidays (and the corresponding increase in competition) will encourage site owners to up their game. The internet is playing a big part too - it's now very, very easy to find a campsite and even read reviews from other campers.<br /><br />So, after two and a half years, what next? Well, we're planning to carry on for as long as we can. Come back in another two and a half years and see what we've found.. (actually, don't wait that long - we'll still be posting here regularly!)<br /><br />In the meantime, here's a bunch of our best. Most of these (and a whole host of others!) are available to buy <a href="http://www.photoboxgallery.com/littletinhut">here</a> if you fancy a postcard or even a poster. Your purchases help support our journey. These are all low-res versions (you can click on a pic for a better look), but the ones in the shop are all tip-top quality. Enjoy.<br /><br />P<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwDftyXGb9xzGhjlE6J977TVk9hMvOuqBsL-e_Ep7eSZd-vUndBSHQcIUKlcBtCYjA1GdcbaL5ukxUXtheTFZP28MG9sBOG0b0tZSeEktss7gXQ4ALYQJA2a4clRnsTKu0A2BLYkR3Ss/s1600/Brodgarwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwDftyXGb9xzGhjlE6J977TVk9hMvOuqBsL-e_Ep7eSZd-vUndBSHQcIUKlcBtCYjA1GdcbaL5ukxUXtheTFZP28MG9sBOG0b0tZSeEktss7gXQ4ALYQJA2a4clRnsTKu0A2BLYkR3Ss/s400/Brodgarwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505728032440887874" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjC6mDKBv-s1b3Y9SqUNOYfPVnyQps_ODUiUcS5a1DcneM7KHDYLQbedfALCMioaABK_Cx32SK5wsYHe1AEdgeghlFA5Isq6qZa75tLbCHeyKSls9C7a2XGzeeL4N0xYXqIIaMNaX4GQc/s1600/Dandelion+%26+Dolmenwtmk.jpg"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs7lou5JHzH78PwMvZ4AJAuVw_LwBGw6Vtjmaz-894TN5-QUPDFLJdF6TsxsFiTtyOY4hwKBLBP-u7I2pCZ5yYUspGCCS8fwaLSsUlGDLNn3GfMS7yI_Rg3e9jPcLAmEp0ZjB6Sb8xcw/s200/IMG_9616wtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505751582638911026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1a25w7Bz6IkLIVU9I2bwnMDPdOs3U2r4magG2sQ1b37cyAkUGaF3kfktSmTiTLgxwldQTl_jAQx7g-tXmDTQY2DLyvyF_sKKtkaA6b9bJ8KqHMEl34cTcW3y4_OajyNyk03ldxz4Mk/s1600/IMG_9803wtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1a25w7Bz6IkLIVU9I2bwnMDPdOs3U2r4magG2sQ1b37cyAkUGaF3kfktSmTiTLgxwldQTl_jAQx7g-tXmDTQY2DLyvyF_sKKtkaA6b9bJ8KqHMEl34cTcW3y4_OajyNyk03ldxz4Mk/s400/IMG_9803wtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505752476992857186" /></a>Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00669257428039273002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-91877617651004422052010-07-25T11:00:00.000-07:002010-07-29T13:56:53.344-07:00Keeping Harris With Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqoMS3A-_Wn1Xvbpw97gGZuNjZmjGuPE7Owyl7qzV2thoaXaaN9dfhxSb5MHUSb1zjvwaFGeFtnkuBlHKq0h-4Z0eING9gXzPApJyV9w-pe_Yt-U29_3AaUt0bntJEq2cNIcepvhKTbz3/s1600/Scalpay+hazinesswtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqoMS3A-_Wn1Xvbpw97gGZuNjZmjGuPE7Owyl7qzV2thoaXaaN9dfhxSb5MHUSb1zjvwaFGeFtnkuBlHKq0h-4Z0eING9gXzPApJyV9w-pe_Yt-U29_3AaUt0bntJEq2cNIcepvhKTbz3/s400/Scalpay+hazinesswtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499430276859186050" /></a><br />Harris, though joined to Lewis, felt completely different. The landscape is so rocky that at times it felt like we were driving through a mountain range, then we'd turn a bend and be level with the sea.<br /><br />We stumbled across the stunningly spare and soothing space that is <a href="http://www.themissionhouse.co.uk/">The Mission House Studio</a>. A simple old chapel from the outside, it opens out into an open-plan space which is home to photography by Beka Globe and ceramics by Nickolai Globe. Both collections reflect the rough and weather-beaten landscape around them. Here I wished, for the only time in our travels, that I had walls and horizontal surfaces to cover with beautiful things. Never mind, just being in that space was inspiring, with Jan Garbarek playing in the background the atmosphere was close to spiritual.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg06qLIgzNKrW0waTSbdGVBNXcpATweHm8nklY1dUAld_oL42OD_X5yS_5uQvwPmmJJLjcXZGByU2kfZTBO0_fYkbOGcpZpok9zmiccxEOLY5S4fraFvG8VBgDeTdXJerYTWD5nrOzXUEZ/s1600/IMG_4455wtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg06qLIgzNKrW0waTSbdGVBNXcpATweHm8nklY1dUAld_oL42OD_X5yS_5uQvwPmmJJLjcXZGByU2kfZTBO0_fYkbOGcpZpok9zmiccxEOLY5S4fraFvG8VBgDeTdXJerYTWD5nrOzXUEZ/s400/IMG_4455wtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499431067172861282" /></a><br />On another day, a thrilling drive on the B887 to Huisinis. The road was narrow, often with a drop on one side, undulating and bendy. At the end of the road some small campervans had made it for a spot of wild camping with a view across the bay to Scarp. Unfortunately this is not a road for an Airstream. In fact, not many roads on Harris would suit a 684. Our movements from site to site were very carefully planned, even though there was no booking ahead, the journey would have been well reccied before hand.<br /><br />And this spot may have felt like the middle of nowhere to us but for the scattered community around it was the right place for a tennis court.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNSQHTDFAJGe3GMBVgTXC24yl0qwD5nWLOJpP4KUqh84TowWtDkZD7PsSHlwPzjHyX1igrMapHE60d6OMGUqjN9PuEbUDS-poAbYckhXWrShpwf1BskvOZLhaINnMj0SRDLH-yaANMVB/s1600/remote+tennis+courtwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNSQHTDFAJGe3GMBVgTXC24yl0qwD5nWLOJpP4KUqh84TowWtDkZD7PsSHlwPzjHyX1igrMapHE60d6OMGUqjN9PuEbUDS-poAbYckhXWrShpwf1BskvOZLhaINnMj0SRDLH-yaANMVB/s400/remote+tennis+courtwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499429953606278370" /></a><br />We were sad to leave Harris. Heading back to Skye, lovely as it is, meant leaving the Outer Hebrides where the landscape and the mist and the colours had completely filled me with a feeling of calm contentment. I breathed in that scenery and I still breathe it a year later. If anyone or anything winds me up, I'm back there in moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jvKgNfrEKBlIY7neyNyHgA232Oe9CiEi8n_xR5i28dluxvV0O6ntpp0xQ8EXXqF9Ba6zCOYyL5DdZ8byl8nRQ7K2AtHbYaKP-W6Hzra96qhcq3dKgIQueEVFtVYLtNBe8-RbG2IT-zqx/s1600/Herbridean+ferrywtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jvKgNfrEKBlIY7neyNyHgA232Oe9CiEi8n_xR5i28dluxvV0O6ntpp0xQ8EXXqF9Ba6zCOYyL5DdZ8byl8nRQ7K2AtHbYaKP-W6Hzra96qhcq3dKgIQueEVFtVYLtNBe8-RbG2IT-zqx/s400/Herbridean+ferrywtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499430431297959746" /></a><br /><br />The crossing back to Skye was as smooth as a landlubber like I could hope for. And as we approached our destination the island became enveloped in cloud.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95O1kXgwJSjAVFMMrrUx353FR75RZGWsIFB5Bfnq4Vf7d2jR-2sSk6tinh8dG_o7cw1BQqKhvP_ypYOTEdEgza1i2RUNV3L3jbIHxfFP3197m29qZpbD_jS51nRV6XUbov4NPiw0e_JkX/s1600/Tarbert+to+Skyewtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95O1kXgwJSjAVFMMrrUx353FR75RZGWsIFB5Bfnq4Vf7d2jR-2sSk6tinh8dG_o7cw1BQqKhvP_ypYOTEdEgza1i2RUNV3L3jbIHxfFP3197m29qZpbD_jS51nRV6XUbov4NPiw0e_JkX/s400/Tarbert+to+Skyewtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499430703984333474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdUZsaGR8OBKgzXzC1xzAEngqYDKV2ZQwk5_LKksX5hjW3j23WmwErOQZq1DHOkhvY2rt6ry3fqL9ob6BhXXgBskjnIF0bANgPLWCmPfB6LMfyd4lSd2BYoDDAyvL_oZoaKwcFbHNOL4I/s1600/leaving+Harriswtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdUZsaGR8OBKgzXzC1xzAEngqYDKV2ZQwk5_LKksX5hjW3j23WmwErOQZq1DHOkhvY2rt6ry3fqL9ob6BhXXgBskjnIF0bANgPLWCmPfB6LMfyd4lSd2BYoDDAyvL_oZoaKwcFbHNOL4I/s400/leaving+Harriswtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499431712255341218" /></a><br /><br />TTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-41341953756050896332010-07-21T06:36:00.000-07:002010-07-21T07:04:21.224-07:00Endless Blue Hues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4H0ZhejiE2fHL78qcK9d-9u1LqGaOA_FsWRGtJ2y4Zd-zK6Yoc5FqEasd1hIsqW6IlOpFonkk9xVlCBRNAgMqUZRTQyD4RusngYTSXV_o5WAx2G_omFHmH9rPREnlHquSujR1-rK2Z7m/s1600/Horgabostwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4H0ZhejiE2fHL78qcK9d-9u1LqGaOA_FsWRGtJ2y4Zd-zK6Yoc5FqEasd1hIsqW6IlOpFonkk9xVlCBRNAgMqUZRTQyD4RusngYTSXV_o5WAx2G_omFHmH9rPREnlHquSujR1-rK2Z7m/s400/Horgabostwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357094187610994" /></a><br />After a month on the islands, from my diary... 1st July 2009<br /><br />"Had the beach at Horgabost to ourselves, 10pm, still light. Yellow sand, sand hoppers. Grey sand below the yellow, revealed in trickles towards the sea. Bits of shells, white, orange, purple, sparsely scattered near shore. Calm calm calm. Lapping water's edge. Endless blue hues. Yellow showing through shallowest clear sea, graduating into the palest greeny turquoise. To my left a grassy dune casts an emerald reflection. In front of me misty purple mountains, and the sea between me and them layer upon layer of bluey, lilacy, mauvey, hazy greys, blues, purples.<br />My breathing quiet, my eyes won't turn away. The stillness a priceless gem. Oneness. This is what we hope to attain in contemplation. A blissful state manifest."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXiepKtAK8m2iHUGEIQLKc7BdxzVs4Gg2BWJGbGpxoVLsM5X7hokSGDZ0GWu5uGWsjJEY-yUVZWr7Uqciy75lGXJbw_uaFEUv9-vEWERaFIs_2jWEPk86BV2XYuo6Qo4tT6IW_NQ9o8xt/s1600/Horgabost+sandwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXiepKtAK8m2iHUGEIQLKc7BdxzVs4Gg2BWJGbGpxoVLsM5X7hokSGDZ0GWu5uGWsjJEY-yUVZWr7Uqciy75lGXJbw_uaFEUv9-vEWERaFIs_2jWEPk86BV2XYuo6Qo4tT6IW_NQ9o8xt/s400/Horgabost+sandwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357294695674834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwKeon5kOU1pNg1wt_RMl9-1NFsmYTrBkPjexLNrA7ys4NTDBXCe9loCu4P3315K9PbpXi0B0RRQRqd8deoKeZn50A8JJ470kGACUc8B8YV9zrWVKQsJ99GGd6OXvjp0CR8XkC7QvZXVA/s1600/Horgabost+footprintswtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwKeon5kOU1pNg1wt_RMl9-1NFsmYTrBkPjexLNrA7ys4NTDBXCe9loCu4P3315K9PbpXi0B0RRQRqd8deoKeZn50A8JJ470kGACUc8B8YV9zrWVKQsJ99GGd6OXvjp0CR8XkC7QvZXVA/s400/Horgabost+footprintswtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496357553343681522" /></a><br /><br />TTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2316264359670813772.post-45314637527925805112010-07-18T07:01:00.000-07:002010-07-18T07:53:00.441-07:00Peat Fires and Standing Stones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BdloxXkoMxR2Ub_qroXgHd5OPk9Thd-v4L3aKzmyZU0xCNeWRtBc2ILTKV0Hk7j-FNW1OmUIzwbDPm1KVKRPwuFMX3JjsNpMPUTRg7e9k4lZox2LmolD6oXoKX0KdM-CE9poHwvSHWhW/s1600/A+good+spotwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BdloxXkoMxR2Ub_qroXgHd5OPk9Thd-v4L3aKzmyZU0xCNeWRtBc2ILTKV0Hk7j-FNW1OmUIzwbDPm1KVKRPwuFMX3JjsNpMPUTRg7e9k4lZox2LmolD6oXoKX0KdM-CE9poHwvSHWhW/s400/A+good+spotwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247088792278210" /></a><br />Ancient history is part of the landscape in the Hebrides. Standing stones, stone circles, dry-stone buildings, they're made from pieces of the landscape and they stand or fall back into it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIOrzRIWwrqCOvFULGqs2uGJDcPYQ8-GoyJvtiDadBo56UTwURvDuFGHfPONPo07bbl2hyNbKFPdshGf7MPMkmRzSgzVSgym7lz1ZiR8YqGt6XTMQpQbzQNMr-cfzBMouLqzgZ7DpWpxi/s1600/Dun+Carlowaywtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIOrzRIWwrqCOvFULGqs2uGJDcPYQ8-GoyJvtiDadBo56UTwURvDuFGHfPONPo07bbl2hyNbKFPdshGf7MPMkmRzSgzVSgym7lz1ZiR8YqGt6XTMQpQbzQNMr-cfzBMouLqzgZ7DpWpxi/s400/Dun+Carlowaywtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247222272755970" /></a><br />Dun Carloway was impressively intact. Often you need some artist's impression to help you to imagine what looks like a pile of stones now may once have been. But here is a large intact section of a massive dry-stone, double-walled structure, beautifully built with the outward facing surfaces almost as smooth as if they had been built from purpose-made bricks. The stones have been so skilfully chosen and placed to have stayed put for over two thousand years, and arranged like an enormous three dimensional jigsaw puzzle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFUbNZDRUd7Sq8sRNMYsUNWXC4f1cUXYzUU8s4hd6DHWnQvlaJVt13TldZajUnUT7OJ4T3MKVau7ma0ZKUjATd_EOEsKq7p6qzFsL2hYzmTfVlbMKhUVuajJb6OBXI3djgTeGpVFPp15U/s1600/sitting+in+Dun+Carlowaywtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFUbNZDRUd7Sq8sRNMYsUNWXC4f1cUXYzUU8s4hd6DHWnQvlaJVt13TldZajUnUT7OJ4T3MKVau7ma0ZKUjATd_EOEsKq7p6qzFsL2hYzmTfVlbMKhUVuajJb6OBXI3djgTeGpVFPp15U/s400/sitting+in+Dun+Carlowaywtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495247482583999826" /></a><br />The black houses which can be seen in good condition at Gearrannan and Arnol were possibly built in the same way for centuries and the village at Gearrannan was inhabited until 1974. These houses were built to withstand the lashing and pelting of the wind and rain. Gales in recent years apparently damaged modern houses while the old black houses stood their ground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2bE-UbHFA2wxsgebtNdTxf05egaPDuA0tRDLkCMwBeaveSZf0lgvv54Mue1iRVQsygcmOVzTN9vdXE4jvmMGIux_gzBcXNH-r3xJMUoHM2HKqsmYj-7fMcmuxYSU1AOPO7iHWzEEDos/s1600/Black+Houseswtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2bE-UbHFA2wxsgebtNdTxf05egaPDuA0tRDLkCMwBeaveSZf0lgvv54Mue1iRVQsygcmOVzTN9vdXE4jvmMGIux_gzBcXNH-r3xJMUoHM2HKqsmYj-7fMcmuxYSU1AOPO7iHWzEEDos/s400/Black+Houseswtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495257425789445458" /></a><br />At the village of Arnol there is a preserved black house as well as remains of many more. The preserved black house is now a museum and they keep the peat fire burning at all times. This is not just for an authentic atmosphere, the smoke, which gives the thatched roof the blackened appearance, and hence the name 'black house', helps to keep it dry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2cKLM_oG_2HqFAbRbxZT6NKzG4-4035bRKKccqH7-vNrUSdNBZilwvbrqmATy9vCG-CNA485r68SyE01jZfchL8hOyC59HByiIc4Fsz55uRU1U91Ly63tOHgrWshiaKnMDO3zQZhdDY/s1600/Peat+Firewtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2cKLM_oG_2HqFAbRbxZT6NKzG4-4035bRKKccqH7-vNrUSdNBZilwvbrqmATy9vCG-CNA485r68SyE01jZfchL8hOyC59HByiIc4Fsz55uRU1U91Ly63tOHgrWshiaKnMDO3zQZhdDY/s400/Peat+Firewtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495257440465380386" /></a><br />The Callanish Stones on the west side of Lewis is the most awesome arrangement of megalithic standing stones I have seen so far. There are lines of stones leading to a circle and a burial cairn. As usual there are various interpretations (ceremonial, astrological), and it is easy to imagine that the corridors have a kind of processional feel to them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP401-3GqH9HoLX3CAxBS2DtkX9hvoCPaA81HglXUW_5Kkq35cs7xocsBsx7JH5bUR9b7wfOB33iEdRK3beaGMY7hpZZ2rLnpXzV-F192lWc4jSEqNl2BjWNLH-DNBDV-tnMFr5xPRBGY/s1600/Calanais+Sunsetwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP401-3GqH9HoLX3CAxBS2DtkX9hvoCPaA81HglXUW_5Kkq35cs7xocsBsx7JH5bUR9b7wfOB33iEdRK3beaGMY7hpZZ2rLnpXzV-F192lWc4jSEqNl2BjWNLH-DNBDV-tnMFr5xPRBGY/s400/Calanais+Sunsetwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495257428485701954" /></a><br />This monument is more than 4,000 years old and in that time it has probably been appropriated for all sorts of uses. In fact carbon dating has shown that the cairn is a later addition. <br /><br />These days you may spot a hippy smoking a joint and enjoying the vibes. You will also find it difficult to get a photograph without another photographer in shot. Especially at sunset. <br /><br />Perhaps the lack of solid facts on something this old is what allows speculation. The imagination can play. The atmosphere and prehistoric other-worldliness can be enjoyed.<br /><br />By the way, those of you who crave factual detail can find it on Wiki or elsewhere. This is just me saying, I was there. And this was the view from the 'bedroom'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9JmVeKy_vI3DU22YNyA9zUJVW7WipWV1GjlvxxB30Z-y54XssZlYRvL5ceixNL9Bmhi9V0pcOsamozkXgho9jl3gwG1b-m1uEp_a67mYuXANhxiiXa7jVwHNLEiQCtPtv_6Gx7XU_GBH/s1600/our+view+at+Siabostwtmk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9JmVeKy_vI3DU22YNyA9zUJVW7WipWV1GjlvxxB30Z-y54XssZlYRvL5ceixNL9Bmhi9V0pcOsamozkXgho9jl3gwG1b-m1uEp_a67mYuXANhxiiXa7jVwHNLEiQCtPtv_6Gx7XU_GBH/s400/our+view+at+Siabostwtmk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495250174047407138" /></a><br /><br />TTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12674804931265225095noreply@blogger.com0