Staycation - Afternoon Out

We only had Molly back since Wednesday and we have had a few things to sort out like the TV and the Amazon Fire Stick!

A quick run out was needed. We had only had one run and that was to the BP at Dover to fill the lpg tanks. It's cheaper in France but I wanted to use the setup I can actually work!

So today we decided to have a run out to Dungeness to give the van a run. As it is the Sunday of August Bank Holiday and it was rammed. With nowhere to park a 7m van we made our exit and headed to Camber Sands and then Rye. Camber was packed and although there is a sign for coach parking there's a height barrier. No coach could sneak under that!

So we made our way to Winchelsea Beach. There were loads of cars along the way and we eventually found a space.

Whilst we had a cup of tea I tuned the TV into preview. The sound quality isn't that wonderful. It did find 166 channels. Many are the HD or +1 versions of other channels.

Then we had a walk on the beach. The tide was way out and Reggie enjoyed the water and dipped down a few times. As he was on the lead it was difficult for him run free.

Whilst on the beach we were treated to an acrobatic display from a lone Spitfire. Swooping below the cloud, the evocative sound of the Merlin engine....

Not easy to photograph with a phone. Claire did well to see it ...

Once back in the van we headed towards Hastings and made the turn round by the Red Pig food van.  We have been here a few times in the past.

As a run out to get used to things it was a good run out.

The New Moho has arrived!

We picked up "Molly" on April 1st. Paperwork sorted and the VED paid. Handover. 

Rear cameras working. Solar panel working. Start mileage was 6500.

Then I had to drive a mere 21 miles home.

She was locked up on the drive for a couple of hours whilst we packed all the stuff we took out of "Suki" a week ago into her. 

Then we went out to fill the diesel tank up. I opted for Tesco at Cheriton as it's the least rip off garage for fuel in the locale.

The starting mileage for Fuelly is 6530. Yes. That is £106.00 to fin the tank that was a quarter full to start with.

Of course there were a few teething problems. One being the hab door lock was a little tricky. Very stiff to open the handle when unlocked. Maybe a little squirt of WD40 into the lock might sort it?

The other time waster was fitting the carpets. They had been rolled up in the underseat storage that made them hard to stretch and get on the press studs that keep them from moving about.

What else? Rattles. Putting stuff in has added some rattles that weren't there on the way back from Rye. 

We got home from the fuel stop with 6539 on the odometer.

 

Suki to become Molly!

After a trip to JC the other day we decided that we would trade Suki in for a newer and slightly larger model. Enter Molly. The price was right to make the deal.

Molly is a 2019 Elddis Autoquest 175.  She is a little longer at 7.2m and comes with a larger lounge and a rear bathroom. What she didn't some with was solar panels on the roof and a reversing camera.

We opted for both these to be added as the solar kit enables the leisure battery to charge when you aren't running the diesel engine.

The reversing camera comes in handy when reversing!  Suki wasn't fitted with one but she had reversing sensors fitted to the read bumper area.  Although, when reversing, other than off the drive at home, I use my co-pilot to see where we are going and I generally do a manual check first.

It seems that one of the questions asked by insurance companies is about whether one is fitted.  Of course, a year ago when we bought and insured Suki, no one said a damned thing.

Some companies want a tracker fitting. An other expenditure that I can do without but I have found a fitter than can do one for around £200 plus it costs about £11.50 a month for the company to keep an eye on it for you. It's cheaper if you pay for a year or more in advance.

So we have a choice to make.  A Tracker does sound like a good idea and it ought to actually reduce the cost of insurance, especially when it is in conjunction with the physical devices on the steering wheel and the pedals.

So we have to decided what to do.

We have a £1000 deposit already paid on Molly and we are due to collect her on April 1st! Yep. April Fools' Day!

New home for Suki?

It looks as though Suki, who has served us very well for the last year, is destined to be going to a new owner soon.

After we get back from Staycation #2 next week she will be going to JC for the last time as our Moho.

The 115 is a perfect "starter" motorhome for anyone looking to get into the #moho lifestyle. Or simply want to be able to pack up their things, their dog if they have one, and just go away. 

We have successfully had trips to Devon for two weeks, to France for a fortnight and later in 2022, to Spain for three weeks.

So what will replace her? All will be revealed.

You may have noticed the blog name has changed..... 😉

Staycation Spring 2023 #2

The second staycation this year will be at Fen Farm Caravan Park on Mersea Island in Essex. We have stayed in Essex before on a "tester" stay in a pod near Clacton. This was before we had a fortnight in Scotland and a week in a glamping pod.

More and more places are installing this type of accommodation. They appeal to people that want to camp but don't want a tent or don't have a caravan or a Moho! 

Even our local Camping and Motorhome Club site has loads of them now.  A bone of contention with members that own a touring caravan or Moho/campervan as facilities for tourers are now seeing up to twenty or thirty non-members using the facilities and they aren't getting updated or improved.

Anyway back to Fen Farm. It's £20 a night and that includes the EHU. It's relatively cheap even for late March.  

I know what an island is! What I didn't realise until the site emailed, is that the island is cut off at high tide. There is a webcam so that you can see if the traffic is moving.

Check-in at the site is from 1pm.  Having a look at the tide tables show that on the day we arrive it is expected that the high tide and the road inundated, will be around 12.34pm.  So we either have to arrive well before that or of course, after the water recedes.  I think the latter seems more likely.

What to do when we are there?  There's loads or walks to do and I am hoping desperately that the weather will have improved. Although saying that today has been around 11° to 13°C all day. It has been windy but sunny.

We are there to use the Moho and to have a few days away. Somewhere different!

The high tide for the return journey is looking like 1.55pm. We need to be away long before that as we have a three hour drive home and then the van has to go to JC Leisure in Rye at the MoT runs out at midnight that day!

I'll update the blog when we are there and hopefully have some photos to show everyone that sees the blog.