Lands End To John O'Groats Challenge!

I think I'm having a midlife crisis!

We have just bought a sports car, and now I'm looking at doing something a bit mad by going from Lands End to John O'Groats.

I say Lands End to John O'Groats but actually once I get up the top end I'll be heading along the Scottish Northern coast to Durness. Then South to Margate/Dover along the Southern coast of England and back down to Lands End - approx 2600 miles!

A corner to corner challenge! Just going one way would be normal and logical, but everyone does that!

So how do I intend to do this journey?

Well, as I'm not an athlete, (no shit)! walking, running or riding a push bike is out of the question. 

So what would suit an over weight middle aged bloke?

Maybe take the MX5 or even the Pajero with the roof tent (which we still haven't found yet)!

No, it needs to be sensible, rugged, comfortable and reliable. I know a Honda C90 Moped! (or similar).

So that is the plan, ok, not much of a plan but it's as good as it's going to get at this stage.

The date will be April 2014. I've two weeks leave in which to complete the task I've set myself.

I've already planned a route, which may or may not change, and I've been putting together a wishlist on Amazon for the equipment needed.

But first I have to find a motorbike, then I have to complete my CBT training, which is basically a test to ensure that I know my left from right and can read a road sign. Along with other necessary life saving techniques such as checking blind spots etc.

Why a Honda C90 (or similar), well it's the simplicity of them that appeals to me. Also the fact that so many were made that parts are in abundance, they are ultra reliable and are more than capable of carrying my svelte like body up North and back again!

In my quest to find a bike I came across these folk at Riders Motorcycles. They are not a million miles away and they import a Chinese copy of the famous Honda C90. Their version is a 110cc so a tad more powerful and it's cheap!

Follow the link HERE to see the spec of the bike for those who wish to know these types of things!

The only snag with these brand new bikes is that it comes in a crate and you have to assemble it yourself!

Well for £795 what could possibly go wrong!

So bike found, route sorted (ish) just need a few other bits and pieces and off I go!

Actually the planning has taken a bit of time so far as there is a lot of things to consider when riding a bike and staying away from home for two weeks.

Just thinking about what I need to ride the bike is a hurdle, seeing as I have only ever ridden a moped once which was in Spain with my old Army mate Paddy Breadbin. But that doesn't count as I was pissed at the time, and our safety attire then consisted of flip flops, and sun lotion!

So far I have a pair of gel pants and a lot of determination!

I will be setting up a separate blog for this escapade, along with a way of donating money to my chosen charity which rather predictably will be "Help For Heroes"

You can visit my new blog for this escaped here - http://fatblokestravels.blogspot.co.uk/

If you so wish, which would be rather nice of you, please make a donation however small via my justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/Julian-Mauro

So off now to look at one man tents, multi fuel stoves and crash helmets!

Till later......................

Simply Camping And Camping Simply

Camping comes in all sorts of different varieties, from Static Homes to living rough finding shelter where one can.

I personally have done all of it and more or less everything in between.

During my time in the services we managed to survive in some fairly inhospitable places. 

Myself and my good friend Mark were two of the few who survived several nights out on the Northumberland moors of Otterburn whilst the elements tried to kill us off! With only a sleeping bag and poncho to fend off the driving freezing wind and rain.

A good number of them had to be evacuated out after going down with hyperthermia. We were found the next day brewing up and getting on with it as others were carted off.

I once had to dig myself out of a tent whilst in Germany as 4ft of snow had fallen over night. I was buried as it had drifted completely over my tent!

So camping is not new to me at all.

However the luxury of a 4 berth caravan with island bed, shower, loo and full facilities on board with a massive awning is something else.

But, is that really camping?

I've got to honestly say no, it's not. We have now wild camped in the Pajero on a good few occasions. No plans or agendas, just following a road to see where it leads to.

Then when it's time to pitch up for the night we look for a suitable spot where we are likely to be undisturbed, cook and brew up, then bed down for the night.

Making sure we leave zero footprint when we leave in the morning.

The urge to travel seems to be getting to me, probably inspired by my old mate Will Geordie English who I was also in the Army with.

He has taken a scooter to Africa, and has ridden around the world on another bike!

He has just gone over to America to travel from Florida to Alaska and then I think the rough plan is to head to Mexico! You can see his blog here!

Another guy  Ed Marsh who I came across recently has taken a Honda C90 Cub around the world! Also in another trip up to the Arctic Circle! This is one crazy guy, and if you watch his video's on youtube is a funny bloke. You can see him here!

Anyway time to go as I've just caught myself looking at C90's on ebay! Cheap and fun or what?

Till later...................

Caravan Motorhome and Camping Washing Machine Review

Washing clothes whilst living in a caravan full time can be easily sorted by doing one of three things.

Buying a low wattage camping washing machine, using a laundrette or a combination of the two or not washing your clothes and smelling like a pikey!

So we decided early on in our adventure to buy a small twin tub washing machine. Just to do the essentials and also to cut down the time spent in the laundrette.

The one we chose was small and cheap, it was the OneConcept DB003 Mini Camping Washing Machine (2kg Max Load, 120W Spin Cycle & Quiet operation) - White

It has two wash cycles and a spinner which works amazingly well for such a small machine. To give you an idea of what it is capable of washing, 3 to 4 shirts at a time is about it's maximum coping load.

The manufacturers guide is a max of 2kg and runs at 120w.

We used it all the time we were full timing and it worked a treat.

Filling it up was a pain at times, but being small it took a couple of large pans of boiling water, topped up with water from our spare aqua roll, a fill up to rinse and Bob's your uncle.

Draining was simple, just let it drain away in the grass!

When we moved into our static last July, it had no washing machine, so we carried on using this combined with trips to the laundrette.

Sadly a few weeks ago it finally gave up the ghost and the spin motor stopped working correctly.

This little machine which is intended for occasional use, took some right abuse from us and lasted being continually used for over 2 years.

As we are not sure how long we will be here in our static, we decided against buying a normal machine, simply due to space - there isn't any!

We took a look through Amazon and ended up with a better load capacity twin tub machine.

It's bigger but just as light, "M" has not problems in moving it about when I'm not around.

It is a  OneConcept DB003 Mini Camping Washing Machine (5.8kg Max Load, 160W Spin Cycle & Quiet operation) - White (I know they call them the same name strangely)! with a max load of 5.8kg and running at 160w.

It works really well and just as good as the last one with an excellent spinner and an obviously greater load capacity.

Both are light, portable and easy to use. To be honest we would not of wanted to full time without one.

The cost of using a laundrette can be extortionate, so buying one of these really does make financial sense.

OK, it takes time to do the washing, but armed with a book and a beer it can become an enjoyable pastime! Just got to be positive about these things!

Till later.......... 

Planning Our Trip To Ireland

The last week of July and the first week of August will see us heading over to the Emerald Isle.

It's "M"s brothers 50th birthday who lives way over on the East of the island. He moved over a number of years ago and has carved out a successful life.

So we aim to travel over on the Sunday, spend the week travelling around, with him for the weekend, then if we can try and make it North to meet up with an old Army mate of mine who has caught the motorhome bug!

We will be taking the Pajero, and camping light.

I must say that I sleep like a log in the Pajero, in fact better than when I am at home, but "M" does suffer, probably due to the fact that I'm big and she is little and there is limited space in the back of the Paj which I generally take up!

So with that in mind and the fact that we have spent a bit of time camping in the Pajero and enjoy the freedom it gives us to roam we came to the conclusion that a roof tent maybe just the trick!

Why not just an ordinary tent? Well, a roof tent is quicker, simpler and no matter if the ground is uneven, rocky, knee deep in water, a ploughed field or a tarmac drive we would be able to pitch in a couple of minutes!

They are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it is worth the investment.

So now the hunt is on for roof bars, and a roof tent!

Sourced some, but as always I'm looking for the ultimate deal.

Life here on site goes on, with a steady flow of campers coming and going, at the moment they are getting wet as it's tipping down and I'm enjoying the afternoon off after starting at 0530 hrs and with the day off tomorrow I may just have a few beers and be in my bed for 2100 hrs! Rock n Roll!

Till later...........

Cornwall Adventure May 2013

We set off on Wednesday, dropping China dog off in Bournemouth we headed South West in search of more sunshine, friends and beer!

As it was quite late in the day, we aimed for somewhere in Dartmoor to rest our heads.

The Pajero is kitted out for wild camping so all we had to do was find a good spot. Now luckily on our last trip down we earmarked some places which would be suitable for a bit of wild camping.

We didn't take us too long to find a great spot, off the road and with a good view for the morning.

We had just brewed up and the bacon sarnies were on the go!

On arrival I had cooked steak with onions and mushrooms in a baguette - Tasted even better being out in the open.

Next day we headed out of Dartmoor and towards the Cornish coast, no plan in mind, just head for the sea.

We stopped off in Redruth for a resupply and a wander around, not a great deal to see, but these were in the pedestrian part of the town.

Bronze cast dogs, but if you look close they are made from old wellington boots!

From Redruth we headed to the coast at Portreath, then followed the road hugging the sea southwards. The sun was out and it was warm so we decided to see if we could find a small campsite so we could laze around, relax, have a few beers and a shower.

We called into one who wanted £18.00 for the night, a bit steep as that did not include hook up and the place only had a shower and loo so as we were not wanting to pay that we moved on. 

Another place was still closed and had not opened yet! Obviously did not need or want the money.

We then saw an official tourist camping and caravan sign, to our right, followed it down a windy road, and I do mean windy and very narrow. After managing to turn around at the bottom we headed back up the lane. It had gone, completely vanished.

Now if I had been towing our twin axle down there by now I would have had the right hump, fortunately in was just the Pajero, but please if you close your site down, which we later discovered that this had happened. Take the bloody sign down!

Then we discovered a little piece of heaven!

The Trevaylor Caravan and Camping Park just a stones throw North of St Just. The 

Run by a husband and wife team Charlie and Michelle, who made us very welcome indeed. The site has a great layout, and although has approx 70 pitches is segregated by high cornish walls, which are basically stone walls covered in grass to make big banks so makes the site feel much smaller.

There were not many on site, which we were surprised about considering the season had started, but that was better for us as we had the pick of where we wanted to go.

The shower and loo blocks were clean and spacious, complete with a laundry room. There was also an onsite shop and a bar with meals available! Hardstanding is available for those who don't like the feel of grass.

We asked the owner if the bar was open and he said that he would open it if we  wanted to have a beer, so around 1900 we headed for a pint. Lager on draught, bottled cornish beer and some rough cider on tap. 

Had a few pints and slept like a baby!

All in all a great site and well worth a visit, so if you are ever down that way, then book in here.

The details are: Trevaylor Caravan and Camping Park, Botallack, St Just, Penzance TR19 7PU

Tel: 01736 787016
Email: trevaylor@cornishcamping.co.uk
Website: www.cornishcamping.co.uk 

Not only that but talking with the owner he told us of a great walk down by the coast to some old deserted tin mines. The views were amazing. We would never of known about this if we had not of stopped here as it is not signposted anywhere.

(Now this is where I would of inserted some pictures, but as I can't find the lead for the camera, and as waking "M" is a hanging offence I shall leave them for another time!)

Another little touch which we thought was spot on, was a young German lad was back packing the coast on his own. He needed to get the bus the next day, so the owner took him by car to where he could get his bus! Now I'm not saying he could do this at the height of season, but as it was quiet we both said how kind it was to go out of his way to do this. After all he was German!

We left from here after a very leisurely start to the day and headed further down and around the coast.

Now, our main reason for being down this part of the world is that we have good friends Sharon and Thomas who live in Helston. It was her 40th birthday on the Friday and drinks, food and laughter were planned for that evening.

Then on the Saturday we had tickets for the Masked Ball at Porthleven.

Firstly friday, much was drunk and eaten that day and as the day progressed to the evening and the evening into the next morning at around 0330 hrs we thought it might be a good idea to collapse!

Early afternoon Friday

The next day was slow to start but gradually picked up pace as we got our vehicles down to the site, back to the house for more grub, Thanks Toby for cooking the beef it tasted amazing.

For the masked ball we are lucky enough to know a very talented and wonderful lady called Shirley Davis a professional Milliner. She has a massive collection of masks in stock all hand made by herself, mine even had an old pair of my glasses built into my mask!

You can find her on facebook here at STUDIO 12 just click the link to see more, all her contact details are there. If it's fancy dress, costumes, or even wedding hats and veils you're after then you need to speak to Shirley!

"M" in her amazing outfit

My good self, looking like a cheap extra from a dodgy horror flick!

Many people made a real effort to dress up, and it was an amazing spectacle, which we both said we were glad to of seen. Not sure if we would do it again, due to it being more of a rave, than a festival which is a bit of an assault  on the ears to say the least!

Myself and "M" both said we know now what it is like to become old! On the way into the main entrance point we both spotted a tent saying "Tea and Toast" see, said we were getting old!

Tucked that away in the memory bank, and at around midnight we both decided that this was exactly what was needed.

However, on finding out that the cost of said "Tea and Toast" was £4.00 each, with a quick, you can F**k right off! For that I want Assam tea, brought form China in a silver casket, served by a scantily clad beauty whilst being hand wafted by giant palms, my tea served in Royal Doulton with lace doily napkins, silver spoons and my toast well done with dripping butter cut into triangles and hand fed!

As we were in a canvas tent with hay bales to sit on we headed back to the Pajero to brew our own!

Once there we decided that our days of raving were over and retired to the sound of surf hitting the shore, well we would of if it wasn't for the heavy bass line making the ground tremble and the sounds of young and innocent teens throwing up.

Another sign of us being old is that in the morning we were sat out in our chairs looking out to sea with a brew in our hands. Two young girls walked by and said "aahhh bless - so sweet" all we needed was a rug over our knees to keep the chill out to complete the picture!

But I do have to say it was a laugh and an experience which young or old should be had!

Sunday, with no clear plan we headed back to Sharon and Tom's house, mooched around and caught up with everyone else and around lunch time we headed back North.

Our original plan was to head back to Dartmoor and wild camp for a final night, but as we drove on it became fairly obvious that what was needed was our own beds.

So after a full on couple of days we drove back home, happy, tired and with some great memories!

Till later.....................

Army Vs Navy Rugby 2013

I've just returned from the annual Army versus Navy rugby match held at Twickenham.

To say that I am not feeling on top of the world is an understatement!

I went straight up on Friday evening where I met up with an old friend. The last time we had clapped eyes on each other was nearly 30 years ago.

We grew up in Shaftesbury together and have known each other since the tender age of 13 or 14 and it was me who was responsible for him following in my footsteps and joining the Royal Corps of Signals. He went on to do his full 22 years and gain the rank of WO2 and Squadron Sergeant Major.

As you can imagine we had a bit of catching up to do!

That took care of friday night, Saturday morning started as we meant to carry on with a pint for breakfast. It was mostly down hill from here on in!

We had stayed in Slough and we decided to get a taxi into Twickenham rather than take the train. We agreed a price with the driver which was just as well as he then managed to get lost several times! The M25 and A30 (both directions) plus Terminal 4 Heathrow were all visited before we managed to get near and vacate the taxi at "The Winning Post"  pub.

A few more beers were consumed before we made it to the stadium.

Finally meeting up with my old mate Mark, which was just as well as he had my ticket we made it in with minutes to spare!

More beer and trips to the loo's later and the Army beat the Navy 43-26. All though at one stage they did have a 19 point lead, but at half time it was all square.

I reckon we had the best seats in the stadium!

After the game it was back to the Corps beer tent for more drinking and meeting old friends who haven't been seen in years. It was a bit of an emotional days.

I saw someone who I thought I knew, went up to him and said, I know you, but don't know where from, his reaction was to hug me like a lost brother! What made it worse, he remembered my name and it wasn't till this morning when he tracked me down on face book that I realised what his name was!

Even worse, I just had a message from him saying that meeting me had made his day! I couldn't even remember his name! Terrible!

With a crowd of over 72,000 squaddies and matelots a new world record was achieved for the most people watching an amatuer game of Rugby.

All I can say is that the atmosphere was just incredible, there were some unforgettable sites of people making fools of themselves and partying hard.

Another statistic I heard was that more beer is drunk on this one day than all of the 6 nations games held at Twickenham!

It was an awesome day, after a late night curry I finally managed to get the last train back to Slough and to my hotel.

Seeing old friends who you haven't seen for so long was very emotional and worth every penny spent.

Can't wait for next year, maybe "M" will come with me to witness the mayhem and total carnage next year! I for one will definately be going!

Thankfully I have the week off which was just as well, as it is now nearly 1400 hrs on Monday and I'm still not feeling right!

More wild camping in the Pajero from Wednesday onwards, heading to Cornwall for a 40th birthday party on friday night, then a Masked Ball Festival on the Saturday! - You should see our costumes!

Till later.............

Who Else Full Times In Their Caravan?

I have just spent some time catching up with emails from folk that have written to me asking advice on full timing.

This got me wondering, actually how many of you out there in the real world are actually living the dream?

I know of a couple of you that are, but it would be great to hear from anyone who is currently living full time either in their caravans or campervans.

Since starting this blog I have received a fairly constant amount of emails asking for advice, which is great.

When we first started to look into living full time in our caravan I found very little relevant information to hand, which was one of the reasons why I started to write the blog.

So don't be shy, say hello and share your story here with us, what's worked for you, what hasn't worked, the highs and lows so far.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Till later...........