VW Blogfest

Festival!!

2009-08-05T20:17:00.004+01:00

Friday 24th July

The alarm goes off at 6.30am, the earliest we've been awake all holiday - but for very good reason. We are off to Camp Bestival! The carparks open up at 8am - and I'd heard horrors of queuing for half a day before getting in - so I was adamant that we were going to get there before the rush. After having our obligatory pre-festival shower (god knows when we were going to get our next one), and a quick pack-up (bed away - check; electric disconnected - check; top down - check), we were on our way - a whole 10 minute journey.

Well, it would have been. After following signs for Camp Bestival, we knew that we needed Purple parking as this is where the campervan field was. After queuing for all of 2 mins (we would have been disappointed if there wasn't a bit of a queue), we arrived at Blue parking. After asking for Purple parking we were waved on and found signs for Campervans. We followed and followed them and arrived at....blue parking! Ignoring the signs we took a few lucky turns and found a farm track - which lead us to Purple parking!! At last! But our efforts paid off as we were directed to the Campervan field and given a prime pitch - along side 3 other VW campervans - we were sure that Lizzy would feel at home.

We set up camp, put up the tent we had (thanks Claire and Rob for the loan), and met our neighbours. Both complimented us on Lizzy - and for a moment I thought about pretending she was ours but I had to come clean. Breakfast was next on the agenda, and this gave us an opportunity to do a bit of people watching. A camping field was in front of us, and it looked like ants swarming across with their belongings for the weekend. Some peoples' expertise in putting up tents was amazing - others not so! A wander round the campsite to get our bearings and then back to Lizzy to prepare ourselves for an afternoon and evening at the festival!

Long and winding road

2009-08-01T18:04:00.010+01:00

Thursday 23rd July

We can't believe it is Thursday already! Tomorrow is the start of Camp Bestival!

After packing up, we are on the road again but only for 10 minutes or so. We decided to visit Castle Drogo - the last castle to be built in England. On arriving at the car park, the steward waves at us - something we have become used to, travelling in Lizzy, so we waved back - only to be told after a 'wind down window' gesture, that he was actually waving us onto the overflow car park - whoops!

After a walk round the gardens and a leisurely wander round the castle, we were on the road again - we had a long trek to our next site, Durdle Door Holiday Park - but would only a 10 minute drive from Lulworth Castle and Camp Bestival!

On the route to Durdle Door, we felt like we had entered into the world of Campervaners. We met quite a few - and were always greeted by flashing lights (which we would wave back to as we hadn't worked out which of the two light switches in the van worked the lights!).

Finally, after what seemed like an age, and via Sidmouth for petrol and Beer for lunch which included a near encounter with a very full ford (we chickened out and found another road out), we arrived at the campsite - only to be directed to the cliff edge - definitely the sea view they said we would have. However, the steepness of the slope, both hozitontally and vertically and the gale force wind that was coming off the sea made us feel slightly unsafe, even with concrete blocks behind the wheels. A quick chat with the campsite reception put us on a much more level pitch, but unfortunately with no sea view this time.

Time to stock up on provisions before 3 days of festival living, and a take away of fish and chips, and we were ready to settle down for the night!

Back to where I left off

2009-07-29T21:39:00.004+01:00

Wednesday 22nd July

After setting up camp at Woodland Springs, we decided it was too early to start cooking dinner, so decided to go for a walk. Mand had spied a local monument on the map that we just had to visit.

A visit to the Rock (4 6ft neolithic stones propped up, built by Spinsters - all before breakfast apparently), we wandered on to the Mystic Gardens (strange garden with weird arty type sculptures, rrp £500+), before Mand found a short cut back to the campsite via a bridal path. 20 mins later, with muddy jeans and feet, we got back in time to clean up, cook tea and settle down with an episode of Gavin and Stacey for the night.

Just a quckie!

2009-07-26T13:46:00.002+01:00

Sunday - I think.

Blog has been sparse these last couple of day - no dongle signal and the internet cafe at the festival has been down everytime I've visited it. However I have access now for 3 mins so here goes.

Camping in van - fab - in a line of 4 VW campervans - looks cool.

Festival brilliant - seen Florence and the Machine, VV Brown but my highlight so far is Kid Carpet and Howard Marks reading fairy stories.

Just watch the Early Edition with Marcus Brigstocke, and hoping to see Will Young tonight as well as Candi Staton.

Down to my last minute - gotta go!! More detailed updates when I get home!

Change of driver

2009-07-22T20:10:00.006+01:00

Wednesday 22nd July

After an eventfully night - toilet trip for me at 3.3am, finding out we seemed to have locked ourselves in, and having to find the keys; and a bit of a rainfall, which Mand thought were insects on the roof, we woke up at 8.30am to a relative quiet campsite.

Cup of coffee, shower and breakie (bacon sandwich for me, Mand), we prepared to pack up. During this process we met our neighbours of which one of them originated from Bristol (small world this camping lark), and who we found out gigged at a local bar to me (Bar 155 on St Michael's Hill first Saturday of every month, if you are interested!).

After a short drive to Lynton to look around and buy some food, we decided get on the road to our next campsite, Woodland Springs Touring Park, Dartmoor. It was time for Mand to drive!

I tried to give her all my experience, start breaking way before you would normally do, don't bother being in anything other than second gear up a hill, and the only power steering you have in is your arms. And it all seem to pay off - before we knew it, Mand was driving like a seasoned driver.

A little off roading (it was marked as a road on the map!) for lunch, we headed onto our next stop.

Non Speedy Gonzales

2009-07-22T19:16:00.002+01:00

Tuesday 21st July

The last time I travelled at 50 miles an hour on the motorway was when I had the emergency spare type on my car. Still, this was what I was told to expect, along with waves and smiles from various other like minded travellers. Unfortunately, all we were met with were lorry drivers and caravans overtaking us, and they didn't seem too pleased about it.

After turning off the motorway, we looked out for the elusive fellow travellers, but were only met with rain showers - whoever invented intermittent windscreen wipers was a god - and obviously born after Lizzy was made.

Finally, we arrived at our destination - Sunny Lyn Holiday Park, Lynton, a known campsite to Mand and a lovely place to start our holiday. Parking up, we did what every camper should do and put the kettle on. After a bit of a play, we popped up the top, hooked up the electric and then decided to go the pub.

After a hearty meal and a drink, we ventured back to Lizzy, played a few games of cards and then decided to test out the bed conversion. After much huffing, puffing, pondering, direction and sheer brute force the bed was out - slightly not flat but workable. A giggle and a laugh here and there, it was time for bed.

Best laid plans..

2009-07-22T18:52:00.002+01:00

Tuesday 21st July

I should have learnt by now that not all of my planning goes to..., er, plan. The morning started with a bit of a hangover (strangely, I thought, as the amount of wine consumed the night before did not equal such a headache), but I had been prepared and most things were already packed.

Apart from an 'whoops I've forgotten to do' email to work, I arrived at Mand's just 10 mins after the expected eta. This was when my plans started to unravel.

An emergency phone call from my Mum who had been waiting for a hospital appointment - and at short notice had found out one was available immediately, ensured that my Dad would not be able to take me and Mand to pick up Lizzy. Luckily as Mand isn't so precious about her car (I didn't want to leave mine at the campervan place), we unpacked my car and transferred everything into hers - and went on our way.

Arriving at Campers Away, we saw Lizzy, primed and ready for her trip with us. After a smooth transaction with the owners, Tod and Naomi, they left us alone with Lizzy. Unable to shut her side door, Tod soon came back to show us how - 'be firm' he said, and then we were on our way again. That is, we were, but first we had to find reverse. Eventually reverse was found and we were finally on our way - at a maximum speed of 50 miles an hours - the traffic on the M5 loved us.

Preparation is everything....

2009-07-20T16:44:00.002+01:00

...but not in our case. Me being me, and as previously mentioned, I like to plan. I like to know where, when, and how. Don't get me wrong, I can do spontaneous - I just like to know when I supposed to be spontaneous.

Our current state of play is that we have campsites booked for Tuesday night and Thursday night, with Friday to Sunday being Festival accommodation, and Lizzy having to be back home by Tuesday. As yet Wednesday night and the following Monday night are unplanned (or should I say unbooked!). I'm currently waiting for a call back from a campsite after I left a pleading message for a pitch on Wednesday - but somehow I don't think campsites call back. I'm trying to work out how long I leave it before I try them again.

However, what is in my control is the packing. Currently my bed is piled full of clothes for every eventuality of weather, bits of camping equipment, and various medicines and other bathroom type stuff. What I must remember to do before I go out for a drink tonight to celebrate the start of my holiday, is to pack it or at least move it off the bed. Otherwise the whole lot will probably be dump on the floor in a tipsy display to try and get to bed.

Update: I caved and phoned the campsite back again, and this time got through to a person. After a lot of 'uming' and 'oooh we're quite busy' comments she finally found a pitch for us with an electric hook up. I love it when a plan comes together!

Here come the girls!

2009-07-19T08:34:00.002+01:00

So, who is coming on this trip with me? My dear friend Mand has been coerced to be my partner in crime. A girl from the country, a seasoned camper and someone who has the ability to create a meal out of nothing - I think I have chosen well.

However, Mand and I are like chalk and cheese - I plan, Mand flies by the seat of her pants; I take everything as read, Mand thinks everything is up for negotiation; I like one to one conversations, Mand works a crowd. Still, we've know each other for a few years now, and we are still friends - and occasionally we agree on something - like having another wine or going out for a cup of tea (COTs).

And the new girl on the trip? Meet Lizzy - our VW Campervan for the week, courtesy of Campers Away.

Well, she is hardly a new girl, but she is new to me and Mand, and in her we hope she will take us around Devon and Dorset and be our refuge at Camp Bestival.

First time for everything

2009-07-19T08:06:00.002+01:00

Well, as the title goes, there has to be a first time for everything. Encouraged by my friend Andy Farmer, and looking for an excuse to take my laptop on holiday, I decided to record my firsts on this blog - first time in a VW Campervan, first time at a festival, first blog!!

I think the idea to travel round in the VW Campervan came from my trip last year to New Zealand. I hired a Nissan Vanette (aka the Silver Bullet) to travel round the South Island. Although very basic, with just a mattress in the back and some curtains in the window, I had the best trip ever! Maybe it was the country, maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was having all I ever needed with me and being able to travel from place to place - my appetite for roaming in a van began.

18 months on, and I'm preparing for my next trip in a van - this time with a bit more than just a mattress.