CMC Castleton

 We are at present out on our first trip post-lockdown at CMC Castleton in the Hope Valley,Derbyshire.

To say this is the first time in the van since about the beginning of October all has gone remarkably smoothly,one exception being flooding the bathroom floor when I told SWMBO she could turn the water pump on before closing all the taps,obviously my fault.

Castleton is a lovely site that,being a 'honeypot' ,is difficult to get on to but I booked a year ago.

As far as the Covid regulations go there are a few ridiculous regulations which I don't know whether they are government or CMC inspired.

The toilet blocks are open but only three toilets availabe,no privacy cubicles and no showers.

Why,when at home,I can visit the gym daily and use the changing rooms,get a shower and even a jacuzzi but not have a shower on a campsite is beyond me.

I am sure a gym has more people through the door a day than a campsite.

No visitors allowed,'socialise off site',so it is OK to meet your friends and associate all day in the nearest village but not on site?

I enquired of the camp shop,which incidentally has virtually nothing on the shelves for some unearthly reason,if you could order a newspaper,I was told that if they handled a newspaper they couldn't touch anything else for 48hrs !!!

How the girl in the village newsagents shop goes on Lord knows,probably not eaten for a year,absolutely barmy,

One job I have undertaken is to clean the flush tank out with  a dilute Milton solution.

Put the Milton into an empty tank,fill up with water,give a short flush to clean the pump,leave for four hours,drain,refill,drain and then refill as usual.

It was amazing how many black bits came out of it,

Anyway another three days in the glorious sunshine with very cold nights to go,got down to -3/4 last night evidently.

Brought the Whale pump inside so it didn't freeze.

Ian