Hebden Bridge

We have just had four nights at the delightful Hebden Bridge CMC site which is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

I have always overlooked this site previously as it does not have a washblock and I presumed SWMBO wouldn't like it as she loves her showers and "facilities".

Anyway she agreed to give it a try and all went swimmingly,apart from being caught "mid deed " when the flush water and the toilet roll both ran out at the same time.

I am so glad the Mk.3 Cadiz has a bathroom window unlike the Mk.4.

The site is situated just off Cragg Vale in Calderdale ( the longest continuous ascent at 5.5 miles in England ),it is nearer Mytholmroyd than Hebden Bridge but I image the latter sounds a bit more bohemian especially if you are a Guardian reader,social worker or a member of the Jeremy Corbyn fan club..

The Cadiz was on its best behaviour,the shower,which we have only used a couple of times previously,was excellent.

If you are thinking of visiting the site do bear in mind that there are extensive flood defence works in the Calder Valley for twenty months from last May so traffic hold-ups are a fact of life at present but as a local told me "It's better than the alternative".

Added to this I noticed that Yorkshire Water are doing some water main work on Cragg Vale Rd. for the next ten weeks so that will be a joy.

A couple of Mk.3 Unicorns on site but no sign of a Mk.4,I do wonder if Bailey will have a U4 facelift before it is due as I don't think it is selling too well,only my thoughts.

Perhaps an eight foot wide Unicorn to follow on from the Pegasus Grande which appears to be this years fad to succeed the centre washroom trend of last year.

Ian

Pegasus Grande

The eight feet wide Pegasus Grande has just been launched by Bailey :-

Bailey Pegasus Grande.

As far as the Rimini goes ( the only one I have looked at ),Bailey have retained the no-window washroom which is a turn off for me and seems prevalent across the range.

I like a bit of air around.

Ian

York Beechwood Grange

Four nights at York Beechwood Grange under our belts now that it has reopened after extensive work.

A new replacement shower block has been reconstructed along with various improvements around the site.

It all looked very good to me but I got the impression that the wardens weren't too keen on some bits.

One grievance was that for a newly built washblock,no service toilet ( for when the main ones are being cleaned ) has been provided,the disabled toilet has to be used,also the pot washup must have the noisiest ceiling fan ever created.

I would have thought some serviced pitches would have been installed but evidently there was some problem with planning permission.

As has become normal now,the Cadiz soldiers on unperturbed ( I may regret those words one day ).


One addition to our Isabella fleet was a side

 to our Eclipse canopy.

This kept the wind and rain at bay and can be recommended.

One word though,if buying it to attach to an Eclipse which is affixed to  the side of the van as opposed to the front of an awning,then a triangular adaptor piece is needed as can be seen from the picture to make up for the increase in height from the awning to the van.

As is usual the Isabella instructions regarding pitching were as clear as mud,but a bit of perseverance won through in the end.


We were due to visit Durham Grange in a couple of days but as 60mph winds are forecast we have decided to abandon it,better safe than sorry.

Ian

New Phoenix

Called in at YC Leisure this afternoon and had a first look around the new Bailey Phoenix,their new "entry level" van,although I read somewhere they don't like to refer to it as that.

Bailey don't seem to have much long term success with their base van models.

They have had the Olympus,Orion and Pursuit none of which has set the world alight in what must be a difficult market as I imagine most starting out in caravanning buy a good second hand van to set them off to see if they like it.

If they do after a couple of years they may buy a new van but don't want a base model rather,as far as Bailey goes,a Pegasus or a Unicorn.

They didn't have a "Cadiz equivalent" in stock,only double fixed bed models and a two berth "make up bed every night" version.

It appears a perfectly competent van but it carries over from the Unicorn 4 the lack of a washroom window which does nothing for me,but at least it didn't have the awful salad-bowl bathroom sink.


Like the U4 it feels much flimsier than the U3,the locker doors feel much thinner.

One thing I have to say is that the front bench seat cushions feel much firmer than those abominations in the U3,how they will perform over time though may be another question.

I have difficulty in seeing how Bailey will fit the Pegasus into the line up as the Phoenix is not that much cheaper,and also in specification,from a Unicorn.

There is no ATC as standard and a value pack is available as a an extra comprising of cushions and bathroom carpet,I think.

Heating is Truma blown air rather than Alde.

All in all it appears a decent van,if rather expensive.

The one we looked at was just short of £20K.

Whether it will be around in three years time we will have to see.

Ian