CMC Poolsbrook

Away on our third outing of the year at the above site near Staveley in Derbyshire. 

Boy was it windy on our second day and raining as well, was glad we left the Eclipse canopy at home this time. 

The two problems that occurred during our last trip the faulty mini Heki above the sink and the faulty Alde sensor, have both been rectified.

Sorting the Heki out is a right Chinese puzzle don't know even now how I sorted it. 

The only odd thing this trip was the Alde boiler tripped the circuit breaker for some unknown reason, been OK since being reset.

I have learnt one thing though, the chap next door in a Unicorn 4 had a caravan tech out as his water flow was very slow.

Turned out it was the filters in the taps that were blocked. 

I didn't know but you can screw the end off the kitchen tap and and a plastic filter lies within. 

He had two fine mesh ones but ours has a rather coarser plastic one which is perhaps just as well.

The bathroom tap looks like it needs a spanner to remove so left that alone.

Every days a school day in the world of caravanning.

Ian 

CMC Knaresborough

We are at present having a few nights on the above site on the outskirts of Knaresborough but not far from Harrogate and York. 

It is a lovely site but with a couple of changes could be improved 

Firstly the site shop has nothing at all on its shelves at all apart from some toilet fluid and a solitary hook up cable. 

There are no local shops anywhere so a few caravanning and food essentials wouldn't have gone amiss,other CMC sites seem to manage it. 

Secondly the site has a Wanderer  bar and restaurant but any passing wanderer should carefully check the opening times which are very idiosyncratic. 

I could understand restricted opening in the depths of winter but the site is very nearly full.

I would have thought it could be open say 9 to 5 daily for tea, coffee and light snacks.

I was looking forward to a daily breakfast but it's not to be. 

On the Cadiz front we have had a couple of small problems. 

The mini Heki above the sink has loose cords again, and this is a replacement. 

Can't get it off to fix it at the moment so will leave it till we get home. 

Secondly the Alde remote room sensor which I fitted a few years ago is massively under reading. 

Contacted Alde who suggested resetting the panel but that didn't work so it looks like a new sensor, which is now on order at a ridiculous price for P&P may I add. 

The Avtex TV is also in a local shop for repair as it is playing up when used on satellite. 

Luckily we have a spare as SWMBO was starting to sweat a bit,personally I was looking forward to not having to suffer the dreadful Good Morning Britain and the even worse Masterchef. 

At least the weather is glorious for a change right till we go home, it's not a bad life really.

Ian

Tip

This is a tip I have blatantly stolen from this months Practical Caravan and concerns an easy way to clean the hitch pads.

First remove the plastic security ball from the hitch. 

Put  piece of thin cloth round the ball and spray with brake cleaner. 

Insert the ball back into the hitch and close the black lever only not the large handle. 

( My cloth was a bit thick so the handle wouldn't close but it still worked).

Twist the ball backwards and forwards to clean the pads.

It really works!!

Ian

CMC York Beechwood Grange

Well the season has started for us as we are on our first trip to the above site one of our favourites.

Surprisingly I haven't forgotten anything and all has worked with no problems touch wood.

Well not quite. 

I think the Avtex tv is playing up when using satellite. 

We could only get BBC 1 and 2 plus Channel 4,ITV was sound but no picture. 

Will try it at home and if still the same will contact Avtex. 

Had a trip out to a funeral yesterday, one of SWMBO'S friends, which was a first, and hopefully the last, for a caravan holiday.

The site is far from full, Easter is probably the starting point although it is late this year. 

Anyway it is my birthday on Sunday, another year slips by, oh well. 

Ian

Isabella Trip Light

Recently purchased an Isabella Trip Light and stand both to use in the van/awning and at home.

Must admit it is a neat piece of kit.

The light be used on the stand as a table lamp or it can attach to an awning pole, presumaby Isabella poles. 

Switches on and off by rotating the light and can be used as a hand held torch.

Comes with 7 metres of cable and a plug along with some cable clips to affix the cable to an awning pole to keep it neat.

Has a five hour run time on battery, light glows red whilst charging and green when charged. 

Can recommend. 

Found Yorkshire Caravans one of the cheapest places,next day delivery £8.

Thr light and stand are purchased separately. 

Ian

A Bit of Advice Re Locker Seals

I wanted to replace the seal on the wet locker to the rear of the van.

This one:-

After much back and forth with Prima Leisure, and two seals that didn't fit we eventually got to the bottom of the problem.

On the Prima site there are two different seals for the wet lockers, one for a "flush" door and one for a "wet locker " door.

As it was for a wet locker I naturally chose the wet locker one, wrong. 

It should have been the flush door one.

Bailey changed their minds half way through 2015 in their locker door design

Gemma from Prima Leisure has done a rather good blog post on it:-

Seal Blog Post

So if you want a replacement locker seal, ORDER THE CORRECT ONE, or it will drive you nuts 

It has taken me weeks and umpteen e mails back and forth to sort it all out.

Ian

Replacing Heki

After waiting since June my replacement Heki blind unit arrived last week.

Replaced it today, a pretty easy job, unclip the old and clip in the new

Old Unit

Half Out

Replaced

The new blind is a bit stiffer to pull across than the old one but I am sure it will "ride up with wear" ( Are You Being Served for my younger readers).

Ian