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Showing posts from May, 2026

Southern Motorhome and Campervan Show 2026 - Home Day

Monday We had to be off site no later than midday and so we had started packing away the night before.  Reggie was up and out several times from before 7am and I was feeling tired by the time I got up and joined Claire for breakfast.   I took him out as she was washing and getting ready. As we were in a large field with fences all round, I let him wander off lead.  The van next to us had a young small cockapoo that was a little timid. Behind them was a nice couple with a very friendly, and again young, poodle.  Reggie and it got on, sniffing etc.  As we were talking one of the marshals came over to say there was an accident on the M4 and no one could get off the site.  In the end that was later amended to a person jumping from a bridge onto the road. Under cover of all this Reggie went and ate the poodles breakfast out of its bowl! Whilst I was apologising he went next doo...

Southern Motorhome and Campervan Show 2026 - Part 2

Saturday evening we had another walk over to the marquee.  Tonight's entertainment in the main venue, the Barn, was Union Gap and The Foundations. The theme all weekend was 60's ... In the marquee there was a duo to do sixties songs.  We bought a couple of samosas and some churros. Very international. 🙂 Whilst we were there the duo were setting up. We didn't stay though. Reggie was wanting to go. So we set off back.  An evening of YouTube despite the poor signal. We have to put the phone in the roof light to get some signal, or enough to watch the TV. Sunday  Up a little late. It's Sunday. Claire wanted to see the Vanlife Eats guy demonstrating making a breakfast pie in the Ridge Monkey at 11am. Reggie and I weren't really that interested and so we had a walk around the show and stopped for coffee and a chat at the Motor Caravanners' Club stand. The chat wasn't a...

Southern Motorhome and Campervan Show 2026 - Part 1

This would be first test of the new Victron and lithium battery setup. Four nights off grid at the Newbury Showground. The plan was to set off at around 1030am on Thursday and drive across to the South of London and then west to Newbury. In the end we left at nearer 1050am. Not too bad.  The first stop at the garage on the way at West Malling.  It was a bit of a faff finding the LPG pump. There is only one and it's access was a bit difficult. Involving a bit of reversing out of the wrong place and queueing.  Despite the gauge on the top of the bottle being close to empty we could only get £2.93 (at .99 a litre) in before the pump.m stopped and displayed "stop". Very odd. A quick check of the gauge showed it was full!!! Anyway, we set off again. The M26 and M25 were very civilised and moving. We stopped at Cobham Services for Reggie's breather and got a coffee from Starbucks at the McDonald's ordering machine...

SP26 - Will Trump's War affect travel?

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It certainly looks that way. Fuel prices have started to come down a little. Locally diesel has dropped around 6p a litre but is still ridiculously high. In Europe, from the apps I have on my phone, prices are higher than here except in Spain. As long as the government are still keeping the tax cut, then it's way cheaper.  Currently the fuel price apps are showing €1.66 a litre near where we are spending our first few nights.... That's currently £1.44. I have had a look at the maps and am still thinking about where to go after San Vicente . This time I am thinking of spending more time in each place we go to. Instead of one night, depending on where we end up, two or longer.  I am looking at some familiar places on the Mediterranean coast for longer stops, whether aires or campsites. I have booked an appointment for Reggie's rabies jab at a vet in San Vicente and apart from the opening few days campsite, nothing i...