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Category Archives: holiday

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VW T5 Campervan Conversion by CJ Van Designs

Blasdale Home Posted on March 10, 2017 by SteveNovember 12, 2020

Our VW T5 campervan conversion  was completed earlier this year.  Rosemary and I decided we wanted to travel more, and not be tied to hotels or tents.  We decided on a small campervan which is as easy to drive as a car, and can be parked in most normal parking spaces.  We went with the VW  campervan dream, well OK a modern VW T5 Campervan  dream.  We bought a two year old VW T5 kombi van coloured blackberry.  It is the normal wheel base, highline model with tailgate, 2.0 litre 140PS engine.  Blackberry is a metallic paint which the DVLA calls purple.  In some lights it looks almost black, whereas in the sunshine it looks a sparkling dark purple colour, to sometimes a brown.  It’s a fabulous chameleon taking on the colours of its surroundings. 

Once we had the van, we needed it converted. Problem here was there was an unbelievable waiting list amongst all the workshops we contacted.  We chose CJ Van Designs in Wiltshire.  Colin the owner was thorough and took us through the many options we could have.  His designs for cupboards seemed to be what we wanted.  We booked the van in for conversion.  In between booking the van in for conversion, and conversion day, we took the van (& tent) for a long drive through France in September. Eventually the day for conversion arrived in January, we said goodbye to the T5, and a few weeks later we had our campervan.  It was glisteningly clean, complete with a bottle of Champagne in the fridge.

The work we had done on the van included:

  • Reimo popup roof, colour coded to the van, which contains a bed
  • Riba rear seat which converts to a bed
  • Cupboards, under sink, under bed, over sink, over the bed & inside the tailgate
  • 12 volt power and lighting
  • 240 volt hookup
  • An extra power socket near the side door, for laptop & outdoor cooking with an electric frying pan
  • Refrigerator (240/12 volt)
  • Twin ring gas hob
  • Sink
  • Diesel space heater
  • Lighting, including lights for the popup roof
  • Insulation in van walls
  • Flooring & carpeting on the sides
  • Rail for connecting an awning
  • Rotating passenger seat
  • Safe 

We did not have to install extra windows as the Kombi van has windows on both sides to part way down the van.  The extra rear seats and original flooring in the van were sold off during the conversion.  New bench-seat/bed from Riba was then installed.

Much of this work is mandatory for the vehicle to be licensed by DVLA as a campervan aka “Motor Caravan”.  Without this complete work the van would not be able to be taken to music festivals like Reading festival where their requirements for a campervan mirror the DVLA requirements.

We took pictures  for the re-registration of the Volkswagen T5 Combi van to a Motor Caravan.  The photographs had to show the registration plate of the van, the fixtures, gas, water, sink, cupboards, table and bed.  These were sent to DVLA and a couple of weeks later we had the new registration certificate.

There are some of the extra items we want for the campervan: a bike rack and an awning.  Choosing the awning is difficult. Do we want a side-less awning to keep the sun off, where we can eat and cook in warm countries, or do we want a drive-away awning with sides where we can leave the tables and chairs under cover, and change our shoes and coats in cold and wet Britain?

 

Posted in holiday | Tagged Campervan | Leave a reply

Galapagos and Sacha Lodge rainforest videos

Blasdale Home Posted on August 17, 2012 by SteveDecember 13, 2015

After a long time I have managed to get around to editing the video I took on the Galapagos and Sacha Lodge rain forest trip.  I only started to edit the video after Rosemary brought back some ballet dancing video she filmed of a friend Ann.  I hate to say it, the ballet video proved to be the stimulus  to finish the record of the Ecuador 2012 holiday.  I have divided the video into two.  The Galapagos Islands, and Sacha Lodge. They are both available in full HD.

Galapagos Islands.

Sacha Lodge.

 

Posted in holiday | Tagged Ecuador, Galapagos, Sacha Lodge | Leave a reply

Quito by way of Miami

Blasdale Home Posted on March 21, 2012 by SteveMarch 21, 2012

Monday up bright and early for the Virgin flight to Miami. M25 a breeze, terminal 3 was a doddle. No waiting at check in, no problems at security, just a 3 hour wait for the flight. Why do they ask you to check in 3 hours before the gate closes? Note to self, leave to the last minute.

Flight arrived at Miami, we had a 1 hour wait to get through security, they were also quite a friendly bunch as well. Now to get to the AA flight to Quito. Had to check in again, despite bags making their way between the planes without our aid, then the long queue to get through security. 3 hours was ample time. If we had only 2 hours to make the flight we would have been panicking.

Met a few other Naturetrek punters at the AA flight to Quito, they had not been so lucky, they had flown on an earlier flight to us by AA. Different set of immigration officials in a different immigration hall. Two hours to get through, and some very unfriendly immigration officials.

Note to self, never fly AA, and never pass through Miami.

Arrived at Quito 11 ish local time, and into hotel at midnight. That would be 5am UK time. Quite a long day all in all.

Today had a tour of Quito, cloudy and warm, though rain in the evening. Saw a few churches, and a statue of the Virgin overlooking Quito. Now it’s time for supper.

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More from Quito

Blasdale Home Posted on March 20, 2012 by SteveNovember 12, 2020

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The first church we visited was the La Basilica. The church instead of having the usual Gargoyles, had Gargoyles based on the creatures of the Galapagos islands. The next church was a Jesuit church, inside every feature was covered in gold foil. The newly gilded surfaces (after a fire) were extremely shiny and reflected the lighting is a spectacular fashion. No photography was allowed in the Jesuit church.

On then to the presidents palace, where he should live, by being a leftist politician he has decided only to work there, and open his palace to the people. The square had a demonstration in progress, with tents and speeches. Was this occupy Quito? This was the build up to a large demonstration occurring on Thursday, something to do with land rights for the indigenous people.

Next on to an area which used to be the redlight district, but had now been cleaned up somewhat. Apparently if your car radio was stolen, you could guarantee getting it back here. There were a few working girls still available in the area. I do wonder where this clean up has displaced the majority of the women. Then back on to the bus to get a view of the whole city from El Panecillo where the aluminium statue of the Virgin was sited. This was built in the 70’s and shipped in from Spain.

Back to the bus and on for lunch, sandwiches and a beer in a cafe, not that good, and not very good value. Taxi back to the hotel for a hat and sun tan cream, I was beginning to burn under the clouds. Quick walk to the Botanical gardens to photograph some humming birds. The sun tan cream, and photo opportunity brought an immediate down pour.

Soaked we made are way back to the hotel for an evening meal, not tempted out for Guinea Pig, because of the rather inclement weather.

The day had been cloudy, with the sun breaking through on occasion, almost warm. The afternoon deteriorated into rain.

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Guernsey pictures are available

Blasdale Home Posted on November 7, 2011 by SteveNovember 12, 2020

We arrived back in England on Saturday.  Last undocumented days included a cliff walk, lunch at a restaurant on the South coast at La Gouffre called Cafe D’Escalier.  This used be called the Hollows and then served Greek food.  Now it served an adventurous Fest menu.  Some of the items were good, and the others were so so.  Choose well and you will be rewarded.  After lunch we walker back to Vazon Bay arriving just as it was getting dark.

Saturday a walk to Cobo bay, and then a final lunch at La Grande Mare.

Guernsey Holiday 2011

Pictures are available for viewing here.  https://www.blasdale.com/blog/picture-albums/2011-blasdale-picture-album/2011-guernsey-holiday-at-vazon-bay/

 

 

Posted in Guernsey, holiday | Leave a reply

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