So, here is the thing, February is in the winter, Looe is in Cornwall, I go on holiday to Looe in February, why is the weather always so good?

Last month I spent the warmest February days on record in Looe walking on the beach and The South Coast Path.

I took a section of my cameras to document things, my iPhone 6 128GB camera with the Rode Micro attached, the DJI Spark drone and an old GoPro Hero3. I have hours of material from the week, this video is from a short section of a walk along the rock pools to Millendreath and the Black Rock beach café.

Look out for more or watch more stuff on the YouTube channel.

The summer trip is over, it was quite a trip taking in the Port Eliot festival in Cornwall, a ferry from Poole to Cherbourg and then a couple of weeks exploring the Carentan peninsular of Lower Normandy and a drive back across northern France and home from Dover.

Great weather, some good food, some not so good food and a camper that covered nearly 2000kms without a problem.

Enjoy the video.

Wow, it’s been a very busy four or five months. I have been away so much in the fire engine that I have had no spare time to update this stuff, so many conversations with so many people, emails to deal with an the odd show and meet too. I have posted quite a few bits on Twitter and some pics on Instagram too, some more things here, here is the run down….

The registration documents came back before the end of March which meant that I was able to drive the fire engine on the road as a camper van before I had planned, basic idea was to get it road legal for Easter but it was all done early.

First trip was a few days a Dobbs Weir near London, all went well and we tested everything.

Next trip was a few days in Montreuil sur Mer in France in May, a round trip on the Eurostar for a few days, all good too, had to explain the whole idea in French a few times but it was all fine.

Late May we went to Belgium by ferry and back through France, this trip was the first time we had rain, good news, no leaks or drips and there was no condensation problems either, the fire engine turned out to be a great place to be when it rains, the sound of the rain on the roof is great.

In July I went on a road trip through France, Belgium and Holland via Dover and back from Hook van Holland to Harwich, took the bike and did some rides around Vorne and Putten. The trip was just sunshine and 35 degree temperatures, sleeping in the van was fine and with all that sun the blackout curtains really helped with the early morning sun.

Later on in July we set of on our summer road trip, first to Cornwall then over to Lower Normandy via Poole, probably around 1800kms with no real problems, a few little bits to deal with, loose bumper, bent tow bar drop plate but nothing more serious, there is a video of the road trip coming up…

Now back in Cambridge I have Summer Update video…. enjoy.

Look out for more videos soon..

Last couple of weeks has been spend finishing, well, almost finishing the kitchen, beds and as much of the interior as necessary to finally call the fire engine a ‘motor caravan’ in the eyes of the DVLA for import and registration purposes.

Now, a ‘motor caravan’ has a Class 4 MOT, so as the fire engine is 6500kg gross weight it is technically a HGV and would normally require a HGV MOT test. As a ‘motor caravan’ it will become a Private HGV and require only a Class 4 MOT and crucially £165.00 a year road tax, and of course the import fee this time too, £55.00.

The kitchen section is basically complete, just need a few finishing touches, the handles and catches on the doors, lighting and some switches to the pump and fridge would be good but basically that is done. The rear bed is done, mattress on and very comfortable too. Dining area with four seats is complete, I made a new table out of 12mm ply and a 1970s caravan table leg from eBay, that is ‘secured to the wall of the vehicle’ and can be removed if required.

You can watch the progress here, this is not a ‘how to use tools’ video, rather a ‘this is what happened after I used tools’ video.

28 February 2018

The big day. Snow, wind and ice happened this week and all of the advice was to not travel. Thinking about the fire engine, it would be the only chance I had to use the new winter snow tyres that are fitted to their full potential so I just had to go for the MOT.

Setting off it was apparent that the snow tyres did exactly what they suggested, it was if the snow wasn’t even there, up hill, down hill, breaking etc all done without any issues at all.

We arrived for the MOT in good time, in a bit of snow storm, heaters working very well and lovely and dry and warm inside. The fire engine got a lot of attention, lots of photos and the MOT chap even played with the flashing lights and sirens. Soon the test was over, passed of course, why take something that will fail to a MOT? We collected the paperwork and set off for home, another snow covered ride but good fun.

Paperwork has now been completed and send for registration. None of the German efficiency now, we are in the hands of the DVLA, took 5 minutes to register for export from Germany, probably 5 weeks to register for import in the UK, if I am lucky.

More soon….

I am loosing count now, can’t keep up with the work that has been done, so much done and so much to do, this time another short video of the work I have done over the last few weeks.

You might think ‘another bloke droning on about his van’, you would be right, but it’s my van and it’s great.

All of the recent work has once again been quite small bits and pieces and largely invisible – except for the kitchen. The basis of the kitchen is complete, just another shelf, some doors and finishing to do.

The exiting tow hitch is off and a new tow bar extender, drop plate and new tow ball with step fitted. On the roof I have replaced the blue caps with new old stock orange caps, found the pair on eBay, could quite believe someone had two the same for my fire truck!

Coming close to the MOT time now…. Then I will be using it….