Holiday Plans 2023

[Day]

Also got back at 3am from Almerimar, Dad lives on a yacht out there in the Marina, don't get any ideas he's loaded, it's actually a pretty cheap way to live.

Anyhow, it's the first time I've been to Spain in a non tourist area and you have to butcher your way through Spanish in some bars.

What was weird though is the tapa, not tapas as we would call it, you get a free dish with a drink in some places, others it's 50 cents.

Sounds great, but a typical offering and bare in mind this is a non tourist area,

Salad, fried fish, ribs, pork, meatballs....hamburger, nuggets.

They could also be hit and miss, this is fried fish in one place and yes that's on a bed of ready salted crisps with pickled anchovies, not fried.

Needless to say, we didn't go back to that one.

Where other places, not tapa, nor particularly "Spanish" as it was one of the two English bars, €20 for 2 meals and a drink.

Oh and the sunsets, no filter.....

Definitely going back, even got keys for the yacht now so we can go if he's somewhere else round the world.

[Rev]

7 minutes ago, David said:

Also got back at 3am from Almerimar, Dad lives on a yacht out there in the Marina, don't get any ideas he's loaded, it's actually a pretty cheap way to live.

Anyhow, it's the first time I've been to Spain in a non tourist area and you have to butcher your way through Spanish in some bars.

What was weird though is the tapa, not tapas as we would call it, you get a free dish with a drink in some places, others it's 50 cents.

Sounds great, but a typical offering and bare in mind this is a non tourist area,

Salad, fried fish, ribs, pork, meatballs....hamburger, nuggets.

They could also be hit and miss, this is fried fish in one place and yes that's on a bed of ready salted crisps with pickled anchovies, not fried.

Needless to say, we didn't go back to that one.

Where other places, not tapa, nor particularly "Spanish" as it was one of the two English bars, €20 for 2 meals and a drink.

Oh and the sunsets, no filter.....

Definitely going back, even got keys for the yacht now so we can go if he's somewhere else round the world.

The pickled anchovies probably taste amazing.

It took me a decade of Polish Xmas celebrations to try the pickled fish, and it's really nice.

[Mucker1884]

5 hours ago, ketteringram said:

As someone who is clueless about camping, what happens on a trip like the one in October? After you've woken up, what happens next? Do you have to dismantle everything until you've gone somewhere else? Or is it all in the same place? Assuming you can't lock a tent, do you just leave it unattended all day? See, I've genuinely no idea how it works 😀

I've got to my 60s, and have never been inside a tent (other than a huge marquee type thing). I've never been in a caravan either. 

I should probably try it before knocking it. Well, I'm not knocking it as such. Just puzzled by it.

I can't imagine how much money I'd have to be getting paid to go camping, either on my own, or with anyone else, and especially my boss! 

 

Ha!  I could quite literally have typed that post myself 12 years ago... and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner than the summer of 2012... at the age of 49.5!  🤣

 

We got hooked straight away, and of course, we worked our way up from the starter kit basic gear to top-of-the-range true cotton canvas that is now 9 years old... faded of course... but performing as new, and should give us another couple of decades, should we stick at it that long!
We base our days primarily out on bikes... recently upgraded to electric pedal assist... with hiking boots and ruck sacks a close second.  We don't lie on beaches, although we may be tempted into a campsite pool for an hour in the early evening, if we've been out in 30+ sunshine all day.
UK is fine... including snowy February's in Buxton, or Rainy New years just outside York, but we much prefer France.  It's a whole different culture... and that very much includes their outlook towards camping and campsites.  
Being comparatively cheaper per nights accomodation is a bonus of course, but you do have to factor in the fact that we actually own that accomadtion, and are effectively renting around 100sq m of land, and access to hot showers, and flushing toilets.  (And more often than not, French campsites come without toilet seats, toilet paper, and even soap... The dirty b*******!)   🤣
As @David has hinted at, there is something out there for all, campsite-wise.  We avoid bare fields, and places without showers and toilets, but equally, we avoid pools with water slides, evening entertainment, anything that encourages families with young to teenage kids.  On-site restaurants and/or bars are never a necessity, and not something we specifically look for,  but they have been known to come in handy when available!
Yes, we have electric hook up, and yes, we have both mains and rechargeable lights, (and now electric bikes to re-charge), a low watt electric kettle, and even a low watt electric fan heater, usually for anytime now until April time.  Oh... and an electric fridge (not freezer).  We don't do TV's, computer games, and fancy cooking (on either gas or electric), as we're too lazy.  We'll eat out more often than not, but I hasten to add, we eat to live, not live to eat, so can comfortably survive without fine dining.  If we do cook at the tent, it's usually something quick and simple, warmed up on a single or double gas stove (cassoulet/Petit Salé/Stew/Chilli/Curry/Spag Bol etc... the latter examples usually pre-made at home, frozen, and re-heated when needed.
We take spirits/mixers with us.  Drink very little wine, and often bring back more stubby beers than we take with us.  We're not teetotal, but neither are we big drinkers.  A cold beer often goes down well though, after a full day's cycling, and the sun is still gleaming, early evening!
We also have top-of-the range "Self-Inflating Mats", which aren't as fancy as they sound, but are not your typical air-bed.  Combined with lots of lung-busting fresh air, and plenty of exercise, both of us regularly and truthfully state that we sleep longer, sounder, and more comfortably when camping, than we do at home!

Oh... Owls are fantastic.  Wood pigeons are annoying little shitz!  (My opinion only!).

 

My boss is also a mate... and we occasionally camp with family too... but I hasten to add, our favourite type of camping is when it's just the two of us... as we are best mates and soul mates, as well as being man & wife!

 

I repeat... my only camping-related regret is that we never started earlier!

 

Thank you for your interest.  I bet you wish you'd never asked now!  😁 👍 🍻

 

 

 

[Mucker1884]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

Lovely city.

Try the following bars...

Geus Van Gent, Barrazza and De Dulle Griet.

Also worth a visit is Gruut Brewery.  Gruut beers don't use hops for bittering - they use a mix of herbs and spices. A personal favourite is Gruut Inferno - an easy-drinking tripel.

My personal favourite brewery in the area is Van Steenberge (Gulden Draak, Piraat, Bornem, Brigand etc), but tours there have to be pre-booked.

Enjoy.

Whilst I appreciate your recommendations... erm... how can I put this without appearing ungrateful... but neither our holiday nor real life revolves around beer, breweries, nor hops!
Come to think of it, we have little interest over and above the actual camping/cycling/hiking type thing, (not particularly "museum freaks" either, if I'm honest!) but if there's any non-beer related tips you can pass on regarding Ghent and/or the surrounding area, I'm all ears!  

😁👍🍻

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, Rev said:

The pickled anchovies probably taste amazing.

It took me a decade of Polish Xmas celebrations to try the pickled fish, and it's really nice.

I played upon my far-eastern 'heritage' many years ago and brought some Bombay Duck and Ikan Bilis back home from a store I frequented on Brick Lane when I worked at the LSE.

Both fish (Lizard fish and anchovies respectively) are air-dried and deep-fried - but there the similarity ends.

Whereas Ikan Bilis is a wonderfully crunchy delight to eat (especially on curries) and causes no offence to anyone, the stench of Bombay Duck will take the skin of your eyeballs from 100 metres. I wasn't allowed the latter in the house.

[Eddie]

5 minutes ago, Mucker1884 said:

Whilst I appreciate your recommendations... erm... how can I put this without appearing ungrateful... but neither our holiday nor real life revolves around beer, breweries, nor hops!
Come to think of it, we have little interest over and above the actual camping/cycling/hiking type thing, (not particularly "museum freaks" either, if I'm honest!) but if there's any non-beer related tips you can pass on regarding Ghent and/or the surrounding area, I'm all ears!  

😁👍🍻

No offence taken.

Gent is a lovely city - cathedral, castle, boat trips etc all are well worthwhile, but the city is synonymous with beer. The city's emblem is a golden dragon (Gulden Draak) - and that's also the name of the city's most famous beer. The Gruut is also part of its heritage - the Flemish government taxed hops extensively, hence the search for a substitute.

Brugge is a 25 minute rail journey away.

[Mucker1884]

18 minutes ago, Eddie said:

No offence taken.

Gent is a lovely city - cathedral, castle, boat trips etc all are well worthwhile, but the city is synonymous with beer. The city's emblem is a golden dragon (Gulden Draak) - and that's also the name of the city's most famous beer. The Gruut is also part of its heritage - the Flemish government taxed hops extensively, hence the search for a substitute.

Brugge is a 25 minute rail journey away.

My ignorance clearly shows I had no idea with regards to the importance of beer/brewing with the city itself.

I'll do my best to search out one of your recommendations, and hopefully get chance of putting up a pic with the result.
Warning... I may find the taste disgusting... and my boss and his missus are teetotal... but Muckerette enjoys the odd sip of a proper beer, so it'll not go to waste!  😁🍻

[ketteringram]

1 hour ago, Mucker1884 said:

Ha!  I could quite literally have typed that post myself 12 years ago... and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner than the summer of 2012... at the age of 49.5!  🤣

 

We got hooked straight away, and of course, we worked our way up from the starter kit basic gear to top-of-the-range true cotton canvas that is now 9 years old... faded of course... but performing as new, and should give us another couple of decades, should we stick at it that long!
We base our days primarily out on bikes... recently upgraded to electric pedal assist... with hiking boots and ruck sacks a close second.  We don't lie on beaches, although we may be tempted into a campsite pool for an hour in the early evening, if we've been out in 30+ sunshine all day.
UK is fine... including snowy February's in Buxton, or Rainy New years just outside York, but we much prefer France.  It's a whole different culture... and that very much includes their outlook towards camping and campsites.  
Being comparatively cheaper per nights accomodation is a bonus of course, but you do have to factor in the fact that we actually own that accomadtion, and are effectively renting around 100sq m of land, and access to hot showers, and flushing toilets.  (And more often than not, French campsites come without toilet seats, toilet paper, and even soap... The dirty b*******!)   🤣
As @David has hinted at, there is something out there for all, campsite-wise.  We avoid bare fields, and places without showers and toilets, but equally, we avoid pools with water slides, evening entertainment, anything that encourages families with young to teenage kids.  On-site restaurants and/or bars are never a necessity, and not something we specifically look for,  but they have been known to come in handy when available!
Yes, we have electric hook up, and yes, we have both mains and rechargeable lights, (and now electric bikes to re-charge), a low watt electric kettle, and even a low watt electric fan heater, usually for anytime now until April time.  Oh... and an electric fridge (not freezer).  We don't do TV's, computer games, and fancy cooking (on either gas or electric), as we're too lazy.  We'll eat out more often than not, but I hasten to add, we eat to live, not live to eat, so can comfortably survive without fine dining.  If we do cook at the tent, it's usually something quick and simple, warmed up on a single or double gas stove (cassoulet/Petit Salé/Stew/Chilli/Curry/Spag Bol etc... the latter examples usually pre-made at home, frozen, and re-heated when needed.
We take spirits/mixers with us.  Drink very little wine, and often bring back more stubby beers than we take with us.  We're not teetotal, but neither are we big drinkers.  A cold beer often goes down well though, after a full day's cycling, and the sun is still gleaming, early evening!
We also have top-of-the range "Self-Inflating Mats", which aren't as fancy as they sound, but are not your typical air-bed.  Combined with lots of lung-busting fresh air, and plenty of exercise, both of us regularly and truthfully state that we sleep longer, sounder, and more comfortably when camping, than we do at home!

Oh... Owls are fantastic.  Wood pigeons are annoying little shitz!  (My opinion only!).

 

My boss is also a mate... and we occasionally camp with family too... but I hasten to add, our favourite type of camping is when it's just the two of us... as we are best mates and soul mates, as well as being man & wife!

 

I repeat... my only camping-related regret is that we never started earlier!

 

Thank you for your interest.  I bet you wish you'd never asked now!  😁 👍 🍻

 

 

 

Thanks for that😀. What do you drive to move that lot around? Have you ever had issues with security of your stuff, if you're off out all day?

[Mucker1884]

24 minutes ago, ketteringram said:

Thanks for that😀. What do you drive to move that lot around? Have you ever had issues with security of your stuff, if you're off out all day?

7 seater mpv (Had a Kia Sedona at the start, then a VW Sharan, currently a Ford Galaxy).  The comforts of a car, cargo space of a van (with 5 seats flattened of course... or completely removed, for the biggest payload of all, in the case of the Kia!).
Roof box (360L, from memory, so a pretty average size... not the biggest, but not the smallest.)
Bikes on the tow bar carrier.

Take as few valuables as possible... wallet, cards, cash, phones, i-pad, keys (and passports when applicable). 
Take what you need out with you for the day.  Everything else gets locked well out of sight in the car, behind lock, key, and alarm!  It's all you can do!
Store what decent camping gear you can in the car when you're out (Chairs/tables etc).
Pointless locking a tent... no matter how thick the canvas!  🤣

Yes, that can still leave decent (or semi-decent) gear accessible (even if out of sight) inside the tent... 2 x sleeping mats at c. £200 a pop at current prices, sleeping bags similarly priced.  Lanterns at £30-80 each... kettles/heaters etc are ten-a-penny in the grand scheme of things... but you just have to put some trust in your fellow campers/neighbours!  "We're all in the same boat" as it were, and it's a nice thought at least we "All keep an eye out for each other", however unrealistic that may be in reality!  

Many "Holiday park type camp sites" will have night time security patrols, but not the sort of smaller, more rural, independent sites we tend to use.

Add in anything from £1,800 to £3,800 for "the tent" (Ours is modular, and made to order, with various optional specs... with the base tent at that lower price, plus various awnings etc, adding up to that higher price, which we paid back in 2014, for the full set up.  *Other/lesser tents are available, of course!  Ha Ha!   

Touch wood, but not had a theft in the 11 years we've been camping... and we used to leave chairs, tables, and bottles of spirits outside, under a tarp for weather protection, but in full view/access, a few years back.

£5k worth of e-bikes (for the pair, not each!) are either placed back on the tow bar carrier overnight, or left parked just outside the tent... but always heavily secured with hefty chains and D Locks overnight... including bike alarms... plus keys and batteries removed and locked in the alarmed car) and remember they are just the other side of a sheet of canvas, not insulated brick walls, so any tampering would almost certainly be noisy enough to disturb our sleep!  (Fingers crossed!)  There's also a good chance such a disturbance would disturb neighbours, particularly fellow tenters, if not caravanners/Motorhomers, due to them having slightly more solid walls!

Sensible approach... trust... luck... we rely on a bit of everything, if truth be told!  👍

 

 

 

[sage]

4 hours ago, David said:

Also got back at 3am from Almerimar, Dad lives on a yacht out there in the Marina, don't get any ideas he's loaded, it's actually a pretty cheap way to live.

Anyhow, it's the first time I've been to Spain in a non tourist area and you have to butcher your way through Spanish in some bars.

What was weird though is the tapa, not tapas as we would call it, you get a free dish with a drink in some places, others it's 50 cents.

Sounds great, but a typical offering and bare in mind this is a non tourist area,

Salad, fried fish, ribs, pork, meatballs....hamburger, nuggets.

They could also be hit and miss, this is fried fish in one place and yes that's on a bed of ready salted crisps with pickled anchovies, not fried.

Needless to say, we didn't go back to that one.

Where other places, not tapa, nor particularly "Spanish" as it was one of the two English bars, €20 for 2 meals and a drink.

Oh and the sunsets, no filter.....

Definitely going back, even got keys for the yacht now so we can go if he's somewhere else round the world.

Of course they stole that tapas ideas from Belper

[Boycie]

4 hours ago, David said:

Planning on going camping next month as well, got a week off work so a few days in a field with me, the dog and a frying pan.

Camping is great, it's not for everyone though. My day would pretty much consist of up, walk the dog, eat, chill and repeat.

Plenty of fresh air in the lungs, the best ones are the campsites with no mobile signal. 

Try as you will to put the gadgets down, the temptation is always there to check the news which is usually all crap anyway.

If you go with a group of people, round a fire, blankets on, beer in the hand it can be great way of socialising. 

You can find sites with facilities like toilets and showers so you're not a stinking mess crapping in a bin.

Some of the tents you will see are huge, saw one once with an inflatable sofa and they had a 40" TV in the porch area, each to their own but that kinda goes against the spirit of camping.

Oh my word. You’ll be drinking cider next.

[Stagtime]

11 hours ago, ketteringram said:

As someone who is clueless about camping, what happens on a trip like the one in October? After you've woken up, what happens next? Do you have to dismantle everything until you've gone somewhere else? Or is it all in the same place? Assuming you can't lock a tent, do you just leave it unattended all day? See, I've genuinely no idea how it works 😀

I've got to my 60s, and have never been inside a tent (other than a huge marquee type thing). I've never been in a caravan either. 

I should probably try it before knocking it. Well, I'm not knocking it as such. Just puzzled by it.

I can't imagine how much money I'd have to be getting paid to go camping, either on my own, or with anyone else, and especially my boss! 

 

We hadn’t been camping for well over 30 years before we decided to do a 6000 km trip down south a couple of years ago. Our setup would have cost $500-$600 max and we absolutely loved it. Over the next 9 months we upgraded to a Zempire air tent and then decided to buy a small van that is setup for total off grid camping. We now go off somewhere just about every month. I would definitely recommend trying it, you meet some great people on the road.

Our first cheap setup 

Zempire air tent

 

 

 

[mozza]

Up until recently we absolutely loved our thirty+years of camping, age now restricts us now to more comfortable accomodation, chalets etc. The only time we lost owt due to theft was we had the mudguard nicked off our 4x3 trailer, in a way even that was adventurous, as it gave us a pleasant day in Newton Abbot sourcing a not to expensive replacement. Best holidays are roughing it a bit, imo.

[admira]

We picked up the keys to our new pad in Carcassonne, south of France on Friday. Itching to go back already.

Wife has booked to pop over herself for a week next month. Her return flights from Stanstead cost a hefty £32 all in. I can't get to London for that.

[Day]

3 hours ago, admira said:

We picked up the keys to our new pad in Carcassonne, south of France on Friday. Itching to go back already.

Wife has booked to pop over herself for a week next month. Her return flights from Stanstead cost a hefty £32 all in. I can't get to London for that.

Is this one you bought on that TV show?

[Ramslad1992]

Off to Filey Haven in Easter half term. Not my idea choice but moneys quite tight at the minute and whilst I’ve done stupid things In my life, going on a plane with a 2 year old, a 3 year old and a 7 year old won’t be one of them! Cheap and cheerful and the kids love it 👍.

[sage]

5 minutes ago, Ramslad1992 said:

Off to Filey Haven in Easter half term. Not my idea choice but moneys quite tight at the minute and whilst I’ve done stupid things In my life, going on a plane with a 2 year old, a 3 year old and a 7 year old won’t be one of them! Cheap and cheerful and the kids love it 👍.

Good choice with kids that age. Nice beach and not bombarded with things to spend money on. 

[Wolfie20]

Off to Vancouver and the Rockies next week - easily my most favourite place we've visited. Can't wait 👍

[Eddie]

Blackpool next month. Not for the Rams match - just a change for a few days. It's tired, run down and has definitely seen better days, so it's a logical choice really.

[sage]

I've got a mates 60th at Butlins in Minehead coming up. He didn't check the music properly and we have Bewitched, 911 and Chesney Hawkes to look forward to. 

I'm having a couple of nights in Bristol on the way down, staying in Kingsdown. If anyone has any pub, food or cultural tips I'd be grateful.