The Caravan Channel's Caravanning Diary - Xplore 302

Emptying the little van . .

2010-07-04T03:43:00.001-07:00

Rather a sad day . .

Last couple of nights (bar 1!)

2010-06-26T23:37:00.000-07:00

Towing out for our last couple of nights in the little 302 tonight, mainly for filming purposes - gotta do the review of the caravan.

It isn't a huge vehicle, so it isn't a huge job - I'll try to do some this afternoon, once pitched with the awning set up, and then finish it off on Monday - should be a big problem.

After this, we've only got one more night to go - a stop on the way to the Elddis factory at Consett next week, when we go to the 2011 caravan launch.

Time to start the big review . . .

2010-06-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

Amazingly, we've just totalled about 4 weeks worth of overnights in the little Elddis Xplore 302 - and it's nearly time to hand it back to the factory - and they, it turns out, have sold it already to its next owner!

it'll be a sad day for us, I'm afraid, because we've really liked the little van, and enjoyed using it a lot!

But its now time to do the big end-of-term review. I've booked a pitch, hopefully on a very nice site, and with luck, we'll get good weather. We'll spend a couple of days filming, and then . . . . ta raa raa, we'll show the review (or maybe just the first half of it, in edition 14/2010, premiering on the 14th July!

Freezer time

2010-06-17T09:48:00.001-07:00

Our little Xplore 302 spent last night in a freezer, in Cambridge - I thought it was quite odd, taking it somewhere then leaving the poor little thing there.

The freezer itself is a large building, heavily insulated and equipped with huge chiller units - they hang from the ceiling ('cos cold air settles), and are fitted with large fans to blow the cold air through. There are also other fans around the chamber, to move the air around, and to even out the air temperature.

The doors are big enough to take a seriously large truck - they must be 15 or 20 feet high, and they too are well insulated. The chamber temperature, for the test our van was undergoing, was -15 centrigrade . . pretty chilly.

The van sat in there all night after going in at around 3pm yesterday. So by 9.30 this morning, the whole structure was at around -15.

At 9.55am, they switched on the electric space heater, and waited.

The point of the test is to get the van's internal temperature up to +20c, while keeping the external temperature of the chamber at the same -15. To earn a thermal grade 3, that internal temp has to be +20c within 4 hours - in fact, the Whale heater got it there in just over 3 hours . . .

So there you have it - we said it was good after spending a night in it with snow outside . . !

At the racecourse . . .

2010-06-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

We're here in the little 302 today at Gt Yarmouth Racecourse - have just had two nights and only one more to go, sad to say.

It's a surprising place . . . quiet as anything, although there are a few North Sea helicopters fly in and out every day - they're quite noisy, but interesting to watch and no a problem. They also don't seem to start too early, and don't fly particularly late, either.

We go home tomorrow (Tuesday), and have to get the little caravan ready for its freeze - we'll open the water taps, and drain the heater down before driving home, so that the water in the system should drain out. We'll also take out the tinned emergency food we carry - can't fancy cleaning up if a tin or two explode!

Dot's getting quite sad at the idea of taking the Xplore 302 caravan back - she's become quite attached to it!

Withdrawl symptoms!

2010-06-08T23:52:00.000-07:00

Well heavens - I'm glad to say we're back in the van this weekend, for 3 nights in Great Yarmouth!

We're staying at the Caravan Club's Racecourse site, which we visited about 3 years ago, just for a couple of days, but this time we're there in the little 302.

I hope the weather turns a bit better - but not too warm, as I've got quite a lot of filming to do - we've got to do our formal report on the little van for early July.

Gonna get chilly . . .

2010-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official - baby is going to get frozen!

The little Elddis Xplore 302 is going to be locked into a freezer and left overnight - to soak in a temperature of minus quite a lot of degrees (can't remember if it's minus 10 or minus 15)!

After that, they'll switch on the heating, whilst leaving it still in the coolbox, to try and raise the temp to about +20 inside a 4 hour period.

This enables the testing company to conclude what the little 302 rates as in insulation grade - so that it could be acknowledged as, perhaps, fully winter-worthy.

Of course, from our point of view, there isn't much question about it - we were spending cosy nights in the Xplore in late February, and in March. So whatever the official result, we'll still think its pretty good!

2 weeks no van!

2010-06-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

Startlingly, it's coming up for 2 weeks since we had any time in the little Elddis Xplore 302!

We had those few nights in Salisbury, after the Caravan Club Motorcaravan design awards, and since then - zilch!

Its a combination of facts - Dot's daughter being away and her having to look after their moggy, and the Camping and Caravanning Club's new to camping event at Warwick, where we went because we wanted to interview Julia Bradbury - but failed, because she was worried about appearing on a Sky channel when she's contracted to the mighty BBC.

Such is life - never mind we'll get a night or two next week!

Its so nice . . .

2010-05-23T03:33:00.001-07:00

I thought we'd share this . .

Reasons why we do this?

2010-05-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the awning of the little 302, doing a few minutes on the 'puter before going for a shower, sun through the sheet onto my back, some people flying a kite in Hudson's field just opposite, light aircraft buzzing about, but they don't bother us much.

Must get some hayfever tabs today, while I think of it!

Comfortably warm greetings from Dot and me, from the Camping and Caravanning Club's delightful Salisbury site.

Excellent season + business background

2010-05-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

I was just looking at the "nights away" totals on the Caravan Channel forum, and realised what heavy-duty caravanners we and some of our members are!

We've already had 18 nights away, and we've got another 4 coming up this week. This total pales into insignificance against one of our members, Ray, who has already had 27 nights in the van in 2010 . . . wow!

I don't know if we'll ever catch him up!

For keen followers of The Caravan Channel's business affairs, we've been developing our market spread over the past few weeks.

About 8 weeks ago, we started broadcasting a weekly back catalogue show, called Caravan Channel GOLD, which goes out on Sky 216, on the 3 days when the main Caravan Channel show isn't broadcast on Sky 166. The programmes are shows from 2008, mainly, and they'll gradually come closer up to date as we go along. The idea with showing is that at present, we're getting lots of new viewers who haven't seen these older shows, and they do deserve the chance to see this material.

We're also now developing an online weekly show, called Caravan Channel Weekly. This is aimed at addressing the people who haven't got Sky, or Freesat, but still want to watch the show. Each weekly show is effectively half of the programme that finished its broadcast run 2 weeks before, so it also acts as on-demand video for backllog shows. Gradually there'll be a big stack of shows online, so that you can enjoy a bit of caravanning any time of the day, week or year!

You'll find the weekly show at http://www.weekly.caravanchannel.tv

Amazing . . .

2010-05-11T03:03:00.000-07:00

So far this year, we've spent 18 nights in the little Elddis Xplore 302 caravan - from a night in the very chilly air of Newark, in February, when the car conked out, to our wonderful weather break in April, and now we've had a proper 6 night break at those two sites around Birmingham.

As well as the 302 itself, we've now get the extra space provided by the little Kampa Rally 200, a 2-metre by 2.5 metre awning, which gives tons of outside space for 2, and sets the van off nicely, too!

So, when are we off again? Next week, for sure - we've got a do over near Newbury, and then we'll go on a little further for a couple of nights . .

Just to round off the last trip, here's a picture from ironbridge, where we went on the Friday - its a world heritage site, maybe a bit boring for the kids, but rather interesting otherwise!

One of the many reasons . . .

2010-05-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

. . . we caravan is because, compared to other forms of accomodation, caravanning is extremely good value for money.

For instance, today we drove over to Ironbridge, nr Telford, for a day out at the World Heritage site - although we only really looked at one of the areas 10 (!) museums, and the bridge itself, we had an excellent day.

But we certainly noticed these two signs of the times, in Ironbridge itself. I must say that however nice the rooms are, and whatever their mod-cons, it isn't the same as having your van, in which you can have your own bits and pieces, and do what you like when you like.

And of course the £70 a night price is a little more than either club charges on of their sites - and if you really insist on a cooked brekkie and don't want to cook it yourself, there are some excellent greasy (and not-so-greasy) spoons about . . !

Certainly is a water park!

2010-05-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

We're at Kingsbury Water Park, just a bit north of the M6 (I think, Dot and the satnav are in charge these days), and it is appropriately named - been raining a bit this morning.

Today we're filming with several important people in the caravanning business . . . could be interesting . . . and you'll see some of the results in show 10/2010.

Comfy night in the little 302, too, and we've now got the little Rally 200 awning! We put it up yesterday, and sat in it for a gossip with a nice couple who watch Caravan Channel vids online, Steve and Lorraine - nice people

Chilling day . . .

2010-05-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Very relaxing day, I'm glad to report. Mouched around the site with the camera for half an hour, had a chat with some viewers, enjoyable, including two couples from Haverhill, who were up for a show at the NEC arena.

The Warden recommended the White Swan, about 5 mins drive away, for a carvery lunch - including drinks, the whole bill came to about £10.20 . . the meals were £3.59 each, and you got a massive plateful of meat to stack the veg on top of!

Chapel Lane is really rather nice - the wardens say that it tends not to give the right impression, with the word "Birmingham" attached to it, but it really is pretty rural and peaceful - just right for a bank holiday chill!

PS: see you at Kingsbury, Steve!

Greetings from . . .

2010-05-03T03:17:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Chapel Lane Caravan Club site . . funny morning, bank holiday Monday - everyone associates Bank hols with outing and stuff, but of course most people are going home, ready to go back to work tomorrow. Last night the site was virtually full - today, its got loads of space!

Towed up here yesterday afternoon, taking just over 3 hours to do the 160 miles - very steady, with literally not a single delay. As usual, the little 302 towed like a dream - you hardly know its there!

Off we go again . .

2010-05-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

We're away to the midlands this coming week, heading towards the area around Solihull for the first part, for a stay on the Caravan Club's Chapel Lane site, then later moving a bit towards Coventry on a Camping and Caravanning Club site for the second half of the week.

Leave here Sunday, return Saturday . .

Up on the east coast . . .

2010-04-28T02:49:00.001-07:00

Lovely Lowestoft . .

2010-04-26T11:27:00.001-07:00

When I was coming to Lowestoft frequently, it was an funny old place - very run down and decrepit, and slightly threatening - not at al like its neighbour, Gt Yarmouth, which is tacky but kind of matey.

But hasn't Lowestoft changed . . nice town centre, some interesting and good eating places, and a few seriously nice campsites about the place. We're in the 302 at the Camping and Caravanning Club's Kessingland site; delightful, green and verdant in this showery spring weather, and it's lovely.

Sad coming home!

2010-04-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

'Tis, isn't it?

We're really enjoying the little 302. The accomodation, with the L-shaped lounge area, is very easy to get on with.

For instance, on Monday night we used the beds as singles - had to leap into action on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday, we made up the double - no need to rush on Wednesday morning - in fact we didn't get up until well after 9am. On Wednesday night, singles again . . filming on the site by nine-ish, away by just after eleven . . comfortable on both set-ups, but I still can't get Dot to make the first cup of tea . .

3 very enjoyable days . .

2010-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

In wildest Lincolnshire . . .

2010-04-21T12:53:00.001-07:00

Different kind of day today - we made up the double bed last night and slept like logs - didn't have to get up early this morning, so we eventually left the little 302 at around noon, after filming the site.

We drove up the road towards Grimsby; really oddly, you rarely see the sea, its almost always hidden by a line of coastal dunes that divide sea from land.

We found two accesses to the North Sea, however, both near the Donna Nook RAF bombing ranges - at one point, we watched a Chinook helo doing tight turns and low runs around the target arrays - interesting.

We ended up at Cleethorpes - and we were rather impressed by the place. There's stacks of stuff to do, and we thought it would be a good place to take the grandchildren.

The saddest time was looking around Grimsby Fish Dock - it used to be a hub of the fishing industry, but now . . . just a shadow of a once-great place.

Snaps from Old Leake . . .

2010-04-21T02:22:00.001-07:00

Tried to post these yesterday, and couldn't - not much connection at Old Leake, although they're planning to put in wifi.

Here they are:

In Lincolnshire

2010-04-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we're in Lincolnshire - just by the village of Old Leake.

A very nice night in this rather smart new 40-pitch campsite, Long Acres - a top notch adult-only site, beautifully done, with excellent loos and really good-looking landscaping - loads of nice trees, shrubs and bulbs popping up now that its spring.

And once again, a very pleasant night in our little 302 . . .

Off again . .

2010-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

We're off with the 302 to Lincolnshire today - planning to stay at a site called Long Acres, just between Between Boston and Skegness, for Mon, Tues andWeds nights.

We'll be film at the site, and at Skegness, and will also be visiting STT group in Boston and Timberland for some product reviews . . .

If you're around and about in the area, give us a shout!

Nice start to the season!

2010-04-10T01:42:00.000-07:00

3 really nice nights at the Caravan Club's Ashridge Farm site in the Xplore 302. Seem to have remedied the water pump question, that's now working perfectly, but Dot has found 2 screws rolling about - not sure if that's worrying or not!

But there's a good deal of comfort, especially for such a small caravan, and we've got all the mod cons . . . excellent!

An update from Ashridge Farm . .

2010-04-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Imagine . . .

2010-04-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

Imagine moving your favourite room, along with all the comforts and touches that make it home, to a beautiful countryside location that has all the things that make it english . . . birdsong, the buds on the trees and bushes, bright sunshine . . . We're on the Caravan Club site at Ashridge Farm near Baldock in the Xplore 302 - its wonderful!

PS: should have a few snaps later today!

Off we go, then , . . .

2010-04-07T01:40:00.000-07:00

Just got to put a few bits and pieces togethre, and we're off for a few quiet nights in the 302 at Ashridge Farm Caravan Club site, just outside Baldock (I think!) It's one of those place where you have to switch off the GPS before making your final approach, so that you don't get in trouble on the last lap of the journey . .

More later!

Just before Newark . . .

2010-04-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

A clip from our caravan diary, made just before the Newark Spring Fair, and showing in programme 7/2010:

After the Bank Holiday . . .

2010-04-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

We'll be having three nights at Ashridge Farm Caravan Club site, just near Baldock in Herrfordshire. Its only a few miles from Duxford air museum, which is somewhere I've always wanted to go, so I hope the weather is behaving itself on the Thursday and Friday!

If you see us, give us a wave!

A couple of Newark snaps . . .

2010-03-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Really rather enjoyed the Newark show, chatted with lots of people, and talked about our little 302 quite a lot, too.

Had to roll the caravan back to the car park each night, but that wasn't any kinda problem - it all worked very well.

We tended to get the van into the hall nice n early, and then did our brekkie - an omlette on Saturday and egg and bacon on Sunday - excellent!

Day 2 at Newark Show

2010-03-28T01:50:00.000-07:00

It's our second day at the Newark Motorhome and Caravan Spring Fair, and we've just had our 2nd night in a row in the little 302.

We seem to be having what you could only call a funny moment with the water pump - seems to be on all the time. I'll have a proper look when we've got it on in the daylight.

The space heater is a jewel - it's wonderful!

A couple of nights in Newark

2010-03-26T00:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we'll be using our little Elddis 302 for 3 nights as our base (and our stand, I think) at the Newark Motorhome & Spring Fair, at Newark Showground.

Although it's mostly a motorhome do, we have attended right from the start, and it's becoem a bit of a tradition for quite a lot of people. It's chummy, comfortable, and an entertaining weekend!

Come and see us, if you can!

Sunday night in the caravan

2010-03-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

Had our second night in the little Xplore 302 last night (Sunday). Really cosy, but a bit cramped during the evening as we have the duvets out of the locks to air - don't like 'orrible damp and chilly bedding, do you?

Slept like a log . . woke a couple of times, effects of a cold, but got up about 7ish.

New season starts this weekend for us!

2010-03-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we're off to London for a show - on Sunday, subject only to no tropical downpours, snow or blizzards, we'll be in the little 302!

The plan is to actually stay in it on our base site, just 7 or 8 miles from home, and have a really good sort-out; TV chairs and equipment, awning, all the odds and ends that make up our caravanning lives.

Bring you more when we get to it, including exclusive video . . .

Meet us with our little Elddis 302 at Newark

2010-02-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Well, heavens - if you want to see our little Elddis 302, and have a chat with us, we'll be at The UK Motorhome and Caravan Spring Fair at Newark on the 27th and 28th March. The van will actually be our stand, and we'll be putting up some video from the event on the Caravan Channel and the Caravanning News websites.

We've just started editing our building reports on the caravan - and I think you'll find it a fascinating watch when the first part airs in edition 4 of 2010, premiering on 24th February. You should also be able to see it on the Elddis stand at the NEC . . .

Watching it all again . . .

2010-02-09T02:44:00.000-08:00

It's facinating watching the video of the little Elddis build going into the computer. Dot and I managed to keep up with it as it moved around the Elddis production line, which is a kind of "S" shape - three long stretches, with 2 U bends!

Those guys really do work hard, too - I spent a day and a half in the factory, and ended up feeling like a sweaty rag at the end of it all!

If you've seen the little 302 on our show or in other places, what do you make of it?

Now we've got it . .

2010-02-08T01:41:00.000-08:00

We went to take out the bits and pieces to the new van yesterday (Sunday), and to move to its proper storage location.

It's so easy to reverse into the slot - only had to move the jockey wheel about six or eight inches to get the van parallel with its neighbours. Not boasting, really - I haven't looked back on the reversing job since filming the excellent Caravan Club instructors (Dad and the Lad!), whose instruction can be quickly summed up as "this is how you do it, now keep doing it 'til you get it right!"

Of course, the only thing I want to now is get out there - but we don't have time til next month, really - we're up in Scotland then at the NEC pretty continuously til then. But I might sneak in a night or two!

First night snaps

2010-02-07T11:43:00.001-08:00

Its just so cute - that's what they all say!

This is just after we hitched up, having got the car back from the menders, after a life-saving alternator transplant.

It tows a treat - I'm delighted with that, although a little miffed that the BPW hitch doesn't take my Alko hitchlock. But we've still got a Milenco wheel lock and a steady lock, so feel reasonably secure.

I think it looks amazing on the back of our Peugeot - all I can say is that it really is deceptively spacious!

Pitch 46 at Milestone (Caravan Club affiliated site, Newark, Notts).

We've used this site before, and they were helpful when we had the motor problem - I kept them informed about progress, and would have been able to stay a couple of extra nights had the car not got fixed on Saturday.

The site has a very pleasant feel, well-ordered and tidy, with a couple of fishing lakes which are popular during the worm-drowning season.

Makes a very useful stopping-off point on the A1, but there are several interesting places to go with easy reach, so it isn't bad for a couple of nights.

She gave me some drink and a kiss on the cheek! It's the excellent Rachel . .

Home

2010-02-06T23:07:00.000-08:00

Odd how fed-up you get when waiting for other people to do stuff - would have been perfectly happy sitting around reading yesterday, apart from actually waiting for the garage to do something with out little car!

Not to worry - we finally drove back to Milestone from Newark at around 2.30pm, and were away by 3.30, and home for about 7, despite a nasy bit of diversion on the A14 at Huntingdon.

The little 302 tows a treat on its BPW chassis - there's ho stabiliser, but at 95okg max, maybe it doesn't need one to tow well.

It's now on our storage site, and will be moved to its proper parking place today - it was too dark and dirty to risk a long reverse yesterday night.

Waiting for the verdict

2010-02-06T02:32:00.001-08:00

Well, our Friday night in the little Xplore 302 was very cosy and comfortable, I'm pleased to report, although life itself was and is a little painful - we're still waiting to hear back from Bob at the garage what is happening with the Peugeot and its electrical system!

If he doesn't ring us by eleven, I'll have to give him a call, just to see whats next!

On caravan topics, there's one relatively small question to resolve (think I'm doing something wrong) and a small design point I want to ask about - have to chat up the factory on Monday to see what that's about - it's a simple question about the telly table!

Because last night was the first night ever someone has spent a night in a 302, I think it's worth getting it as right as possible, as soon as possible - and we're here to do that!

Interesting afternoon!

2010-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

So, we left Consett at about 1.30pm heading south.

All the way to Milestone, just north of Newark. It was an odd journey. Kept getting the alternator warning light, but only for relatively short periods. To be honest, we'd just had a new belt fitted, so it could have been that having come adrift . . .

Once here and set up, we decided to go into town . . got to Safeway, did a spot of shopping, and . . . car no go!

Called Green Flag, and they're now going to try to get it fixed in the morning; but it is Saturday, so I might be faced with a weekend in lovely Newark while the garage tryto get it working again!

Wonder what'll happen in the morning . . ?

Up in the morning

2010-02-05T02:09:00.000-08:00

It's 10 am and the first production Elddis Xplore 302 is in it's final stages of post production checking.

They've tested the gas and electric, so Dot and I can have a hot pie for tea. The decals are in place, all the bits and pieces are in place, and the outside is polished and bright.

There's been a couple of very minor hitches; but these have been easily resolved - the most entertaining was when Dot decided the loo door was a bit "flappy" - it turned out that they were aware of the problem (a defective magnetic strip), and a new one was fitted . . .

But so far, so good.

We're going to take the duvets into the office next so that they air out before we put them in the van!

Watching a new build . . .

2010-02-04T05:45:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen the birth of a brand new caravan, you'll have the chance in coming editions of the Caravan Channel, starting in edition 4/2010, which premieres on 24th February.

Today and tomorrow we're filming at Eldiss Consett factory in County Durham as the first batch of 29 Xplore 302 roll along the production line. And tomorrow morning, at around 11.30am, we're told, the first example will be starting its PDI process, ready to be hitched up by us, to tow away for the first half of the year as our long-term test caravan.

It's an exciting and interesting moment. We're getting to know a few of the team who put these vehicle together, and enjoying watching the evident care and interest with which it's done - and starting on Saturday, you'll be able to see some of our exclusive video reports about our first experiences with this pint size caravan.

There's a bit more info at: Caravanning News

Off to see it happen!

2010-02-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

Today's the day we're off to see the new Elddis Xplore 302 being built at the factory at Consett - it's got a production slot starting at 8am on Thursday morning. Some time on Friday afternoon, we'll be towing it away to spend our first night in it.

Should be an interesting experience for all concerned, and I'll keep everyone up to day with what progress we're making, via this blog and twitter, which we're also showing here!

If you've got a view or opinion, don't hesitate to log in and say your piece!

The Elddis Xplore 302 2 berth caravan

2010-02-02T01:16:00.000-08:00

For 2010, our long-term test caravan is the Elddis Xplore 302. It's a pint size 2-berth, with an L-shaped lounge and a double conversion.

Join us as we trot around the country to discover the pros and cons of this cute little caravan!