Downsizing

Where will we put everything that we had in Delfin? The compromise that we have had to make by downsizing to a smaller vehicle, that will be more manageable and cheaper to run, has been a certain amount of comfort and a great deal of space.

There is a large garage to the rear, under the fixed bed, where all our outdoor living gear is stowed. Previously this was housed in several outside lockers and was more easily accessible. Now it is prioritised based on how long we plan to stay in one place. Short stop,then the items on the right come out, but for several days, then it all comes out ... assuming that the weather is kind to us. Inside everything is scaled down, No separate shower room, but there is a hand held spray, hence the floor tray. Oh and the small stool is to assist short legged folk to get onto the bed.

There are plenty of  lockers for clothes, books, games and DVDs

Sue still has space to fill, but not me. 

Outside we have added  BBQ point , which is linked to the refillable gas bottle which we took out of Delfin and for extra security, on the large sliding door and rear doors, we have these Thule locks. 

We each have a large bed, the permanent one in the rear, from where we can watch our little TV and another, that is quickly made up from the table and dining area seating Plenty of room to stretch out and not disturb each other even if one of us is reading late. Mind you it only takes a visit to the loo in the early hours and everyone is awake! Hopefully, as the weeks go by, we can share more of our life on the road and you can judge for yourselves, if going for a smaller camper, was a wise move.

Goodbye Delfin and Hello Smiler

 Well here we are, back on the air in cyberspace and almost ready to begin a new adventure. But in the intervening six weeks since we were last in touch, there have been changes. Yes, our beautiful Delfin has morphed into a panel van conversion called Smiler. Just take a closer look at the front grill and you can see the smile on her face.
We are the proud owners of a Rapido V56 on a Fiat Ducato chassis. Because I am getting a bit long in the tooth to be driving a private,heavy goods vehicle,of almost 4 tonnes,with a handbrake which I couldn't pull up far enough to hold Delfin steady, on slopes and ferry ramps, it was decided that for safety's sake,which in itself, is a good enough reason, we should downsize to a vehicle more suited to my age and abilities. Despite being shorter (6 metres compared with seven and a half metres)  and narrower, Smiler has all the elements of a motorhome inside. More of that once we are on the road.

These are a couple of pictures taken on the day we found her, but since then we have been busy adding the extras which we need to keep us comfortable and mobile. A solar panel and an inverter;  the refillable Gaslow system and twin leisure batteries from Delfin; a quality alarm to supplement the one installed by the manufacturers and a Heath Robinson fly screen to cover the huge space when the sliding door is open. Almost ready to go!

Guess where we are off to in April?

MOROCCO.  REVISITED

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Just begun the planning, although all last years information which we have kept, will still be invaluable. The Internet motorhome forums have already been sent questions and new, up to the minute responses, have been received. How does diesel at 64 pence a litre sound?
This time we are using the Poole to Gijon ferry,and crossing the Bay of Biscay in a small vessel which is rather old but the tickets are cheap! We hope for calm seas during the 25 hour cruise ( a word which is used very loosely) but we do have our own cabin and en suite .... useful if it's choppy but hopefully the old tub possesses  stabilisers and a higher authority will have poured oil on any troubled waters
We shall land in Spain and will have saved time and wear and tear on Delfin by not driving the several hundred miles through France.

Months to go yet but watch this space