Finally, a window of opportunity to shake the van down after so many hours of work, and money spent. I got the chance over a long weekend in early February to properly test my modifications, with two overnight trips, firstly an off-grid solo venture to the Galloway Forest Park, and secondly a trip to a formal campsite with the Lady Lorraine. For this last, I chose the beautiful Borders town of Moffat, and the Caravan Club campsite there. I planned to visit Bongo friends in Ecclefechan, so this would work perfectly, making a decent motorway trip for the newly screwed back together Ali Bongo. All planned to perfection around the Six Nations rugby on the Saturday, and with the Friday and Monday off work, it would allow for any “tinker time” in between trips. Perfect! Or, nearly perfect…. Storm Ciara would play a part, and typical of a Scottish winter, we would experience all Four Seasons over the weekend!
With one eye on the approaching Storm Ciara on the forecasts, which was set to batter the UK after beating up the Eastern USA seaboard any day now, I resolved to plan my two-trip adventures in any case. I am a great believer in planning for the worst and anything less is a bonus, So the roof would NOT be going up at any time! It’s one thing to sit there with less headroom, and nowhere to stash the bags etc, but completely another to be wakened in the wee hours by the van rocking around and the tent being ripped off it’s mounts, and having to empty everything and lower the roof during the night. Much safer to just ignore the thing and work as if it wasn’t there.
I planned to prepare the van on the Wednesday night, work until around 3pm on Thursday, and head off to my favourite “secret location” in the Galloway Forest Park, spend the night running the diesel night heater to prove it’s functionality and reliability, test my newly installed replacement leisure battery ( the previous one had finally given up holding any charge, and wasn’t man enough for the heater) and extensive insulation fitted in the side panels and doors. Just how much heat would be retained, any improvements on condensation ( unfortunately an unavoidable by-product of sleeping in a vehicle with glass single-glazed windows), and just how annoying would the fuel pulse-pump be ticking away as the heater blew hot air?
A pleasant two hour drive, past Ayr on the main road to Stranraer, then branching inland on the road to Castle Douglas, all familiar, and the smile was starting to grow as the anticipation of being in my spot in the forest grew – that and the huge reduction in engine and road noise due to the extensive sound-proofing and insulation fitted. I had covered the cab area in closed-cell foam sheeting of various thicknesses as the carpeting dictated, some areas getting 10mm thick, others 4mm. Ali Bongo was just purring along! Sure, there was that familiar diesel growl on inclines and accelerating from roundabouts etc, but the noise reduction was fantastic, really pleasing and well worth the effort while everything was stripped out anyway, and at around £100 all in for insulation it felt like money well spent. Feeling chuffed, I made my way through the villages, past the reservoirs, and as the dusk settled in, arrived at the “spot” Not another soul around, the few layby opportunities for stopovers were deserted. I pulled in at my destination, and noticed the logging operations had progressed since my last visit a few months ago, there were a couple of huge piles of cut and trimmed logs ready for uplift. I pulled as far into the turning as I could, hopefully not in the way of any arriving lorries in the morning! I turned off the engine, got in the back and switched on my new heater. As previously, it ramped up slowly, ignited and roared into life, quickly producing heat and allowing me to open a few windows in the no-longer-chilly van. As I sat, I became aware of a huge logging machine, trundling through the uneven and boggy ground below the log piles, lights blazing in the growing dark. The machine was cutting, stripping and stacking logs on it’s deck as it went, a moving log factory. It was fascinating to watch, and a bit scary as it made easy work of these trees. he came as far as the log piles, and proceeded to unload his cargo, adding to the stacks, then off it slowly went, lights swivelling every which way as the driver swung the cab around to check his route through the stacks.
I made dinner as I watched – a ready meal, pasta and meatballs in a pouch, just pop into boiling water to warm it up. I made a coffee to go with it, and as I ate ( really tasty, and filling too) I could see the lights of the logging monster in the distance, and hear the cutting and stripping jaws working. Not really as peaceful as I had hoped! An hour later, and he was heading back with another load to stack. I decided to move house, and packed everything away, started the engine and drove back to the road, heading further into the Forest Park toward Newton Stewart. I ended up at the Red Deer Range car park, completely deserted, far enough off the road to be unseen, too. This would have to do.
A reasonable first night’s sleep, a bit chilly through the night, but not uncomforatably so, the van seemed to retain heat a bit better with the insulation installed. I woke early, reached for the heater controls to warm the van before getting out my sleeping bag – luxury! Soon toasty, I opened all the windows to air the van and help clear condensation off the windows, brewed up a coffee and munched on a blueberry muffin. Life was good.
So, first trip of the weekend was a success!! A glorious drive home, the winter sun highlighting the lochs and hills, making the frost on the grass sparkle, the van was running well, and I stopped often to admire the views. I wandered home for lunchtime, clocking up around 160 miles, at around 35mpg, brilliant!
Now for a wash and polish, and sort out the hookup-related equipment and the double sleeping bags for the second outing, on Sunday. Everything was to hand, the hookup cable, heater and kettle now packed, and set to visit Kath and Heather in Ecclefechan on Sunday, after the rugby on Saturday, for a natter, then up to Moffat for campsite and dinner. After such a glorious few days, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, winds rising to gale force, and heavy rain with hints of snow blew in and through.
Luckily, I have a Bongo, which is waterproof, heavy enough not to get blown away, and is superbly comfortable, so we decided we would go for it. After all, we said we were visiting friends, and I don’t like letting folk down.
The trip would prove…interesting!
Ali Bongo's adventures 