10th Trip
Wolvey Caravan Park, Villa Farm C&CC Registered 9th – 11th June 2008

For our 10th trip away, we broke a rule. Well, it had to happen sometime. Up to now, we've always been to small 5 van sites, mainly because they are cheaper than Camp Sites but also because they are far easier to book, quieter and more secluded.

However, it was time for another trip to see my mother so we decided once again to take the caravan to a nearby camp site, this time choosing Villa Farm, a Camping & Caravanning Club Registered Site at Wolvey. It's not just for Camping & Caravanning Club members but open to anyone and the prices seem to be the same for all - £12.00 with hook-up, £9.50 without. We went without since we were continuing our adventure on battery only following on from Bramcote Mains. We hadn't charged the battery since Bramcote Mains and the only charge the battery would have received is from the car whilst being towed.

We didn't book in advance but decided to take pot luck since the site caters for 85 caravans on hook-up. There were a fair few caravans there but by no means full and since we were not on hook-up, we found a nice secluded spot at the back of the site near the hedge where the non-hook-ups & tents go. Wolvey isn't exactly a place where many would take a holiday after all. They also exclude twin axle caravans! Thankfully, we only have a single axle caravan.

The site was lovely. Clean. Quiet. Friendly. The "warden" was the site owner and told us to pitch where we liked at the back of the field reserved for non-EHU users. He also managed the shop. We never used the toilets, launderette or shower block during our 2 night stay but of course I had to inspect them. They were immaculate! The site was well laid out with all the facilities most would need including a television and games room, fishing and 9 hole golf.

It was the first time we tried our new Caravanstore awning out and very pleased we were with it. At first we propped the legs into the slots I'd affixed to the side of the caravan. On the second day it was a bit windier and you could hear the legs groaning in the slots so I used the ground pegs to stake them into the ground and the guy ropes. Love it!! Way better than an awning!!!

I was fascinated by the number of OLD caravans there. I thought our caravan was old but by jove, those caravans made ours look NEW!! I just HAD to take a photo of them! Some of them were VERY tatty indeed that I felt so sorry for them.

Soon after arrival, we made two new friends. Mr & Mrs Duck. They practically parked themselves outside our caravan 24/7! On the Monday (day of arrival), my wife was reading her OU (Open University) coursework so I decided to sit outside and lap up the sun. Did I tell you it was HOT?!!? After a while, my front was scorched enough that I decided to make a cuppa tea, get the blanket out the car and lay down to scorch my back. I soon fell asleep and when I awoke, my wife warned me that I'd need a clean cup as the ducks had taken to finishing off my cuppa tea while I was asleep!! Honestly, they really were so tame and friendly, you could almost pick 'em up!

Well, how did we fare on battery? Once again, we lasted on the one and only battery we'd started using at Bramcote Mains. The spare was still in the back of the car - unused. Television and satellite was used quite a bit and the voltage still showed around 11.5 volts. We decided to turn on the porch light on the last night to see our friends, Mr & Mrs Duck, and the voltage dropped the 10.5 volts. Still the TV & Satellite was working. Wondering at what voltage the TV & Satellite would fail, we decided to try turning all the lights on in the caravan and the voltage dropped to under 9.5 volts, and still the TV & Satellite was working fine! Only two appliances failed - the gas water heater and the LED lights in the washroom. So LED lights are not such a good idea after all. They refuse to work after 11 volts or so whereas incandescent lights do.

Would we go back again? Yes, definitely but Bramcote Mains is £4.50 per night cheaper on non-EHU so we'll keep this one for the colder winter months on EHU when visiting my mother.

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