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MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

MOTORHOMENEWS

Monthly Archives: January 2017

In the deep midwinter.

22 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews


I know my friends in Toronto where I used to live would be laughing themselves silly about me muttering about a minus 2 degrees C temperature this morning when minus 20 in Toronto was routine and well below that not uncommon. However, these things tend to be relative and in my part of the UK, minus 2 is a big deal and a couple of inches of snow is a life disrupting event. 

Today has seen no snow but a sharp frost and the playing fields at the front of my house are looking picturesque. I love these cold mornings and there has been a fair bit of comment from motorhomers and caravanners alike that waking up with a minus 2 degree temperature inside the van and not a lot of action from the taps for a cup of tea is no fun at all. Which clearly it isn’t.

So what do I do? My motorhome lives here at the house and is ready for use at five minutes notice. I keep an eye on the weather forecast and the moment it indicates temperatures below 10 degrees C on comes the heating set at 10 degrees and in that way everything stays fine – no freezing pipes, clothes and bedding kept in prime condition and everything ready to go at the drop of a hat when I am in the mood. Mostly I stay on regulated sites in the UK and in continental Europe and I mostly rely in these temperatures on all electric heating to provide background heating. Frankly I love my creature comforts and simply cannot see the point of travel coupled with severe discomfort. I was brought up as a child in cold houses; ice on the inside of windows and all that sort of excitement and I vowed at quite a young age not to carry through this spartan upbringing into adulthood.

Call me a wimp but I enjoy EVERY aspect of touring in my motorhome; including touring at short notice in very cold weather.

Oh. I forgot to mention I keep an excellent bottle of Japanese whisky in the freezer. Clearly the alcohol content keeps it from freezing and, maybe contrarily, ending a winter’s evening in the motorhome with a measure of this much prized drink seems to help me sleep. It’s a medicinal thing……

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

The Borders

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Travel

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borders, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews


Despite the spelling malfunction, a wonderful drive through The Borders this week. Utterly deserted and breathtaking as always.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Happy to comply!

15 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places

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aonb, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, northumberland


Am spending time on the Northumberland coastline – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB. Even in January it is great to be here!

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Not very warm – but very enjoyable….

13 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places, Sites

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Broadway, Caravan Club, Christopher Macgowan, Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh, motorhome, motorhomenews, redesdale arms


A bit chilly here at The Caravan Club’s Moreton-in-Marsh site but very enjoyable nonetheless. It is one of my favourites and is undergoing an upgrade during the quieter winter months – among other things many of the hard standings are being given a new lease of life.

A ten minute walk into Moreton-in-Marsh and there you find a range of pubs and restaurants including as ASK Italian pizza outlet for when I’m looking for something simple and reliable. This stay however I frequented the Redesdale Arms hotel at http://www.redesdalearms.com and enjoyed the atmosphere in the main bar. There are other places of course; in fact you are spoilt for choice. 

The Cotswolds remain a huge tourist attraction and for very obvious reasons. I frequently struggle whether to stay here at Moreton or stay at equally attractive Broadway. A tough choice with two excellent CC sites and for us motorhomers a ten minute walk to the town in each case.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Weymouth in sunshine in January.

07 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places

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ainslie, americas cup, bermuda, Caravan Club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, Olympics, open all year, wareham, Weymouth


I was in Weymouth this week visiting friends. The last time we were here was for the Olympics – Faye having been a keen sailor in her youth has never lost her interest so Weymouth was a must then if for no other reason than to witness Ben Ainslie winning his gold. Needless to say, there is now huge interest in the Americas Cup and whether he can pull off a stunning victory in Bermuda.

The weather this week has been brilliant in Weymouth and were it not for the temperature and a lack of tourists you could be forgiven for thinking my photo had been taken in high summer. Friends tell us this part of the south coast has its own micro climate and it certainly felt like it. 

Nearest Caravan Club Open All Year site is Hunter’s Moon in Wareham.

Chistopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

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