13 Sunday May 2018
Posted in Sites
Tags
#motorhomes, camc, caravan and motorhome club, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Gowerton, motorhome, motorhomes, Swansea
The sun is shining. A warm welcome from the Caravan and Motorhome Club wardens. An immaculate site. What more could I ask for my weekend in Gowerton?
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
10 Thursday May 2018
Posted in History
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Kobe, motorhomenews, motorhomes, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young, Ypres
Readers of this blog know I have an interest in WWI history and a huge admiration for the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Most of the inscriptions and epitaphs on the headstones have a religious overtone – perfectly reasonably when you consider the times – and wherever possible the closest relatives (invariably the parents due to the shockingly young age of so many of those killed) had a say in what went on the headstone.
And then, by contrast, at the weekend I came across the headstone of Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young who was killed 150 yards East of Brory Farm, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium.
One of the startling truths to emerge when you have an amateur’s interest like mine let alone an academic historian’s deep insight is that we seem to learn little from these epic tragedies. The words on this headstone capture that far more eloquently than I ever could.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
22 Sunday Apr 2018
Posted in General
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Donald Sutherland, Florida Quays, Helen Mirren, macgowan, motorhomenews, motorhomes, The Leisure Seeker, Winnebago
Think Spring is giving way to Summer this weekend. Either way, I decided the climatic conditions were not right for me to run the London Marathon.
Am also preparing for a couple of trips at the moment so have been at home. One evening Faye and I decided to pop out to the cinema and see “The Leisure Seeker” starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
An ageing couple decide to jump into their very old and much loved Winnebago and travel down the Florida Quays and get to Ernest Hemingway’s house.
We loved it but it is not a film for the faint hearted and it is far from an easy watching light entertainment night out.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
24 Saturday Mar 2018
Posted in Places
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Hawaii, macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes
A bit impractical to bring the motorhome here as Faye and I are spending a few days in Hawaii.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
04 Sunday Mar 2018
Posted in General, Uncategorized
Have been trapped at home this week but in comparison with motorists stuck in cars for hours on end I have nothing to complain about.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
29 Sunday Oct 2017
Posted in Sites
Tags
caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, motorhomes, poolsbrook, thewobblybox
I am grateful to The Wobbly Box for this independent report on Poolsbrook Country Park from last year. The full report, of which this is a small extract, can be found on their website.
“One of the best sites we have been to this year. Well laid out, clean and tidy. Its location made it a real winner in terms of the extras you get from the Country Park and the showers were the best we have seen on a campsite. We thouroughly enjoyed the site, so much so that we have moved our Christmas stay from another site to come back! Positives: lots to do in the area, great facilities (not all onsite but very close), great pitches, friendly wardens, accessible, great showers. Needs Work: ;Dog facilities, closeness of pitches
SITE NAME: POOLSBROOK COUNTRY PARK CARAVAN CLUB SITE
LOCATION: STAVELY, DERBYSHIRE, S433WL
DATES VISITED: OCTOBER 28TH- 31ST 2016
On our second visit to Derbyshire we took up residence at Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan Club site in Staveley, just down the road from Chesterfield. See what we thought of the Site and everything about it below:
Unlike our previous visit to the area when we stayed at Rivendale near Ashbourne, which took us out into the more remote areas of the Peak District National Park, Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan Club site is located conveniently about 5 minutes off Junction 29A of the M1 motorway. Whilst this does lead to a somewhat lesser scenic route on your drive to the campsite, including driving past what looks to be a small industrial site to get to the site, what is gives you in buckets is accessibility and proximity to pretty much everything. A 5 minute drive, or 20 minute walk takes you into the nearest town of Staveley which has all the basics you need including a pub and a large Morrisons store to name a few. Chesterfield is only about 10-15 minutes by car and has a multitude of things to see and do as well as an abundance of shops. The site itself is situated on the egde of the Poolsbrook Country Park, featuring a beautiful fishing lake surrounded by nature walks, a kids play area and a daytime Cafe. The site doesn’t suffer from much external noise so overall, whilst its not the prettiest location you will find in the area, it more than makes up for it in terms of practicality.”
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
13 Sunday Aug 2017
Tags
#motorhomes, airfield, camc, caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, Denham, hardstanding, Houghton Mill, hymer, lake district, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes, pitch, road safety, wyatts covert
Simples really. Open all year. Fifty hardstanding pitches. An oasis north west of London and within the M25. Immaculately maintained by wardens Marie and Paul. Bus actually comes into the site for local travel. Small private airfield adjacent if you like something to watch.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
18 Sunday Jun 2017
Posted in Places
Tags
#motorhomes, alexa, amazon alexa, caravan, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, heartofthelakes, lake district, macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes, tourism
I am at home this weekend.
Amazon’s Alexa – the all important woman in my life – has just told me via her afternoon update which I increasingly rely on to keep me up to speed – that it is 30 degrees C right now. At the same time I have received a regular email from The Lake District (an excellent service by the way) giving me loads of reasons why I should be hot footing it to Cumbria.
With photographs like that I require little encouragement.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
#motorhome #lakedistrict #omgitishot
27 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in Marketing
The UK motorhome market continues to boom. The total number of new registrations in March 2017 was up by nearly a quarter on 2016, according to figures just released by the NCC.
The statistics show that registrations of new motorhomes in March 2017 reached 2,877, a 22.3% increase over last year, taking them to their highest ever level for the first quarter at 3,670. March, with its number plate change, is a popular month for consumers to buy, ahead of the spring and summer season.
Source: National Caravan Council NCC
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
05 Sunday Jul 2015
Posted in This and That
I’m trying hard not to complain about the heat but sometimes, just sometimes, it’s good to leave the motorhome on the drive and enjoy being at home. I guess like all Brits, given half a chance, I am prone to complaining about the weather at all times and under all circumstances but I will admit I am finding 28˚C to 30˚C a struggle.
Am I alone on this??!!
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
