False starts and meet ups

So it's the summer holidays and time to take advantage of working as a teacher. This year we were determined to get away early and make the most of the summer. Added to this George (Vanessa's sister) is due to give birth in the first week so we had the perfect excuse to head for Cornwall.

So it's the first day of the holidays (slightly early for me as I'm not working Friday) all packed up ready to leave everything in the van, kids transferred in pyjamas without a hitch. We were even leaving on time. Our plan to get away early to make the most of the holidays was gong swimmingly.

Well it was until the gear stick fell off.

We'd been thinking the gear change was a little sloppy, it was even a little difficult to get into second. However old VWs are famous for a porridge like gear change experience so we didn't give it much thought. That is until our plan started to go wrong.

So our holiday plan was looking a little less good with the van stuck in the middle of the road and the rain starting. About to call the RAC for the shortest recovery on record I thought I'd have a quick look to see if there was anything I could do. A quick browse through the Bentley manual and a poke about revealed that two bolts hold the whole thing together and they had worked loose. So after a swift tighten up Maisie was back on the road.

A little later than planed but on the way we discovered the joy of a gear change that works. Surprisingly (or not when you think about it) the newly tightened nuts make the gear change much more effective.

After a much less eventful journey we arrived at the camp site in Landrake (Dolbeare Park). We were due to be in one place but as there were already two VWs on site they moved us to make an impromptu VW show on site.

After a quick chat with the people next to us who had hired their van and helping them understand some of the joys (foibles) of driving an aircooled classic we headed for the park to meet up with George and Kev.

The kids had a great time playing with cousin Jamie and asking questions about the baby in Auntie George's tummy. This healthy outdoor fun was followed by the slightly less healthy activity of a meal out at pizza hut.

After a great night and making use of the very clean facilities we had a lovely breakfast with George and Kev whilst the Children played. After saying our goodbyes and promising to come back as soon as the new baby arrived we headed for the next campsite further into Cornwall.