The start. Well, the start was actually on the afternoon of the 20th when I was moving stuff into the motorhome ready for setting off on the 21st. A nice chinese in the evening with my parents then to bed in the motorhome, Up early at 5.30 for a leisurly wake up and getting ready to set off.

The motorhome was packed up, contents suitably secured and I left my parents drive. One panicked phonecall later from my Mum and my Dad running down the road determined that the water that was coming out from under the wheels was actually what I had actually used that morning and not the partial emptying of the water tank. After that is was a straight run to Greenacres Caravan Park in Carlisle. However, it didn’t quite go that way.

First stop was Lymm services. The clanking coming from the cooker over the bumps was quite loud. A quick pit stop and a small rearrangement of the cloth covering the metal grate on the hob and the noise dropped a lot. It was then off for the beginning of the trip.

The M6 flowed really well until we met up with the M61. That stretch between the 61 and the 55 was a full of the typical city dwellers who think the motorway is their racetrack. They evetually disappeared and we were off. First official stop was Charnock Richard services. An M&S caramel latte and a pack of lemon sweets we were back on the way, but only after taking photographs of the parking area for caravans. There was a confusion between the posted parking notices that stated that this was only for coaches, but freshly painted markings stating caravans. Lets see what happens in a couple of weeks.

Next stop was Teabay services. It was packed but I managed to find a space and get some grub. I ate a lovely chicken, leek and bacon pie with a can of something fruity and bagged a ploughmans for a late tea / supper when the evening starts to draw in. Setting back off it became apparant that I would be early, so a quick 15 minute stop in the next services saw me back on track for the 1pm arrival at Greenacres.

On arrival to Greenacres, it was a very simple get in, park up and hook up. Everything I needed to do to setup was completed in about 20 mins. A quick visit to the shop for some soft drinks was in order, but the Strawberry and Lime cider replaced the soft drink. I am now happily sat writing this outside the back of the van in the shade as it is getting rather hot.

Day 1 - 21st June 2026