January is a popular time when people set resolutions for the year ahead but have you thought about incorporating your resolutions with caravanning breaks?
Author: Kevin
Why You Should Get The Family Outdoors This Winter
When the weather starts to get colder (and usually wetter in the UK) it’s easy to retreat to the sofa and TV and snuggle up. But there is plenty to enjoy in the great outdoors at this time of year.
In fact, if you have children it’s even more important to ensure you’re getting out and about at this time of year, as outdoor play at any time of the year facilitates healthy brain development in youngsters.
An article for Business Insider recently pointed to a scientific study that has proven the positive benefits of outdoor play. However, the news provider also cited a survey by the National Trust, which found children aged 10 to 16 spend fewer than 15 minutes a day taking part in “vigorous outdoor activity”.
Dr Robert Murray, pediatrician, author and board member of Action for Healthy Kids, told the news provider that there’s no reason to spend more time indoors in the winter. He stressed that it’s the perception of inconvenience that tends to make more families stay home at this time of year.
“With well-insulated caps, mittens, gloves, socks and appropriate layers, kids can get outdoors too and enjoy some fresh air,” he said.
If you’re struggling to break the habit of screen time, try taking yourselves out of your home environment. Stock up on winter caravan supplies in the UK and head off for a couple of nights somewhere beautiful.
Dr Murray also suggested using the likes of mobile phones and tablets to help you and your kids research fun outdoor activities and places to visit, so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
The Guardian recently suggested some top small towns in the UK for a winter break. Among them is Bakewell in Derbyshire, that has the added advantage of being on the edge of the Peak District, as well as Holt in Norfolk which is well placed to allow you to discover some of the area’s stunning beaches without the summer crowds.
Christmas Gift Ideas For Nature Lovers
While it might be off season for camping, it’s the perfect time to shop in Kent for Christmas gifts for nature lovers. If you have someone in your life who loves to camp, hike, ramble or just spend time in the great outdoors, the gift of kit to enjoy this better is sure to be well received. The Times thinks so also, so here are their best ideas and styles to shop from our web shop.
Trekking poles are especially useful for older people who still like to get out and enjoy nature, and its believed they could relieve pressure on knees by as much as 25 per cent, meaning that they can stay active for longer with less of the aches and pains that come with a longer hike.
A thermo flask is great for those who like to go off the beaten path – after all, there’s usually not a café there to stop for afternoon tea. These are always the item to go missing, so no-one will mind having another in their kit for those cold winter hikes.
A bat detector may seem like an unusual gadget, but it’s great for those who want to get more connected to nature. It turns inaudible bat calls into something the human ear can hear, and helps to identify one of the 17 species in the UK that it could be.
Binoculars are the perfect choice for someone with a keen interest in birds and other bits of nature, but hasn’t gone head first into ornithologist life quite yet. Opt for something lightweight and streamlined and you won’t even notice you’re carrying them until you need them.
Could A Motorhome Make Your Ski Trip More Affordable?
We’re moving towards the ski and snowboarding season. It’s a great time of year if you love hitting the slopes, gliding down powdery, white snow. But it’s not usually so brilliant for your bank balance.
By the time you’ve factored in lift passes, flights, accommodation, food and equipment hire (or excess baggage if you’re taking your own) the price of a ski holiday can quickly mount up.
So could a motorhome holiday to the mountains make life more affordable? According to a recent article for Ski Club the answer is yes.
The news provider even noted that in France, there are places where you can park up and stay overnight, which are just metres away from the lifts. You can be first on the slopes in the morning and know you won’t have far to travel once you finish your day of skiing or boarding.
The other option is to stay in Ski Aires, these typically cost around £10 per night and give you access to amenities including a water supply, waste water and toilet emptying facilities and, in some cases, an electric hook up.
Another great reason to consider this approach to a ski holiday is that you’re not restricted to a single resort. While you won’t want to spend too much time driving from place to place, it’s good to know that if the slopes aren’t what you’d hoped, you can just move on and try somewhere different.
Of course, if you’re heading to the mountains in the winter, you need to ensure you’ve got all the necessary motorhome supplies in Kent before you set off on your adventure.
A recent article for Caravan Times recently pointed out that you don’t have to hit the Alps for a great winter getaway in your motorhome – there are plenty of great places to explore in the UK, and with sites offering hot showers and electric hook-ups, you can have all the creature comforts you need to get warm once you’ve spent time outdoors.
New Address..Moving to a Caravan and Motorhome CL Site
Dear customer.
We opened our shop in Minnis Bay just over 3 years ago. Our shop grew and grew. As well as stocking ranges from Milenco, Kampa, Vango, Camping GAz, Fiamma and Thule RV plus a wide range of other products for your caravan and motorhome, we also carried ranges for beach and for the local fisherman.
The shop turned from a 5 day week to a 6 day week and in the summer a 7 day a week shop.
Two months ago we as a family bought a Caravan and Motorhome Club CL Site in Stourmouth. Owning a caravan site although it is only a CL site requires manning. So the sensible thing to do was to move the shop to the new site in Stourmouth. We have now built a “Lodge” which is an office as well as a small run shop carrying the caravan and motorhome section of our business.
I would like to thank all customers for their business over the last few years and would like to think that any of you Caravaner’s or Motorhome’rs will come and stay and visit at the new site. Postcode is CT3 1HR
We look forward to welcoming you all there
Kevin
How To Beat Camping Condensation
If you’re planning a camping holiday then you’ll probably be interested in finding the best camping supplies in Kent to ensure you’re fully prepared for your trip away, however, there’s not yet a tool that solves all of camping’s minor inconveniences.
Condensation in your tent when camping out can be an annoying problem, causing items to become damp, but fear not, as Out and About Live gives some top tips for tackling condensation when camping.
The main cause of a build-up of condensation inside your tent is due to poor ventilation, so the best way to avoid it is to keep panels and doors open as much as possible, depending on weather conditions, to keep air flowing through.
Avoid cooking or eating hot food inside your tent as this will let off steam which will in turn create moisture and cause that damp feeling you want to avoid.
It’s inevitable that you’ll get some condensation build up if not just because our bodies let off heat into our surroundings, but keep on top of it by having lots of absorbent cloths that you can wipe surfaces over with to keep them as dry as possible.
If there’s a large group of you, spend as much time as you can sitting outside of your tent rather than inside. The more people inside the tent, the more people breathing and the more heat and condensation will be given off.
Avoid bringing any damp clothes into the tent to dry. Put them in your car or let them dry outside. Another great tip to ensuring your tent stays dry is to hang your sleeping bags out in the fresh air every morning.
First fitting of an awning for us on a Mazda Bongo / Ford Freindee
We had a customer call in this week looking for a wind out awning for his Mazda Bongo.
As an ex employee of AVA Leisure I suggested to the customer that we install one of the High Quality Thule 5200 awnings.
Fitted with Van Brackets that were trimmed to fit the B pillar and then trimmed to fit at the end of the vehicle to curve around the glass our customer went away very pleased with his new Thule Awning
Fire Safety Tips For Caravanners
There’s nothing like packing up your old kit bag and heading off in your trusty caravan, hitting the open road for a well-earned holiday. But whether you’re new to the world of caravanning or are old hat it, what you do need to do is make sure you prioritise health and safety throughout the duration of your trip, especially where fire is concerned.
Bournemouth firefighters have just issued a stark warning to holidaymakers about the importance of this after three caravans were gutted by a blaze at the Sandford Caravan Park near Wareham, according to the Bournemouth Echo.
Apparently, a gas cylinder exploded in a touring caravan, with the fire then spreading to two other vehicles nearby. Luckily, no one was inside any of the vans when the fire took hold and no one was injured, but it’s still a reminder about the importance of staying fire safe when you’re on your holidays.
It doesn’t take much to be fire safe when staying in a caravan, thankfully. You should make sure that there’s a smoke detector fitted in the vehicle, as well as a carbon monoxide detector. Take particular care when cooking and never leave pans unattended (much the same as you would at home) and always keep lighters and matches well out of the reach of children.
If you smoke, use a metal ashtray and never smoke in bed. Make sure all air vents are unblocked as this can be fatal and don’t leave children alone inside the caravan at any point. Keep a fire extinguisher to hand by the door of the vehicle and always store gas cylinders outside. Check that all appliances are turned off before you go to bed or go out for the day and never use the heater or cooker while the caravan is in motion.
Where gas cylinders are concerned, you might be wise to install a gas detection system if you can. If you think there may be a leak, turn all the appliances off, as well as the main cylinder valve and quickly open the windows and doors to let the gas out. Only change your cylinders when they’re completely empty and always check that the new one is secure before you connect it.
To change the cylinder, ensure that all valves are turned off before you disconnect it and never turn the valves on before you’ve completed the connection. Store your spare and empty cylinders outside in the open air and secure them using a safety strap.
If a fire does break out in your caravan, get everyone out immediately and call the fire and rescue service straightaway. Don’t try to tackle the fire yourself – and always know exactly where you are so you can give accurate information to firefighters when you call.
For caravan equipment in Kent, take a quick look at the Leisure Plus Direct website today. We have all you need and more.
THE ROYAL 3 WAY FRIDGE – BACK IN STOCK AFTER MONTHS!!!
The long awaited for Royal 3 way fridge is back.
Grab this item whilst you can
•Cools up to 25 degrees C below ambient temperature
•Powerful three-way absorption cooler with 12V DC / 240V AC and gas connection
•Ideal for camping, caravan or motorhome
•Fridge must be operted in a well ventilated area at all times
•Cooler runs on a powerful 90W AC/DC unit, without using a fan for noise reduction
•Ice tray and levelling aid