Van Learning

We've done some learning on our most recent van trip to a campsite just outside of Fowey, where we parked on a perfectly level grassy area, but before the heavy rain descended on us:

1. You should park on your anti-slip mats and not simply try to use them once you are slipping on exiting your pitch.
2. After some research, I found out that the best anti-slip mats are apparently those criss-cross bakers' bread trays with the sides removed - they're very light, but allow motorhome tyres to get good traction on slippery grass or mud.  
3. Another good anti-slip mat is that heavy duty rubber matting with holes in it that's used for outdoor mats, but it's very heavy.

Luckily I managed to lift some iron grating from around the toilet emptying site, which saved the day, else we'd still be in Fowey. Our anti-slip mats either couldn't get under the wheels, or shot out the other side once under them. Prevention is better than cure, so parking up on them is a must.

We made use of the electricity hook-up, seeing as it was included in the £25 pitch fee. The hardliners will be accusing us of going soft. We did end up being rather liberal with the electricity, using a 1.5kW electric heater on the first day, which we wouldn't countenance if running on the leisure batteries.

Talking of going soft, something has happened to Cornish pasty cases. When I was a kid, they were tough as old boots and made of something resembling concrete. These days they're made of something puffy - not quite puff pastry, but very near to it.

On the way back, we took in Anstey's Cove in Devon. We could have opened one of the side windows of the van and made a fortune in teas and coffees. 

While walking to Polkerris Cove and Polridmouth Cove in Cornwall (the inspiration for Rebecca's Cove in the novel, Rebecca), I made some totally useless observations about hiking sticks.

When you walk, especially downhill, if you slip you're more far more likely to fall backwards as your foot hits something slippy, rather than forwards. A hiking stick, if poking out in front of you to steady you, is actually not going to be the slightest bit of use. All a forward pointing stick is going to do is arrest any forward motion if you're going too fast, or assist in a climb. It makes sense, therefore, to dig it into the ground right next to you on a slippery descent and leave it trailing backwards until you've made 2 steps forward. If you then slip backwards, the stick will help you recover before your arse or bonce hits the deck. Two sticks would be better than one, as a single stick could simply spin you around.

I say 2 steps forward, as I noticed that when walking on the flat and using a stick in the usual swing motion, the stick takes one pace while you take 4. With it used in the manner I described in the previous paragraph, this is reduced to 2 paces.

A more useless bit of information you will be hard pressed to find.