Monday 21 December 2009

The Van is Sold. Bored. And fed up. Some News.

It's snowing, again, here and we have about six inches of snow in the lane which prevents us from getting out and about. Even if we could I have a nagging sore throat and a blocked nose. OMG (OMG!) this has become one of 'those' blogs....! Eek.

So, 'News:'

The van sold really quickly, once I had mastered uploading to Autotrader and ironically to an old friend who I hadn't seen for some while, but who lives just five miles away. Many thanks to all those who expressed an interest, good to talk to all the VW and Kombi people, and to Pete for buying it without any hazzle. I think he's got a bargain and know it will be put to good use by his family clan. However, it does mean I have to think about getting something else now.....
I was thinking of going green and biking everywhere in a lifestyle change, but I came off the bike on the ice last Friday and just don't think it is do-able every day. Perhaps, I need someone like Simon Gershon to tell me otherwise. But, I am looking forward to not driving all over the country with a van load of 'toys' and then faffing about with them for ages in the general name of 'adventure'.

Seasonal Cheer. :(

I'm not a huge fan of this time of year; it always seems to be one of frustration and impending tedium. The weather doesn't help, with very unpredictable conditions for any sport. 'No such thing as bad weather ....just inappropriate clothing' and in extreme cases, 'poor choice of activity'. Therefore, I'm confined the house, due to ill health, hence this blog posting. I'd be less grumpy if I hadn't been making an effort to get out runing recently; I even did hill reps last night, and haven't had a proper drink for nine days. Five more to go.

No doubt the snow will go at some point, and the media will find something else to report on. This has made me laugh - BBC local news has just report on 'Some People Ignoring Road Closures' by interviewing two, obviously, very experienced well equipped and determined C2C cyclists attempting Hartside, in order to get to their B&B in Alston. Yay, see the bigger picture; they are doing nothing wrong, unlike the hoardes turning up at St.Pancreas expecting to Eurostar-it to Paris. Attempting was the key word there, the male cyclist actually said they'd give it a go and may turn back and 'stay in that pub over there' Dear BBC, Cumbria is open for business .... would you prefer a family in a 4x4, whinging about things being a little disrupted? And then getting stuck with no food and drink and only a playstation to eat? A bike is a lot less dangerous, and less of a liability, than a vehicle.

Oh no, now it's turning into one of those 'other' blogs!

NAV4 Social Gathering

Coming up, on 2nd/3rd January, we have the now traditional NAV4 Old Crown Round/ Hudscales Camping Barn weekend. This comprises of a fell 'run' around the OCR on Saturday, followed by a meal and OCR beers in The Old Crown and a cosy night in the camping barn. And then MTB/run options for Sunday. There is about 12-15 people potentially in the mix and if you've missed out on your invite please speak up!
I wonder what the weather will do....

So, let's be positive - 'tis the season of good cheer, and I've several days of biking and snow shuffling, and good eating to do first.

Finally, looking way ahead, I've booked to do a charity bike ride from London to Paris next July. It's a two person relay in just 24 hours! Check out www.london2paris24.com and www.virginmoneygiving.com/kathandjoe for more info. Any sponsorship or support of any kind will be greatly appreciated. Many of you will know I'm not a big fan of such 'charity' things, but this one just had to be done! Ideally, I'd like to go huge with it and make more money for Shelterbox, in addition to what we need for Scope. The ride is very interesting as an endurance challenge and will be a great post- Hebridean Challenge wind down. All my Christmas budget will be donated to this charity so don't expect a Christmas card!

Many thanks... see you on the other side.

Grumpster x
It's Christmas (or is it?)
Don't send chocolate - donate at www.virginmoneygiving.com/kathandjoe
This blog posting was sponsored by Boredom.
No 'Nightnurse' or other drugs where involved. Honest.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

VW Kombi T5 LWB 174 Van for Sale

I'm selling my van, which has been much admired by fell running and adventure racing folk. Perhaps I'll try to add a photo or two (it's about time I customised this blog!) but in the meantime the boring techno-spec if as follows;

VW Transporter T5 Kombi LWB, T32.
2007 57 reg 2.5 litre engine, 174ps, 6 speed, 33,000 miles, full service history, tax, rare LWB Kombi model. Off Road Grey metallic. Up to six seats in total; Drivers Comfort seat and fold flat dual passenger seat, with folding/tipping/removable split triple rear seats (2+1). Privacy glass on rear windows, towbar that has never been used, tailgate rear, abs, airbags, electric windows, electric mirrors and cruise control, radio/CD and dealer fitted iPod connection, central locking. One owner from new, excellent condition inside and out huge load area takes bikes full length without needing to collapse/remove the rear seat.

Currently fitted with neat and simple conversion housing twin birth sleeping platform and underneath storage, with ‘brew shelf’ unit opposite, but nothing is fitted or drill to internal structure and it will lift out within seconds. Includes VW high fitting rear bike rack and heavy duty Thule roof bars on factory fitted roof rack system, included at no extra cost. Rack system allows bars to be fitted anywhere along length which can be crucial for boats, bikes boxes, etc.

The van has just been serviced today, (30/11) and has new heavy duty winter tyres on the front. The preformance figures on this are amazing; I'll will cruise at top motorway speeds and overtake stuff anywhere and return 35mph.

£17,000 (no VAT) all inclusive.

This might seem a huge sum of money for a van, but it really is top of the range stuff and vans with half this spec and three times the mileage still go for £10k.
You either want one of these or you don't, and 'it only needs one buyer' said the VW salesman today.

Sadly, I'm selling it as it doesn't get used to it's full potential...and I need a smaller car pending a new job.

What? No GL3Day 2010

It's true! GL3Day will take a break in 2010 primarily for two reasons;
a) After the huge success of 2009 we need a rest and what better year to do it other than the thirteenth year, but more importantly b) We are going to be very busy preparing for The Hebridean Challenge, instead.

Many thanks for all the offers of help to plan GL3D, but it takes a little bit more than just a couple of days planning and recce-ing of routes and control sites. Linz and I reckon on two full days over the Christmas period to identify start/finish and overnight locations, with another three days of route recce-ing, followed by six days devoted to the actual event. Hence we just can't afford the time in 2010.

But don't worry - GL3Day will be back in 2011.
So, enjoy a year off and do something else... if you do nothing else just earning family brownie points for a 'pass out' for future fun.

Joe