NEC Spring Caravan Show

Well, we arrived at our camp site Somers Wood on Thursday afternoon about 1300 and were lucky enough to get a great pitch close to the facilities and easy to reverse into with our double axle caravan. Temperature a bracing 3C so the first priority was to get the Alde heating fired up and all the facilities hooked up. Being so cold we set the heating to Gas and Electric as the site only provides 10A and hence we couldn't set the heating to 3kW. Within an hour things were getting warmer and we were all hooked up. Nice site with good facilities. The reason we chose this site was its proximity to the NEC only 3 miles away. The down side being they charge £6 a night more than normal during NEC Exhibition weeks at £24 a night. Settled in for a good night and early to bed for a fairly early start the next day.

Friday, show day! We were lucky enough to win two tickets to the show on the Touring and Tenting Forum. We had some advice from a member on the Caravan Talk Forum which we followed. we set off at 0840 from the site and arrived with no traffic at the NEC car park 10min later. within 10min the shuttle bus arrived and we were at the NEC Plaza at 0905. Straight up the ramp to Wetherspoons for a Breakfast and coffee and a peruse of the show guide and a plan of action. Everyone disappeared about 0955 for the show opening so we waited 10min for the queue to disappear and we strolled in. Quick check of the Bailey stand to convince ourselves that we had the van we wanted, a Unicorn S2 Barcelona and then off round the show. Dorema awnings our first port of call to find out how much to get our awning extended to fit the new van, so quick phone call next week and it will be collected to be modified. Quick wander round, Towsure very crowded as not much room inside. Riversway Leisure better but not much stock. General look round OK but nothing exciting. Had our packed lunch sitting at the CC 'rest' area squashed up on a 'picnic' bench, but the only seating area in the whole show. The highlight of the show for us was meeting the 'Gang' from the Caravan Talk Forum. The CC stand was very disappointing. No mention at all of Club Together that I could see but stands for Insurance and to book the towing experience. Very 'Corporate' but not welcoming. Some 'snooty' looking 'Executives' talking to each other but keeping well away from the members. Big adverts for the 'National' Rally which moist of us don't go to. All in all quite a good day but nothing 'exciting'. glad to get back to the Van and the Alde heating about 1500 and settle in for the night.

Dave