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Post by Ems&Beau on Jan 6, 2016 20:25:31 GMT
There are a couple of us heading to The Ram in Brandon, I'll be there after work on the 29th, leaving on the 31st January so just for two nights. There is room for a few more, I think with the recent wet weather we may be a bit restricted on space - I'm not sure how wet the field is! Its on the other site too
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Post by Firefox on Jan 6, 2016 23:31:40 GMT
Its on the other site too That will bring in the hordes! But I think the field is quite sandy and usually well drained. There's usually free parking nearby too.
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jan 7, 2016 19:59:53 GMT
Its too cold this time of year to bring in the hordes, hoping for just a few regulars for a good catch up :-)
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Post by Firefox on Jan 8, 2016 17:50:22 GMT
I may make it - new kitchen just came yesterday, so I really should be putting that in!
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Post by martingg on Jan 27, 2016 17:33:16 GMT
Eh...what's the protocol on newbies and meets? Just joined forum and need to start meeting up with like-minded folks. Had van a while now(3 1/2 years). Usually off on ma own but reading about meets has whet ma appetite.
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Post by francophile1947 on Jan 27, 2016 18:41:40 GMT
Eh...what's the protocol on newbies and meets? Just joined forum and need to start meeting up with like-minded folks. Had van a while now(3 1/2 years). Usually off on ma own but reading about meets has whet ma appetite. On small meets like this, just turn up and mingle - only a few of us actually eat outsiders Also bring plenty of money because it's your round Larger meets may well need to be booked if the numbers are likely to cause problems. Details are usually given in the thread.
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Post by donkeytoo on Jan 27, 2016 18:55:21 GMT
Eh...what's the protocol on newbies and meets? Just joined forum and need to start meeting up with like-minded folks. Had van a while now(3 1/2 years). Usually off on ma own but reading about meets has whet ma appetite. On small meets like this, just turn up and mingle - only a few of us actually eat outsiders Also bring plenty of money because it's your round Larger meets may well need to be booked if the numbers are likely to cause problems. Details are usually given in the thread. Will be good to see you again mate. wish rubber tramp could be there as well. I dont know if I am staying the night depends on whether my van is finished or not. I shall try and finish it in next couple days.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 27, 2016 19:08:34 GMT
First post, Martin, welcome! No protocol really, just turn up!! If you see people sitting in chairs outside a van or in the bar or round the campfire, come and join us and say you're on the forum, you'll be made welcome The free/wild campers tend to be a bit more of varied lot than many "conventional" motorhome crowds. By conventional I mean they all tend to be retired couples with large disposable incomes with newish vans. Not to say they aren't nice people, most of them, but we are a more varied crowd. There are couples, singles, big mix of age range, different vans, some new, some old, some self builds, and a quite a few zany alternative characters. We tend to do things ad hoc and in the moment like campfires, walks etc. There's no set agenda like some rally groups, where they have the committee meeting at 12.00, raffle at 14.00, and quiz in the bar at 18.00. So if less organisation is your thing that's us!
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Post by martingg on Jan 28, 2016 17:50:36 GMT
Firefox..only found this site yesterday...can't remember what brought me here but your post echoes what I'm looking for. Don't fancy the "conventional meets" of other sites...and had enough of "Town Nightlife"...so somewhere in between sound good. What happens about site fees?...who do you pay?
Martin
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Post by Firefox on Jan 28, 2016 19:04:12 GMT
The Ram at Brandon; just pay at the bar. The field is actually common land behind the pub, but going through the pub car park is the only access. Just drive on/off any time. It's all a bit strange as they don't actually own the land. Some people buy the landlord or his son a drink or two in lieu of payment which is only about £6 a night anyway.
The wild campers tend to park at the far end of the field - the first part is travelling showmen and long term campers, some with hookups. It's a big field though!
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Post by Firefox on Jan 29, 2016 12:10:50 GMT
Firefox..only found this site yesterday...can't remember what brought me here but your post echoes what I'm looking for. Don't fancy the "conventional meets" of other sites...and had enough of "Town Nightlife"...so somewhere in between sound good. What happens about site fees?...who do you pay? Martin martingg I've changed my pic to a pic of my van, EY56 Movano so you'll at least know one van, and there's a pic of Ems's van also on the thread, so give us a knock and I can introduce you to some other people, if you haven't met them already. I'll try to make for this evening sometime, although no guarantees I am usually late, but if you go to the bar and ask for the wild campers, I'm sure they will be in there!
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Post by Ems&Beau on Jan 29, 2016 16:28:18 GMT
I'll be there around 8ish, there may be a few there earlier, probably in the bar. My van is in my profile pic - give me a knock if you can't find me in the bar, I'll have my dog with me - a small black and tan terrier so am easy to spot :-)
If you can't find us ask at the bar I'm sure they will point us out to you - they know us well! Some may be there already!
See you all later!
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Post by Firefox on Jan 29, 2016 20:02:02 GMT
8 O' clock and I'm here. Earlier for once!
At the end of the row of vans down the left back of the field next to silver bongo I think was Donkey Too, but couldn't see in the dark.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 31, 2016 20:35:20 GMT
Great weekend. Did lots of things, went to another pub and saw a band, Dulcet Tones. Had Sunday lunch, and also fitted my replacement sink/hob on Saturday. Nice breakfast at the local cafe Sat morning. Thanks to all for organising!
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Post by martingg on Jan 31, 2016 21:11:20 GMT
Plucked up the courage... and went to Brandon mini meet. Obviously popular by the amount of vans. Had couple of pints in bar on Friday...but too shy to ask about motorhomers. Mooched around Brandon but hid in me van most of weekend(Autotrail Cheyenne...yes...that one!!!) Guess I've been too much on my own...and doing my own thing. Apologies to all for being unsocial...find it difficult nowadays. Firefox...walked past The Bell and heard the band Saturday night(after curry)but headed for van...and bed. Every journey starts with the first step. Where next?...need to break down the wall!!!
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Post by Firefox on Jan 31, 2016 21:58:45 GMT
Plucked up the courage... and went to Brandon mini meet. Obviously popular by the amount of vans. Had couple of pints in bar on Friday...but too shy to ask about motorhomers. Mooched around Brandon but hid in me van most of weekend(Autotrail Cheyenne...yes...that one!!!) Guess I've been too much on my own...and doing my own thing. Apologies to all for being unsocial...find it difficult nowadays. Firefox...walked past The Bell and heard the band Saturday night(after curry)but headed for van...and bed. Every journey starts with the first step. Where next?...need to break down the wall!!! We were wondering who was in the mystery Autotrail!! We don't bite, honestly, there was another new chap this weekend too. I was a bit antisocial as after breakfast on sat in the cafe, I spent most of the day on the sink/hob. But did get out at 10. There was a quiet group at the bar, and all the noisy girls went in the other room next to the main bar. Can recommend Sunday lunch there too, it was massive. Oh well, at least you made it. Look forward to seeing you on another one!
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Post by martingg on Jan 31, 2016 22:22:37 GMT
At home now feeling like a tw*t...shoulda made the effort. Not good with crowds...of strangers! Yeh...I know...a stranger is just someone you haven't got to know yet. It was a nice place...and a nice fire...and a nice town...might be a regular. Seen quite a few vans on the way back to Grantham...Swift Kontiki and Adria Twin that looked familiar How often are the meets?
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Post by Firefox on Feb 1, 2016 0:25:43 GMT
There's usually something every month. Feb 13th we are doing Dogfest at Worsop Market venue. Tickets sold out for that but you can probably get one on Ferocious Dog Facebook page. Then there is one at Brandon in early March. Single Mingles on Facebook but it will be a lot of the same crowd. Then ones in Whitwell and at Rutland but those are wild camping forum ones, and tend to be massive, maybe 50 or 100 vans. Later in the year we'll be doing Farmer Phil's music festival. Check out the meetings and festivals forums here and see the kind of things that go on
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Post by ian1950 on Feb 1, 2016 10:09:48 GMT
Hi martingg. We are like you find it a bit hard in new groups. We have been to a few meets and gradually building up the amount of people we know. Just a case of biting the bullet and introducing yourself really they are a great group. We have decided to do a lot more meets this year . So if you see our van 1994 herald Aragon with minions in the windscreen give us a knock Ian and Ros with Harvey the golden Labrador .
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Post by Firefox on Feb 1, 2016 10:21:17 GMT
One thing you will find that out of the many free motorhoming forums and facebook groups, it is usually the same 50-100 people that turn up at real life meets. Most people are members of multiple forums. So although the number of people online may seem daunting, there's not that many people to get to know.
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