It's been a long time since I've mentioned brewing so here's an update showing some of the improvements Martin and I have made to our garage brewery (Pacific Way Brewery). After taking our previous brew in a bag setup (BIAB) to the next level by designing and commissioning a gravity fed brew tree we moved from Pacific Way (Martin's house) and into my garage. We've been adjusting and upgrading our equipment to get a faster brew day (into a brew morning) and have concentrated our efforts on efficiency, ease of use and cleaning. We're still experimenting. I'm researching styles and creating recipes with help from the wisdom of the online collective. After the success of my Black IPA … [Read more...]
Visiting Devon
Devon is a massive County! As a family we visit on a yearly basis and there's still many areas we haven't yet travelled to. It's hard to resist the old favourites and it's interesting to see how they change each year - Croyde for example has become such a tourist hot spot and is becoming pretty crowded since we first discovered it's charms in the mid nineties. This year our base was once again in Saunton, North Devon but the typical British weather forced us to explore rather than lounge around on the beach every day. Here's a handy Google Map showing a few points of interest and facilities that we like to go to when visiting North Devon. Scroll down for a selection of photo's … [Read more...]
The Electric Commute
Ever since driving and reviewing The Worlds First Electric Campervan I've wanted to get an electric vehicle. Ideally I wanted a small electric car that I could use for the daily commute but another small car didn't really fit into the needs of the family (we have two Mini's and a Campervan). The opportunity recently came along to get a company car through my business and the sensible option was to choose a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. There were many reasons for choosing the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) but this post isn't really about the vehicle choice, it's about using electricity to get to work and back. The cost of electricity The first thing I did was review my … [Read more...]
Wales Road Trip
The first camping trip in the campervan this year was to Wales. The route was governed by a visit to some friends that had recently moved out of Belper to Llandrindod Wells and then by us wanting to venture North to take in some sights and places we've always wanted to see. Belper, Derbyshire to Llandrindod Wells, Powys took about three hours on a sunny Sunday morning in early April. Catching up with friends and seeing their new rural empire was an absolute delight and the kids had fun making maximum use of the outdoor space. I forced a Mead homebrew tasting session on our hosts in the evening in front of the roaring log burner. In the morning after a few rides on the tractor … [Read more...]
Portable Folding Solar Panel
Since installing a Biard 100W solar panel on the roof of the campervan, I've experienced the benefits of solar power while away with the family. I've also noticed a few downsides to a permanently fixed installation and the biggest problem came when we needed to park the van in the shade due to the sun's heat or the physical location of the pitch - obviously when in the shade the panel doesn't generate electricity. I recently had the chance to compare my fixed solution to a portable folding solar panel that was sent to me by BeamLED from Lancashire and here are my thoughts. The Biard 100W Silver Folding Solar Panel Kit comes in a black material bag with the dimensions 630 x 540 x 70mm … [Read more...]
UK Coast Tour
When someone mentions "Coast to Coast" in the UK I usually think of the popular route across the country that starts in the Lake District and ends in Whitby. Our recent campervan road trip version of Coast to Coast followed a slightly peculiar route based on the weather forecast at the time - from Cornwall to North Devon through Derbyshire to Lincolnshire! Here's a few panoramic photos taken at the main destinations (click to enlarge). We started the adventure at The Saunton Sands Hotel in North Devon, our favourite destination since we had our Honeymoon there exactly 14 years ago. Views of the coast from the hotel grounds (and rooms) are simply breathtaking and it's such a treat to … [Read more...]
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