Short tales about my experiences and travels with my two Spaniels in an Eriba Caravan.
Around the Machars
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This is night No.15/2021 living in the caravan. We're now here in Garlieston C&MC Site for our third night.
Woke up to a really nice morning. A little misty, but the sun was definitely starting to burn it back and the day developed into an absolute cracker with blue skies and sun! Took the dogs round the beach adjacent to the site, and after breakfast we headed to another walk in the Kilsture Forest.
It was a fantastic walk, and the dogs loved it. They always enjoy a new forest walk.
I wanted to make the most of the fine weather, so we headed into Newton Stewart, then up the New Galloway road to stop and go up the hill to Murray's Monument. Ive been here before, and it's well worth the effort up the steep path to the top.
The monument is like a tall spire, erected in 1835 to commemorate a local shepherd boy who went on to become a Professor in Oriental Languages at Edinburgh University.
It is a fantastic structure on an incredible viewpoint.
Returned to the car, and stopped 2 mins along the road to have a quick look at the Grey Mares Tail waterfall.
Headed back towards Newton Stewart and stopped at the viewpoint at what's known as the 'Glen of the Bar'. It has a suspended deck where you can get a nice picture. Unfortunately, the padlock clowns had been here. A completely pointless and selfish act and just attracts even more idiots to do the same. This thing will either be removed or will collapse if this sort of nonsense continues. Does my nut!
Nice view up the Glen though, once you ignore all the stupid locks.
In the afternoon, we took the short drive to Whithorn, a fine little village, to have a wander round the Priory.
An absolutely stunning place to visit, and although ruins, these are well preserved.
Then at the back of the Priory is a way marked route, The Whithorn Way, which we walked a small part of to let the dogs have a run around. This is a long route from Glasgow to the Isle of Whithorn. Looks a great route, more of a Pilgrimage.
Whithorn is a lovely place for a wander. Lovely old houses, very traditional shops (the grocery staff all wear blue dustcarts) and a fine location.
I thought that after having spent 50 nights this year in my Troll, this would be a good opportunity to offer my views and opinions on this caravan. Overall, I'm very impressed and there are some features which I really like, and others not so much. I've only ever owned Eriba's, having switched from campervans a few years ago. The switch was really an attempt to minimise the ongoing costs associated with a 'leisure vehicle'. I've had a Puck (a 120), a Familia (a 320GT), and now own this Troll (a 530GT). The Troll was a substantial investment for me, it's a (used) 2017 fixed bed model with a number of extras fitted, such as awning, high back seats, 3 ring hob, etc. I first started touring in the Troll back in April of this year and have covered a good part of Scotland and North England in my travels. The Troll is actually probably a bit 'overkill' for my needs. I normally tour alone with my 2 spaniels, and rarely have guests. However, I do sp
I'm often asked what arrangements I have for generating power when I'm touring 'off-grid' in order to keep the 12v electrics operating. This equipment needing 12v includes the lights (all bulbs changed to LED), my 12V TV, and inverter (which powers my MacBook), and also for charging of phones and speakers etc. I have a 100W folding panel which even over a good few days, I find this works fine with my fairly small leisure battery and I've never ran out of power yet. I've used this panel for years which is an advantage of a portable panel. I've used it on 4 different Eriba's I've owned, and a camper van before that. Importantly, it has a solar charge controller mounted on the rear of the panel. This is essential for any solar panel. I do move the panel during the day to get optimum light and try to avoid shadows from the van or trees and buildings. It fits behind the cars front seat when travelling. I didn't want to have an arrangement where I r
With the weather being really nice today, and with the prospect of touring again in the next wee while, I took the caravan out of the garage where it was being stored and returned it to my drive. I really didn't have any projects for the van over the winter, unlike last year when I completely re-upholstered and redone the internal decor like curtains, carpet, door facia's and the likes. Like my 3 previous Eriba Caravans, I've had trouble with the original plastic door shelves and decided to order an improved aluminium set from Darren at Eribastuff. I've ordered other odds and ends from Darren over the years and everything has always been top quality. He's an enthusiastic Eriba Puck owner himself, a Scot based in France. The original door configuration above, plastic shelves (or rather shelf fronts?) which turn the Eriba door into effectively a very useful storage area, just like a fridge door! I purchased the van 'set' which comprises one with an 'Erib
Presume (and hope) the local staff wear dustcoats rather than dustcarts! That would be really unfair!
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