It’s been a couple of years since we did a big trip, the last being our 3Cs Challenge around the coast in 2023. For this one we’re taking our ‘big’ combo, The Triumph 2500 estate and Sprite Musketeer. Our main aim this year was to attend the Triumph 2000 Register National in the Forest of Dean for the week. Checking with other Triumph weekends it just so happened that there was the TSSC had their Dales and Peaks Runs the two weekends before the National. How could we resist?
With the Triumph and Sprite serviced including re-lined brake shoes for the caravan we set off for Yorkshire Dales with a two-night break on the way up just off the A1 at Pontefract. Being the only ones at the small campsite we were told by the owners that it was so secluded that we could run round naked. An offer we declined, not just because his bedroom window overlooked the site.
We did however take a drive to Pontefract to have a look around. Not overly impressed to be honest although we did make a few purchases in the charity shops including a 1978 teen book. Which interestingly enough, amongst the photos of pop stars had a picture of Gary Glitter with the caption ‘Do you want to touch me’ not the best of captions with hindsight and a something that certainly hasn’t aged well.
Planning our next part of the trip it transpired that the route we wanted to take had roadworks and a 20-mile detour, so we decided to take the long way round along the A66.
Our first stop was for petrol and a rest at the Scotch Corner services. The car filled up we drove round to look for some caravan parking only to discover that it was being converted to electric hook-ups. As it turned out it was a bit of a blessing as, just into the A66, there was a much nicer lay-by with benches amongst some trees.
The A66 turned out to be a lovely route through the Dales but an almost constant 40-minute climb. A climb that the Triumph struggled with and with just four miles from the end Paul spotted smoke billowing out behind the caravan. Luckily, we were only yards away from a lay-by, which was hurriedly pulled in to. Fearing one of the caravan brakes had stuck on (something that had happened before) Paul went round feeling all the wheels to see if any were hot, they weren’t. Further inspection found that it looked like it was the torque converter over-heating, too many hills for the old girl. So, an early lunch was called for to give it as much time to cool down as possible.
It’s very difficult to patiently sit there waiting for something to cool down when you don’t know what the result will be. Will she manage any more hills? Or were we going to be struggling the rest of the trip? Was Friday 13th the best day to do some classic car towing? In the end curiosity got the better of us and we set off again. Thankfully it appeared that we had done most of the climbing and, while there was hills, they were fairly short and generally followed by a dip. Our only other worry was getting through Kirkby Stephen, a town closed off to HGVs with the mention of steep hills. Again, we were rather relieved to find out it was a relatively easy run.
Finally arriving at High Larning campsite at Dent somewhat relieved and a lot happier. We were soon set up ready for the weekend. Nattering to others when we arrived, we were greeted by one chap saying he was glad we made it, he had passed us when we had the bonnet up in the lay-by.
Our first stop was to pop over to the cafe for something we could substitute for birthday cake for Christina’s birthday and very nice it was too.
The afternoon saw an influx of 130 teenagers doing their Duke of Edinburgh award, which made for a very busy toilet block.
The Horner clan from Norfolk arrived en masse in the early evening bolstering up the Norfolk contingent and almost doubling the number of Triumphs on the campsite.
Saturday also saw the end of the nice weather and the clouds and drizzle appear, a great shame as this was the day of the Dales Run. But it didn’t seem to put the Triumphs off with 24 on the run along with a few moderns. Much better attended than the one we went on in 2021. Route was great with a pub lunch and drive up to Britain’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn and then back to the campsite.
The evening saw us getting dressed up in our Jurassic Park gear for the fun, games and frivolities as the TSSC filled the village hall. With individual and team quizzes, bingo, dino racing, hot dogs and apple pie and plenty of fun of course.
Sunday was a day of rest with an old treasure hunt around Dent on offer. We took a walk along the river in the afternoon followed by the odd pint in the pub in the evening.
Monday was set off day, with fingers crossed we wouldn’t meet anything big on the single-track road from Dent to Sedbergh and the gearbox would keep its cool.
All was good and we even managed to get a duplicate photo on the same bridge we took a pic of the Herald/Viking combo in 2021. We had a lunchtime stop to give us and the car a break, although it seemed to be doing ok.
We rejoined Tracey and Nigel at the Delamere Forest campsite. Unfortunately, Keith’s Spitfire broke down on the way, leaving just the four of us for the mid-week break.
While it was in the forest it did have a main road on one side and a railway on another, so wasn’t as quiet as one would think. We did manage to take advantage of the train though, catching it to Chester for the day. A great place with lots of old buildings and a wall we managed to walk along for two miles. My intention was to have an alcohol-free day, the first since we set off, but, yet again failed. Perhaps tomorrow.
We decided to spend the Wednesday taking it easy with a four mile walk around a lake in the forest, unusual in that it was half filled with tree stumps giving it a prehistoric feel.
To help the car, my hope was that the days we had to travel would be cool and the days of rest would be hot. But it was not to be. Thursday turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year. The route was chosen using the caravan satnav with a lunchtime stop at Keele services even though it was only a short 60-mile drive. In an ideal world we would have left before it got too hot, but we weren’t allowed into the next campsite until 3pm.
Everything was going fine until we hit a traffic jam when the temperature gauge alarmingly high. Fearing the car was about to overheat we tried pulling off to a service area only to find out caravans weren’t allowed, so it was back to the traffic jam to watch the temperature gauge going even higher. Wondering whether we ought to just pull over on to the grass verge and leave her to cool down, Christina mentioned we were almost at the end of the jam. So, with fingers crossed while repeating the mantra “I promise I’ll spend money on you” we carried on with a flood of relief as we got to a clear road and managed to speed up and get some airflow through the radiator. Within a short time, the temperature gauge returned to the halfway point. It just means that when we get back, I’ll have to start spending money on the car. But the relief felt would make it worthwhile. We arrived at the campsite an hour later without any problems. It performed better than I could have hoped.
Again, we seemed to be set up having a cuppa within ten minutes, as the moderns seemed to take an age. The evening was spent with a bit of socialising followed by a good night’s sleep. It’s amazing how tiring driving for a few of hours can be. It wasn’t until a few hours later that we noticed we had set up close to a mining Bees nest. This was duly marked out with lights to stop any problems with midnight walks to the loo.
Friday saw more caravans roll up. Just a great shame most of them were modern boxes being towed by modern cars. By the end of the day there was around eight Triumphs in the field. Not too bad I suppose but there were double that number of moderns. Fingers crossed there will be more turning up for the run in the Sunday.
A drive into Ashbourne to get some supplies and a wander around the shops in the afternoon. Back in time to let James through the gate, who had come to join us from Manchester. Again, the evening was spent socialising and introducing James to some of his mother’s friends, which is always a character-building experience.
A lazy day on the Saturday with the Derwent Valley take on fun and games in the evening where marbles and flowerpots and Mölkky came into play along with the obligatory bingo.
Sunday was the day of the Peaks Run with a great route around the Peaks. Lots of Triumphs turned up, along with a good selection of moderns – but isn’t it all too easy to do it in a new BMW?
Then to set off for our final destination with another hot day. Everything was going well, confidence in the estate was at a high, then a stop for lunch. All good until we tried to start after filling up with petrol, and nothing but a grating noise from the starter. After trying a few things, it became fairly clear that the starter was buggered. Time for the AA! After four hours spent waiting on the garage forecourt a tow truck finally came. Question was should we return home or carry on to the Triumph 2000 National? With fingers crossed we could get it fixed at the next campsite we got the tow truck to take us to the Forest of Dean. On arrival we took the caravan off, which Chris A kindly hitched to Moe, his 2000, to make it easier for the tow truck to get to our pitch. The first thing we did was to order a new starter motor for next day delivery so we could fit it on Wednesday.
The caravan was soon set up and dinner cooked after which we went to the meet and greet in the bar for a catch up with other members.
The new starter arrived on Wednesday evening allowing us to fit it on Thursday morning. We then took it out for a drive where it proceeded to break down again, this time with a suspected flex plate issue. With the tip from Chris A, we joined another breakdown recovery company in case there was a problem using the AA a second time.
Even without the Triumph mobile it was a great week and included a ride on a steam train.
Saturday was the show day with over 70 big Triumphs attending including MB1 the first Triumph 2000.
Sunday was home day and, while we saved a bit of fuel it did take us 3 tow trucks and 18 hours to get back to Norfolk. Quite a marathon. The Triumph is currently sitting in the naught corner…
Many thanks to Chris A and Moe for help towing the caravan, Andrew N for getting the starter replaced while I was still wondering what to do.