It’s time to change the car. For most people it’s a case of how much you can afford+how much milage+ running costs+ nice looking = your choice of a Corsa or Fiat 500 etc…. No such luck for caravanners. We are looking at facts and figures tow car awards, reviews, top speed is generally not a factor but how many Torques the car has and it’s kerbweight definitely are.
Category: News & General
France Argeles Sur Mer August 2018 part 2
In part 2 I get Sunburned, collect daughter #1 and do lots of sightseeing.
Elne
We had never been to Elne so we decided to drive through but to our surprise there was a market on so we had a walk around. Continue reading “France Argeles Sur Mer August 2018 part 2”
France-Argeles Sur Mer August 2018 part 1
So it finally arrived departure day!
Monday 6th August…. Yeah strange day to go. As it happens rather fortuitous, you see the weekend was the French Exodus…. Black Friday when it seems that every Frenchman and his dog hit the road. So we missed that. All thanks to our Niece deciding to get married on the day we would usually leave for France.
Continue reading “France-Argeles Sur Mer August 2018 part 1”
Almost Time! South Of France
It’s almost time for our “Big Holiday” and this year is bigger than usual.
We are off to exactly the same place as last year but this time for longer.
I’d normally have updated you with all the exciting planning etc…. however this year we are kind of “winging it”. Yeah Right!!! Continue reading “Almost Time! South Of France”
2nd Attempt. A Night away
So the other week we didn’t get to spend the whole night at our hotel. However as we currently have a house guest in the form of Halys’ sister visiting from Australia specifically to lend a hand and help to make some decisions regarding their dad and his care we decided to try to grab a whole night.
We booked the feature suite at the McDonald Lymm Hotel. We booked a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast package. Continue reading “2nd Attempt. A Night away”
5 Star Evening of Luxury
So It’s the Management’s Birthday today and as usual I had no idea what to buy her. The only idea I did have I passed onto the kids as they were also clueless!
So I booked Hotel Gotham Manchester a bespoke 5* Hotel in Manchester and not a Batman nor a Robin in sight. Continue reading “5 Star Evening of Luxury”
Lille, France, without the caravan!
So May bank holiday weekend plans were made with our Non camping friends Trevor and Jeanette, yes they are a bit strange but our friends never the less.
We have done a couple of these trips in the past, the usual itinerary is similar to
- Drive to Dover overnight
- Early morning ferry
- Drive to destination
- Fill boot with booze
- Eat Drink & Be Merry
- Home on Bank Holiday
Update
I thought it was about time I gave you a little update.
So far this year we have managed to squeeze in 3 camping trips, 2 hotel stays and a trip to France. Not bad eh?
The first 2 DA camps that we intended to go on didn’t happen. The Valentines meet was cancelled and the next one was limited space due to a misunderstanding and waterlogged pitches. So we booked direct club sites and went it alone. We visited Chester Fairoaks C&M Club site and Burrs Country Park C&M Club site. Continue reading “Update”
Speed Limits Are Changing on 400,000km of French Roads
From 1st July 2018 Speed limits are changing from 90Km/h(56mp/h) to 80Km/h(50mp/h)
Needless to say, The French don’t seem too impressed.
Here is an article in the Guardian with more details
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/france-cuts-speed-limit-rise-deaths
And More from the RAC
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad/speed-limits-in-france/
The change applies only to the French version of our A & B roads it does not apply to Motorways which have a higher limit of either 110 or 130 Km/h and roads in towns which have a lower limit.
This even though it’s only a 6mph difference will will significantly increase travel times over the vast distances of French countryside.
The change is being introduced to improve road safety and you can bet that the French Police will revel in the chance to hand out a few more fines. Remember speeding fines are an on the spot fine for foreign motorists and could see a return to the days when us foreign truckers used to have to carry as much cash as you could, to pay the fines that at one time you were guaranteed to receive.
So watch your speed in France this summer. If your car has cruise control and or a speed limiter use it! It only takes a small lapse and it could well get expensive!
It’s not going to stop us heading to our favourite campsite in the far South.
Snowdonia Ultimate 3 in 1 Coat Product Review
Being campers in the UK means 2 things. You WILL GET WET! You WILL GET COLD!
These are 2 inescapable facts, so to combat this we campers go in search of things to combat these facts. Namely warm and dry clothing, also heat and alcohol work too but this is a review of a coat!
In the summer I needed a lightweight waterproof coat as yes it does rain in summer, especially in the Both West, so I spent the amazing sum of £120 of my very own pounds on a Helly Hansen Vancouver jacket, and I was very impressed. It did exactly what it said in the label.
So along comes winter and I realise that my old 3 in 1 Coat is looking a bit shabby and could do with reproofing. I washed itinerary the required technical washing solutions but it still didn’t look too great it was however waterproof again.
Time for a new winter coat.
Now I am not exactly small in stature or in girth so off I went to Jacamo website where I found some coats in my size all claiming to be warm and waterproof.
I ordered 2 to try a Helly Hansen and a Colombia at almost £200 each!
They both got sent back. The Helly Hanson was too short and the Columbia was too big but it was promising. However no smaller size was available.
Enter the Snowdonia Ultimate 3 in 1. Most of these jackets have a waterproof outer and a fleece zipped inside. This has a down type padded jacket zipped inside and was only £100. What had I to loose. I knew the coats were ok as my old 3 in 1 was a Snowdonia too.
It arrived and I tried it on in the kitchen over a t shirt. In 2 minutes I had to take it off I was boiling!
The inner and outer come down long enough at the back to keep my bum warm and the outer material feels good quality. I decided this was the keeper.
It’s billed as waterproof, windproof, breathable and warm. Windproof, waterproof and warm I can concur as that very night was blowing a gale and lashing it down so I wore it to go to my gig. I never even noticed the wind and the rain didn’t bother it at all. The inner jacket collar comes all the way up inside the outer jacket collar and is padded all the way to keep your neck nice and cosy.
This is a fab coat available in sizes up to 5xl so an average family of 4 could probably camp in it quite comfortably.
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