Internet connection iffy so can't update blog at present. Thought I would post this on here
The traffic in Nimes is bad, and the road system quite tricky, so I held off leaving until the traffic was lighter, which meant starting out about about eleven pm. Even the cars in the carpark hadn't cleared until just before then.
I set the Broken Link Removed for a pretty village the mountains and the spectacular Millau bridge and also set it to avoid the motorway, as I thought we could maybe pull up in a picnic area or layby for a few hours, then start out again early morning, and I knew the motorway rest areas were not to be trusted.
After a hour or so of travelling we had been through many sleeping villages, but found nowhere obvious to stop. The road we were on was now a main one, and in the dark we hit complicated roadworks. Strict Lady seems a bit delayed with her instructions here in France, often telling me where I should have gone just after I have already gone and done it. And so it was here. The road swept round in a wide circle of blinking orange traffic cones and blinding workman’s arc lamps, then suddenly we were between high walls with a sign ‘Peage' (Toll Motorway) And not only that we were heading south again. Booooo…….
Once on the motorway of course there seemed to be no way of setting the sat nave to avoid toll roads, so once we had turned round so I was at least heading in the right direction I drove on thinking at least it was easy driving. But I had another problem.
On arriving in Nimes I was getting short of LPG and although I saw several stations selling it, and at good prices - they were on the opposite side of the road and the dual carriageway system made it impossible to cross over. Never mind I would fill up the next day!
Of course when I left Nimes that night most of the stations had already shut and those that were open just had automatic pumps, and the LPG pump was not one of them. So I thought it might be an advantage being on the motorway system as the filling stations would be open 24/7. Wrong again!
Not only were there just automated pumps open at most of them, but even worse - for some reason the filling stations I visited all had 3.5m height restrictions (Thebus is 3.65) and the lorry entrances only led to diesel pumps. After stopping at three or four without success, and the time now approaching one a.m. the fact that I had stayed awake the previous night was beginning to tell. Plus I wasn't sure how much further I could go on my petrol reserves, and didn't want to run out on the motorway, or even on a country road if I exited it.
Now my researches had made me well aware of the risks of parking at motorway aires so I tried to be careful. Most of the Aires where there would be food in the mornings were so TOTALLY jammed with HGV’s in every conceivable stopping place, plus some where they patently should not have stopped, I had no chance of getting in there, plus I judged those might be the riskiest places as thieves would have richer pickings.
Perhaps the one I choose to stop at was nearly empty for a reason. Anyway I selected my spot. Stopping in as well lit an area as I could, and not too far from the loos where cars were pulling in fairly frequently. Of course that might have been just the wrong thing to do? I am not quite sure and will hesitate to make further researches.
So having parked where I deemed safest I checked the door locks were on, locked the sliding windows and set the alarm, though of course it has to be disabled for internal movement because of Phoebe and me.
Now bear in mind that I was tired, and that I had gone through several toll booths which involved opening the sliding window on the driver’s side. In retrospect I think what I had done was not fully shut the driver’s window after a toll both, then when I flipped the lock - which felt tight though it did turn - it had not fully engaged, so the window was able to be pushed open.
Anyway about an hour after I arrived (which makes one think there is someone waiting and judging when a tired driver is sound asleep) I was woken by Phoebe, who though not actually barking (she is still a friendly puppy) made enough noise to rouse me. I had deliberately left my bedroom door open and fastened her travelling leash, so she was in her bed to listen at that end of Thebus, but I would hear her easily. Of course I was amazed to see the window open, but in my sleepiness thought I must have forgotten to close it. I told her she was good guarding girl and went back to bed. Obviously closing and locking the window first.
Next day I still didn't realised I had been robbed until I came to look for something I kept in my computer bag. The bag wasn’t there! First I imagined I had moved it elsewhere but soon realised I never move it. I had chosen the place I keep it as supposedly being safe, in that it was the beside the driver’s seat on the farthest side from the door. So I imagined reasonable secure from opportunistic sneak thieves. That not being the case if the window is opened. They must have simply climbed up on the wheel leaned in and taken it. Next day I found my camera was under the seat, so they may have been reaching over for other stuff when Phoebe made enough noise to rouse me and they made off.
Without a dog with me I feel sure they would have climbed in and made off with far more. Very fortunately for me I hadn't put my prized Apple MacBook Pro back in its traveling bag, but they did get some expensive and nearly brand new apple storage devices, my Dodgy Link Removed and whatever else I have not missed yet.
It could have been so much worse! I have recently taken to hanging my handbag on the far side of the driver’s seat for the same safety reasons. Had that been there then my credit cards, money, phone etc would all have been gone. Disaster!
If anybody has travelling safety hints and tips I would be most grateful to hear from you
I am hoping that soon Little Miss Phoebe will be like her namesake who would have bounded at the window with her bark which was loud and deep enough to frighten anybody, and Great Danes being a guarding breed may have even bitten. I would like to think so anyway.
The traffic in Nimes is bad, and the road system quite tricky, so I held off leaving until the traffic was lighter, which meant starting out about about eleven pm. Even the cars in the carpark hadn't cleared until just before then.
I set the Broken Link Removed for a pretty village the mountains and the spectacular Millau bridge and also set it to avoid the motorway, as I thought we could maybe pull up in a picnic area or layby for a few hours, then start out again early morning, and I knew the motorway rest areas were not to be trusted.
After a hour or so of travelling we had been through many sleeping villages, but found nowhere obvious to stop. The road we were on was now a main one, and in the dark we hit complicated roadworks. Strict Lady seems a bit delayed with her instructions here in France, often telling me where I should have gone just after I have already gone and done it. And so it was here. The road swept round in a wide circle of blinking orange traffic cones and blinding workman’s arc lamps, then suddenly we were between high walls with a sign ‘Peage' (Toll Motorway) And not only that we were heading south again. Booooo…….
Once on the motorway of course there seemed to be no way of setting the sat nave to avoid toll roads, so once we had turned round so I was at least heading in the right direction I drove on thinking at least it was easy driving. But I had another problem.
On arriving in Nimes I was getting short of LPG and although I saw several stations selling it, and at good prices - they were on the opposite side of the road and the dual carriageway system made it impossible to cross over. Never mind I would fill up the next day!
Of course when I left Nimes that night most of the stations had already shut and those that were open just had automatic pumps, and the LPG pump was not one of them. So I thought it might be an advantage being on the motorway system as the filling stations would be open 24/7. Wrong again!
Not only were there just automated pumps open at most of them, but even worse - for some reason the filling stations I visited all had 3.5m height restrictions (Thebus is 3.65) and the lorry entrances only led to diesel pumps. After stopping at three or four without success, and the time now approaching one a.m. the fact that I had stayed awake the previous night was beginning to tell. Plus I wasn't sure how much further I could go on my petrol reserves, and didn't want to run out on the motorway, or even on a country road if I exited it.
Now my researches had made me well aware of the risks of parking at motorway aires so I tried to be careful. Most of the Aires where there would be food in the mornings were so TOTALLY jammed with HGV’s in every conceivable stopping place, plus some where they patently should not have stopped, I had no chance of getting in there, plus I judged those might be the riskiest places as thieves would have richer pickings.
Perhaps the one I choose to stop at was nearly empty for a reason. Anyway I selected my spot. Stopping in as well lit an area as I could, and not too far from the loos where cars were pulling in fairly frequently. Of course that might have been just the wrong thing to do? I am not quite sure and will hesitate to make further researches.
So having parked where I deemed safest I checked the door locks were on, locked the sliding windows and set the alarm, though of course it has to be disabled for internal movement because of Phoebe and me.
Now bear in mind that I was tired, and that I had gone through several toll booths which involved opening the sliding window on the driver’s side. In retrospect I think what I had done was not fully shut the driver’s window after a toll both, then when I flipped the lock - which felt tight though it did turn - it had not fully engaged, so the window was able to be pushed open.
Anyway about an hour after I arrived (which makes one think there is someone waiting and judging when a tired driver is sound asleep) I was woken by Phoebe, who though not actually barking (she is still a friendly puppy) made enough noise to rouse me. I had deliberately left my bedroom door open and fastened her travelling leash, so she was in her bed to listen at that end of Thebus, but I would hear her easily. Of course I was amazed to see the window open, but in my sleepiness thought I must have forgotten to close it. I told her she was good guarding girl and went back to bed. Obviously closing and locking the window first.
Next day I still didn't realised I had been robbed until I came to look for something I kept in my computer bag. The bag wasn’t there! First I imagined I had moved it elsewhere but soon realised I never move it. I had chosen the place I keep it as supposedly being safe, in that it was the beside the driver’s seat on the farthest side from the door. So I imagined reasonable secure from opportunistic sneak thieves. That not being the case if the window is opened. They must have simply climbed up on the wheel leaned in and taken it. Next day I found my camera was under the seat, so they may have been reaching over for other stuff when Phoebe made enough noise to rouse me and they made off.
Without a dog with me I feel sure they would have climbed in and made off with far more. Very fortunately for me I hadn't put my prized Apple MacBook Pro back in its traveling bag, but they did get some expensive and nearly brand new apple storage devices, my Dodgy Link Removed and whatever else I have not missed yet.
It could have been so much worse! I have recently taken to hanging my handbag on the far side of the driver’s seat for the same safety reasons. Had that been there then my credit cards, money, phone etc would all have been gone. Disaster!
If anybody has travelling safety hints and tips I would be most grateful to hear from you
I am hoping that soon Little Miss Phoebe will be like her namesake who would have bounded at the window with her bark which was loud and deep enough to frighten anybody, and Great Danes being a guarding breed may have even bitten. I would like to think so anyway.