South of France - Really Quiet

[bobnick]

Never, never ever am i going to put a wheel in Belgium again. Flippin hole.

 

[BikerGraham]

O

Never, never ever am i going to put a wheel in Belgium again. Flippin hole.

Oh dear Bob

But agree, our experience of Belgium roads is that they are far worse than ours. Some say otherwise but not in our experience. Utterly appalling

 

[bobnick]

O

Oh dear Bob

But agree, our experience of Belgium roads is that they are far worse than ours. Some say otherwise but not in our experience. Utterly appalling

I was here about 5 ish years ago and vowed i would never come back. Traffic jams, hold ups, temporary lights, bad roads, worse than bloody UK..if you can believe that.

 

[Paul Wilkins]

O

Oh dear Bob

But agree, our experience of Belgium roads is that they are far worse than ours. Some say otherwise but not in our experience. Utterly appalling

Belgian Roads .... best in the world... LOL

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Worse than the UK, every time I go on them it trips the gas crash valve never have this issue anywhere else
After spending a week or so in Switzerland it’s going to be a nightmare going to Belgium again

If you think the main roads are bad in June I came back non motorway as fancied a steady drive was like riding a motorcross bike across a ploughed field

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jongood]

Never, never ever am i going to put a wheel in Belgium again. Flippin hole.

they're a lot better than they used to be, yes really!!

 

[Paul Wilkins]

Worse than the UK, every time I go on them it trips the gas crash valve never have this issue anywhere else
After spending a week or so in Switzerland it’s going to be a nightmare going to Belgium again

If you think the main roads are bad in June I came back non motorway as fancied a steady drive was like riding a motorcross bike across a ploughed field

Have you ever tried the R2 North Antwerp bypass? I seriously thought I was going to lose the rear out of the motorhome. Considering its a toll-road its an absolute s#itshower.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Have you ever tried the R2 North Antwerp bypass? I seriously thought I was going to loose the rear out of the motorhome. Considering its a toll-road its an absolute s#itshower.

Don’t think I’ve been on that one yet, but any road that makes a 7.5t van jump in the air is definitely bad.

 

[Dorwyn]

The campsite at Chartres is so dodgy I've never fancied leaving the van unattended for a whole day, so haven't walked into town. You find dodgy vendors of odd items appearing out of the trees and melting back. Quite unsettling. Plus more than once had to park on the access road because of the boggy ground. Not this year, mind.

 

[BikerGraham]

Wow sound like a totally different site to the one I am on right now

Amazing how ones experiences differ

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scousebird]

One of my favourite cathedrals….

We preferred Chartres to Notre Dame

 

[scousebird]

The campsite at Chartres is so dodgy I've never fancied leaving the van unattended for a whole day, so haven't walked into town. You find dodgy vendors of odd items appearing out of the trees and melting back. Quite unsettling. Plus more than once had to park on the access road because of the boggy ground. Not this year, mind.

When we stayed at the Municipal site at Chartres it was extremely wet but they kept letting the outfits in. We found a spot on one of the roads in front of a Dutch caravan.

 

[BikerGraham]

We preferred Chartres to Notre Dame

It’s beautiful. But have to admit my favourite is Cologne. Absolutely breathtaking

 

[Bucket]

I used to buy 3L Roche Mazet Red wine for 9 euros. Really good. £8 / £9 per bottle taste (to me anyway).
I see you can get 3L of Rose for 11 Euros. Still pretty good. No idea wha it tastes like of course.

Diesel prices are high anyway because of this net zero shambles and Les Francais seem to milking it a bit further still.
In about 2015 (I think) we used to get diesel in N. France at 1.05 euro. It's crazy now.

That's also our brand of choice. It's currently €10.50 shelf price but they're all doing the late summer wine push and we saw it at 20% off in Intermarche yesterday. But you do need their carte de fidelity to get it

 

[our poppy 5]

When we stayed at the Municipal site at Chartres it was extremely wet but they kept letting the outfits in. We found a spot on one of the roads in front of a Dutch caravan.

Is the municiple close to the Cathedral?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bellabee]

Is the municiple close to the Cathedral?

Sorry, it isn't. We used our bikes, but I'd guess it's about a 30 min walk, through the park and then up a steepish hill. Probably not suitable to anyone with walking difficulties.
The evening light show in Chartres is well worth seeing, but I wouldn't be keen on the walk back to the campsite through the park after dark.
Maybe a taxi would be a possibility.

 

[Coolcats]

wasn’t when I left the UK in May,it was £1.48.

Yup but as you say that was May…..

Petrol prices and diesel prices in the UK | Latest fuel data from the RAC | RAC Drive

Find the latest UK petrol and diesel prices. Read fuel price reports and see current supermarket fuel prices and forecourt petrol and diesel prices.

www.rac.co.uk

 

[bobnick]

We are on P2 Stellplaza? almost by one of the gates into Rothenburg thingy.
God they know how to pack em in
Got a picture but no electricity to charge my pc (don't know how to in the van)
Been looking for a site with leccy, no change...........or a elsan point....it' kin hard work and we are not liking it.
Hopefully we can find a site in Landau or near to charge up and dump out.
Will revert.

 

[BikerGraham]

We are on P2 Stellplaza? almost by one of the gates into Rothenburg thingy.
God they know how to pack em in
Got a picture but no electricity to charge my pc (don't know how to in the van)
Been looking for a site with leccy, no change...........or a elsan point....it' kin hard work and we are not liking it.
Hopefully we can find a site in Landau or near to charge up and dump out.
Will revert.

Hi Bob
I have a relatively small 300w pure sine wave inverter that I plug into the 12v tv socket for the computer.

Got it just for that but handy for other things. I need the computer for work so use it often when away with the van.

Never been an issue with the van batteries. The 100w solar panel isn’t that big but does the job intro he two 105 amp hour lead acid batteries.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Currently staying at Camping Venice verte near Coulon, took a bike ride upto Niort today, and when we got there there were gendarms blocking all routes into the centre square with vans some armed with machine guns, thought it might be a terrorist attack turned out it was a CGT union rally

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bobnick]

Hi Bob
I have a relatively small 300w pure sine wave inverter that I plug into the 12v tv socket for the computer.

Got it just for that but handy for other things. I need the computer for work so use it often when away with the van.

Never been an issue with the van batteries. The 100w solar panel isn’t that big but does the job intro he two 105 amp hour lead acid batteries.

Just got leccy in Brigenz.
I have a NOCO booster thing. A chap on site yesterday said i need a 12v battery charger for a lap top, i can then run the PC from that?
I really don't understand this malarkey.

 

[bobnick]

Deleted, don't know what i am doing.

 

[BikerGraham]

Just got leccy in Brigenz.
I have a NOCO booster thing. A chap on site yesterday said i need a 12v battery charger for a lap top, i can then run the PC from that?
I really don't understand this malarkey.

Yep
got one of them too just in case I need to jump start the van or even the car when back home after being away. Also handy as a good power bank.

Some get a 12v lead for their computer. Depends what they have. I use a surface pro so the lead would only work for the computer.

As I said earlier I use one of these. It adds to overall versatility also. Think it was only about £30 off Amazon. Works a treat.

 

[jongood]

Currently staying at Camping Venice verte near Coulon, took a bike ride upto Niort today, and when we got there there were gendarms blocking all routes into the centre square with vans some armed with machine guns, thought it might be a terrorist attack turned out it was a CGT union rally

View attachment 806009

Fuel protest? Lotd of french unhappy with the fuel prices, could well see the return of the gilets jaune

 

[Harrogate motorhomer]

The campsite at Chartres is so dodgy I've never fancied leaving the van unattended for a whole day, so haven't walked into town. You find dodgy vendors of odd items appearing out of the trees and melting back. Quite unsettling. Plus more than once had to park on the access road because of the boggy ground. Not this year, mind.

Chartres , never again , from the surly welcome to the mud bath pitches when it rains! Been 3 times & not liked it once. Last time would have been stuck if not for 3 helpful Dutch blokes. Also get rid of the Turkish toilets it’s 2023 not 1963!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pelican]

The campsite at Chartres is so dodgy I've never fancied leaving the van unattended for a whole day, so haven't walked into town. You find dodgy vendors of odd items appearing out of the trees and melting back. Quite unsettling. Plus more than once had to park on the access road because of the boggy ground. Not this year, mind.

Yes it has that certain Aire about it.