South of France - Really Quiet

[RedFrame]

Since entering Le Frances on Saturday we've noticed that the Aires and P4N places are quieter than usual.

That's what i was thinking. We see all the quoted lower prices but i can almost guarantee when we are running south east on wednesday we will be paying €2 +
Planning to avoid M/ways and Tolls just to see a bit of the rural/semi rural side of things for a change.

Anyone at Gravelines Tuesday evening? come say hello, honestly i don't bite...............she might but.

Get yerself a Garmin Camper, it has an "Up-Ahead" function. Put "Petrol Station" in as one of the Three options and it will find stations "just off" the main roads and motorway that are far, far cheaper. For example, yesterday we were comming down the N10, I don't think we saw less than €1.99 for diesel. At 150Km to empty, switched on "Up-Ahead" and found a station 1Km off the route at €1.79.... A €12 saving on topping off the tank, as they say, "Every Little Helps"

Sadly for the tourist trade the south has been very quiet this year. Great for us residents in the northern hills behind Narbonne, Thé Hautes Corbières is a beautiful area, never far from lake or river swimming. Lived here for nearly 30 years and this year has been the quietest ever. So so quiet since the 15 August the traditional mad return from holidays for the French, and all the publicity for La Rentrée - the return to school.
We are about to have another heatwave and Indian summer so still time to head down here. Not dared to compare diesel prices but we grow our own veg and shop from local farmers cooperatives/markets as much as possible, and this has remained reasonable. We heard from visitors that entry fees to various attractions down here had increased dramatically, and any eateries nearby were more expensive.
I hope this does not kill tourism completely in this area.

We are heading your way, slowly, are you saying that food/Camping is cheap in your area? How is "Wild Camping" received? We'd love to visit ❤

Cheers
Red, Chris and Bannock (On Tour)

 

[bobnick]

Since entering Le Frances on Saturday we've noticed that the Aires and P4N places are quieter than usual.



Get yerself a Garmin Camper, it has an "Up-Ahead" function. Put "Petrol Station" in as one of the Three options and it will find stations "just off" the main roads and motorway that are far, far cheaper. For example, yesterday we were comming down the N10, I don't think we saw less than €1.99 for diesel. At 150Km to empty, switched on "Up-Ahead" and found a station 1Km off the route at €1.79.... A €12 saving on topping off the tank, as they say, "Every Little Helps"




We are heading your way, slowly, are you saying that food/Camping is cheap in your area? How is "Wild Camping" received? We'd love to visit ❤

Cheers
Red, Chris and Bannock (On Tour)

I have a Garmen with those features. The only one i've used is MH size to keep me off lanes too small for the size of the van. I think it works.

 

[our poppy 5]

I thought the same on the DVLA sharing data, however last year I was flashed at over 100kph in a 80kph zone on Calais and no ticket arrived!! So what is the position??

It took 2 years for my 3 x €45.00 fines to arrive at my UK house. I was in my BMW it can hit 135 mph without any difficulty, I was on the dual carriage way heading to the Tunnel at Rouen when I got hit twice, again twice heading to Chartres, then as I left Clermont Ferrand I was hit by 3 cameras at 110mph in a 110kph zone, I got hit twice on the motorway heading from Carcassonne towards Perpignan and I got a motorway sign come up across the lane just before the hill by the Catalan services towards La Jonquera showing my Reg and Speed as I got my last flash 205kph (128 mph) in a 100kph zone! . But only 3 fines out of 10 flashes. Sometimes it could be that they don’t think it’s worth it for €45 or there was no film, or the reg was not clear..
anyway the 3 fines came through and I paid them.

I stopped speeding in Europe after that. Now I never speed anywhere, it’s more fun having the time to look around and chill out than hitting speed, the MH does that, throttling along at 45-50 taking it all in, chillin, stopping when and wherever you want, having a cuppa or if a little tired, a 40wink shuteye. Ahhh the only way is the Motorhome way…

 

[Jeff one]

Travelling around Ireland in the basking sunshine, very expensive but full of happy people

 

[Barchetta47]

It took 2 years for my 3 x €45.00 fines to arrive at my UK house. I was in my BMW it can hit 135 mph without any difficulty, I was on the dual carriage way heading to the Tunnel at Rouen when I got hit twice, again twice heading to Chartres, then as I left Clermont Ferrand I was hit by 3 cameras at 110mph in a 110kph zone, I got hit twice on the motorway heading from Carcassonne towards Perpignan and I got a motorway sign come up across the lane just before the hill by the Catalan services towards La Jonquera showing my Reg and Speed as I got my last flash 205kph (128 mph) in a 100kph zone! . But only 3 fines out of 10 flashes. Sometimes it could be that they don’t think it’s worth it for €45 or there was no film, or the reg was not clear..
anyway the 3 fines came through and I paid them.

I stopped speeding in Europe after that. Now I never speed anywhere, it’s more fun having the time to look around and chill out than hitting speed, the MH does that, throttling along at 45-50 taking it all in, chillin, stopping when and wherever you want, having a cuppa or if a little tired, a 40wink shuteye. Ahhh the only way is the Motorhome way…

I was not advocating speeding I had just missed the 80kph sign! I was just contrasting it to 2019 before Brexit when I missed a 30kph sign in the MH and got a ticket inside 2 weeks.

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[Paul Wilkins]

I think you may be wrong there, Mrs May signed the agreement for European law enforcement to access the DVLA data base to get the address of a vehicle owner. In fact it goes further, the UK police have the ability to report to European police an attempted break in to a UK residents foreign property. Recently I used this service, I called 112 and received a 999 answer, they called Quesada Police at Rojales and reported a couple of burglars in my yard who damaged my cameras, I have also just checked www.gov.uk and the site says dvla sharing it’s still in force, which is what I thought was the case. Sorry to disagree with you, I would have loved it to have ended, then I would stop being fined €45.00 everytime I hit 100mph in a 90kph zone!!..

UK drivers to escape EU speed camera fines due to Brexit | Auto Express

UK’s departure from the European Union puts an end to cross-border directive, leaving EU countries unable to enforce speeding penalties for drivers caught on speed cameras

www.autoexpress.co.uk

No need to apologise.. Take a look at the article above...

 

[Abgs]

Aix les Bains was busy yesterday, the Camping Car aire was nearly full, but have moved up to Alpe d‘Huez for a bit of serious Mountain bike riding today and it’s like a ghost town. I guess everyone went home last weekend.

No uplifts running so I’m peddling to the tops - glad I brought the e-bike!

 

[Paul Wilkins]

I know its not South of France, but we're off to Ill de rae on Monday.. hope its quiet LOL

 

[Harrogate motorhomer]

I know its not South of France, but we're off to Ill de rae on Monday.. hope its quiet LOL

Well if it is you’ll have managed to transport yourself back to around 2013 which is the last time we saw it quieter & we’ve been a lot! Irrespective it’s a great place & quieter bits can be found, enjoy.

 

[BikerGraham]

I know its not South of France, but we're off to Ill de rae on Monday.. hope its quiet LOL

Don’t know about there but the Loire region and around Tours, Saumur etc is still fairly busy.
We at Vouvray and the site is full. Turning away about 15 plus vans today.

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[andyman]

We were at the aire in Le Treport last night, it was full. Tonight at Fort Mahon and its full. Never known it this busy in September

 

[mondo]

It took 2 years for my 3 x €45.00 fines to arrive at my UK house. I was in my BMW it can hit 135 mph without any difficulty, I was on the dual carriage way heading to the Tunnel at Rouen when I got hit twice, again twice heading to Chartres, then as I left Clermont Ferrand I was hit by 3 cameras at 110mph in a 110kph zone, I got hit twice on the motorway heading from Carcassonne towards Perpignan and I got a motorway sign come up across the lane just before the hill by the Catalan services towards La Jonquera showing my Reg and Speed as I got my last flash 205kph (128 mph) in a 100kph zone! . But only 3 fines out of 10 flashes. Sometimes it could be that they don’t think it’s worth it for €45 or there was no film, or the reg was not clear..
anyway the 3 fines came through and I paid them.

I stopped speeding in Europe after that. Now I never speed anywhere, it’s more fun having the time to look around and chill out than hitting speed, the MH does that, throttling along at 45-50 taking it all in, chillin, stopping when and wherever you want, having a cuppa or if a little tired, a 40wink shuteye. Ahhh the only way is the Motorhome way…

Serial speed freak then..

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Still on a lovely site on Lake Lucern, half full now after the weekend rush and nice and quiet due to kids gone back also just the sound of the cleaning ladies rattling trolley going past us at 6.30am

 

[Suenliam]

I was surprised the campsite at Chinon was almost full last night after a big clearout on Sunday.
Sue

 

[Carpmart]

Based on the volume of MoHo’s at the tunnel yesterday (absolute carnage it was!) I don’t think you’ll be missing the Brits in France this autumn… seems like grandparent duties were over with kids back to school and a Mahoosive ‘wildebeest’ exodus happened…

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[jongood]

I have done a detailed itin so we could confirm now to make sure we are there on the given date.
We have been to Switzerland and adjoining countrys many times. This will be the first time we have taken a car with us behind the MH, we like the convenience. Also driven lot's of passes' including Stelvio a few times but alway's looking for new ones.
This time on the way to Bled we will be doing the Grosslockner (parking up and taking the car up and over and back). I did it awhile ago but the visability was terrible.
Thanks for the tips on sites near Jungfrau.

Grossglockner is easy enough in a MH, 2 lanes the whole way if I remember correctly.

 

[jongood]

They got me on the A 16 because the Concorde triggered the camera.Fine came through ,so DVLA must still be assisting !!

Do you have crit d'air?

 

[Kups]

We were at the aire in Le Treport last night, it was full. Tonight at Fort Mahon and its full. Never known it this busy in September

Honfleur is its usual self - full. The new barrier entry system seems to have put off quite a few FLTs who we saw turn round after seeing the barrier. Some still parked anywhere outside just to save the fee.

 

[jongood]

Is anyone in Perigord area? Just wondering what the weather is like? looks warm, any breeze about?

Very pleasant here at La Mailleraye, and not very full

Berck was packed both nights but then a lot of early morning departures (before the police turned up to collect the money)

 

[scousebird]

Honfleur is its usual self - full. The new barrier entry system seems to have put off quite a few FLTs who we saw turn round after seeing the barrier. Some still parked anywhere outside just to save the fee.

We saw the police moving people on from outside the aire last time we were there.

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[suavecarve]

I know its not South of France, but we're off to Ill de rae on Monday.. hope its quiet LOL

Outside of st Martin's it was ok. Rammed in there.

2 days ago
Journal entry 'South of Ile de Re' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/south-of-ile-de-re.346/

Journal entry 'North part of Ile de Re' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/north-part-of-ile-de-re.340/

Journal entry 'St Martin de Re' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/st-martin-de-re.338/

 

[andyman]

Honfleur is its usual self - full. The new barrier entry system seems to have put off quite a few FLTs who we saw turn round after seeing the barrier. Some still parked anywhere outside just to save the fee.

We drove past the aire in the centre of Le Treport on Saturday. They were parked anywhere and everywhere outside thr aire.

 

[bobnick]

Based on the volume of MoHo’s at the tunnel yesterday (absolute carnage it was!) I don’t think you’ll be missing the Brits in France this autumn… seems like grandparent duties were over with kids back to school and a Mahoosive ‘wildebeest’ exodus happened…

We were at the tunnel yesterday at about 2pm for 2.55 train. Yes it was busy and we were 20 mins late going.

 

[Carpmart]

We were at the tunnel yesterday at about 2pm for 2.55 train. Yes it was busy and we were 20 mins late going.

4hr delay for us on Monday…. Hey Ho!

 

[rod_vw]

4hr delay for us on Monday…. Hey Ho!

Did you put in a claim?
We were delayed three hours three weeks ago and I put in a claim immediately and had a £90 voucher valid for 12 months against a future crossing.
Proves it's always worth complaining about poor service.

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[cyberyacht]

Still better than a three day delay at LHR

 

[bellabee]

Libellula We're heading to the south of France in a couple of weeks' time. Do you have any personal recommendations in your area please?

 

[gus-lopez]

Then what would you survive on?

I don't worry about things like that. principal is the main point.

Doesn't matter if they 'flash' you or not. Since B R E X I T the EU can't trace your address to send the fine because we no longer have an 'agreement' Had to be one benefit.

Unless of course you have a crit air sticker & so have furnished them with your info?
Or even a Dart charge account as french management do the same when asked .Not legal either

How could they prove that you were the owner/registered keeper when the aledged offence was committed? The vehicle could have changed ownership or even could have been on hire.

they could look at the "last keeper change" date on the V5 original you are required to carry

 

[BikerGraham]

Been into Chartres today. Had a lovely walk around the town and of course the magnificent cathedral.

Then a wonderful typical French lunch (menu de jour) i.e. long with some good wine.

To us this is what we love about this country and why we’ve been holidaying here for over 20 years.

Mind you it was very quiet.

Weather fantastic at around 33 C and very sunny.

13000 steps which will no doubt just about cover the bread

 

[Just smiffy]

Been into Chartres today. Had a lovely walk around the town and of course the magnificent cathedral.

Then a wonderful typical French lunch (menu de jour) i.e. long with some good wine.

To us this is what we love about this country and why we’ve been holidaying here for over 20 years.

Mind you it was very quiet.

Weather fantastic at around 33 C and very sunny.

13000 steps which will no doubt just about cover the bread

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One of my favourite cathedrals….

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