Too-Close Neighbours!

[Dwarfland]

We’ve been on the road for 6 weeks and have travelled through Spain and Portugal, now in Central France. We’ve used free sites from Park4Night on all but a handful of nights and have stayed in some memorable (and a few forgettable!) places.
We’re now parked in woodland on the banks of the Loire, it’s 7pm and we’re waiting to meet the new neighbours. There’s easily room for another 10 or so motorhomes and we have a big space either side of us. We know though, that pound-to-a-penny, someone is going to park RIGHT next to us! We’ve had it in huge car parks, where we were the only m/h. Another has arrived and homed in on us so there are two of us parked next to each other in a bloody enormous car park! Why do people do this?? The other night we had a French family reverse to within a foot of us, so we were aligned in a bizarre L shape. The best was a German family who ignored numerous spaces where they could have been away from other vans, parked right next to us and got out chairs and tables so they were literally sitting under our open bathroom window. The wife didn’t dare go to the toilet!

I know sometimes it’s unavoidable to be up close and personal, but a genuine question (maybe some on here do it too)- why do people like to form campervan ‘clusters’ when there’s no need?

 

[irnbru]

Maybe they are inexperienced at wilding and feel safer beside someone else, especially single folk.

 

[tribalbrit]

Same as the Spaniards do on a deserted beach. Sorry dont know why.

 

[Grianan]

Maybe they assume that you’ve parked where you have for a reason ... that it is a special spot and they want the best place too.

 

[pappajohn]

Have your radio tuned to a really noisy heavy rock or garage type channel and when a van appears to be invading your space whack the volume up full..... They'll move.

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[Chris]

These foreign types don’t have the personal space issues that us British have.

 

[tacr2man]

Found just the opposite when I had the Yanky RV , no one came near , maybe they felt intimidated , or maybe they didn't want to be in the shadow

 

[BossHog]

Not just the euro contingent, had to ask these to move over last weekend as when they first parked up beside us we couldn't even open the window ! That's as much as they moved on a 40 acre plot.....
( we are on the right side)

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Maybe we've all been brought up on too many cowboy and indian movies and know that at night you have to circle the wagons?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We’ve been on the road for 6 weeks and have travelled through Spain and Portugal, now in Central France. We’ve used free sites from Park4Night on all but a handful of nights and have stayed in some memorable (and a few forgettable!) places.
We’re now parked in woodland on the banks of the Loire, it’s 7pm and we’re waiting to meet the new neighbours. There’s easily room for another 10 or so motorhomes and we have a big space either side of us. We know though, that pound-to-a-penny, someone is going to park RIGHT next to us! We’ve had it in huge car parks, where we were the only m/h. Another has arrived and homed in on us so there are two of us parked next to each other in a bloody enormous car park! Why do people do this?? The other night we had a French family reverse to within a foot of us, so we were aligned in a bizarre L shape. The best was a German family who ignored numerous spaces where they could have been away from other vans, parked right next to us and got out chairs and tables so they were literally sitting under our open bathroom window. The wife didn’t dare go to the toilet!

I know sometimes it’s unavoidable to be up close and personal, but a genuine question (maybe some on here do it too)- why do people like to form campervan ‘clusters’ when there’s no need?

they are forming an orderly queue, leaving space for the next van and so on, invariably , if they park a van and a half width away from you , some foreigner in a little car will park in between.
been there seen that.

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[Servo]

This French Motorhome fell in love with us we moved so he moved next to us.??

 

[Larrynwin]

Wilding in very close company or the 6m rule in U.K. you takes your choice I guess

 

[GPW]

Most people are sheep and hate being alone. Happens in car parks too with cars, park your car in the middle of nowhere and sure enough there's that sound of a lamb in distress and a car magically appears in the space next to you
I guess the moral is to not unpack to much so you can apologise to the new arrival for being so close and move 'to give them their space'.

 

[davejen]

Just start your engine and leave it ticking over....
Cheers, Dave

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Or get out your generator

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[Jimbohorlicks]

This French Motorhome fell in love with us we moved so he moved next to us.??View attachment 318991

I think the white topped posts are markers for the river boat moorings, looks to be a mooring bollard to the left of you also. don't be surprised if in the morning you wake up with a riverboat as a neighbour tied up in front of you.

 

[GAVLAD]

What you need is a couple of kids bikes leaving out on the floor (dumped) and a football.
It's enough for any right minded owner to take one look and think bugger that, we'll park over there Edna!

I know, because no bugger wants to be near us and I understand why!

 

[Camping Gaza]

Can't win really, there's a post about Aire etiquette complaining about taking up too much room er "pitches" (no pitches on Aires BTW) and leaving too much front and rear space, and now a post about people parking too close.

Come on folks, whats it to be? Lets duel it out...

Pegs at 40 paces I think!

(Get a SOG fitted, NO one will park within 50 feet of you!)

 

[GAVLAD]

Before kids were on mrs Gavlad's mind, we once stayed at a site in Isigny Sur Mer.
We pitched our old VW camper van near the lake and set out our stall/awning etc and was sat enjoying a nice cold drink when two mini vans pulled up. A woman and 5 or 6 kids in each one.
they were staying on the next pitch. What a nightmare. Running across our pitch, playing ball against my van, shouting, arguing, tears - all while the two mums sat and got pissed.
Fortunately, we were off each day sight seeing and only had to tolerate it on an evening.
The final straw for the Mrs was when she went to the loo in the dark and one of the kids had smeared sh!t* over the taps. She wasn't best pleased.

 

[Viennese]

I can start banging my sliding door asap! Most people hate it (don't they Funsters?) so should see them off!

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[lorger]

The best was a German family who ignored numerous spaces where they could have been away from other vans, parked right next to us and got out chairs and tables so they were literally sitting under our open bathroom window. The wife didn’t dare go to the toilet!

Just open the sog and that should do the trick

 

[Southdowners]

I can’t stand it when someone parks too close when there’s absolutely no reason to. We move.

I haven’t been able to find out why the French, in particular, find it necessary to do it... has anyone found the answer!

 

[Clarky]

I think the white topped posts are markers for the river boat moorings, looks to be a mooring bollard to the left of you also. don't be surprised if in the morning you wake up with a riverboat as a neighbour tied up in front of you.

The posts are to mark the separate pitches at La Mailleraye. The mooring bolards are not now used as there is a shelf beside the wall which is hidden by the water at high tide. They are left from the days when it was a busy quay for transporting timber.


One would usually park with your LHS close to the ‘peg’ so you have room to open your door, put your awning and chairs out on the RHS. That, of course, is assuming a continental van. The nearest van in the photo is a Brit van with the door on the ‘wrong’ side.

Before anyone says that one shouldn’t have awnings and chairs out on an aire just remember we are talking about France. Rules? What rules?

Richard

 

[yodeli]

why do people like to form campervan ‘clusters’ when there’s no need?

I just don't get it, but you should do as I (or "we" when JJ is with me) always do: vroom vroom , start engine, leave and go on the other side and when you can, choose a place with a kerb on one side , it divides the problem by 2! Try to have your habitation door on the kerb/edge side.
Why oh why do you stay when it's damn easy to go away. As your pic shows, plenty of room. Mind you I'm French....revolution is in my blood

 

[Servo]

See above they love us,but not enough for door to door (my previous van)

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[DBK]

We've trained* Charlie to recognise people scouting pitches on campsites and aires to bark at them.

Here he is seeing off a lion.

* OK, he trained himself to do this.

 

[TheBig1]

there is a funny but effective solution, walk up to the woman or man next door and give them a passionate kiss. then withdraw to your motorhome and watch the marital disagreement start

works best when its a man kissing a man, really freaks them out

 

[rangi]

I hate that! that is my pet hate of all time!!! Someone moving in too close, standing too close to me!!

I found "orientals" South East Asians, Japanese in particular, they crowd around you, waiting for the walk light for instance to cross the road, shoulder to shoulder, front to back, awe man! I felt like swatting them like flies.
I picked up a new ship in Kobe, and just walking to the nearest bar was a big problem for me, but! when in Rome! I soon realised I just had to adjust.

 

[yodeli]

Oops, not your pic ! Never mind you can still choose to move when it happens and if there's still room! And usually.... the people get the message

 

[TheBig1]

I hate that! that is my pet hate of all time!!! Someone moving in too close, standing too close to me!!

I found "orientals" South East Asians, Japanese in particular, they crowd around you, waiting for the walk light for instance to cross the road, shoulder to shoulder, front to back, awe man! I felt like swatting them like flies.
I picked up a new ship in Kobe, and just walking to the nearest bar was a big problem for me, but! when in Rome! I soon realised I just had to adjust.

the crowding effect is a commonly applied technique for pickpocket gangs, and perverts getting a grope.... be aware

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