Are motorhomers missing out on.....

[buttons]

The older you get the more you have done, harder to find something new

Not sure about older chaser more like time spent but I do think you have it in one.....

 

[Larrynwin]

Wet cold days Larry. What are they, it is dry roast here at the moment and is predicted to stay for some time yet.....

It's been lovely weather in recent weeks, to sit outside the van on a warm Summer's evening takes some beating

 

[scotjimland]

I'm not an alcoholic, I do enjoy a glass of something and a bit of atmosphere that a good drinking establishment can give.

I do still do my share of CLs and the like but at times I find it can sometimes get a bit repetitive.

exactly how I found pubs .. repetitive, just watering holes, .. same old drinks, same old people, same old outcome..

there is a life outside of pubs .. something it took me a long time to understand.. now I prefer the atmosphere that cannot be bought, found in a pub or in a bottle .

 

[buttons]

Interesting thread this for us. We up-sized last autumn from a 4.8m pop-top VW which was brilliant for going anywhere and parking up but we felt on the wet cool evenings we wanted a bit more room to stretch out in. We've got a PVC that's 5.5M long and about 2.8M high and, even at this size, it is a pain to park. So we end up on the edge of town or looking for the one car park without the height barrier. Or we stay at the site...which means we could really be anywhere.

So, we've been soul-searching about what to do - downsize? We loved the flexibility to go virtually anywhere but then we're in a small van again. But yes, like the OP said we feel that we can be cut-off and stuck on a campsite for a few more nights than we wanted. So, do we cycle? - not an option for my wife for a couple of reasons Public transport? - it works to a degree but you're often quite tied to planning ahead and times. Motorcycle or scooter? Again, not an option. Tow a car? No..not for me.
So we're at the 'do we keep the van or not' stage.

Like Jim above we wouldn't do hotels and certainly wouldn't do B&B's (some good, most not) but renting a cottage/apartment (which we've done a few times in the past) does have an appeal. The pluses are you can go closer to a town or out in the wilds as you choose; you get more space; there's no trotting to shower block outside; there's no emptying of the toilet cassette; you can still self-cater (and use your own bed linen if you want!); you'll be in a car that you take anywhere and park in normal places without feeling like an unwanted being; if you need a campsite 'fix' you can rent a chalet or static on-site (and again - more room than a van); there's no annual insurance, MoT, servicing and habitation checks.
The minuses are it does cost more per night so might be less likely to use (even though we'd have a big chunk of money in the bank from the sale of the van that will fund many nights in self-catered accommodation); you lose flexibility and have to plan a bit better; some places are grot even if they look good on the website and then you're more stuck whereas in the van you just drive on; it probably is less sociable than camping.

As someone above said things change and at the moment we can empathise with the OP - while living in field is peaceful and relaxing (and we've done many years of it!) sometimes it is nice to be somewhere just a bit closer to what's going on.
Don't know if we'll sell this autumn or not - we don't travel in August as it's just too busy so we're setting Sept & Oct as our decision times. We've got a few short trips in our minds and will decide then - - > the flexibility of the van plus cheapish campsite prices v. the cosiness and extra space of a more expensive cottage, without the hassle of a big vehicle to park.

I follow your drift Gary as we too have been there, I think my best compromise was by far My Pop Top which we used for everything including general use, even staying in a hotel and parking the van in the hotel car park. Sounds nuts I know but sometimes a change can be as good as a rest....

 

[buttons]

exactly how I found pubs .. repetitive, just watering holes, .. same old drinks, same old people, same old outcome..

there is a life outside of pubs .. something it took me a long time to understand.. now I prefer the atmosphere that cannot be bought, found in a pub or in a bottle .

Good for you Jim it would be a boring old world if we were all the same....

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[buttons]

For St. Ives the CC&C have a THS at the rugby ground every year. It's very popular and you need to book. From the rugby ground it's an easy walk to the centre or there is a half hourly bus service.
We are currently at a THS just outside Falmouth. On Wednesday the site was on the flight path of the Red Arrows display, so sat outside the MH and watched it. Yesterday we caught the bus from at the gate of the THS into Falmouth, had a good walk around and lunch in a pub overlooking the harbour. We sat next to a German couple who had come in on a cruise ship. It turned out they came from Erlangen, and were surprised to find anyone who had heard of the town. I had a 12month secondment to Erlangen 20 years ago. Talking to them brought back many happy memories. Tomorrow we intend to use our bus passes to get to Penzance or even onto Mousehole, our favourite place in Cornwall. Lunch in The Ship sounds brilliant to us. We enjoy Cornwall, stay at some lovely places and don't feel retricted one bit.

There are some large cruise ships that get into Falmouth now days. We sat on the queue and watched a large princess boat come along side, no tugs just bow thrust and the like. It managed to do a 360 in it's own length. Falmouth now having these ships in must generate a lot into their economy.
When we were sitting there I looked around a spotted a large male seal with his head out of the water not ten feet from the harbor wall. Funny how these things stick in your mind.... Mousehole is one of my favorites too..

 

[vwalan]

mini artic is the way .
had mine 16 yrs now . cant think of a better set up really.
and can be ideal when i get to 70. i can keep it all with a couple of adjustments .
and keep the trainweight of 9.8 ton .
mind i would have to mot the truck then . but win some lose some .

 

[vwalan]

There are some large cruise ships that get into Falmouth now days. We sat on the queue and watched a large princess boat come along side, no tugs just bow thrust and the like. It managed to do a 360 in it's own length. Falmouth now having these ships in must generate a lot into their economy.
When we were sitting there I looked around a spotted a large male seal with his head out of the water not ten feet from the harbor wall. Funny how these things stick in your mind.... Mousehole is one of my favorites too..

falmouth as been having cruise ships for ages even in the 60,s . in truth its all part of cornwalls economy . after all falmouth is the worlds 3rd biggest natural harbour .
.
and it start just next to the village i live in . on tregoss moor . its just a little moorland stream here .

 

[Emmit]

I stayed in a Cornish seaside village this weekend.
It cost us £15 for the three nights we were there. Met some nice folk, walked to the beach and along the coastal footpath. On a bus route and within walking distance of 5 pubs.
Other than wild camping I don't think it could have been done any cheaper.

 

[GAVLAD]

I stayed in a Cornish seaside village this weekend.
It cost us £15 for the three nights we were there. Met some nice folk, walked to the beach and along the coastal footpath. On a bus route and within walking distance of 5 pubs.
Other than wild camping I don't think it could have been done any cheaper.

What was the name of the site out of interest?

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[Emmit]

It's C&CC C.S. belongs to the Butson family.

I tried to get him to increase the price last year but to them both, it's a hobby. While we were there a gang mower came and cut the grass and Colin spent the whole afternoon going up and down on his ride on mower picking up the grass. It's a credit to them.
Oops! Sorry. It's in St.Agnes

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

............. I think my best compromise was by far My Pop Top which we used for everything including general use, even staying in a hotel and parking the van in the hotel car park...,..............

I've been known to do a variation on that! A couple of times, while wandering France, I ended up late at night in an unknown town looking for somewhere to park up for the night - ah, Ibis hotel ........ car park - perfect.
Late arrival, early departure, inconspicuous pop-top. That'll do nicely.

 

[Chris]

My wife loves St Ives, but I hate it with a vengeance.

All the visitors must ruin it for the locals even if the traders do well out of it.

Motorhome or hotel , I would rather stay at home.

 

[jdk62]

I think this size reduction will be a growing trend mike....

I worry about my the size of mine getting smaller as I get older...... Its not that big to start with!!!!!

 

[buttons]

I've been known to do a variation on that! A couple of times, while wandering France, I ended up late at night in an unknown town looking for somewhere to park up for the night - ah, Ibis hotel ........ car park - perfect.
Late arrival, early departure, inconspicuous pop-top. That'll do nicely.

I always had dark grey pop tops for that reason. Like a B-2 stealth bomber we could be in and out under the cover of darkness.......

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[buttons]

My wife loves St Ives, but I hate it with a vengeance.

All the visitors must ruin it for the locals even if the traders do well out of it.

Motorhome or hotel , I would rather stay at home.

Me too, there is no place like home........