canal du midi à la chaser Feb 2017

[TJBi]

<snip>

then trundle off at a decent pace

View attachment 144281

<snip>

I've had some bad experiences with the M5 from Taunton to Bristol and the M5/M4 interchange. May be fine for your day and time, but perhaps worth checking traffic conditions beforehand, and considering the A358 - A378 - A303 - M3 as an alternative (with lower mileage). Unless I'm much mistaken, the A303 is dual carriageway from Stonehenge to the M3.

 

[DavidG58]

getting close now, we set off on Tuesday morning for Vanbitz

following on from a recent thread I have decided to empty and cull the contents of my garage before we go

the next big dilemma is do I wash it before leaving for a 200 mile drive down to Taunton, followed by a 600 mile drive to the Mediterranean

I will give it at least a quick wash down, the choice is just that or a trip to our local car wash boys and pay £20 for a decent clean

Problem is 200 miles on the M1 M42 M5 will put it straight back to where it is right now if it is raining

But don't clean it and it doesn't rain you arrive looking really scruffy

I think decision is made for me, will be off to the car wash on Monday

 

[DavidG58]

prefer the look of day 1 and 2 in France

 

[Lenny HB]

I will give it at least a quick wash down, the choice is just that or a trip to our local car wash boys and pay £20 for a decent clean

Whatever you do don't let them use a pressure washer on your van.

 

[DavidG58]

Whatever you do don't let them use a pressure washer on your van.

It must be the only half decent thing about my MH, mirrors excepted, they are good at my place, always have the pressure set pretty low and they avoid all the vents, been there a good few times already

Might just do it myself anyway, lovely day here today and I can put off the garage tidy

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[TJBi]

View attachment 146659



View attachment 146658

prefer the look of day 1 and 2 in France

Sat 11/02 looks a bit wet round Calais and there's rain forecast across most of France for Sun 12/02
http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/metropole
(Click on "Tendances jours suivants" and then on the appropriate day)
The Canal du Midi area should have good temperatures compared to the rest of France on the 14th though, with sunny periods unless you get too far east (but plenty of time for that to change!).

 

[peterc10]

Whatever you do don't let them use a pressure washer on your van.

And also do not let them use the industrial strength traffic film remover they spray everywhere to make sure it is easy to clean. That is not very friendly at all unless it is washed off immediately.

 

[DavidG58]

Whatever you do don't let them use a pressure washer on your van.

And also do not let them use the industrial strength traffic film remover they spray everywhere to make sure it is easy to clean. That is not very friendly at all unless it is washed off immediately.

Come on guys lets stay positive, this is is my holiday thread

I already know I shouldn't be going at this time of year

it is too far for not long enough

I paid the wrong rate for my euros

too much for service work

all the better channel crossing options than my choice

which way is better to go than the way picked

its a holiday, time to relax

but to keep the peace, I promise to personally hand wash it, well I might use my Karcher when you are not looking

 

[chaser]

Come on guys lets stay positive, this is is my holiday thread

I already know I shouldn't be going at this time of year

it is too far for not long enough

I paid the wrong rate for my euros

too much for service work

all the better channel crossing options than my choice

which way is better to go than the way picked

its a holiday, time to relax

but to keep the peace, I promise to personally hand wash it, well I might use my Karcher when you are not looking

David, take no notice, enjoy your time away, all your fears will melt away as soon as you come out of that tunnel, if it rains so what , we love to be in the van with the rain on the roof.
For me , why we always go to gravelines , first night, we go into town and have a drink at the same bar every time, then I know we have left the m25 behind and we are really on holiday.

 

[DavidG58]

David, take no notice, enjoy your time away, all your fears will melt away as soon as you come out of that tunnel, if it rains so what , we love to be in the van with the rain on the roof.
For me , why we always go to gravelines , first night, we go into town and have a drink at the same bar every time, then I know we have left the m25 behind and we are really on holiday.

I nearly added

which side of the channel to park

looking forward to following in your footsteps (wheel tracks)

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[peterc10]

Come on guys lets stay positive, this is is my holiday thread

I already know I shouldn't be going at this time of year

it is too far for not long enough

I paid the wrong rate for my euros

too much for service work

all the better channel crossing options than my choice

which way is better to go than the way picked

its a holiday, time to relax

but to keep the peace, I promise to personally hand wash it, well I might use my Karcher when you are not looking

Wash??? It needs polishing too.

It's because we are just bloody jealous of you gallivanting off to warmer climes while the weather is set to get colder here.

 

[DavidG58]

the weather is set to get colder here.

I purposely didn't copy shots of the colder bits of France for week after next

and will not be telling Bev either

 

[DavidG58]

Well one whole day to go, the garage is untouched and the outside unwashed

I blame these 2

been here all day, does it really matter if we set off untidy and dirty

our youngest grandchildren Jacob on the right, Olly on the left combined age 11 months

 

[Clarky]

Any trip to France is a great trip.............end of.
You will enjoy it, despite what the winter can throw at you. The days are getting longer and you'll be snug and warm at night in the moho.

Just trundle south as the mood takes you and take advantage of all the free aires at this time of year.

Richard.

 

[Madcaravanner]

I'm answering after page 1 of 4
We camped by the Canal du Midi around 23 years BC (Before Caravan) we stopped in Portiragne where there are a few sites but we did notice lots of roads that end in open areas by the canal
Strange we found a Skip full of what looked like large red potatoes but were Tomatoes so we borrowed a few for Pasta sauce and being September panniers of grapes too all from the canal path

Look out for the Nudist beaches there are loads of them around the end of the canal but Beziers is great

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[MicknMew]

Well it won't be long now until your on your travels, have a great trip and hope everything runs smoothly. Looking forward to all your posts , and not forgetting the photos you'll be posting as well. Enjoy.
Happy motorhomeing
Mew and Mick

 

[suavecarve]

I havent tried this but have heard about it, and will try it in April when off to the Vendee. Once you have cleaned your van (pressure washer or not) and travelled to Folkestone (A303 or M4) and stayed overnight (folestone or calais) and done a days travel (whichever route) and finally got to the midi (which end to start ?) through the weather systems (whatever it throws at you) then you check the front of your van and see it has bugs all over it (unless you travel very slowly) it is at this point every year so far i wish i had put clingfilm on my luton so it can just be peeled off !
Have a great time whatever it is you do and looking forward to updates as I have a month from Bordeaux in August and will be following the canal to Narbonne area before Provence

 

[peterc10]

I havent tried this but have heard about it, and will try it in April when off to the Vendee. Once you have cleaned your van (pressure washer or not) and travelled to Folkestone (A303 or M4) and stayed overnight (folestone or calais) and done a days travel (whichever route) and finally got to the midi (which end to start ?) through the weather systems (whatever it throws at you) then you check the front of your van and see it has bugs all over it (unless you travel very slowly) it is at this point every year so far i wish i had put clingfilm on my luton so it can just be peeled off !
Have a great time whatever it is you do and looking forward to updates as I have a month from Bordeaux in August and will be following the canal to Narbonne area before Provence

Probably a bit too early for many bugs - more a spring and summer problem. Bu is may keep off all the dirty spray.

 

[DavidG58]

Evening all, not really sure what to call today, definitely first travelling day, but technically 2 days before the holiday starts

But we are away from home and all the worries there, so we can call it day 1 I reckon,

Left home more or less on time, decide to reset the motorhome trip mileages as I do each year, this time last year we had just picked it back up following the new turbo fitting, we have done 8604 miles in the 12 months since then, which started with a very similar trip to France that time

This time we have travelled via Taunton, more specifically Vanbitz near Taunton for the fitting of the Christmas auction alarm, its only taken me 4 years to get round to fitting an alarm, little irony, due to the value we were supposed to have a category something or other alarm fitted or we had not theft cover at all, now I had a few sleepless nights early on but soon got used to it. Last year and the year before was asked if we had one fitted yet, still not done but less worried. In fairness to myself we do keep it in a very hard place to steal from, although I hadn't really considered the risk of being stolen while travelling. So this year on renewal discussing with broker about the same need for alarm, mentioned the value isn't as high any more, I actually have no idea what it is worth today (S800 2009 if anybody wants to guess) well we paid nearly £70K and thought we got it a little cheap at the time, so mentioned to our broker about reduced premiums for lower value. He told me it all drops off below £50K, so I said OK lets have £49K, that took £100 off the premium and removed the need for an alarm

Are you keeping up at the back Anthea

The irony is we now don't need an alarm but are having one fitted, I might increase the value again next year

Set off with nicely clean MH, fairly tidy garage, correctly aligned headlights and not raining, stopped at Strensham ?services on M5 beautifully sunny, we both said if it stays like this in France it will do nicely, coffee and ham rolls then set off, we both said glad we stopped there as it started to persist

so we arrive at Cornish Farm with a motorhome that looks like it hasn't been washed since last year

but the sun is out again

this is why we love motorhoming, arrive 14:55, find pitch park, press auto level, get kettle on, coffee by 15:05

fast asleep by 15:15

 

[suavecarve]

I ve logged in specifically to see which way you went, what time you are going over, did you pressure wash your van and i get photos of your mrs already in holiday mode !
Updates, I need updates.

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[DavidG58]

another cross reference here

somewhere back in this thread I mentioned being married for 36 years next week, (to the same person I should add) didn't know what the 'prize' was for such endurance, turns out it is bone china, last trip out Bev seemingly maliciously threw my bone china mug on the floor smashing it

I have looked on line to try and replace it like for like, couldn't find the same

Today stopped at services for lunch, I walk Lola, Bev puts kettle on and sorts lunch

I came back and coffee needed finishing, well....

Bev's unsmashed mug was out ready, nothing for me

So I get out the mug I used last time after mine was 'destroyed' it had been put away unwashed as we do quite often, but this was a few weeks ago not nice to look at now let alone use it now and just added to my 'disappointment'

So while I sulk Bev asks to come past me, yeah right, squeeze past b1tch, you smashed my mug and just don't care

But push past she did, then asked me to close my eyes

ever hopeful, did as told

was given a box with a brand new version of my old mug

an early anniversary present that I was maybe lucky to get

 

[DavidG58]

I ve logged in specifically to see which way you went, what time you are going over, did you pressure wash your van and i get photos of your mrs already in holiday mode !
Updates, I need updates.

hold on, I presume you mean the trip to the Chunnel which is still 2 days away

decision has been made which way to go but we will declare all en route

Google maps v Vanbitz / majority vote

majority / Vanbitz say A303

watch this space

 

[Anthea M]

Evening all, not really sure what to call today, definitely first travelling day, but technically 2 days before the holiday starts

But we are away from home and all the worries there, so we can call it day 1 I reckon,

Left home more or less on time, decide to reset the motorhome trip mileages as I do each year, this time last year we had just picked it back up following the new turbo fitting, we have done 8604 miles in the 12 months since then, which started with a very similar trip to France that time

This time we have travelled via Taunton, more specifically Vanbitz near Taunton for the fitting of the Christmas auction alarm, its only taken me 4 years to get round to fitting an alarm, little irony, due to the value we were supposed to have a category something or other alarm fitted or we had not theft cover at all, now I had a few sleepless nights early on but soon got used to it. Last year and the year before was asked if we had one fitted yet, still not done but less worried. In fairness to myself we do keep it in a very hard place to steal from, although I hadn't really considered the risk of being stolen while travelling. So this year on renewal discussing with broker about the same need for alarm, mentioned the value isn't as high any more, I actually have no idea what it is worth today (S800 2009 if anybody wants to guess) well we paid nearly £70K and thought we got it a little cheap at the time, so mentioned to our broker about reduced premiums for lower value. He told me it all drops off below £50K, so I said OK lets have £49K, that took £100 off the premium and removed the need for an alarm

Are you keeping up at the back Anthea

The irony is we now don't need an alarm but are having one fitted, I might increase the value again next year

Set off with nicely clean MH, fairly tidy garage, correctly aligned headlights and not raining, stopped at Strensham ?services on M5 beautifully sunny, we both said if it stays like this in France it will do nicely, coffee and ham rolls then set off, we both said glad we stopped there as it started to persist

so we arrive at Cornish Farm with a motorhome that looks like it hasn't been washed since last year

but the sun is out again

View attachment 147081

this is why we love motorhoming, arrive 14:55, find pitch park, press auto level, get kettle on, coffee by 15:05

View attachment 147082

fast asleep by 15:15

View attachment 147083

I have kept up and am grateful for the full and in depth detail on your reasons for getting an alarm!!!
Seriously Bev looks very relaxed ! ( does she know you took a picture of her asleep!! BEV ......) Enjoy your holiday!

Photo of said mug please!!

 

[suavecarve]

hold on, I presume you mean the trip to the Chunnel which is still 2 days away

decision been made which way to has go but we will declare all en route

Google maps v Vanbitz / majority vote

majority / Vanbitz say A303

watch this space

My bad !

 

[FIDGET]

Hi David
We are thinking of doing similar trip in September ,possibly with a few days near the Lot & Dordogne ,poss Rocamadour included ,so watching your thread with great anticipation . 4/5days on the way down & similar on way back leaving 13 days sightseeing. Seeing you good lady reminds me of mine either in that pose or reading a book,

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[DavidG58]

I have kept up and am grateful for the full and in depth detail on your reasons for getting an alarm!!!
Seriously Bev looks very relaxed ! ( does she know you took a picture of her asleep!! BEV ......) Enjoy your holiday!

Photo of said mug please!!

Asleep

How dare you, she was blinking

Mugs as requested, you may also note we have moved on from coffee and still mid week too, holidays are great

Bev has just asked why am I photographing the mugs, 'what have you posted now?'

and no I didn't tell or show her the earlier post, not many of you have her mobile number

 

[Ambilkate]

Only just seen this thread David . congratulations on your anniversary happy travels will look forward to your posts xxx
Love from us three

 

[Debs]

....... I have though......

Shaping up nicely for an enjoyable trip safe travels x

 

[DavidG58]

just had to show all

Bev is still laughing

 

[laird of Dunstan]

I see that you have a Bottle of "Harris" gin for your evening ,my wife informs me that it is one of the finest gins that she has ever tasted ,the distillery had run out of bottles when we visited it ,there was plenty of gin ,but no bottles to put it in

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