Guinea pig part 2

[Dorwyn]

Our storm last night was just lots of lightning flashes, fairly heavy rain and then silence. I fell asleep. Today, just a little sporadic rain, have just got the awning out ready to drop if it returns. We can see the Pyrenees from here, but not with the state of the sky today. We often go for a family picnic in the mountains, might be tempted across the border if we do. TBH we couldn't decide on the colour of the van we saw, I thought it was met silver, like mine, she said it was white. Either way, it can't have been yours.

 

[Two on Tour]

Moved from the Pyrenees due to rain of biblical proportions, and it didn’t look like it was stopping any time soon, headed back towards Rennes and once we hit around Limoux, had a terrific thunderstorm and I mean terrific, back on the aire at esparanza, still thunder and lightening although not as bad as at limoux, rain and wind so fierce it pulled down some power lines.
View attachment 507927

Richard n Ann posted this map show where lighting storms are active, might be useful to you for dodging storms.
The problem I find is it is a bit addictive to watch.

Real Time Lightning Map

See lightning strikes in real time across the planet. Free access to maps of former thunderstorms. By Blitzortung.org and contributors.

www.lightningmaps.org

 

[LesW]

back on the aire at esparanza,

Did you visit the dinosaur museum?

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Richard n Ann posted this map show where lighting storms are active, might be useful to you for dodging storms.
The problem I find is it is a bit addictive to watch.

Real Time Lightning Map

See lightning strikes in real time across the planet. Free access to maps of former thunderstorms. By Blitzortung.org and contributors.

www.lightningmaps.org

Thanks Richard n Ann, that’s really useful.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Did you visit the dinosaur museum?

Not as yet maybe tomorrow, maybe we will float there

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[MITHRANDIR]

From the map it looks like a load of activity is heading north towards us, we maybe in for a bit of a show

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Eased off now but it’s gone a really weird colour

and someone looking for supper

 

[Drum Major]

Thanks for posting really enjoying your trip

 

[Vipar]

Bon voyage mons tout

 

[Ingwe]

I know, i usually wouldn't bother about such rules in normal times, but i don't want to eat a huge slice of humble pie coming back on here and reporting they won't let me in because they don't like my sausage

Is humble pie like Fray Bentos pies only with some meat?

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[Ingwe]

I’m very grateful for all the posters on this thread especially the OP as there is a lot of really useful information.

Sorry to be a bit of a bore and go back to something earlier in the thread and that is the issue of negative COVID tests.

I’ve found some of the posts here, as well as on the official government sites, to be a bit confusing and contradictory. Please, this isn’t a criticism.

If I’ve understood the position, if you have had both doses of vaccine you can demonstrate this with the little card ticket the NHS give you or by showing the proof of vaccination on the NHS app.

Then, you need to show a recent negative lateral flow test which can either be the NHS one which you have reported and received a confirmatory text/email saying you’re negative, or a lateral flow test performed by, for example Boots, who send you a confirmatory text/message. As I read it, both the home tests and the Boots type are acceptable to the French authorities. Apologies in advance if I’ve misdescribed the position of anyone’s post and,I repeat, I’m not being critical at all. I just want to us to be sure of the position in a confused world. Thanks for your indulgence.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

I’m very grateful for all the posters on this thread especially the OP as there is a lot of really useful information.

Sorry to be a bit of a bore and go back to something earlier in the thread and that is the issue of negative COVID tests.

I’ve found some of the posts here, as well as on the official government sites, to be a bit confusing and contradictory. Please, this isn’t a criticism.

If I’ve understood the position, if you have had both doses of vaccine you can demonstrate this with the little card ticket the NHS give you or by showing the proof of vaccination on the NHS app.

Then, you need to show a recent negative lateral flow test which can either be the NHS one which you have reported and received a confirmatory text/email saying you’re negative, or a lateral flow test performed by, for example Boots, who send you a confirmatory text/message. As I read it, both the home tests and the Boots type are acceptable to the French authorities. Apologies in advance if I’ve misdescribed the position of anyone’s post and,I repeat, I’m not being critical at all. I just want to us to be sure of the position in a confused world. Thanks for your indulgence.

AFAIK the NHS test is not acceptable because of the way the test is recorded, nor are the home tests, whether the french authorities would accept an NHS test……?, we played it safe and paid for a rapid lateral flow from boots.
The french authorities did check on my phone, and they did accept the little cards for our vaccine they did not ask for anything else.
on our experience double jab cards , acceptable.
Boots rapid lateral flow, acceptable.
Anything else I can’t comment on.
We did have other proof for the double vaccine but they never asked to see them once they had the little cards.

 

[sedge]

Humble pie, was originally pie made of umbles - ie offal.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Humble pie, was originally pie made of umbles - ie offal.

Yum

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Woke to a fine morning again, gendarmerie visited again for the 6.10 euro fee, was most pleasant.
Happy to say no more thunderstorms last night.
People within 2 metres 3, the gendarmerie makes up 2 of those and was done through the van window, so not quite sure they should qualify, but we will count them anyway.
Temperature is 20c and sunny no wind, should be a nice day.
Quite a few vans here overnight and had a few waves, again very welcoming.
Going to Rennes today, and going to explore the area.

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[SomeoneElse]

Woke to a fine morning again, gendarmerie visited again for the 6.10 euro fee, was most pleasant.

Were they gendarmes or local police?
I have had local police collect aire fees several times but I not had gendarmes doing should chores.
Please keep up this thread its very informative and most enjoyable.

 

[Ingwe]

Yes, please keep posting with piccies too if possible. Great thread.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Were they gendarmes or local police?
I have had local police collect aire fees several times but I not had gendarmes doing should chores.
Please keep up this thread its very informative and most enjoyable.

Well not gendarmerie, local police, I used it as a generalised term
Car park below Rennes, the trees and. Shrubs have grown up a bit blocking the view, better pics later but a taster pic

 

[MITHRANDIR]

This area is one of my favourite areas of France, I like it down here, if I was going to buy a property.,.,,,,,
Quick update on the van, everything is working as it should, although we are in dire need of more lithium, but it’s coping well, give that it’s only 60 AH, with 100w of solar and running 2 compressor fridges overnight it will use about 60%, during the day it holds its own. finally got the hang of the shower we think, although I am going to swap the pipe for a longer one.
Motorway work is a breeze and 130kph is easy, certainly easier than our previous A class.
The only thing I can criticise is the height of the drivers seat, I tend to crane my head down for a better view, it gives me a stiff neck, but I think there are lower seat bases available, will check that out when home.

 

[suavecarve]

People within 2 metres 3, the gendarmerie makes up 2 of those and was done through the van window, so not quite sure they should qualify, but we will count them anyway.

Got me thinking about how many people, yesterday, whilst at work, I would have been within 2 metres of for a similar type of period and am guessing at about 20

So you are currently 6 times safer in a country with a current rate 1/3 of ours so roughly 18 times safer for you on holiday than me at work.

One of us is rather envious. Keep up the great updates and photos, thoroughly enjoying it.

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[MITHRANDIR]

Got me thinking about how many people, yesterday, whilst at work, I would have been within 2 metres of for a similar type of period and am guessing at about 20

So you are currently 6 times safer in a country with a current rate 1/3 of ours so roughly 18 times safer for you on holiday than me at work.

One of us is rather envious. Keep up the great updates and photos, thoroughly enjoying it.

Yes, quite, it’s eminently safe here with a little precaution, as I expected it to be, the very few people we have met are respectful of rules, more so than at home imv.
I hope the status quo remains for you guys to be able to partake in a little European adventure of your own.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

So moved on to Rennes and had a good walk round, few tourists, quite warm with a gentle breeze.
People met within 2 metres 3.

we are now on a municipal site at Quillan
Which I expected to be of lesser quality, however I am happy to report that it is the complete opposite, it’s very good, quiet, there are a couple of pvc’s one from Germany and one from Netherlands, both spoke to us and were very pleasant, both brought up the b word and said they didn’t understand, I commented that I didn’t understand either and left it at that.
Post some pics of the site shortly.

 

[Minxy]

finally got the hang of the shower we think, although I am going to swap the pipe for a longer one.

I simply moved the holder for our shower from the left to the right side which was much better as the access to the sink is that side anyway so you only have to unfasten one side of the shower curtain.

The only thing I can criticise is the height of the drivers seat, I tend to crane my head down for a better view, it gives me a stiff neck, but I think there are lower seat bases available, will check that out when home.

Bear in mind that your leisure battery is under the driving seat and is specifically made to fit under a standard height seat base so if you put a lower one in you'll likely have to move your battery too.

 

[Aireworth]

Possibly all these vans are a little different, but I was having trouble with the too high position of the drivers seat initially. What solved it was raising the height of the back of the seat squab - I'd had it on the lowest setting both back and front. Paradoxically gives me a much more comfortable driving/seating position. YMMV, but maybe worth a try in the short term.

 

[Simon Select]

So jealous your in France! Also a great read knowing it’s possible after a lot of research!

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[Reallyretired]

Rennes le Château is a really interesting place. Did you use the coach park near the top of the hill, we mistakenly used the car park in the village which was empty when we arrived, unfortunately packed when we came to leave, a major undertaking getting out.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Photos of the site, I must say it’s very pleasant, very quiet
Weather is quite warm about 24c keeps raining off and on and quite breezy, I keep expecting a storm but it hasn’t materialised yet,

Although it’s brighter than it looks, it’s a very neatly kept site, well worth a visit.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Rennes le Château is a really interesting place. Did you use the coach park near the top of the hill, we mistakenly used the car park in the village which was empty when we arrived, unfortunately packed when we came to leave, a major undertaking getting out.

We used the car park beneath the village and walked up, but it was vey quiet, fascinating place.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Possibly all these vans are a little different, but I was having trouble with the too high position of the drivers seat initially. What solved it was raising the height of the back of the seat squab - I'd had it on the lowest setting both back and front. Paradoxically gives me a much more comfortable driving/seating position. YMMV, but maybe worth a try in the short term.

I have tried that, thanks for the suggestion,
Doesn’t work for me I’m afraid.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

I simply moved the holder for our shower from the left to the right side which was much better as the access to the sink is that side anyway so you only have to unfasten one side of the shower curtain.

Bear in mind that your leisure battery is under the driving seat and is specifically made to fit under a standard height seat base so if you put a lower one in you'll likely have to move your battery too.

Yes I know, I may have to put up with the position.

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