Please stop staring

[irnbru]

If you were so busy setting up you wouldn't really be noticing anyone watching you unless you were watching them.

 

[tonyidle]

One can hear by the sounds of ecstacy later

Only if at least one of them has worked out where to put the pole

 

[ManTheVan]

Does setting up take that long? Surely arrive, level/ramp if needed, switch off, swivel seats, kettle on/open bottle? Not much to stare at...

On the other hand, you can learn a lot by observing...especially how NOT to pitch up.

 

[kevenh]

That would be better than just staring although I'd need to pop over and point out where you'd gone wrong with setting up your pitch.

We’ve only pitched up 8 times ever with our motorhome.
We haven’t noticed the staring yet
If we’re doing something wrong I hope a starer would come fwd.

In the reverse situation I think I’d be more interested in what I was doing to watch someone else pitch up.
But if I’d did look over and determine my fellow motor-homer had or was about to make a mistake, I hope I’d look for a way to say “Hi. Can I help?”

Our 4th pitch up was at Postern Hill & was our nearest disaster.
We didn’t notice the hard standing area so tried to pitch on grass. I quickly decided that was a mistake with the literal sinking feeling but luckily had enough traction to haul our selves off.
We decided the large lay-by must be the hard standing and parked with the others

edit: forgot a night at Bradgate Caravan site. So it’s 8 not 7 pitches we used. Blimey, we’ll need to change our Exp. from “Progressing Newbie” to “novice intermediate” soon.

 

[Wildweasle]

Only if at least one of them has worked out where to put the pole

True in this day and age which one where if you get my drift!!

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Where are you?

I will come and have a look

In my experience gawping is even more enjoyable when husband and wife setting up are having a ruck.

I read that with the wrong glasses, shocked at you at first, then realised the first letter was an “r”

 

[Sandancers]

We have never noticed being stared at.

dunnah01 do you have an unusual MH, or has it got unusual decors on it?

 

[Popeye]

I get that you're wishing the other rig to make a mess if setting up their pitch but why turn your deck chairs

So as to avoid that strain-pain in the neck.

 

[GAVLAD]

We had this in France the other year.
We were shown our pitch and as soon as I pulled up I noticed the Brit motorhome opposite and the guy shuffled his chair to get a better view.
My wife and child went for a walk whilst I set up stall.
He watched me in his covert style whilst I struggled with the inflatable awning and as soon as it was up, he came over to tell me he would have done it differently!
He also came over to say that he washes his motorhome at home after watching me rinse off the road flies.
He didn’t come over after that. Probably because of the replies he got. He move his chairs & table so that he was sat facing our pitch though.
I call it being a nosey interfering ba’rd!

 

[Otter Spotter]

What is it with motorhomers staring at other motorhomers. It doesn't matter which country you're in everybody seems to do it. I get that you're wishing the other rig to make a mess if setting up their pitch but why turn your deck chairs to gawp - it's quite rude you know.

Sorry but it’s tradition that later arrivals are ‘camp entertainment’ for those already set up. It’s normally watching tuggers trying to reverse into pitch that we watched. Most Motorhomers are pretty good at pitching up so no really entertainment value.

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[Otter Spotter]

We had this in France the other year.
We were shown our pitch and as soon as I pulled up I noticed the Brit motorhome opposite and the guy shuffled his chair to get a better view.
My wife and child went for a walk whilst I set up stall.
He watched me in his covert style whilst I struggled with the inflatable awning and as soon as it was up, he came over to tell me he would have done it differently!
He also came over to say that he washes his motorhome at home after watching me rinse off the road flies.
He didn’t come over after that. Probably because of the replies he got. He move his chairs & table so that he was sat facing our pitch though.
I call it being a nosey interfering ba’rd!

I would never pass comment on anyone else’s pitch up but I have had a couple of obviously retired lonely gits come to me and pass comment on what they would do differently, give them 5minutes then look busy they get the message.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We once went into a paying aire just to empty the tiolet. I suspected this was common because we were being watched by everybody . So I parked up not too far away from the toilet point, switched off and shut the blinds

10 minutes later the looks had stopped and everyone had got back to their newspaper or wine or whatever. I quietly hurried out emptied the cassette got back to the van, blinds - engine - gone. They didn't know what hit them . SAS operation.

So the moral of the story is if you're being watched and don't like it, wait 10 minutes

 

[SpeedyDux]

What else is there for those without a TV, to keep us entertained?

Unfolding trailer tents are especially good value, you have to see if the end result meets expectations.

 

[Brockley]

There'd be nowt worth watching coz my pitching is always perfect, I just find it a very strange thing for anybody to get enjoyment through trying to intimidate
other people.

You can hold a tune then

 

[dunnah01]

You can hold a tune then

Tone deaf drummer so obs not, I once tried baseball though

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[buttons]

We had one of those huge bungalow canvas tents for a while. We used it beside our PVC on long summer meets as our "entertaining space". Imagine between 20 and 30 people sat at tables eating a chinese takeaway or fish n chips. A whole gang of us would meet up from all over the UK at burton bradstock, near bridport in dorset every summer for years. Loddon DA ran a THS twice every year at a small farm next to a commercial site. It was always very busy and was great fun. A big fenced field with plenty of space for all the kids to play, plus a gate leading to a private beach for fishing

But some of the best fun was Friday nights watching the weekend campers rushing to put up awnings etc. If they were getting in a proper mess or the wind picked up, we would all go over and help out.

We drove down to meet a few others on Lake Maggiore Italy, we arrived late after getting lost over the Alps, it was dark, they had booked us a pitch with them. When we arrived they and a number of Dutch were having a party and all a bit intoxicated (pissed). I was knackered so I foolishly accepted an offer of them putting our tent up while we had a drink. Big mistake, no doorway we had poles left over and had to slide under the converse to get in.

 

[Rockcrawler]

If I'd realised people were staring I'd have put my budgie smugglers and wellies on

 

[M-J]

If people stare just show them your waste outlet and wave your hose at them!

 

[Rockcrawler]

If people stare just show them your waste outlet and wave your hose at them!

As long as it's not too chilly

 

[peterc10]

we usually have a couple put us on the clock

We only did that once David ............................ I can report that it was just over the half hour and no raised voices

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[nicholsong]

From this thread I have learnt some things about campsite behaviour, which I did not know, because we have only been on them a 5/6 times in 11 years and nearly empty then.

One thing is the phrase 'pitch up' . We just 'park'. No levellers, jacks, steps, tents, carpets etc. Unless putting chairs out for a couple of hours counts as 'pitching up'

You would not have any entertainment when we leave - everything inside is ready, I do a walk-round and turn off gas. Start engine, roll. Watchers would be still drawing back curtains.

Geoff

 

[Sandancers]

Here, I've just realised.

This is a "look at me" thread isn't it ?

 

[tigerblue]

Come on it's great entertainment! However when we arrive we just stop, have a drink and by then everyone is bored watching. Then the fun begins!

 

[Vipar]

In Sardinia once we had a couple opposite who would sit for hours just staring at us. I moved the dog so that he was facing them. He just sat and stared them out . They then moved there chairs to face the opposite way.

It’s your own fault for being so good looking

 

[Wildweasle]

I used to spend occasional time at the various "Swan"s near Richmond. The pubs down there are variously affected by the tides on the Thames, but lots of people avail themselves of the free riverside road parking.

A clearly flustered mother of three arrived in an old Citroen Picasso. She was quickly warned that her car will be underwater within the hour. She moves on. Her spot was quickly filled by some stereotypical suits talking ostentantiously loudly about how much they stiffed someone last week for their bonus. Not a peep. From anyone. It was great sport watching the water level rise on their Audi A8. It didn't quite float away, but it must have been close.

Love it, stitchers well and truly stitched,

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[peterc10]

Some people on here should have a go at Aires in France. No need to stare they are right next to you and it is much more sociable. We once had an hour's chat through open windows with the French couple in the next motorhome without any of us leaving our motorhomes or raising our voices. And all of us in pyjamas.

Doesn't take long enough for us to set up to be worthwhile people staring. Stop on pitch, handbrake on, get out and press the button on remote for levellers, put the kettle on or get the wine/beer out and put the chairs out if it is warm enough.

If I do notice people staring I tend to smile and wave. That usually leads them either turning the other way and ignoring us or smiling and waving back, in which case I will wander over and introduce ourselves. That can lead to just a quick chat, or, on the good occasions, a long noisy drunken evening.

 

[Rachelc]

The only time I've noticed staring was when trying to negotiate tight pitches in France where there is inadequate turning room/ trees in the middle of the pitch.

It does add to the stress levels.

 

[scotzsue]

We were outside while the van next to us was putting up their blow up awning, it kept going down every time they detached the pump. having done this myself i said i would go to spek to them. John said to let them sort it out themselves, after another few attempts I did go. different type of valve to the Vango but had a play and worked out how the valve worked. Left a very happy family of 5 with a small VW and a massive awning having a good holiday. so sometimes having a look can be helpful.
We also had a couple opposite when we were setting up, 2 couples 2 vans, same vango awning, they timed us (we won by a short margin) and gave us a score out of 10, said they were very disappointed as no domestic by either team. Two methods, friend told her better half what should be done and he did it. I let John start off then give him a bit of advice while helping. we can get it up in the few minutes like the video it's the pegging out that takes the time.
Oops off topic
Just remember that people may apear to be staring and might not be, possibly staring into space and relaxing.

The only time I've noticed staring was when trying to negotiate tight pitches in France where there is inadequate turning room/ trees in the middle of the pitch.

It does add to the stress levels.

Have had that once dutch woman also out waving her arms, van into pitch in one go and no scratches. Just got out and said THAT is how to park a motorhome, skill and judgement.

 

[jessthedog]

I know exactly how you feel. Nosey people everywhere. Being an adonis I get some funny looks as well.

 

[Littlewheels]

You would be very bored watching me Pitch Up, Arrive at pitch then push button for Auto Leveling then throw anchor out only if necessary.done 2 minutes flat,Boring ! I’m a Motorhomer not a Caravaner nor an Entertainer.

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