Sun sun sun here we come

berni109

berni109

Joined
Sep 10, 2012
Posts
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Location
worcester
Funster No
22,842
MH
Sunliving van
Exp
2012
18 Jan 25 Amboise France.
At last we managed to get away on our jaunt to Spain's med coast. Nothing booked just winging it so as long as we can service the van we will be fine.
Both ill from Christmas eve with colds (sure mine was man flu) unable to shake it off so delayed the ferry by a week.
Uneventful journey down to Newhaven but don't recommend the M25 on a Friday afternoon. Ever time I travel on the M25 I vow never to again but unless we go for a western channel crossing (in the winter?) there is no realistic alternative.
After reading recommendations for the Newhaven crossing decided to give it a go. Good price and the 'superior' cabin was as good as most hotels we've stayed in.
Managed a few hours sleep but we misunderstood the docking times so the staff were hammering on our door telling us we were holding up half the lower deck from disembarking as we were up against the ramp. (If you were behind us - sorry).
0°C when we got off with freezing mist then it went down to -1°C as we headed South. Missed the snow falling but a light sprinkling across the fields as we got further on. It was warmer at home than in north central France.
5am is a good time to traverse Rouen, I don't know where Google maps actually took us but we made it without seeing a low bridge.
Miserable cold damp/wet journey south to Amboise but the redeeming feature is a free municipal motorhome parking area (no services) within easy walking distance to town. Just us and another van on a space for at least 20.
You may have read that the heater in a ducato is poor and I can confirm that it is abysmal. Cranked right up and blower on full it just about kept the worst of the cold off. Can understand why some peeps have a thick curtain blocking off the cab area but ours is only a pvc. It was so cold in the back i was worried the dump valve would empty our fresh water.
Amboise is a major tourist attraction with it's massive chateau built by Charles (the something or other) but in the cold and damp it looses some of its charm. Since it's our first day we decided to treat ourselves to lunch and whilst it was good €70 for 2 courses and a half carafe it certainly was not cheap. The days of a plate du jour seem long gone but then the kids keep telling me I'm living in the past.
Onwards and downward tomorrow but the weather forecast looks no better for a few days
 
Mike800966 said:
If travelling in the cold don't forget to shut any roof blinds.
Makes a big difference
If its that cold consider leaving the gas heating on!
Oh I know one shouldn't but..
Mike
Click to expand...
Why shouldn’t you leave gas heating on please? Our new van has diesel heating but just curious. We used to do it if it was freezing.

More importantly have a great trip Berni and Eleni, take some photos please.
 
carolyn said:
Why shouldn’t you leave gas heating on please? Our new van has diesel heating but just curious. We used to do it if it was freezing.

More importantly have a great trip Berni and Eleni, take some photos please.
Click to expand...
A naked flame and the possibility of encountering a petrol leak are not a good combination 💥 💥 💥
It only takes the vapour . . .
 
Because if you have a serious crash the gas could leak out of the damaged vehicle and make matters much worse by igniting.
So the correct rule is to have the gas turned off at the bottle and run the fridge off the 12v whilst the engine is running.
Perhaps newer vans than ours may have gas regulators which shut off if they are involved in big impact.
My opening sentence has two levels of " if" about it but that's what I was told was the correct procedure.
Mike

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Oh gosh I didn’t mean whilst driving. I meant overnight. I misunderstood Berni completely. I know the engine heater is feeble, even on our new van it’s slow. I suddenly thought people were meaning you couldn’t run gas heating overnight which seemed crazy as so many of us don’t stay on campsites all the time. I have now had more coffee, brain starting to work.
 
19 Jan to Perigueux (600 miles so far)
Thanks for the best wishes and tips folks.
Another cold day -2°C to start eventually warming up to a balmy 6C and the sun appeared for all of 5 mins. Just telling you temp so you can feel smug in subtropical UK.
Google maps came up trumps again with what felt like half the journey on country lanes and then for whatever reason stopped working all together probably no cell towers given how far we were from civilization.
The Sunday drivers were out in force this afternoon although the speed limits seem ridiculously slow on some roads.
The park up in Perigueux is ideal and easy walk to town.
 
19 Jan again.
Forgot to mention found fuel for the UK equivalent price in Loches €1.72 most places charge €1.88. Also a free dump but it was so minging I almost refused to sully my black waste and thankfully we can manage without fresh water for a bit longer.
 
Mike800966 said:
If travelling in the cold don't forget to shut any roof blinds.
Makes a big difference
If its that cold consider leaving the gas heating on!
Oh I know one shouldn't but..
Mike
Click to expand...
Do not close them completely as the pressure differential as you create 'lift' at speed, will distort the blind and suck it upwards.
 
Mike800966 said:
Perhaps newer vans than ours may have gas regulators which shut off if they are involved in big impact.
Click to expand...
Ours has, as I believe a large number do.

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Couple of photos of Amboise
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Then Perigueux
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Mon 20 jan onwards to Pont des Sables near Marmand (no I've never heard of them either)
Easy day to day 670 miles from home.
Cold start in Perigueux but a brisk walk along the river warmed us up. Interesting bits in the old areas of city but winter and Monday so almost everywhere closed. Couple of not expensive coffees then back to the van and off.
NB don't misplaced your entry ticket to the aire because it's got the pin code to get out.
Bit of shopping in superU on the way to Bergerac.
It was a bit as well but left the card €80 lighter.
So Bergerac seems to be anti motorhome but parked along the river from P4N in convenient spot. Like our previous stop winter and Monday means closed but really old area with interesting small squares and alleyways pics to follow.
Found GPL after trying 2 that were out .€0.99lt
Google maps was up to it's old tricks but fortunately a 'route barrea' forced back on to the main roads
Encountered or first traffic delays in France today there were 6 cars in front of us at the entrance to a roundabout (now that's tempting fate).
Marsen town centre was jammed solid with traffic going in the opposite direction.
Where we are spending the night has free water services but is a sloping car park so the ramps are out. I expect in the summer it's buzzing but in the depths of winter another story.
We actually saw the sun for a short while today but temper that with a spell of light rain and the fact that the temp has dropped right off again tonight.
 
Tue 20 Jan 770miles so far.
Lasy start after van water service and deciding we would cross into Spain near Irun giving ourselves a couple of days to get there. Was seriously thinking somport tunnel but chickened out.
Heading in that general direction we found a little park up in a Dax dormitory village at Meer. Cemetery one side and boul pitches the other. Quiet night maybe.
Couple or 3 thoughts on France. Roads are much better than in UK. Why have 80 KLM speed limits on straight road where you can see along them for miles and it then seems to take forever to get anywhere. Why do the French still let their dogs rubbish everywhere.
Started out chilly at 6°C but hazy sun most of the day and saw 14°C at the roadside truckers cafe where we stopped for lunch. Excellent 3 course lunch with a 1 glass of wine €35 for 2. We were lucky and got the last table. Just for comparison we had a quick drink in the local bar €6 for a small wine and a stupidly small beer.
Rain has now set in for the night.
No worthwhile photos today.
 
We came through the somport tunnel a couple of days ago and it’s absolutely fine,
Hardly any snow even on the mountain and non on the road or verges,
A couple of contra flows for on going road works but very little delay and traffic very light,

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Wed 22 Jan 70mls today 840 total.
If anybody is ever looking for a quiet no services o/n then look for Mees near Dax because you will never find it at meer where I thought we were.
Proof conclusive that our fulli tag is fubared battery must be too low. Just as well I paid the Rouen toll within the 72hr deadline by c/c.
I have someone who can lean out the window and wave a c/c. must be a nightmare for a loan traveller.
San Sebastian uni aire had plenty of space when we arrived but is nearly full now 18:00 must be difficult in the main touring season.
Nos 5 or 40 bus from the main drag go into the city for €1.85 a pop
Lunch was 3x tapas each(called something else here) plus a couple of wines €26. Coffee and cakes later €6.50. I told her she had got it wrong then paid quickly and scarpered. Maybe the French coffee and cake has some special ingredients that make it more expensive.
Funny mixture of weather today cool and bright early on then some sunshine now it's raining. Warmest it's been since we departed.
Last time we were here the rain was torrential in May a few years back.
 
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23 Jan 170 motorway miles today down to Zaragoza. 940 total miles.
Wet and miserable departure from San Sebastian and the journey across the mountains was little better. One tense moment exiting a tunnel into thick fog/low cloud when there was just a bit of mist at the entry. I expect it's a really scenic drive in clear weather. Rest of the journey in hazy sunshine and the temp was up to 17°C this afternoon (that's more like it).
Was going to bypass Zaragoza but the other Aires in the area did not look good on P4N. Can understand why this one up by the uni gets 5*. Plenty of space almost flat and right next to tram stop for town. One downside is the dirty bastard's using the drinking water tap for cassette washing.
It's a big city which is not really my thing but pleasant enough for an afternoon stroll and a drink or two.
The Romans were here at a crossing point on the Ebro and there's a bit of their wall that still exists plus a massively constructed stone bridge but that's from a different era photos to follow.
 
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The rest of the old area of the city is dominated by more churches than you can shake a stick at. And they say the church has no money but over here they are not like the money grabbing ones in the UK. Wander in and out to your heart's content.

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Last edited:
berni109 said:
23 Jan 170 motorway miles today down to Zaragoza. 940 total miles.
Wet and miserable departure from San Sebastian and the journey across the mountains was little better. One tense moment exiting a tunnel into thick fog/low cloud when there was just a bit of mist at the entry. I expect it's a really scenic drive in clear weather. Rest of the journey in hazy sunshine and the temp was up to 17°C this afternoon (that's more like it).
Was going to bypass Zaragoza but the other Aires in the area did not look good on P4N. Can understand why this one up by the uni gets 5*. Plenty of space almost flat and right next to tram stop for town. One downside is the dirty bastard's using the drinking water tap for cassette washing.
It's a big city which is not really my thing but pleasant enough for an afternoon stroll and a drink or two.
The Romans were here at a crossing point on the Ebro and there's a bit of their wall that still exists plus a massively constructed stone bridge but that's from a different era photos to follow.
Click to expand...
Me and my friend Shirley Blossom must have been a few hours behind you. We left Montguyon (above Bordeaux) and stayed at Pamplona last night. The journey was dry and sunny! (Had plenty of fog the other day mid France).
Leaving Pamplona today and heading for Teruel.
 
Just catching up with this thread, we were away last week without the van in sunny climes.

Loving the pictures, keep them coming please. Following with interest as it's a tour we're considering for next year.

Looks like you're booked/booking for the Swaffham Bash so looking forward to catching up with you there.

In the mean time Berni & Eleni stay safe and have a fantastic trip.

Colin & Janet
 
24 Jan Friday a week since we left home.
1055mls so far.
Cold overnight but wall to wall sunshine on the drive to Teruel. YES that's what it's all for.
Cheap fuel here @€1.43 thanks to p4n and the carpark seems ok at the moment but next to skate park so hopefully the Spanish youth are well behaved this evening.
A case of precognition both yesterday (worst) and today of how the UK will look in the future with wind turbines strung across the hills and mountains. Still got to keep the greens happy and keep ed and his mates champagne and cigars paid for.
Spot of lunch then off for a wander around town.
 
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The old bridge Teruel
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Grand staircase entrance to the city fortunately there is a lift back to the top.
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Cathedral
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Back in the day they obviously had a thing for ornate towers over the entrance s to the inner city. Money no object.
 
Been off to look up the towers that were built in the 1300's using designs from the Muslims who were left in northern Spain after the reconquest. This was later termed Mudejar art by a much later historian.
This really is an ideal spot for a stopover In the carpark near the gudia civil compound.
20 mins walk to town - bar 20mts away for a cheap glass or 2 of wine. Even found a fresh water tap at the corner of the skate park and the kids have all gone home.

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