Quiet here lately..(the random chat thread)

dickwod1 · 12-09-2012 5:04pm

I was on an economy run on the way home so brought it up to 80 kph on the motorway and never accelerated more going up or down the hills but it was mainly flat or down hill so kept the foot steady and seems to be the way to go for best fuel efficiency

SeamusG97 · 22-05-2016 10:20pm

Bump....
This forum has gotten a bit tumbleweed lately apart from the technical stuff (Sir L and Crabbyp and of course Aidan_M_M)
Where are all you motorhome people hiding?

piuswal · 23-05-2016 12:21am

Was not aware of it until now.

MH out in driveway. Need to get Gasflow fixed this week and then a few trips about the country before heading to France June 26 via HH and Dover.

Any one been down central France, Clermont Ferrand, Vulcania, Avignon, Gordes onto the Camargue?

Nekarsulm · 23-05-2016 11:05am

Been using it to bring the kids to swimming/dance class etc, to keep things operational. Went down to Kilkenny for the Rhythm&Roots festival for 3 nights. Going well, alternator belt needs slight tightening / changing as it squeals for a while on start up.
Still trying to get my head around the wiring set up the previous owners were running.
No less than two extension reels up on top of the press over the sink, one runs to the inverter.
Plus, there is a "legacy" reversing camera but no screen, and a tv aerial plus wiring in place, but the flat screen tv is only hooked to a dvd player. And the light at the side door isn't working, and I can't find where the feed to the switch comes from.

SeamusG97 · 23-05-2016 11:07pm

piuswal wrote: »

Was not aware of it until now.

MH out in driveway. Need to get Gasflow fixed this week and then a few trips about the country before heading to France June 26 via HH and Dover.

Any one been down central France, Clermont Ferrand, Vulcania, Avignon, Gordes onto the Camargue?

Yes - been to most of those places. Two Adults and Two small girls that have grown into teenagers over the years, visiting these parts most summers.
We usually approach Provence from a different direction, sometimes head homeward through central France. TBH we find the centre of France a bit lifeless and usually make our way through it (northwards!) without too much delay.
Looking at where you are thinking of going to, Gordes is a lovely medieval town with stunning views over the countryside. There's an Aire which has a steep slope so you might want to overnight elsewhere.

Nearby, and of interest, to name a few:

Fontaine de Vacluse - River Sorgues flows out of a spring in the side of the mountain, green and cold. It is a lovely touristy and pretty place. Aire and camping available. Canoeing and walking and fishing as well.
L'Isle Sur Sorgue - A whole town that specialises in Antiques. You'll find everything there, except a bargain...
Avignon - A well known Medieval City - Palais de Papes to be visited.
Rousillion/Menerbes/Bonnieux and several more medieval villages perched on rocks overlooking the plains below. There's a danger of getting maxed out seeing one impossibly pretty medieval town after another..
Heading west, There's Tarrascon/Beaucaire. Bullfighting is popular (They don't hurt the animals and many villages have a bullring) and worth paying a few euro to go into one. These are really raw and authentic and not touristy at all. It's the local sport and a bit like going to see a GAA match here at home.
To the South, Arles is a beautiful old city with roman Amphitheatre and lots of stuff to see relating to Van Gogh and just a nice place to be in.
Heading westward toward the coast and there's Aigues Mortes in the Camargue - an intact medieval walled town, lots of shops, very touristy and very nice.
if you drive south from Arles (Towards Saintes Maries de la Mer) You'll find lots of places along the way offering trekking on the camargue white ponies that are a signature of the area (A certain generation will remember Crin Blanc from their French class in the Inter Cert). It's low-lying and wet ground so expect many biting insects.
Pont de Gard is a Roman three tiered bridge which is very impressive and is a hugely popular tourist attraction. It will easily eat up an afternoon. There's camping nearby in Remoulins. There's canoeing on the river from Remoulins which isn't too demanding and pleasant and you get to paddle underneath this massive structure.
Not that far to the east (a few hours drive) there's the Verdon Valley. Sainte Croix de Verdon has the most stunning view I have ever seen. There's an Aire and some nice places to eat nearby and enjoy the view. You can continue along the valley (a day's easy drive) to Castellane which is also beautiful, and a few interesting adventures along the way - I won't spoil it. But I'm getting carried away now and will stop.

All in all there's a lot to do without travelling too far.
There are good Aires in:

Aigues Mortes
Arles ( basic but free and on the bank of the river) and in the town.
Saintes Maries de la Mer but bring the mozzie spray
Remoulins has a large and busy campsite which is pleasant
L'Isle sur Sorgue - a tarmac carpark but convenient for loading up that piece of antique furniture...
Fontaine de Vacluse has a small campsite on the edge of the river with a pool, as well as a barriered Aire.
Sainte Croix de Verdon. Usually busy but a stunning view.
Castellane - under the Roc. If you go there it will make sense

There's a lot more that I can't remember at the moment. It's a long way south but well worth the effort. And the weather will be perfect.:cool:

piuswal · 24-05-2016 12:34pm

Thanks for that remarkable list of places and comments.

I'm hoping to travel the lonely Planet trip 13 of France's Best Trips, Volcanoes of the Auvergne from Vulcania through Puy de Dome, etc onto Salers and then go across to Avignon and on from there.

However I now see that the fuel strike has spread;

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36366912

see

https://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/list/

for a list of stations affected and details of an app which will kep you up to date.

I remember a strike, sometime in the 80's I think.

We wondered what all the tractors were doing at the entrances to toll booths and very soon found that we had to come of the motorway. Even then there routes blocked but as foreigners we were allowed through.

We eventually pitched our trailer tent in Lyon where a family we knew trough school exchanges found a small station that supplied us.

I remember seeing the CRS riot police escorting fuel trucks along the motorway beside the campsite.

Hopefully it will be sorted by June 27th. If not will have to fill up at UK prices and possibly head into Belgium and Germany instead.

Thanks again, SeanusG97

SeamusG97 · 24-05-2016 10:10pm

piuswal wrote: »

Thanks for that remarkable list of places and comments.

I'm prone to that - Combination of Google Earth, Ten finger typing and a few Beers. Results in a brain dump.:o
Maybe somebody will find it useful and half as much fun as we have. I'll bet five other people could post the same amount without mentioning any of the same places.
I hope you enjoy it if you manage to find the fuel to get there.... I'm sure the strike will be over by the time you leave.

Quiet here lately..(the random chat thread)

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