Motorhome and Camper Vans UK - March Edition

EUTRAVEL-WHATISREQUIRED? check Motorhome£0.00 list & CampervansUK Unbiasedproductreviews-motorhomehelp&advice clearinstructionsfornewbies-friendlymeets10 Beautifulplaces tovisitinEuropeMarch2015 FactorFiction? Péage Weinvestigatethestories Understanding behindgasattacks. Frenchtollroads Doesitreallyhappenand isitactuallypossible?

UnderstandingtheFrenchTollRoadIfit’syourfirsttriptoFrancethenitcanbequitedaunting.YouhaveplentytothinkaboutandthenyouhavetofacethePéage!TheFrenchTollRoad.Butfearnot,we’regoingtogiveyoutheconfidenceyouneedtogetyouthroughthem.BonCourage!Frenchmotorwaysorautoroutesastheyareknown,aredesignatedwithnumbersprecededbytheletterA(forAutoroute).Anexampleofthisistheroutefrom CalaistoReimswhereyouwouldtaketheA26oryoucouldtaketheA16towardsAmiens.MostautoroutesaretollmotorwaysorastheyarecalledinFrance,Péage(pronouncedpay-arje);Entrancestothem areclearlymarkedassuch. Rememberthoughthatyoudohaveachoice whetheryouwanttousethetollroadornotand thereareclearsignsacoupleofkilometers awaygivingalternativeroutes. Lookatthephotographontheleft,itclearly showstworoutestoAIXlesBAINS. TheleftisbyanNroadwhereastherightis byanArouteorPéageroute. Whattodowhenjoiningthetollroad Whenyoufirstenteratollroadyouarerequiredtotakeaticket. Simplydriveuptooneoftheticketmachineswhichwillbeonthe passengersideifyouareinarighthanddrivevehicle,andpressthe button.Thentaketheticket. PutitsomewheresafebecauseyouwillneedthistoexitthePéage. ContinueyourjourneyandusethemanyAiresalongtheroute.Theseareconsideredsafetouseandare amuchbetterqualitythanonotherroutes.Fuelwillbemoreexpensivealongtheseroutessoit’sbest tofillupbeforeyoujointhePéageifyoucan.Supermarketsarethecheapestbyfar. Thespeedlimitsincreaseontheseroadsbutmakesureyourdriveatthelegalspeedlimitforyour vehicle.Alsonotethatifitrainsthenthespeedlimitlowers.

HowtopaywhenleavingthetollroadYouneedtobeinthecorrectlanebutdonotpanicasyouhaveplentyoftimetodothis,justslowdown,observethespeedlimitandlookattheoverheadsigns.Ifyouareinahighervehicle,amotorhomeforexamplethenthefirstthingtolookoutforareboothswithoutheightrestrictionbarriers.Letstakealookatthephotobelowstartingfrom the1stleft.ThisisarestrictedbothinheightandyouneedaTélécharger(electronicdevice)toletyouthrough.The2ndoneisforTéléchargerorcashandtheheightisnotrestrictedsoyoucouldusethisbooth.The3rd&4thareforTéléchargerorpaymentbycardbuthaveaheightrestriction.The5thboothisamannedbooth,unrestrictedinheightandacceptspaymentbycardorcashsoyoucouldusethisboothandsomepeoplepreferthem.The6thboothisunrestrictedinheightandisTéléchargerorcardsoyoucouldusethisbooth.Thefinaloneisforstaffonly. Onceyouareatthecorrectbooththenormalprocedureistoplacetheticketyouacquiredwhenyoufirst enteredthetollroadintothepayboothorifyouareatamannedbooththenhandittothenicemanand sayBonjour!Hewilltellyouhowmuchtopayandyoucanpaybycardorcash. Ifyouhaveenteredthelanethatacceptscashpaymentthenfollowtheinstructionsatthebooth,youeither placethecorrectamountofloosecoinsintoalargebasketorplacenotesintoamachine. IfpayingbycardthenVisaorMastercardisaccepted.Yourticketgoesinfirst,thenreadthescreen. Beforeyoupaymakesurethescreenattheboothischargingyouforthecorrectclassofvehicle. Atypicalmotorhomeisclass2buttherearecaseswhereclass3hasbeencharged. Ifthisisthecaseandyouthinkit’samistakethenpressthebuttontospeaktotheattendantandtellthem inyourbestFrenchthatyouareacamping-car. Ifyouareover3metershighandover3.5Tonnesthenyou couldhaveaproblem asyouaretechnicallyaclass3vehicle andwillhavetopayclass3charges. Youcanthenmakeyourpaymentbythechosenmethod. Onceyourpaymenthasbeenacceptedthebarrierwillraiseand youcancarryonwithyourjourney. Congratulations!youhavemadeitthrough yourfirstfrenchPéage

PlanningatripoutoftheUK butwithinEurope?Youalreadyknowwhat’srequiredtohaveinyourmotorhomefortravelingaroundtheUKbutareyouawareoftherequirmentsinothercountrieswithintheEU?We’veputtogetheraneasytounderstandlistforthemostcommonplacesyoumightvisit.Oursuggestionistocarryequipmenttocoveryouineverycountrythenyoureallyarepreparedforthatunplannedvisit.Belowisachecklisttakenfrom theAAwebsite.Although,forexampleitisnotarequirementinFrancetohaveafirstaidkititmakesperfectsensetohaveoneanyway.

Thelistoppositeisnotanexhaustivelistofcompulsoryitems.Compulsoryorrequireditemscouldvaryorchangeandfinesmaybeimposedforfailuretocarrycompulsoryitems.Pleasedocheckthelatestmotoringlawsinthecountriesyouarevisitingbeforeyouvisit.Itisrecommendedthateachvehiclecarriesatleasttwohighvisibilityjacketsinthepassengercompartment.Requirementsvaryfrom countrytocountry. France-breathalysers DriversinFrancehavebeenrequiredtocarryaself-testbreathalysersinceJuly 2012withenforcementbyfinesoriginallyplannedfor1Novemberbut subsequentlypostponedto1March2013.NowtheFrenchgovernmenthas announcedthattheimplementationofthesanction(fine)fordriversnotcarrying abreathalyser–afineof€11–hasbeenpostponedindefinitely.Soyouarestillrequiredtocarryaself-testbreathalyserwhendrivinginFrancebutthereisnocurrentlegislationdemandingafinefornon-compliance.Buttobehonestnobodydoeshavethem astheyhaveashelflifeandtheyarehardlyeveravailableintheshops!Documentstotakewithyou:Validfull(notprovisional)drivinglicence&drivinglicencepapercounterpart–ifyouhaveaphotocardlicence.Vehicleregistrationdocument(V5c)–theoriginalnotacopy.Motorinsurancecertificate.Passport(s).Yourtravelinsurancedocuments.Checkwithyourmotorinsurertomakesureyouhavethecoveryouexpectwhendrivingabroad.Youmayneedtonotifythem whenyoutravelabroadorprovideonlythirdpartycoverwhenyoudo.BreakdownCoverIfyouareheadingtotheContinent,youwillneedspecificEuropeancarbreakdowncover.Youmaybeabletoaddcoverwithyourexistingprovider.Alternatively,youcouldlooktopurchaseitseparatelyfrom aproviderofferingstandaloneEuropeanbreakdowncover.WithdedicatedEuropeanbreakdowncover,yougetthesameguaranteesasyouwouldwithaUKbreakdowncoverpolicy–meaningthatifyourunintotrouble,youwillgetyourcarrepairedatthesideoftheroador,ifthat’snotpossible,atalocalgarage.Inmoreseriouscases,ifyourvehicleneedstobebroughtbacktotheUK,yourpolicywillalsocoveryouforthis.Butcrucially,asmentionedabove,youmustnotrelyonyourexistingUKbreakdownpolicy,asmanydonotoffercoverforEurope.Agreatsourceforquotesiswww.moneysupermarket.com

GASATTACKS Factor Fiction?In2014anationalnewspaperreportedaBritishcoupleclaimingtheywereattackedwhiletravellingthroughFranceintheirmotorhomeandwererenderedunconsciousbya“knockoutgas”whichwasreleasedthroughtheirvehicle’sairvents.Accordingtosomeinternationalhauliersgasattacksareadailyoccurrence.Theyinsistthatexpertsclaimingitisamythhavegottheirfactswrong.TheRoyalCollegeofAnaesthetists(RCOA)releasedastatementsayingthereisnoknowngasthatcouldachievethis.YESIt’strue:PUBLISHED:7September2014intheMailOnline,thisisanextractfrom thereport.AfamilyhaveclaimedtheyweregassedandrobbedafterparkingtheirmotorhomeinaFrenchservicearea–thelatestinaspateofattacksonBritishtourists.MrT,51,hiswife,52,andtheirchildren,daughter20,and14-year-oldSonwereasleepintheir£65,000SwiftKon-tikimotorhomewhenthethievesstruckintheearlyhours.Thefamilyonlyrealisedthebreak-inhadoccurredwhentheywokethenextmorningwithsorethroatsandheadaches–andfoundthatabout£2,000ofvaluablesweremissing.ThefamilyweretravellingtoSwitzerlandtwoweeksagowhentheydecidedtospendthenightinawell-litrestareaontheA4motorwaynearMetz,agarrisontownintheLorraineregion.MrTsaid:‘Webelievethethievespumpedlaughinggasinthroughtheventstoknockusout.Theythenransackedourmotorhomewithusinside.‘Nobodyheardthem breakinginthroughthemaindoorandwewereoutthatcoldthattheythenbrokeoutthroughanotherdoor.Itisstillamazingtothinknoneofusstirredorheardasound.NOIt’samyth:The RCOAremainsdubious.Inastatement,itsaysthatdespite“increasingnumberofreports…andthewarningputoutbytheForeignOfficefortravellerstobeawareofthisdanger,thisCollegeremainsoftheviewthatthisisamyth.”Itadds:“Itwouldnotbepossibletorendersomeoneunconsciousbyblowingether,chloroform oranyofthecurrentlyusedvolatileanaestheticagentsthroughthewindowsofamotorhomewithouttheirknowledge,eveniftheyweresleepingatthetime.”TheCollegeexplainsthatetherisextremelypungent,relativelyweakandhasanirritanteffectthatwouldcausecoughingandvomiting.Itaddsthatthesmellhangsaroundfordays.“Eventhemorepowerfulmodernvolatileagentswouldneedtobedeliveredintankerloadsofcarriergasbyalargecompressor.”TheRCOAadmitsthatRussiansecurityforcesreliedonanunknownagenttorenderhostagetakersunconsciousduringtheMoscowtheatrecrisisin2002,butsayssuchagentsarefewinnumberanddifficulttoobtain.“Moreover,thesedrugswouldbetooexpensivefortheaveragethieftouse.IntheMoscowsiegeapproximately20% ofthepeopledied,mainlyfrom obstructiondirectlyrelatedtotheagentused.”Andpointingtotherecentnationalheadlines,headds:“It’sfunny,onceitaffectsthegreatEnglishpublicdrivingtheircarsormotorhomesabroad,it’sinthepapers.Wehavelivedwiththisthreatformorethan20years.”VERDICT? Youdecide....

BeautifulPlacestoVisitinEuropeWeaskedyou,ourmemberstowriteashortarticleonplacesyouhavebeeninyourMotorhomethatmightbeofinteresttoothergroupmembers.Theresponsewasfantastic,thankyou! MemberName:AnneWineO'clockDurrant TheJourney–Anne,Phil&Poppy2014 Havingrecentlyretired,weboughta campervan–ToyotaTownace1995and decidedtodrivetoCorfuforourfirsttrip.We plannedonstaying3months.Wehavebeen visitingArillasforabout20yearsatleastonce ayearandwerelookingforwardtospending moretimethere.Itisareallylaidbacktypical Greekvillage,onlyacoupleofbarsbutlotsof tavernas.Overtheyearswehavemademany friendsbothGreekandex-pats.Thebeachis beautifulgoldensandwithagentleslopeto thewater. Afteralltheusualprepsi.e.ourprescriptions for3monthsandPoppy’spassportwewere readytogo.Wedecidedtotakeourtimeand havealeisurelydrive–weplannedon300 milesaday,andallowed4daystoreachBari. Perfect! WedrovetoHullon30.3.14andboarded NorthSeaFerrytoZeebruges.Poppywas placedinanairconditionedkennelandsettled inquiteeasily.Shehadcompanyinthenext kennel,ablackandwhiteBordercollietype dog,veryfriendly.Wevisitedthekennels duringtheeveningandbothdogswere pleasedtoseeus.

LuckilywewereOK-no€5000fine!Day1-31.3.14WearrivedinBelgium about8am -lettheadventurebegin.Wethoughtwewouldbeabletofollowtheroadsignsbutwedidaslightdetour,sohadtostopandputthesatnavon,shesoonfoundus.Wehadapleasantdrive,almostblinkedandmissedourshortdrivethroughHolland.WestoppedforlunchinGermany@ RasthofPeppenhoven,Rheinbach,Nordrhein-Westfalen-threecountriesinabout15minutes!Wesettleddownforthenight@ SindelfingerWaldnearStuttgartitwasalovelyplacetostop-lotsofgrassandpicnictables.Poppyhadagoodplay.Day2-1.4.14-AprilFool’sDayWedroveonthroughGermanywhenwestoppedforlunchatarestplacePoppycharmedacoachloadofabout40Chinesepeople.Theyalllovedher-throwingsticksandhavingtheirphotostakenwithher-itwasgoodfun.WetestedournewtoasteroutintheCampervan-itworksverywell!TheafternoondrivewasaquickdashthroughAustria,thedaybeforewelefthome,PhilreadthatyouaresupposedtohaveWintertyresonuntil15thApril,butitwastoolatetodoanythingaboutit.Thereforewemadethedecisionnottostop-itwasonly1hourand50minutes-luckilywewereOK-no€5000fineandnoconfiscatingofthevehicle.Phew-wewillbefineonthewayback-after15thAprilsowewillbeabletostopoffbecausedieselischeapthere.WedroveonthroughthespectacularBrennerPass(€8.50).oneapprehensivemomentwaswhenacarovertookmeonahill,Iam surehehadforgottenhewastowingatrailer,andalmostclippedourfront,Ihadtobrakesharply-myheartwasinmymouthandIforgotto'wave'myhornathim!Wehavenowboughtadashcam forthisyear’strip.Westoppedforthenight@ AutogrillAffiAutostradadelBrenneronearLakeGarda-nicePizza-700milesdone-500togo. Day3-2.4.14 Fairlyboringdrivetoday,buttheAutostradaisaverygoodroad,thereforeweeasilydidanother300miles. Westopped forthenight@ TortoretonearPescara,Italy.WemetamanwhohasahouseinPerdita,he sawourwheelcoverandcameoverandspoketousasheknowsArillaswell.Hewillbeonthesameferry asus.from Bari.1000milesdone! Day4-3.4.14 WehadaneasydrivedowntoBari-anddrovepastCattolicanearRimini,wherewespentourhoneymoon, 33yearsago.WehadsomelovelyviewsoftheAdriaticaswefollowedthecoastlinedowntheA14to TermolibeforewedroveinlandtoBarlettaandthenmoreseaviewstoBari.WepaidtheToll-€74-Total 1200miles.WeboardedtheSuperfast1ferry,andwewereabletocampondeckwithamainshookup andalsokeepPoppywithusintheCampervan. Day5-4.4.14 WearrivedinIgoumenitsa@ 6am andhadashortdrivetotheotherendofthePorttocatchtheferryfor Corfu(€90-return).Sailed@ 8.30andarrived@ 11am.Westoppedoffanddidsomeshoppingontheway uptoArillas. Wehavedriven1200miles-spent€347.50onDieselandTolls.+€850 onreturnFerries.Soassuminga similartotalfordieselandtollsonthereturn-ithascostus€1545or£1278.00.

CampingKursaal–LakeTrasimeno–Italy MemberName:MarissaJones Website:www.campingkursaal.it Latitude:43.183527°-Longitude:12.150500°InOctober2013weheadedforItalytofindmyhusbandPaul’suncleswargraveatSangroRiverWarCemetery.WewentarmedwithanoldSostabook(ItalianversionofAires)thatourfriendsgaveusdated2007,soatadoutofdate!Afterourvisittothecemetery,wedecidedthatthelargelakeonthemapofItalywasworthavisit.SooffweheadedwithourbookandaSostainmindbyLakeTrasimenoinPassignano.WhenwearrivedtheSostawasclosed,sooffweheadedtothenearestcampsitethatwasopen(mostwerealsoshutduetothetimeofyear!).WeheadedjustashortdistanceuptheroadandfoundCampingKursaal.irstimpressionswereverygood.Thecampsiteissetinthegroundsofahotelthatusedtobeaprivatevilla,nestledonthesideofLakeTrasimeno.LakeTrasimenoisinabeautifulareabetweentheregionsofTuscanyandUmbria.TrasimenoisthelargestlakeofCentralItaly,locatedintheprovinceofPerugia.Theareaiswellknownforitsmedievalpalacesandcastles.ThecampsiteisonthenorthernbankoftheLake,about800metersfrom thecenterofPassignano,whichisnicknamed\"thejewelofTrasimeno\".Passignanoisasmallmedievaltownbuiltroundtheremainsofamagnificentcastle.Thecastlewasclosedwhenwewerethereasonlyopenedcertaindaysoutofseason.Itwasabitofaclimbuptothecastlegate,butthestreetswerelovelytowonderaroundandtheviewswellworththeeffort!Theplotsforparkingareseparatedfrom thenextonebyhedges/treesandfrom whatwerememberallofthem areconnectedtothemains(4/6Amp).Youpaymoreforthelakeview,butitwaswellworththeextra€2toseethosesunsetswithalovelyglassofwine,butasthedriver(myhusband)pointedout,quiteafewtreestonegotiate,butworthitfortheposition.Facilitiesonthesitewereplentiful,balconyoverlookingthelake;bar/cafeteria,swimmingpool(closedwhenwewerethereduetothetimeofyear);verysmallprivatebeach;toiletsandlovelyshowerfacilities(bothmale&femaleweregood);facilitiesforthedisabled;motorhometoiletemptying,greyandfreshwaterfacilities;washingmachines,tumbledryers;children'splayarea;freeWi-Fi(wefoundthiswasonlyavailablebythehotel,wecouldnotreachitwithourextender/antennaduetothetrees).

Forthosewholikewatersportsthereweremanyadvertisedatthereceptionandinthetown. KursaalCampsiteisveryeasytogetto:leavetheA1motorwayatValdichiana,thentakethering roadforPerugiaasfarasPassignanoEst,turnrightandacoupleofminuteslateryouwillsee theentrancetothecampsiteonyourleft. L'EtangduRocdelaFrance MemberName:LynneTurnerWehavebeenvisitingmydaughterandherfamilyinLeLot(region46)intheMidi-Pyrenees,SouthWestFranceforthelasttwentyfouryearsorsobuthaveonlybeenmotorhomingforthelasttwoandahalfyears.WehavepassedthisbeautifulpondwhichissituatedalongsidetheD31roadjustsouthofthevillageofLatronquieremanytimes,saying“Wemuststophereoneday”sofinallywedid!LastOctoberwedecidedtoparkupourbelovedmotorhomeunderthetreesandtakeawalkaround,thesunwasshiningandwestrolledaroundl'etang,mestoppingeveryfewminutestophotographeverything,from allthedifferenttypesoffungiwhichflourishthere,thereflectionsinthewater,trees,mosses,caterpillar,toinfact,anythingthatstayedstilllongenough!Wehadabrewinthemotorhomebeforereluctantlymovingon.OurgrandchildrenloveleLacDuTolerme,whichisnottoofarawayontheothersideofLatronquiere,it'salakewithamanmadebeach,footpath,naturepath,play,picnicandbarbecueareas,insummerthere'sacafeteria,pedalos,canoes,waterslides,trainingcircuitandanadjacentcampsite. FigeacisthenearesttowntoLatronquiere, sittingontheRiverCele,Figeacboastsa longhistory,notleastbeingonthevia Podiensis,amajorhikingmedieval pilgrimagetrailwhichispartoftheWayof StJames,today,asapartofFrance's system oftrailsitislabelledtheGR65. Jean-FrancoisChampolionthefirst translatorofEgyptianhieroglyphicswas bornheregivinghisnametothe ChampollionMuseum.Agiantcopyofthe RosettaStonebyJosephKosuthistobe foundonthe“PlacedesEcritures”. WeloveFrenchmarketsandFigeac'sis oneofthebest,heldonSaturdaymornings itisTHEplacetobuywonderfullocalproduce,includingthefreshestvegetablesandfruit,cheeses,mushrooms,foiegras,pates,Quercyfarmlamb,gooseandduck,togetherwithaligot(alocaldishofmeltedcheeseblendedwithmashedpotatoandgarlic).Ifyoureallywantto,youcanbuylivechickens,ducksandrabbits–notforus!Wehavespentmanyanenjoyablehourwithacoffeeorlunch,sittingoutsideoneofthenumerousrestaurantsintheancientcobbledstreetsjustenjoyingthesunandpeoplewatching.BythesideoftheRiverisamunicipalcampsite,withinwalkingdistanceofthetownbutopeninsummeronly.Ifsceneryisyourthing,thisareaisstunningandoneofmyfavouritepastimesistositinthemotorhometakinginthevistasovertheCantalmountainsandtowardsthePyrenees,watchingthemorningmistdriftthroughthevalleybelowmydaughter'shouse,sometimesobliteratingthedistantvillagechurchtowerfromview,thesilenceonlybrokenbythecallofthebuzzardsastheywheelaroundaboveme.LatronquiereandFigeachaveaireswithspaceforfivevans,topupyourwaterandemptyyourloo,(notgreywaterinLatronquiere)ehuinFigeac.