Stuck in Spain
We are currently in lockdown on a good site Gandia area. Ferry home has been cancelled 3 weeks in advance. Quite happy to wait it out, but would appreciate contact, and news from others in same position.
what’s everyone else doing?
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Check out other threads in this Overseas section, Spark, including. Rowena's sticky thread at the head of the page.
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Hi
We're also locked down on site, we're in southern Murcia. Miles of fantastic coastline and superb beaches all no go areas!! We're on a small site and there's only twenty occupied outfits. Now into a lockdown routine of mountain walks, reading, odd jobs helping site and a large dose of wine tasting. We've only moved the rv here this year so still setting up the pitch, new shed being delivered Wednesday so plenty to be occupied with. Don't start back to wotk with the club until May so hopefully travel will be easier by then.
Could be worse eh?!
JK
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well looking at various areas of Spain and just how involved the guardia are in enforcing all the different rules , regulations and ensuring people do not stray into parks, beaches etc, I think i would be right in saying that if /when such stringent measures are introduced into the UK, the police force will never be able to police them because we do not have enough bobbies on the beat
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And there was myself and several of our vunerable neighbours , especially the ladies were hoping to have a police officer to keep us indoors
Ps when getting my repeat prescription at our local chemist ,several oldies wre aking about toilet rolls and were advised they can have a pack of two in a plain bag (to reduce the chances of being mugged
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Hi
Yes the enforcers are out in force busy enforcing. On the spot fines like confetti, the lady in our reception fined for walking the dog, people threatened for going shopping as a couple instead of going singly Helicopters and drones out night and day.
JK.
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Yeah, one of them!
JK
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If you want up to date news here in Spain this newspaper do an English version.
El Pais in English
They are now closing the borders to all foreigners only Residents can cross into Spain.
There is also a story today saying the government has taken over all private healthcare and put it into the national healthcare system.
Phil
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That's closing borders for 30 days minimum Phil
JK
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Hi
I'm on the one that takes large rv's Lutz!!
JK
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"They are now closing the borders to all foreigners only Residents can cross into Spain."
i saw the article and mentioned those coming in to Spain, no mention of those crossing to leave, do you know the situation...we still have plenty of pals there although we are now in France.
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Morning,
We are waiting to see if we can leave after the initial two week lockdown and drive up through France to the tunnel. It's doubtful we'll be allowed into France though. Brittany ferries hope to resume sailings from Santander and Bilbao from 12/4, we're booked on 15/4 anyway. Fingers crossed this lockdown has the desired effect.
Mantenerse a salvo Amigos
JK
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No mention of people stuck on campsites here on the local/national news but they are allowing tourist to leave by plane it showed Alicante airport yesterday and it was teeming with people trying to get home. We have a friend who returned to Benicassim on Saturday and is now stuck there.
There was some talk yesterday that they may have to extend for a further two weeks, this is being done to stop Madrileños fleeing and visiting their second homes on the coast which caused a spike of new cases last week. Now they have all been returned to Madrid by the police/Guardia.
One last bit of bad news and this is worst case scenario someone from the Health ministry interviewed yesterday stated it could be April 2021 before Spain is finally free of the virus
Un Saludo
Phil
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BBC news said the other day that ten thousand army would be available. So with a population of what sixty odd million? Token effort springs to mind!
Funny what jobs spring up when you have even more time on your hands. Today we are stripping the RV out completely, cleaning and disinfecting every inch. Then chucking out stuff that hides in the cupboards for eons! Tomorrow I'll be doing the camper van while the wife tries once again to get out to buy supplies. Hopefully also tomorrow my new shed will be delivered, crikey, it's like being back at work!! Got to keep the chin up eh?! The Spanish are very, very frightened, the other Europeans here wished they were back with their loved ones but obviously can't. We've all agreed here on site to keep a minimum meter distance away when chatting and to share info as and when.
It's best not to sit and ponder too long, it's sort of hard to comprehend what's happening. Hey a cycle ride to the roadblock and a dressing down from the big man with a gun should bring back focus!!
Stay Safe
JK
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Just to warn people that Brittany Ferries are to suspend all passenger services
Taken from the BBC News website:/Brittany Ferries is to suspend all passenger services as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
The company, which had already halted some crossings , said the last passenger sailing would leave Santander in Spain on Saturday, bound for Portsmouth.
Passengers will be asked to remain in their cabins over the coming days and bring their own food, as there will be none available on board.
The services are suspended until at least 23 March.
Freight ferries will continue to operate between the continent, and Portsmouth and Rosslare.
The French firm said passengers should only travel if their journeys were "essential".
It said the company was in "good financial health" and had no plans for job losses among its 2,500-strong workforce, which includes 300 staff in the UK.
A spokesman said: "Some staff will work from home, others may need to take annual leave."
Previously the firm said it regretted the disruption and would resume normal services as soon as the situation allowed.
Final passenger sailings
Portsmouth-St Malo: 20:30 Tuesday (from St Malo)Portsmouth-Caen: 14:45 Thursday (from Portsmouth)
Portsmouth-Le Havre: already suspended
Poole-Cherbourg: already suspended
Plymouth-Roscoff: 15:00 Wednesday (from Roscoff)
Portsmouth-Bilbao: 17:15 Wednesday (from Bilbao)
Portsmouth-Santander: 20:30 Saturday (from Santander)
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BBC news said the other day that ten thousand army would be available. So with a population of what sixty odd million? Token effort springs to mind!
So should I just tell my son then to not bother putting his and his fellow soldiers lives on the line then as its not worth the effort
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TG, lives on the line telling folk to get indoors?! Think you got the wrong end of the stick there? Well probably not in lawless londonntown!!
Utmost respect for our armed forces
JK
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the last Cherbourg ferry was cancelled mid afternoon (prior to the tea time sailing) and all traffic was bumped across to Caen where we are all sat on the dock....having checked in.
even with two ferries worth of vehicles, its a pretty small number.
no services will be operating on board and we have a slightly longer drive home, but at least we will be sailing.....we think
in visiting a french village to park up for lunch, went through a Police 'roadblock' three times....many french cars stopped for 'questioning' but we were waved through (three times....) with just a glance at our registration plate....."c'est Les Anglais, n'est ce pa?"
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Come on JK, Play fair
I have trouble understanding what Cornishmen say never mind them there Continentals so please provide me with a crib sheet if you please, pretty please
{ I could have asked my mates but they are enjoying a winter holiday in Fuengirola or some such }
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FWIW ....
Link, for those interested, of my ramblings & posts on our character building travel Mojacar Almeria to Dover 9am 15/3/20 to 10pm 17/3/20. Three very long days. No fines, never stopped, no borders 'closed', no assistance.
Link
https://www.caravantalk.co.uk/community/topic/142956-17320-en-route-spain-to-calais-info-update/
Very glad we ignored all the false rumours, bit the bullet and just rapidly departed. In contact now with many from our site who dithered with false hopes and then stayed as they had a Ferry booked in two+ weeks time and couldn't wouldn't contemplate the overland drive.
NB CMC ( & CCC) you really should sort out your act now. At least get up to speed with updated information & to contact, assist and re-assure your countless worried members, many over 70, suddenly now stuck overseas and many in great distress - but what do I know.
Await critic
M
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NB CMC ( & C&CC) you really should sort out your act now. At least get up to speed with updated information & to contact, assist and re-assure your countless worried members, many over 70, suddenly now stuck overseas and many in great distress - but what do I know.
Is this not what the Club has been doing according one of Rowena's posts? The ability of the Club to help has been severely curtailed because countries have impose movement bans, ferry companies have cancelled ferries. You made the decision to leave Spain and make your way back through France which on reflection sounds eminently sensible. However given that those left behind also had access to the same information you had why did they not act? The Club will help in any way it can but you can't place the blame of the Club for other peoples inaction especially now there is little in practical terms that the Club can now do. Was the Club meant to second guess/predict what has actually happened?
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Thanks OP, eldest son is already in lots of meetings sorting out where his guys and gals are going to be needed.
OH once we get home, will be organising the village emergency committee to assist all the elderly in our area who no doubt are very worried. The calls that he has made already to some of our neighbours confirms how frighten they are.
There will be some in society that will sit at home and moan, there will be others that will just quietly get on with things
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