New lad with old camper

Garry M
Garry M Forum Participant Posts: 3

Hi. My name is Garry. Finally got the key my father's old T4 campervan which he has had from new 20 years ago. My wife and I bought a new air awning and had about half a dozen outings last year. Mainly red faced as we are new to camping. We are planning a trip to the south of France April for a wedding. Any advice for .chanel  travel and camping will be greatfully received. Regards Garry.smile

 

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2019 #2

    Look at usefull info inthe box on the right tap discussions and scroll down to overseas advise and travel you will fid a wealth of info there

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #3

    Good to hear from you Garry. What's the plan ?   is it London to Monte Carlo, or a different start and finish.?  That might determine the channel crossing and the route. 

    Give us a broad brush idea of the time you have available for the trip too and you will get some ideas on here which ensure that absolutely nothing could possibly go wrong. 

    Best regards to you both. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2019 #4

    Hi and welcome Garry  smile.

    That T4 is about the same year as mine was and it gave me heroic service, so if yours has been treated with anything approaching reasonable TLC you should have some great times in it !!

    Just spend a bit of time scrolling thro' the DISCUSSIONS and you'll get answers to questions some of which you have not even thought to ask sealed

    Enjoy your new toy

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #5

    Hi, Garry. Welcome to the club and CT. Happy camping👍🏻

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2019 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2019 #7

    does the camper have a loo?....

    with a MH touring impromtu through france the world is your etc....as they say..

    however, a key element for us when in 'dawdling mode' is that we have all our services with us and can 'pull in (almost) anywhere'.

    if i was tied to campsites, so as to have the loo available when parked up, it would add to the hassle and remove the simplicity of touring the continent with a camper/MH.   

    there are 8000 odd aires in France alone that allow you to park safely and cheaply close to town/city centres and in wonderful countryside locations.

    i hope you enjoy your trip and get a glimpse of why touring 'there' is so different from the UK.

    good luck.

     

  • Garry M
    Garry M Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited December 2019 #8

    Thank you all for your warm comments. I'm travelling down from West Yorkshire and I guess over on Eurotunnel but open to suggestions. We are setting off approximately 30th march need to be at Rieutort saint Pargoire for a wedding on the 9th April. Then making my way home via a freind who lives Mouzon Charente and back home for approximately 17th April. I could even call off at Mouzon on the way down were flexable. I have a t4 camper which is almost 20 years old but got a new air awning to go with it when I finally get it the right way round. Lol. So we have no fancy items like a loo only a portaloo. I would needs toilets and showers for my stop offs you reckon I can make it back in one piece.

    Regards Garry

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #9

    Garry, Are you staying at the Chateau for the wedding or do you need a campsite nearby? Camping les Cigales at Pezenas - about ten miles away - is decent and will be open by then, but a lot of other sites in the area will still be closed at that time 

  • Garry M
    Garry M Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited December 2019 #10

    Hi.

    Yes Im staying at the Chateau for the wedding for two nights. My Friend has a couple of Gites and lives at Mouzon Charente where I hope to sate with him for two nights, thats the only part of my trip which i am certain about. The rest I have to plan. My euro tunnel and route down to the venues. I recon I will travel from euro tunnel as far as possible to stay for a few nights with electric and showers ??? no idea where ???

    not got a clue how long the trip will take like I said rely new to this camping thing.

    Although I have 3 times travelled down the east coast of OZ in a motor home so I have got some experience of travel.

    Garry

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2019 #11

    Garry, I'm sure you can work out a plan, but if it helps here's mine.

    Day 1. Your home to Club site at Rookesbury Park and overnight. 

    Day 2. Ferry at 0815 to Caen  - arrive 1500 and drive 100 miles down motorway to Camping Pont Romain at Le Mans and overnight. 

    Day 3 Look around Le Mans town. Stay a second night. 

    Day 4 Drive 200 miles to your friend at Mouzon. 

    Take care. 

     

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited December 2019 #12

    As a Yorkshireman, you could also, travel from home and catch 2.45 ferry from Portsmouth - Caen, Stay overnight at Riva Bella Ouistreham (1 mile from port) then drive to Mouzon the following day. Less relaxing but quicker and cheaper