Stuck in Spain
Comments
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Evening
Apologies TG, we're in stressful times and it's easy to say things off the cuff that can be taken the wrong way, I meant no offence.
JK
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Evening again,
So Camping Marjal have taken the decision to completely close their site and everyone has to leave by Sunday. There are at least fifty people I know that have residencia, that live there permanently but they are still being evicted. Not sure if this is a govt. decision or site but I think this trend will continue this week.
I had a shed delivered this morning from a local hardware shop,(surprised they were still trading), the young guy was very emotional as we had a brief Spanish conversation about the 19. I think the fear of the unknown has gripped this area. I made him smile and gave him a bottle of beer. There's three more cases here today.
The foreign office this evening advise all British nationals to get back to the UK asap. Brittany ferries have cancelled until 12/4 but this is likely to extend for at least thirty days. I guess it's time to plan the route through France to the tunnel, no point waiting to see if BF will operate later next month.
JK
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accepted.Worrying times all over, the whole of Lanzarote are wondering what is going to happen. Without tourism they have very little income.
Flight home tomorrow hopefully
What are you doing about your 5th wheel are you allowed to leave everything on site?
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JK, with reference to your last paragraph - you may be the man to organise a convoy and help get some of the less experienced British on your campsite back across France to Calais. Time to go I think.
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Unfortunately the decree earlier also includes all campsites in Spain by Tuesday, the Health spokesman also said that the Spanish government will help if it can with re-repatriation. It is being done because of the amount of new cases 2000 in one day and the death rate up to nearly 500. In land from us 96 have died in two old peoples homes close to Valencia
Sad times here in Spain
Phil
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Evening
Good point Euro, if anyone here in Spain is on here and is interested let me know.
JK
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Hi Phil
Indeed sad times here in Spain. As we won't be residents until September we're taking advice and trying to work a way back to UK. Tough times mate.
Se Fuerte
JK
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Evening TG
We are on a small site with half a dozen RV pitches for long termers. We can leave everything in situ. We've invested quite a bit here as we intend to move here permanently later this year (maybe???)
Hope you get your flight ok, we are planning to leg it next week if possible.
Now trying to empty a half bottle of soberano,
Manana Amigos
JK
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Disgusted by the lack of advice from the club, we are due to leave a club organised rally on the 4th of April so being told not contact the club until nearer the time. Various sites booked through the club in Spain and France which I know are closed but still nothing from the club.
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Ian
Don/t know if you saw my earlier post but the Spanish government announced this evening they are closing all campsites in Spain by next Tuesday at the latest and everyone has got to be repatriated to their country of origin, think you need to speak to someone on site your on. The majority will close by Sunday to make sure they get to the ports by Tuesday
Phi
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The majority will close by Sunday to make sure they get to the ports by Tuesday
Where they will not find any ferries to take home. So what is the club doing to help them? The Foreign Office should also be pulling their finger out but they never seem to be doing anything apart from giving advice out.
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FWIW .....
First. Sadly the very point I previously made, and requested in postings on here & other forums, but the mod has responded praising the now three day old Club post. 4 hourly updates needed for the last week or so. So much fake, in-correct or nil news (inc BBC !) But waste of time complaining - see below.
We escaped our site, against all advice (inc Reception), overland from Almeria departing Sunday 9am and made a double re-booked Tunnel at 9.20pm Tuesday 17th - about 1425 miles in three days. Have previously posted more info & grumpy rants on here & Caravan Talk Forum Abroad section.
Sadly predicted three days ago the situation is now yet still evolving - but Dunkirk Spirit is needed and maybe not the time to dither. Suggest a prompt site meeting (shouting match) is arranged to decide who's now ready for the off. Maybe Brittany will re-lent and do some rescue ferries from Northern Spain Ports but I wouldn't wait around for that fantasy. Lots of more elderly friends stuck on sites & unfit for long travel.
For those contemplating the enforced escape can report & advise from my solo unit run :-
The Borders were and I think still are not 'closed' - against all the reports & phone a friend advice. The borders have had a Restricted status applied (not EU free flow). The official status & statements issued for France & Spain were stated, when I read them and decided to set off, are to allow UK Residents to pass to return (home) to main place of habitation. Gov.UK also stated this. Get reading factual reports.
Spectrum FM Almeria etc & Olive Press were also helpful sites for links.
Sites with seasonal pitches in France were open but one night stay and goodbye - no lingering.
Be very prepared and ready to rough it wild camping. Water and easy food, re-Charging of devices & phones etc etc etc Be prepared to change & alter plans. A buddy unit alongside would be re-assuring.
Have to hand all your docs and travel details inc printed out crossing details.
The Motorway services were open but stay safe & secure. The picnic Aires in France seem now all newly closed off. You may need to consider excessive daily mileages & long days.
We found lots of in-correct rumours & wrong advice. Little or no empathy on the road up, at sites, at the Tunnel & even at CMC Dover ! Your basically on your own all the way.
The UK is just not up to speed as yet with your plight or journey and the situation in France & Spain.
You may find some brief sanctuary at :-
Camping Capmany on AP7 on Spanish border or Shopping Outlet car park at La Jonquera.
Camping Montreal just south of Limoges (A20). There is a modest acceptable wild camp tarmac area at entrance if he has closed up. Sleepy lakeside site next to sleepy village.
There are two sites near Dreux also usually open & with seasonals. The one up in the woods to the north would be my choice.
Hope this maybe helps & regards.
Await more critic
M
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Did you not cross into France before Macron's deadline of 1100hrs 17th March M? Nevertheless with the closure of Spanish hotels and sites you would think the French would allow transit traffic.
Best of luck to all those struggling to get home.
peedee
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Transit traffic of EU citizens is permitted to enable these people to get to their home country. The EU President has confirmed for clarity that UK citizens are included. Someone has posted that Gendarmes in France were just waving UK plated vehicles through to keep everything moving. Rare common sense!
On C&CC Forum, UK citizens are getting dogs checked by the nearest local vet, and then booking Eurotunnel online; then emailing Eurotunnel to add the dog [this is pretty much verbatim, I haven't checked the fine detail with Eurotunnel].
One C&CC member asked for details of how to proceed via the Forum and the answer was provided by the C&CC Member at the same site, on the next door pitch! Small world, but still an awfully long drive.
Hope this helps.
Steve
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Please don't give incorrect information.
There are ferries sailing from both Dieppe and Calais.
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SW BBC showed passengers heading for the last ferry from NW France presumably filmed yesterday sometime. I spotted a Carthago in the background hope BB was the owner of that one or got home earlier? The motorhomers interviewed appeared to be from the uk west country but they were all exhausted and a bit dishevelled after long journeys.
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Brue, no idea if that was us or not....we got diverted (by BF) to Caen instead of Cherbourg and caught the 23:00 on Tuesday night and arrived home yesterday morning...as did Kontikiboy and others from Bonterra Park who we met in the queue..
yes, a long drive, with a bit of a late swerve at the end but BF kept us in the picture.
im trying to get more info from our pals who are still on site.
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Hi
There's plenty of stuff on ur diaries about our experiences.
http://www.caravanramblings.co.uk/?p=3555
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No need to apologise- you have given so much good advice for a long time. Stay well. X
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Evening All
So, this morning our site owner came round and showed us some interesting paperwork from the local govt. our site ( as will all others) has to close to all but residents by 24/3.
Then had a get together with some others to plan routes etc. We bit the bullet and have booked the tunnel for next Thursday. There's three outfits leaving here Monday morning and we're meeting up with a few more from camping marjal at Zaragosa for the night. We have the required paperwork for travel and have decided that wherever we stop overnight there'll be one couple up and about all the time for security.I won't mention the deafening silence from BF regarding our return sailing!!
When we get back to Cornwall to site we'll do fourteen days isolation and then see what if any work is to be had.
I gotta say striking camp at short notice is a proper pita!!
JK
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IanV8, I sympathise with your predicament but the latest post from Jolly Kernow - just above this one- perhaps gives you and your fellow ralliy members a possible way out.
Get together, form an escape committee, be proactive instead of waiting for advice, and arrange your own way home. There will be strength in numbers if you support each other on the way home.
Stay safe.
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