New Sites Directory and Handbook

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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #32

    @DK .. That would go with all the other information about places to visit, public transport, fuel stops etc on my tour. Perhaps people don't go to those lengths when planning their time away but sadly I do! 

    Do you just not see somewhere to re-fuel  & decide to re-fuel based on how full/empty your fuel tank is? 🙄 There are plenty of Tescos/Asdas/etc around 😉

  • harryb
    harryb Club Member Posts: 1,536
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    edited January 2021 #33

    "Perhaps people don't go to those lengths when planning their time away but sadly I do"

    No need for the word "sadly" David, that's your choice.

    My choice is to keep it simple and just take the directory, I'm old fashioned.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2021 #34

    I'd get more use out of a chocolate teapot than out of the Club's site directory. At least I can eat a chocolate teapot.

    peedee

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Club Member Posts: 1,419
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    edited January 2021 #35

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the online information shows route instructions and particularly the many CLs that show in the handbook "Do Not Follow Satnav". For that issue I find the handbook invaluable.

    Talking to a fellow caravanner on a CL a couple of years ago he admitted that he drove right past the CL because his satnav hadn't told him he was at his destination. He may, of course, have entered incorrect information but the end result was the same. He had to drive several miles before he could turn around with his caravan.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,374
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    edited January 2021 #36

    Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the online information shows route instructions and particularly the many CLs that show in the handbook "Do Not Follow Satnav". For that issue I find the handbook invaluable

    If you go to the main site page, full site or CL. Click view on map (in red top left, under site name) you then get full directions and location info as well as a map.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited January 2021 #37

    DK wrote: "It depends what format the Club submit the directory to the printers but it's not uncommon for that format to be .PDF. "

    PDF! Is CAMC 'that' modern?

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Club Member Posts: 1,419
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    edited January 2021 #38

    Thanks for correcting me SteveL but I still think opening a page in the handbook is just as quick if not quicker.

    Don't get me wrong, I look at sites, especially CLs, online to sort the wheat from the chaff and to read members' reviews. I then look at Google Earth to look at the site and access roads in the immediate area. If all is OK I put a page marker in the handbook for our journey there. Instant reference en-route.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,374
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    edited January 2021 #39
  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #40

    Talking to a fellow caravanner on a CL a couple of years ago he admitted that he drove right past the CL because his satnav hadn't told him he was at his destination

    Maybe the CL sign was obscured .... 😉

    Some of the local directions though are geared towards an overly safe route. 

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Club Member Posts: 1,419
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    edited January 2021 #41

    Maybe the CL sign was obscured .... 😉

    Some of the local directions though are geared towards an overly safe route. 

    Or maybe the driver wasn't paying attention to what he saw, relying on his satnav. I found the CL with no trouble.

    I'd sooner be overly safe than find the road to be far too narrow especially if finding another vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Last year near Weymouth we were at a CL where the directions seemed to be a long way round to get there. Looking at the road atlas, the site was only about half a mile from the main road. We tried the short route when we didn't have the caravan in tow. It was very narrow with tight bends and steep hills. It was the way that our satnav said we should have gone.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2021 #42

    They are also  available on the App which you can also view off line and link them to some Sat Navs and Google Maps.

    peedee

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #43

    Well .... I did get caught out last year by trying to avoid Sutton Bank using a mixture of following sat-nav & following my nose. I came across a width restriction that we were never going to fit through so .... I'd to reverse about 50 yds with the caravan. I wasn't the most popular caravanist that day! I'm sure that if EmilysMum hadn't been pratting about on a game on her phone it could have possibly been avoided! 🤐

  • davetommo
    davetommo Club Member Posts: 1,431
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    edited January 2021 #44

    There should have been a road sign to inform you of the width restriction at the beginning of the road. Was it missing or does the mrs get the blame. 😁

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #45

     If there was a sign I missed it ... maybe it was obscured! 😂

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,990
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    edited January 2021 #46

    My choice is to keep it simple and just take the directory, I'm old fashioned

    Me too Harry. We keep the previous edition of the SD in the car and always check that the site's information is up to date before heading for it. Certainly rely on the directions in the SD and don't use the Sat Nav for final approach.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #47

    A hard copy of the handbook is far more reliable than most technologywink

  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
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    edited January 2021 #48

    Apart from the fact that you are looking at information that will be 18 months out of date! The CL you are driving to is probably an ALDI by now. 

    Just imagine if it was possible to have an interactive app linked to GPS that could give real live data and direction linked to a moving map. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,632
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    edited January 2021 #49

    The SD has just come out now I believe? Why 18 months?

    Just imagine no battery?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #50

    Just imagine no battery?

    if only it was possible to plug your device into a battery pack or plug it into a USB in the car 😉

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member, Member Moderator Posts: 5,875
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    edited January 2021 #51

    I haven't checked (see edit note below) to see whether that exists  but perhaps we could do with options to select........

    1. To receive the Handbook
    2. Not to receive the Handbook
    3. To receive a pdf version of the Handbook

    I tend to look at it when it drops through the door, then it gets put in the bookcase and stays there for 2 years until I replace it with the new one....   I've just had a look and there doesn't appear to be many adverts in it, so it is unlikely to be paid for by ads.  There may be a requirement for a minimum 'run'/number of copies the printers need?

    David

    Edit:  I've just checked and it is possible to opt out of receiving the Handbook and Map, but there is no option for a pdf..... perhaps this is something to look into - I guess it would be quite large?

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2021 #52

    The information updates i find for both club site and Cls is updated in the monthly Magazinewink

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2021 #53

    Go to digital membership for a reduced membership fee and I will willingly opt out.

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,632
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    edited January 2021 #54

    Car USB, you know what I've never found a lead long enough to take up the fells with me with.

    Are battery pack re-generating?

    smile

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2021 #55

     ...you know what I've never found a lead long enough to take up the fells with me with.

    That's when you take a battery pack with you. They're only cheap to buy and not much difference in size to your phone .... I'm sure you'd find a pocket to put one in.

    Are battery pack re-generating?

    🤔 no idea what you mean 🤷‍♂️ You charge it at home & plug your device into it when it needs charging and depending on the size of the battery pack depends how many times it'll charge your device/phone. Or you can buy one with a solar panel if that's what you were hinting at.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2021 #56

    You take the Club's directory up the fells?

    peedee

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,632
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    edited January 2021 #57

    Amazing, I wish I knew about thesewink

    Fear not PO we do carry spare battery packs when going out but they won't last forever, Solar power can slow down the discharge but it won't fully charge. My solar powered GPS watch is like that, using the solar power does give extra 'range', a lot of extra range in the summer, but eventually it will need plugging in.

    Except when it's raining or dark or foggy of course. And that's when you'll need it the most.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,632
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    edited January 2021 #58

     No but not was we were discussing which was battery power.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited January 2021 #59

    Just been chatting to one of our elderly caravanning friends, he has been a member for 39 years but is now thinking of not re joining this year.

    The reason is he doesn't do internet and relies solely on the Handbook, however this year he's not happy because the book doesn't give the costings across the seasons, it only gives the price at the cheapest time of year. Last year he managed to get a list from the club so he would know when planning his trips, when the seasons change and what cost he would be looking at. 

    He has phoned the club to see if he can get a list again this year but the answer was NO they are not doing one. The person he spoke to said he would just have to phone up each time to get a price. Not very helpful. Can you imagine how many times you would have to keep phoning when putting a tour together. By the time you get all the information you need the pitches will be gone.

    So they will lose a member of 39 years, not really a friendly customer based club, who say they value its members. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited January 2021 #60

    I'm not sure how old Elderly is in your eyes, TG, BUT I think that your friend will still be ok for at least this year if he's not yet junked the previous Directory undecided

  • davetommo
    davetommo Club Member Posts: 1,431
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    edited January 2021 #61

    I use a garmin GPS and just put 2 spare AA batteries in my pocket