Whither Dither: The Sequel
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Hi WTG, Just saying thanks for the report back as it’s gone a day with no response!!
We are currently by Lake Garda on a site that, unlike the rest of the trip, wasn’t planned.
We, that’s the Royal we, like to have our trips planned out and one discovery this trip has been that travelling shorter distances, so more stops, isn’t as simple as it appeared when faced with temperatures of 34-38°C which leave you feeling wrecked just setting up the van.
Of course, any good plan should be adaptable and after almost staying on at Lago Trasimeno longer than planned, we arrived at Peschiera to be turned away from our first choice but, luckily, the back up site had pitches.
It may have been during your original post discussions that I said that the “day or two and move on” was not for us and this trip has certainly confirmed that is the case.
So the “wither dither” for us will continue to be before we leave!
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As I have said elsewhere, we never plan except booking the channel crossing. We have just completed a 6 week trip ending up at Lake Trasimeno in Umbria, a trip mirroring Alanandjean's - pure coincidence!. It was always our intention to go to that area and probably that site but the exact dates were flexible. On departure day the mover decided it would play up! 's...it' I said we are off and will cope somehow. We stayed a couple of days in Luxembourg and another couple of days near Trento on the way down; in Luxembourg the mover decided it would work! On the way back we spent a week baking by Lake Garda (Camping Cisano)
It was much busier than normal with sites almost full. For people planning to go to Italy via Landeck and the Reichenpassse, you have to use the Landeck tunnel, you can use the tunnel without a vignette looking out for the 'Umleitung' signs (they are quite small and easy to miss
) as you approach Landeck. Enter Landeck at your peril and just ignore your satnav for this part of your journey! The A9 autobahn was closed between Stutgart and Ulm making a 3 hour diversion and for the first time ever we had trouble finding an overnight stop eventually finding one at 8pm.. For many years we have travelled Mid May to late June and this was the busiest it has ever been, mainly German and Dutch with very few British outfits. I assume people were taking advantage of the freedom post Covid.Nevertheless, we will continue our no planning holidays enjoying the flexibility it gives.
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Thanks for the report. For newcomers to foreign touring it is always a case of 'shall I book ahead' and it isn't always necessary.
We're meeting with a friend near Carcasonne in September on a short 3 week trip. We too will book the ferry (or the tunnel if she has her way) and won't book a single site. Can't wait!
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We had a simple rule of thumb for crowd avoidance in France and Italy - Never go to a campsite by a lake.
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We've just returned from 16 days on the municipal at Montorie sur le Loire. Lovely wooded riverside site, almost empty for the full time we were there - apart from a couple of statics (with very friendly local occupants) there were never more than 2 or 3 motorhomes and 3 or 4 tents. No other caravans arrived while we were there.
The town is delightful - a 10 minute stroll from the site across a footbridge. Well supplied with boulangeries, butchers, small restaurants (€15 for a 4 course lunch including very generous cheeseboard, wine & coffee) as well as markets 2 days a week and a couple of supermarkets. The area is interesting and we had a great relaxing holiday - the first time in France since 2019.
Having said it was a lovely site I suspect the facilities would be severely stretched if it was anywhere near full (100+ pitches).
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"But this morning I feel drawn to Brittany. "
we spent 5 days in the Brittany area on our way back from Spain a couple of weeks ago, we do this regularly, really like the area, The Bayeux Tapestry, is a must see, and in Bayeux as with a lot of French towns/Cities there is a little train that provides a guided tour, great if your legs are now a little on the old side, Ohmaha beach in particular in one of my favourties, much prefer swimming in the Atlantic than the Med, site we were on was not full but it was very rustic and very rural so not great if you were a MH owner with no other means of transport.
As mentioned by others, very few Brits around, i think the Germans are now the dominant nation with their MH's, down in Spain it was particularly noticeable
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We did a short stint in Brittany and enjoyed it on the way upto Roscoff. More Dutch than any other country very few Germans and a few brits.
Hope to get up around there again next year, we are going near Carcassonne in September to meet up with friends and will have a short break near Cordes sue Ciel before we meet up with them.
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We had a plan for the first part which we more or less stuck to, although it was totally flexible as we booked nothing other than the ferry. However, as the weather behaved itself (a bit too much at times with temperatures in the high 30’s) we ended up in the Provence to see sister and B in L more or less on schedule😂 Since then it has been very much a case of where shall we go next. So far in 35 days we have used 18 sites / Aires. Currently we are on a lovely little municipal in Domfront (€11.50 a night and 16 amp electric) on route to Bayeux, before heading for our boat at St Malo. One thing we have noticed over our visit in 2019 is the number of French Motorhomes, particularly on the Aires. They were certainly in the majority, followed by the Dutch, Belgians, Germans and then us.
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"By then the temperatures were well into the high 90s, over 100 some days (old money)"
Lots of people reporting exceptionally high temperatures, we had 43 degs (new money) in the Aranjuez area of Spain mid June, was wondering what people use to keep the caravan cool if you do not have an air con unit, have seen reports re the use of table top devices where you stick cold water into a reservoir and it then acts as a mini a/c, we slept on towels for 2 nights with a couple of fans, and then decided, no more dithering, head north to get some cooler air.
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We spent a month away, returning nearly two weeks ago. We don’t have bikes with the Motorhome so we have found it a big advantage to use sites close to towns and villages but this limits the choice somewhat. It was too hot in France and we were glad to get back to Calais (Bien Assise) on the last night where the temperature suddenly dropped to 25 deg. C!
Due to a dodgy weather forecast we ditched our plans to return via the Lot so meandered back along the direct route A6/7. Bad choices on some recommended sites. One with not enough shade and sloping pitches (not ideal with a motorhome) the other at Hauterives was a nice site but rather isolated and the village was disappointing.
So, we try and do a combination of old favourites and new experiences.
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Having read Commeyras post I am now withering and dithering over what route to take from Garda to Eerbeek in Holland next week!
The plan was to go via the Brenner and then Fern pass into Germany but as this means driving via Ulm & Stuttgart now wondering if I need to plan an alternative??
I am contemplating this with a cool drink at 2357 and it’s 27°C.
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ISTR that the Bayeux tapestry was going to be on loan to the UK this year. We saw it a few years back, staying at Camping de la bord d’lAure (ACSI). It's a pleasant fifteen minutes stroll into the centre of Bayeux along a stream through a park.
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It may not happen now we’re a ‘rogue’ state🤷🏻♂️🙄
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Allan. The horrendous delay was on the way down. OK there were road works on the A9 on our return but we did not get held up, but this was on a Sunday. You could go up via Wurzburg. An irritating thing about the motorway from Garda to the Brenner is that caravans, like HGVs, can't overtake, well legally and this law does not seem to apply to German or Dutch outfits or am I maligning these good folk!!! Decisions, decisions. Stay cool!
David
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Hi David, Well the “great minds think alike” theme continues as I was looking at the route options and with such a small difference in time & mileage thought maybe try the route via Munich, and Wurzberg, as it would be new to us and fits with using the Brenner.
Not totally decided as we are struggling with the heat, 34.5°C at the moment, so may leave earlier than planed and go via Reschen/Fern but, as Jean wants to do the Monday market in Peschiera, likely we will go the route you suggest so any site suggestions welcome!
Had a trip up to Riva today and very busy around Desanzano/Salo and on return to site 4 empty pitches opposite are all occupied.
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St. Louis is a pleasant site and useful night stop for Calais. Bien Assise is nearer to the tunnel, plenty of choice of pitches and efficient. One thing I noticed this year is that on the short route to the tunnel there is a new Boulangerie. Quite useful if you need an early start and avoid queuing at the site restaurant.
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