French Weather

[kelly58]

We set off for the South of France last Thursday 29th April and arrived in Port Grimaud Sunday morning 2nd May we had rain most of the journey down,but it was dry when we arrived in Port Grimaud . Monday morning was nice and sunny and really warm until about 15.00pm when it started to rain again and then the wind got up to a mini cyclone, in the early hours people were outside trying to secure their awnings in heavy rain and extreme winds and by daybreak we could survey the damage it was causing with ripped and trashed awnings table and chairs scattered about the campsite and the campsite flooded. This did not abait until around lunchtime when the wind dropped and the rain abaited and people started to clear up the mess. Later on we were advised to pull back off the beach as it was expected the sea would wash onto the site , so we retreated across the road to the other site just before the rain returned .
Next morning we decided to head north to try and find better weather as the forcast for the area was very poor.
We headed towards Montelimar and across the N102 to the Aire at Coubon that was a big mistake as we rose across the mountains we got colder and were meeting vehicles with snow on them then we hit the snow ourselves not just snow but a blizzard the roads were being gritted ahead of us as we followed the snow plough so we struggled on towards Clemont-Ferrand and the Aire at St-Pourcain-sur-Sioule where we arrived at 22.00pm where it was still raining heavy absolutely knackered we parked up had some cheese on toast and went to bed to try and sleep with the heavy rain on the roof.
We woke next morning and yes still raining and the river to the side of the Aire was in flood and it was bitter cold this being Thursday morning thats it we said enough is enough so we booked eurotunnel and returned home Saturday when you guessed it it was still raining, so this has to be the worst holiday we have had in the 4 years of owning a motorhome and going to France all good fun though as long as you can laugh about it..

[Usinmyknaus]

So it's not just us then? We bought our motorhome 3 years ago and the rain followed our travels thereafter. In 185 nights away we have used the outdoor table and chairs perhaps 5 or 6 times at most, but for 2 of those I remember we huddled under the awning as the rain beat down and another 2 times we sat out in open defiance of the (unseasonal) cold. I can recall only one pleasantly warm evening and that was in the Ardeche in September 2007.

 

Here's hoping for better this year!

 

Bob :-)

[Guest JudgeMental]

24 deg c in Alicante

[kelly58]

JudgeMental - 2010-05-10 9:56 AM 24 deg c in Alicante

about 5 deg c here in south lincs UK

[malc d]

Usinmyknaus - 2010-05-10 9:16 AM

 

So it's not just us then? We bought our motorhome 3 years ago and the rain followed our travels thereafter. In 185 nights away we have used the outdoor table and chairs perhaps 5 or 6 times at most, but for 2 of those I remember we huddled under the awning as the rain beat down and another 2 times we sat out in open defiance of the (unseasonal) cold. I can recall only one pleasantly warm evening and that was in the Ardeche in September 2007.

 

Here's hoping for better this year!

 

Bob :-)

 

 

Perhaps you could let us all have a list of your future holiday dates and destinations Bob.

 

Thanks

 

;-)

[Guest peter]

kelly58 - 2010-05-10 11:12 AM

JudgeMental - 2010-05-10 9:56 AM 24 deg c in Alicante

about 5 deg c here in south lincs UK

Maybe Kelly, but 25degrees in my conservatory in wrangle. :D

[Porky]

Just got back from Spain via France. Spain was warm (yes sometimes wet, but still warm) the last four weeks in France were cold, at the camp sites nobody cared or cleaned. The showers were cold and open to the wind, and even after requests to improve the water temperature nothing happened.

Moral of the story don`t go to France until 1st July and make sure you are gone by the end of August>:-(

Or miss France altogether(lol)

 

Roy Fuller

[Randonneur]

Here in the Charente we had good weather in the mid 20s for the last 2 weeks in April and the 1st week in May.The last week has been a bit mixed.If you only want to come here in July and August then by all means go ahead ,it will give us locals some room on the Aires during the other months (lol) (lol) (lol)

[robertandjean]

Roy,

Just back from France and weather for most part, particularly in the Mayenne was fine, sunny and warm. But why were you using sites and not aires? Then no problems with site owners and your own shower in van should not suffer from cold winds! Seriuosly it is madness not to use the aires, we have just spent 35 nights in France, on aires every night; our costs averaged out at under 2€/night and that included 14 with electric hook-up. So certainly don't miss France out nor restrict yourself to July/August. Can not wait to return in July and again in October.

[kelly58]

robertandjean - 2010-05-12 8:40 PM Roy, Just back from France and weather for most part, particularly in the Mayenne was fine, sunny and warm. But why were you using sites and not aires? Then no problems with site owners and your own shower in van should not suffer from cold winds! Seriuosly it is madness not to use the aires, we have just spent 35 nights in France, on aires every night; our costs averaged out at under 2€/night and that included 14 with electric hook-up. So certainly don't miss France out nor restrict yourself to July/August. Can not wait to return in July and again in October.

We mostly always use Aires but the campsite we chose was because it was holding the Euro Harley Davidson Festival that we also visited last year. We only had 3 nights on campsite the others were Aires . We are heading back again next week hoping to be touring Brittany and will be only using Aires whilst we are there

[Porky]

robertandjean - 2010-05-12 8:40 PM

 

Roy,

Just back from France and weather for most part, particularly in the Mayenne was fine, sunny and warm. But why were you using sites and not aires? Then no problems with site owners and your own shower in van should not suffer from cold winds! Seriuosly it is madness not to use the aires, we have just spent 35 nights in France, on aires every night; our costs averaged out at under 2€/night and that included 14 with electric hook-up. So certainly don't miss France out nor restrict yourself to July/August. Can not wait to return in July and again in October.

 

The short answer is er indoors prefers to have "facilities" & I like a peaceful life. We did look at 3 aires on our way through France & on all of them there was about 18" between the vans (mostly French). This was our first long trip and on this occasion we had little time left to meander through France. We actualy found the ACSI sites to be very good in Spain, so we expected the same in France. There were benefits though, the wildlife around the empty sites was a treat, and if we could have found an aire with the same environment (& not a car park) we would of course have used it.

It wasn`t just the camp sites where we encountered that "out of season" atmosphere, the towns we visited have that same feeling. I have been to France many times and my experience has usually been the same.

Oh yes I would add that people who use camp sites instead of aires are not mad>:-)

 

Roy Fuller

 

[berti]

hi kelly 58

 

what a shame ....all the anticipation of a super holiday gone down the drain..(so to speak ) (lol)

not to mention the cost !!!

we were in portugal for 11 weeks jan-march this year ...

and out of 11 weeks we had 14 days of 'reasonable' weather....not sunny/warm...just reasonable *-)

it makes you wonder if it's worth it doesn't it....especially with the price of fuel !!

we are now at the french/italian border near frejus tunnel....it is chucking it down....as it has done every afternoon & evening for the last week !!

the week before that it was cold and windy !!

weather patterns seem to be changing worldwide....

no guarantees now.....

just have to take our chances i suppose (lol)

 

better luck on your next trip

 

cheers

berti

[robertandjean]

Roy,

Not meaning to suggest people who use campsites are mad just that in France aires seem best for most vanners, but clearly each to their own.

Yes there are aires where vans park close but there are many others with good spaces and that are certainly not car parks. Try, for example, Broglie (dept27), St-Poucain-sur-Sioule(dept 03), St-Clar (dept 32), Pont -a-Mousson (dept54), Chateau-Larcher (dept86) etc.

Regarding the "out of season feel" of French towns, well away from the large resorts most places in France have what we would term a laid back and easy going feel, which we like. However, for the bustling, busy feel you are looking for, then you are right France may not be for you and the Costas more your type of thing. What ever you choose main thing is enjoy it.