Guest JudgeMental Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 It was a joke. obviously no offence intended or else I would not have posted it *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Sidetstepping just a shade I do get a bit concerned when I see a large coachbuilt reversing on a site and the 'partner' is happily sitting in the co pilots seat. No camera just a blind faith in wing mirrors and a hope that nothing is directly behind them. Even a camera is only giving a limited view so what is wrong with actually getting out and standing where you can not only see where the van is going but also see anyone else, such as a curious child approaching. Of course dare I say it, you do get the 'partner' who stands so close to the back that he/she?? is not seen and is merrily shouting 'stop' but is not seen or heard. The ensuing 'discussion' as long as no damage is caused, can be amusing. I saw one French couple who wanted to get the van close to the pitch side, to maximise space for the pull out awning. Unfortunately the 'wife' kinda missed a few bushes and the van side was not only against the hedge, it was well and truly in it. Fortunately only scratches were the result, but I learnt French swear words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 A simple risk assessment : if you cant se partner in either mirror stop and dont move.. when thy want you to stop they just hit side of van..not shout into the wind who in their right mind would stand behind a reversing vehicle. *-) for solo travellers, just get out and check often, if no camera... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 JudgeMental - 2013-02-07 5:56 PM A simple risk assessment : if you cant se partner in either mirror stop and dont move.. when thy want you to stop they just hit side of van..not shout into the wind who in their right mind would stand behind a reversing vehicle. *-) for solo travellers, just get out and check often, if no camera... Absolutely logical, but that usually goes out of the window on site.... You have had a long drive, you are tired, you could not find the site, the pitch is not the right one etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 if your tired and its dark..forget about reversing and drive nose in............NEXT! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Ness - 2013-01-31 9:42 PM I decided I should move the van over as far from the garage as I could only to find that the battery is completely flat!! I was then feeling pretty fed up as you can imagine. Ness I have just re-read this thread and noticed your comment about the battery. I had a similar problem at one time but then my son-in-law fitted a connection from the mains in the m/home to the engine battery which keeps the battery topped up. I have no idea what it is called but was quite cheap and from Halfords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Well, just thought I would let you know how I am getting on Solo, it is not easy but I am persevering. Most of the clubs I belong to are for couples and coming from a couple it is very strange being single, I think you lose quite a lot of confidence. It is like most things until you experience it you do not really realise what it is like. I have been out quite a few times and experienced no van problems; I have even faced a garage and got two new camping tyres…. So I am now going to try the singles clubs that are used to you being on your own, and remember what it is like. I go geocaching and it is a nice way of going for a walk if you do not have a dog, recommend treasure hunting to all. :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Caroline - 2013-03-25 4:14 PM Well, just thought I would let you know how I am getting on Solo, it is not easy but I am persevering. Most of the clubs I belong to are for couples and coming from a couple it is very strange being single, I think you lose quite a lot of confidence. It is like most things until you experience it you do not really realise what it is like. I have been out quite a few times and experienced no van problems; I have even faced a garage and got two new camping tyres…. So I am now going to try the singles clubs that are used to you being on your own, and remember what it is like. I go geocaching and it is a nice way of going for a walk if you do not have a dog, recommend treasure hunting to all. :-> Good to hear! I got the impression from your initial posts it's mostly confidence and it happens to us all at some point or other Caroline, female and male 'solos'! I wouldn't worry too much about your van because if something minor goes wrong, ie not really a breakdown issue, there is always someone, somewhere who will fix it. Last year in Poland I had an exhaust bracket which had worked loose. OK at normal revs but when on 'tick over' the thing would rattle away which got on my nerves. I pulled in at a Garage and they had it up on a lift and sorted in five minutes with a new bolt. In Bulgaria I had the fuse to the fridge 12v electrics blow and the thing melted itself in to the point I just could not get it out. Ended up calling the breakdown (rather embarrassingly!) who sent a chap out from a Garage and he sorted it. Didn't speak one word of English but was able to comprehend the problem. If you are a 'clubby' kind of person then i'm sure you will meet others like yourself. Personally myself i've never been 'into' clubbing it as i've always felt they can be a bit too cliquey for my liking. I'm very outgoing and affable able to chat with everyone and anyone so don't find socialising a problem. For you from here on........the only way is up!! Happy travels. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs T Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 When I go about I make a point of being outgoing by appearance, ie looking positive, it is possible to appear vunerable and attrract attention, remember all the time you don't open your mouth no one has a clue to who or what you are. Mrs T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Mrs T - 2013-03-25 5:09 PM When I go about I make a point of being outgoing by appearance, ie looking positive, it is possible to appear vunerable and attrract attention, remember all the time you don't open your mouth no one has a clue to who or what you are. Mrs T A very good point Mrs T. The first long trip to France that I made after my husband died was not good. Previously I was used to stopping in service areas etc. and people would always talk to me or the dog! That year no-one spoke to me and I could not understand why. But then I realised that I felt so unhappy and must have looked really miserable that no-one would want to approach me. Once I realised this I put a smile on my face and started conversations with French people, who are always a bit timid if they don't speak English, and all was as normal. I always respond to cheery waves too which help to pass the time on long journeys - never taking my hands off the wheel, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorhome Vagabond Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Hi Caroline, I initially started solo back in 2010 and I still spend most of the time on my own in my Hymer B564. My girlfriend joins me at weekends sometimes. I do get questions to my blog from solo females unsure about how safe being a lone female is though most seem to own a pet. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. There are a number of solo females out there and I'm sure you will get lots of great advice. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3ttc Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 My query regards visibility from the driver's seat, when solo. Dealing with driving in the UK first: I have an Autosleepers Executive 2011 on a Peugeot chassis, with additional convex door mirrors to aid vision. Whilst I have large side windows (plus a large rear window and 2 rear-view cameras) I still have a large blind spot to my left, 20-50 (?) degrees back from looking straight out through the passenger's side window. This can be a real problem once in a while. A few months ago in North Devon I came up to a crossroads where the road from my left approached at an angle and even though I tried coming up to the white line as near right angles as I could manage, I still could not see the approaching road. Any suggestions? When abroad, I angle the passenger-side mirrors further out from the vehicle, but still there's a blind spot. As for seeing forward on the rare occasion when it might be useful to overtake, I temporarily repositioned one of my rear-view cameras onto a bracket above the passenger's door but on the couple of occasions when I wanted to use it I was disappointed with the screen definition and played safe. It's not nice being behind a tractor with a long queue behind, but if you can't see you can't overtake! I really need a remotely rotateable camera with decent definition up on the roof: that would solve several problems in one go. As an alternative, I had wondered about trying to arrange a decent size mirror on the front edge of the bonnet in front of the passenger (not unlike the wing mirrors which used to be fitted on cars) which should give a fairly wide view of the passenger's side. Any comments or suggestions, please? How do others get on? Keith in Warwick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have always driven LHD vehicles. The way you approach a junction the most important thing, but there will be times when you can't see...in these pretty rare situations I just edge out slowly and hope for the best.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thanks Patricia. I'll have a look in Halfords next time I'm near one. Since my last posting I managed to get the van going and have taken it out for a couple of long runs and the battery has been fine. Hopefully it will stay that way. I've had another weekend away, this time a bit further afield along roads I wasn't familiar with. That went well and I actually enjoyed the drive. It's just a matter of confidence I think. I even managed to get both out and back into the drive with no problems. The only problem I had was the Eberspacher heater not starting up. It started ok the first time I used it but not after that. I think the leisure battery is probably in need of replacement. It was fine for the lights and water pump just not enough power for the heater. Still warmer weather must arrive soon and I won't need the heater. I have an electric oil radiator for when I'm on hook up so I don't think there's any rush to replace it yet. I am now trying to pluck up the courage to book a ferry to France. I just have to decide when and for how long. We normally went for 6 weeks apart from last year when it was only 4 but I'm undecided as to whether that might be too long on my own. Time does tend to go quickly when in France so maybe 6 weeks will be ok! Mrs T gave some good advice. I think it does pay to look positive as if you know what you are doing even if you don't feel it. I try to make a point of speaking to people when out and about now. It isn't easy as I am quite shy, but I 'm finding the more I do it the easier it is becoming. Happy Easter to you all. Ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 If you are not sure for how long you want to be away. Book a single one way ticket , then when you are ready to come back just go on line and book your return, that way you also have the choice of which French Port to return from This it what we do, and does not cost any more with Brittany Ferries PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Probably going to France in about 12 days, so any lady who fancies some company for a few days or wants accompanying for their first visit "over the water" can pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Not my kind of thing but maybe try a rally...Motorhome fun seems to have many all over Europe and beyond and plenty of meets in the UK as well. That way there is company when you arrive which you can either join in or not and you get to travel on your own to get there and can extend the trip and travel a bit more if you feel like it. May be a better idea then just roaming around a pretty desolate France out of season. You cant do better then Spain out of season to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 g3ttc - 2013-03-28 7:06 PM My query regards visibility from the driver's seat, when solo. Any comments or suggestions, please? How do others get on? Keith in Warwick Keith I drive 'solo' and my van is RHD so can easily relate to the overtaking problem when driving in Europe. One aid I find particularly useful is the satnav which of course gives you a 'view' of the road ahead, which you cannot see. Of course it won't tell you of any oncoming traffic, but it will at least show where the road is running straight which is your safest opportunity to take a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muswell Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 My passenger tends to err strongly on the side of caution so my overtaking technique is to watch the mirrors until a car overtakes and as soon as they are past me I pull out to take a look. It also helps to have plenty of power :-D Regarding pulling out of oblique junctions, I think the design of some coachbuilts is hopeless in this respect because there is no useful window behind the B pillar. I know that the drivers of ordinary panel vans have to live with this but why make life difficult when there is a choice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I do have a side window but it is not much good when the exit is very oblique. I tend to angle as it going left, then turn across the junction so that I can pick up the approach road in my side mirror. There are a lot of junctions like this where I live and also near where I go in France. As for overtaking in France I rely on my rear camera to pick up the traffic behind and then, check in side mirror and then edge out. Use the sat-nav too to check layout in front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scramblers Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Caroline - 2013-01-28 11:57 AM Hi Sadley am now motorhoming Solo, can anyone give me any hints and tips. Have some good friends as motorhomers but couples, it is travel both in this country and abroad that i would like some help with. Caroline I have also become a solo motorhomer, my wife died a few months ago, but I have no intention of giving up my passion for travelling. In one way it has opened up new horizons, I can now travel anywhere I wish without all the negotiations ( but the company more than made up for that). I have just joined a solos group and they are found at http://www.lonersgroup.org.uk. The only criteria for joining this group is that you must travel alone. They have a full programme of UK rallies, tours and weekends running from March to December. My first outing with them will be a long weekend at the Peterborough Motorhome Show where they will have their own area in the camping section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losos Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 Caroline - 2013-01-28 1:49 would people pray on a lone female more than a lone male, As a lone male who travels in Northern Europe a lot, if you pick your campsites carefully there's no problem whether you are male or female. Get hold of the Bord Atlas Europa book, it's not cheap but very useful and lists a lot of hotels which allow free overnight parking provided you have a meal & breakfast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel wood Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 If you go onto caravanclub.co.uk/community/discussions you will get onto a forum called "Club Together". The last section on the page is about solo caravanning/motorcaravanning and has various threads including details of some organisations specifically for solo travellers. All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted April 5, 2013 Author Share Posted April 5, 2013 It is really good to hear in a strange sort of way all the people making it on their own, I too have noticed the lack of negotiation in destination, but still when pulling up on a field having a discussion with myself as to where I am pitching!!!. I have joined the New Companions Solo club thanks to another solo member’s encouragement and am going to give that a go see how things progress, I have just had a look at the Loners Club thanks Scramblers. Until I have more time to wander abroad, I am going to tour this country, get home explored first. Really fancy bonny Scotland, it looks stunning up there in the Highlands. As I progress I find that doing things by myself less daunting. Not having the excuse of a dog, I went for a walk in the countryside not something I would have considered before, but went Geocaching along the route and had a fantastic time with a purpose, found 7 caches… (lol) *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scramblers Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Hi Caroline, The Loners Group are going on two Scottish Tours this year. 1st May for 30 nights visiting Strathclyde, Killin, Maragowan, Culloden, Dunnet Bay, Durness and Dingwall using the Caravan Club & Campiing and Caravan Club sites. 1st September for 16 nights visiting Jedburgh, Dunbar, Strathclyde and Glenearly. Again using CC and CCC sites. As you book the campsites yourself you can tailor the tour to suit yourself. If you only wish to be with the Loners Group on a couple of sites then that is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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