Talking your Motorhome out

[Brian Kirby]

jumpstart - 2020-05-13 7:33 AM

In Somerset CV-19 deaths are low, A&E is practically empty, the only time it gets busy is when there is NHS clapping time. It appears that people injure themselves during this period.

There is no big deal in being in the country side, I seen no reason why sites for self contained Motorhomes or Caravans can’t reopen. Isolating on these site is preferable to going to Supermarkets.

You go to campsites to buy food? Is there a list? :-D

[Deneb]

Adiebt - 2020-05-13 8:59 AM

 

My wife is a Consultant ( Doctor ) at a large inner city teaching hospital , i take my Covod advice from her not from the internet .

 

I didn't say that I was offering advice, as far as I can see. I was however offering my perspective. You are as free to take note of or ignore it as anyone else.

 

But I take advice from my wife (an infection control specialist nurse) my son's mother-in-law (a GP) and father-in-law (regional director of medicine for NHS England) - none of which I have posted, just my opinion :-)

[Deneb]

The point I was trying to make though, is that the Government is now saying both that you should stay at home as much as possible, but that you can go outdoors as much as you like and drive as far as you like to get there. Am I the only one to see the inconsistency in that guidance?

 

It doesn't instill confidence that they actually know what they are doing. Apparently it's all quite simple and all it needs is for the public to apply common sense, but experience of this thread alone suggests that sense is anything but common wherever there are two or more people (lol)

[mel wood]

Don636 - 2020-05-12 8:15 PM

 

Why walk when you can drive.

 

That depends on how far you are going.

 

I think this attitude for short journeys just adds unnecessarily to pollution, causes more congestion and is a waste of resources. Eg think of when schools were functioning and the number of parents who drove very small distances to take their children to and from school.

Walking is a good form of exercise.

Recently it has been refreshing to see the number of people walking in the locality. The air has certainly been fresher with less vehicles being driven in the area.

[mel wood]

Brian Kirby - 2020-05-13 10:47 AM

 

Don636 - 2020-05-12 8:38 PM

As I said, if asked I will be on the way to a walk somewhere, whether I am or not. Impossible to check and what’s the difference especially as I am not actually getting out of the car so less risk than actually driving to a beach full of people. Some commen sense required surely.

Just checked the latest guidance on gov.uk and it states:

You should stay at home as much as possible. The reasons you may leave home include:

for work, where you cannot work from home

going to shops that are permitted to be open - to get things like food and medicine

to exercise or spend time outdoors

Also it states:

1.7 Are there restrictions on how far I can travel for my exercise or outdoor activity?

No. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance.

As I will be driving to spend time outdoors in the car with the top down it seems OK to me, especially as the current relaxation is to allow people a bit more freedom of movement. Getting out for a run is important for my mental wellbeing as far as I am concerned.

Under present circumstances, where these restrictions have been invoked to protect public health, I was trying to answer a open question within the spirit of the law, and not to steer as close to the letter of the law as one might go before getting one's collar felt!

 

Only you can judge whether you risk a nervous breakdown if you can't drive your car with the top down. Not having an open top car, I'm in no position to judge. But I am left with a sneaky suspicion that desire is being substituted for necessity! :-S

 

Now, were you drive to park somewhere, and then walk for an hour or more before driving back, you would fully comply with the requirement, and probably provide much greater benefit to your mental health into the bargain! :-D

 

 

 

I like your reply Brian.

[Derek Uzzell]

Deneb - 2020-05-13 11:27 AM

 

The point I was trying to make though, is that the Government is now saying both that you should stay at home as much as possible, but that you can go outdoors as much as you like and drive as far as you like to get there. Am I the only one to see the inconsistency in that guidance?

 

 

No, and it should have been obvious that - given a choice of staying at home or driving an unspecified distance to ‘go outdoors' - plenty of people will go for the latter option.

 

Similarly the differences between the in-England and the in-Wales, Scotand and Northern Ireland policies are bound to cause potential problems.

[Don636]

Just to clarify, when I said “Why walk when you could drive” I was being a bit tongue in cheek. I actually walk every day and under normal circumstances we do a fair amount of fell walking, which requires a drive to get somewhere of course. We have hardly used a car in the last 2 months, even starting getting food deliveries to avoid going to a supermarket. We do really enjoy a run in the Mazda as driving with the top down is a wonderful experience, even in the depths of winter. Sometimes we just go for a run sometimes take a picnic sometimes stop off at a tea shop or included a walk.

At the moment we have found that going for a walk on local country paths leads to problems with maintaining social distance due to the sheer number of people out and about so we have tended to stick to pavements in town where it is easier to move around to accommodate people.

To me the lifting of restrictions on travel to get outdoors for exercise gives us the opportunity to get away from the house at last. I accept that the intention is to go somewhere to get exercise but, given the issues I mention above regarding maintaining social distance, it seems to me that going out for a run but cutting out the exercise is actually reducing the risk of catching the virus. I can’t see that, practically, me just going for a run in the car as opposed to incorporating a walk , makes a blind bit of difference unless it is simply to stick to a particular rigid interpretation of the guidance. What if I had severe mobility problems and could not walk far but could drive - why should I be prevented from getting out in the car and into the countryside for a break from tedium.

I am not really interested in anyone else’s opinion as to what they think I should or shouldn’t do as I am quite comfortable that I am not putting anyone, including myself at risk. Thankyou.

[John52]

People are having to use public transport and go to work - including indoors in call centres etc

Risk is far higher indoors for 8 hours!!

Toilets, car parks, etc have to be open there.

.. and we are worried about the risk of driving to Public National Parks and staying in a motorhome ?

Local councillors pander to the Nimby vote who only want visitors when they can fleece them - which they can't at the moment with hotels and cafe's shut. They want us forced to sleep in their Grottty beds instead of bringing our own.

Less visitors makes less work for the police but thats their job.

Should we care what they think?

The National Parks belong to EVERYBODY - not just them, and they have no more right than you or I to say who is welcome on our public roads and who isn't >:-)

And they can't say its not legal now :-D

[Brian Kirby]

mel wood - 2020-05-13 12:12 PM

Brian Kirby - 2020-05-13 10:47 AM

Don636 - 2020-05-12 8:38 PM

As I said, if asked I will be on the way to a walk somewhere, whether I am or not. Impossible to check and what’s the difference especially as I am not actually getting out of the car so less risk than actually driving to a beach full of people. Some commen sense required surely.

Just checked the latest guidance on gov.uk and it states:

You should stay at home as much as possible. The reasons you may leave home include:

for work, where you cannot work from home

going to shops that are permitted to be open - to get things like food and medicine

to exercise or spend time outdoors

Also it states:

1.7 Are there restrictions on how far I can travel for my exercise or outdoor activity?

No. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance.

As I will be driving to spend time outdoors in the car with the top down it seems OK to me, especially as the current relaxation is to allow people a bit more freedom of movement. Getting out for a run is important for my mental wellbeing as far as I am concerned.

Under present circumstances, where these restrictions have been invoked to protect public health, I was trying to answer a open question within the spirit of the law, and not to steer as close to the letter of the law as one might go before getting one's collar felt!

Only you can judge whether you risk a nervous breakdown if you can't drive your car with the top down. Not having an open top car, I'm in no position to judge. But I am left with a sneaky suspicion that desire is being substituted for necessity! :-S

Now, were you drive to park somewhere, and then walk for an hour or more before driving back, you would fully comply with the requirement, and probably provide much greater benefit to your mental health into the bargain! :-D

 

I like your reply Brian.

Thank you Mel. I bow to your impeccable taste! :-D

[fesspark]

It looks as though Wellies enquiry as to if you can take your m,home; for a drive as lost its way.with some of the remarks and replies to letters to his question?,may be the virus that has led some people astray. fesspark

[BruceM]

fesspark - 2020-05-13 4:06 PM

 

It looks as though Wellies enquiry as to if you can take your m,home; for a drive as lost its way.with some of the remarks and replies to letters to his question?,may be the virus that has led some people astray. fesspark

 

A very good point, and in the spirit of adhering to the original question then now the answer is ‘yes’. In other words, if you can gain access to your van in storage whilst maintaining social distancing, then taking it for a run is legal and what’s more you could even make a day trip of it presuming that is that you can find somewhere to park up – I suspect that with many car parks closed in the beauty spots that a laybay may be one of the few remaining parking options.

[silverback]

I've taken my motorhome out every week throughout lockdown been doing at least 20 miles, just going to the supermarket....honest officer! albeit the long way round, done the same with the car B-) 8-) *-) totally within the rules

Jonathan

[jumpstart]

National Trust is to start opening its car parks and grounds for members,always a good place to park.

[jumpstart]

Car parks on Dartmoor now opening for visitors. Should be a manic weekend.

[Brock]

My wife said when she drove through West Kirby (Wirral) today there was a handful of motorhomes parked in pay car park. She didn't see any parked on the seafront.

 

The number crunchers reckon Wirral Borough is the third most likely to be hit hard by Coronavirus. As of last week, more inhabitants of West Kirby (nine) had died than in any other part of the Borough. Heswall and Hoylake had the second and third highest death rates in the Borough. For those that don't know Wirral Borough, these are the three richest areas and the three that attract the most affluent tourists.

 

 

[Basil]

Well that gives a different opinion to the one that says the poorest people were the most affected!!!

 

Basil

[malc d]

Whatever relaxation of rules there are, and it's quite clear why they are being relaxed, everyone should bear in mind that the virus is still out there, still being spread, and there is no cure yet.

 

So take it easy ( stay alert ! )

 

:-|

[Don636]

Well said Malc - spot on, its in our own hands.

[jumpstart]

You mean ON our own hands??

[Don636]

No.

[John52]

malc d - 2020-05-13 9:22 PM

 

Whatever relaxation of rules there are, and it's quite clear why they are being relaxed, everyone should bear in mind that the virus is still out there, still being spread, and there is no cure yet.

 

So take it easy ( stay alert ! )

 

:-|

 

Indeed.

Likely to be many years before a cure is found

So I don't intend to spend all that time indoors.

And a motorhome is that safest way I can think of to travel and self isolate to avoid covid-19

What is safer?

[flicka]

The revised information includes being able to drive to a location to take excercise (& that time period has been extended) having a picnic, sunbathing in a park subject to social distancing.

However many places have closed car parks, public conveniences & of course cafes & restaurant remain closed ,& most take away food providers require pre-order.

IMHO Motorhome owners are in a unique position.

Being fully able to comply with the changes & have on board facilities for toilets, picnic food, able to make a hot drink after exercise, etc. We only have to find a suitable parking spot.

Maybe it's time to review if small sites, CL's & CS's, could open for short stays as the only requirement would be sanitation of EHU & Water points. Payment could be made when booking, so eliminating the risk of contamination by cash handling.

 

 

[Guest pelmetman]

flicka - 2020-05-15 5:17 PM

 

The revised information includes being able to drive to a location to take excercise (& that time period has been extended) having a picnic, sunbathing in a park subject to social distancing.

However many places have closed car parks, public conveniences & of course cafes & restaurant remain closed ,& most take away food providers require pre-order.

IMHO Motorhome owners are in a unique position.

Being fully able to comply with the changes & have on board facilities for toilets, picnic food, able to make a hot drink after exercise, etc. We only have to find a suitable parking spot.

Maybe it's time to review if small sites, CL's & CS's, could open for short stays as the only requirement would be sanitation of EHU & Water points. Payment could be made when booking, so eliminating the risk of contamination by cash handling.

 

 

Most of the carparks in Weymouth and Portland are closed :-| .........

 

Those that are open get a regular visit from the local plod ;-) .......

 

Just sayin......to save folks the journey :D .......

 

 

[jumpstart]

flicka - 2020-05-15 5:17 PM

 

The revised information includes being able to drive to a location to take excercise (& that time period has been extended) having a picnic, sunbathing in a park subject to social distancing.

However many places have closed car parks, public conveniences & of course cafes & restaurant remain closed ,& most take away food providers require pre-order.

IMHO Motorhome owners are in a unique position.

Being fully able to comply with the changes & have on board facilities for toilets, picnic food, able to make a hot drink after exercise, etc. We only have to find a suitable parking spot.

Maybe it's time to review if small sites, CL's & CS's, could open for short stays as the only requirement would be sanitation of EHU & Water points. Payment could be made when booking, so eliminating the risk of contamination by cash handling.

 

 

I have already spoken to a small CL who are happy to have us as soon as we are allowed to visit. They have individual CW points , grey waste and e/h. Only toilet waste is communal. Payment by direct transfer.

Limited risk.

[John52]

Brock - 2020-05-13 7:11 PM

 

My wife said when she drove through West Kirby (Wirral) today there was a handful of motorhomes parked in pay car park. She didn't see any parked on the seafront.

 

The number crunchers reckon Wirral Borough is the third most likely to be hit hard by Coronavirus. As of last week, more inhabitants of West Kirby (nine) had died than in any other part of the Borough. Heswall and Hoylake had the second and third highest death rates in the Borough. For those that don't know Wirral Borough, these are the three richest areas and the three that attract the most affluent tourists.

 

 

Yes there are exceptions to the rule

Cheltenham has a high infection rate after the massive race meeting that was allowed to go ahead when the virus was already established.