|
Post by Humph on Jul 19, 2016 10:51:54 GMT
I suppose it's just that it's a bit of a faff ( and expense ) getting a towbar fitted to a company car. Not that anyone would mind, but I'm tight and Scottish enough not to want to spend money on a car that isn't actually mine.
Life is hard sometimes isn't it? All these decisions and worries...😉
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 12:39:37 GMT
"..conNaughty Worduous...
Really? I can say 'arse' but not a synonym for 'highly visible'?"
Mmm, that needs thinking about....
|
|
|
Post by Humph on Jul 19, 2016 12:58:09 GMT
I must be thick, or have led a more sheltered life than some, but I can't think of a word that means highly visible that is sweary?
No need to update me though. Sometimes ignorance is bliss !
|
|
WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,352
|
Post by WDB on Jul 19, 2016 15:18:47 GMT
Not so much that it's sweary per se, more that in contains a sequence of letters that, on its own, would be in acceptable. That's a bit like boycotting food because it contains carbon and oxygen, which in isolation can form carbon monoxide.
More to the point, where in France are you going? Auvergne for us this time.
|
|
|
Post by Humph on Jul 19, 2016 15:45:46 GMT
Vendee, boringly enough the same place we've been going to in August for years. Quite a large group of us descend on a campsite, some with their own caravans or tents, some of us rent statics, all family and friends with "children" of similar ages. The kids are all growing up now so this will almost certainly be our last time.
Some great times have been had over the years and that area has miles and miles of dedicated off road bike tracks, safe clean beaches for surfing, windsurfing, swimming and body boarding.
Simple days, bike rides in the mornings, beaches in the afternoon, shopping in the village for fresh food to cook/barbecue in the late afternoons. Corks pulled about 6.30, food eaten about 8.00 and a stroll on the beach in the shallows in bare feet about 10.00 most nights followed by coffee in the village and a brandy or two back at the campsite.
Not complicated, not even very exciting, but sooo relaxing. Can't wait !
|
|
WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,352
|
Post by WDB on Jul 19, 2016 16:22:02 GMT
Nothing boring about relaxing in a place you love! It's only a couple of weeks a year, after all. We've come to love the salt marsh country near Marennes in Charente Maritime. We've not been since 2012, because it's expensive in August and the best of the bird life is there in June, but we will go there again, maybe as a post-GCSE treat for No1 next year.
Perfect holiday would be to end up there after rolling off the Portsmouth ferry at St Malo that morning with about five hours to drive down the wonderful west coast motorway, the A83. Stop for a Charentais melon at the Oasis de la Rosée at Vix, and arrive late afternoon with the rosé cool in the back and everything ready to go. Sometimes the simple things are all you need.
|
|
|
Post by Humph on Jul 19, 2016 17:40:46 GMT
Yes indeed, couldn't agree more, but I suspect that Ibiza or somewhere like that will be luring our son next year and we haven't been anywhere properly hot like the Greek islands for a while so I think we'll be doing something like that next year without being restricted to school holiday dates and the resultant usury that implies. I totally get the concept of market forces and regularly hide behind them in my business life, but it doesn't dull the pain when it's your credit card that's being markedly forced !
Maybe we'll end up doing the French camping thing again as grandparents in due course, who knows. I trust it'll be a few years away yet anyway. We've loved it, and we'll no doubt enjoy it again this year, but it's time for a change.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 19, 2016 17:48:57 GMT
WDB will no doubt be along soon to tell me I need a towbar mounted rack...yes I know... Well, it works for us! I've not done the maths but let's try now. Assume each trip is 1000 miles there and back (dismounting the carrier once there, as we do.) With the bikes on the back, we get about 8 miles to a litre; let's suppose that would drop to 6 with the bikes on top, so it's about 60 additional litres a trip. We've had our towbar rack since 2009 and it's about to make its seventh long holiday trip, so that may mean it's saved - or will have saved - 400-450 litres in that time. Has that covered the cost? Well, yes, if it's the £300 we paid for the rack; no, if you count the cost of equipping two successive cars with detachable towbars we wouldn't otherwise have needed. There are other compensations, though. Noise is negligible, and there's little danger of forgetting the bikes are there because they're conNaughty Worduous in the mirror. You can even carry a roof box too, if you have one of those little cars that won't accommodate your luggage inside - although you should really have an E estate for the self-levelling. But best of all, you can use the Télépéage lanes on French motorways, and cruise through without even stopping. Try that with a roof carrier and you'll be picking bits of red and white chain out of your bikes for the rest of the trip. Admin will poke around in the swear filter and see what he can do. Its only got 5 words in it, and you managed to fire it off twice in one post with ease
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 19, 2016 17:51:33 GMT
Well, it works for us! I've not done the maths but let's try now. Assume each trip is 1000 miles there and back (dismounting the carrier once there, as we do.) With the bikes on the back, we get about 8 miles to a litre; let's suppose that would drop to 6 with the bikes on top, so it's about 60 additional litres a trip. We've had our towbar rack since 2009 and it's about to make its seventh long holiday trip, so that may mean it's saved - or will have saved - 400-450 litres in that time. Has that covered the cost? Well, yes, if it's the £300 we paid for the rack; no, if you count the cost of equipping two successive cars with detachable towbars we wouldn't otherwise have needed. There are other compensations, though. Noise is negligible, and there's little danger of forgetting the bikes are there because they're conNaughty Worduous in the mirror. You can even carry a roof box too, if you have one of those little cars that won't accommodate your luggage inside - although you should really have an E estate for the self-levelling. But best of all, you can use the Télépéage lanes on French motorways, and cruise through without even stopping. Try that with a roof carrier and you'll be picking bits of red and white chain out of your bikes for the rest of the trip. Admin will poke around in the swear filter and see what he can do. Its only got 5 words in it, and you managed to fire it off twice in one post with ease Conspicuous Naughty Word There, Fixed.
|
|
|
Post by Hofmeister on Jul 19, 2016 19:07:25 GMT
Vendee, boringly enough the same place we've been going to in August for years. Quite a large group of us descend on a campsite, some with their own caravans or tents, some of us rent statics, all family and friends with "children" of similar ages. The kids are all growing up now so this will almost certainly be our last time. Some great times have been had over the years and that area has miles and miles of dedicated off road bike tracks, safe clean beaches for surfing, windsurfing, swimming and body boarding. Simple days, bike rides in the mornings, beaches in the afternoon, shopping in the village for fresh food to cook/barbecue in the late afternoons. Corks pulled about 6.30, food eaten about 8.00 and a stroll on the beach in the shallows in bare feet about 10.00 most nights followed by coffee in the village and a brandy or two back at the campsite. Not complicated, not even very exciting, but sooo relaxing. Can't wait ! I've done the Vendee a few times wit the lad, St Jean De Monts area and similar. We've also done Charent Maritime a few times as well - friend had a static caravan near Royan. I like all that stretch of coast, its unspoiled. I don't get the camping shit tho! Tho it turns out I will have to get myself a day tent or shelter for dog shows. The shows take all day from 08:00 to 16:00 or so, and people rock up and throw up a Khyam Screen house round and over the back of the car/van keeps the rain / sun off you and the dog while you wait for your rounds, results and run offs. Somewhere to brew tea, read the paper, gossip to visitors and on facebook, and the dog to sleep.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 20:49:22 GMT
I love camping, in fact that's where we are now. Lago Penuelas if you want to look it up. Forest next to a big arse lake.
Entirely safe for kids;
e.g.No. 2 cycled off alone about three hours ago. She'll show up when she is hungry.
About an hour ago No. 1 stalked off with her fishing rod muttering something about not being able to take another meal of barbecued meat. At least she's ok with gutting and chopping. I don't mind cooking it for her but no way am I doing that shit.
Nobody else here. Literally, nobody. A mate of mine runs the place (a job from heaven) and even he has gone to the beach.
Hot water and electricity in the nearby wash / toilet / shower block.
Right now I'm sat here alone, by a camp fire, most of the way through a bottle of Sauv. Blanc. re-reading the Bourne books with REM playing in the background.
Life is not crap.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 21:16:39 GMT
Near Valparaiso ...always wanted to go there, since I was a child who knew the names of capitals and major cities throughout the world.
So what are you doing in Chile? A long way from your birth place I assume?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2016 21:36:26 GMT
Oh that's a long and complicated answer.
Since I only have a phone with me the quick answer is that I have worked all over the world and met a Chilena when I was a partner in E&Y many years ago.
These days I don't work very often but when I do it doesn't much matter where I live, it'll almost certainly be in the wrong place.
So we live here, for now. Probably not for too much longer though.
|
|
|
Post by Alanović on Aug 11, 2016 11:36:03 GMT
Vendee, boringly enough the same place we've been going to in August for years. Quite a large group of us descend on a campsite, some with their own caravans or tents, some of us rent statics, all family and friends with "children" of similar ages. The kids are all growing up now so this will almost certainly be our last time. Some great times have been had over the years and that area has miles and miles of dedicated off road bike tracks, safe clean beaches for surfing, windsurfing, swimming and body boarding. Simple days, bike rides in the mornings, beaches in the afternoon, shopping in the village for fresh food to cook/barbecue in the late afternoons. Corks pulled about 6.30, food eaten about 8.00 and a stroll on the beach in the shallows in bare feet about 10.00 most nights followed by coffee in the village and a brandy or two back at the campsite. Not complicated, not even very exciting, but sooo relaxing. Can't wait ! I've done the Vendee a few times wit the lad, St Jean De Monts area and similar. We've also done Charent Maritime a few times as well - friend had a static caravan near Royan. I like all that stretch of coast, its unspoiled. I don't get the camping shit tho! Tho it turns out I will have to get myself a day tent or shelter for dog shows. The shows take all day from 08:00 to 16:00 or so, and people rock up and throw up a Khyam Screen house round and over the back of the car/van keeps the rain / sun off you and the dog while you wait for your rounds, results and run offs. Somewhere to brew tea, read the paper, gossip to visitors and on facebook, and the dog to sleep. Our trip to France this years was our 5th summer in a row at St Jean de Monts. Where were you, Humph? Sounds like you were somewhere smaller as you wouldn't call SJdM a village. We take accommodation in a "Residence Pavillionaire" rather than camping, the wife wont wear canvas. It's not cheap, but keeps 'er 'appy.
We take our bicycle shaped objects on the roof of the car. Wife and children have bikes from Decathlon, mine is the cheapest mountain bike available in Halfords - Trax, £80. The Residence we stay at has a built-in bike rental and repair shop - and boy did we use it this year. We don't cycle much at home, it's not much fun to cycle living where we do and the children aren't old enough to be out alone especially with the traffic round our way. As a result of lack of use, both the children's bikes needed new brake pads due to squeaking issues, and I got a punctured inner tube, which was apparently down to the poorly designed wheels which have screw heads sticking out internally (screws which hold the spokes on).
We use the bikes every day when in SJdM, either the road down to the beach or running through the excellent purpose built paths in the Forêt Domainale. However, the wife's bike also disgraced itself a bit on the forest path when the chain leapt off the gear cog and lodged itself between that and the frame. Even 14 stone of me yanking on it wouldn't budge it, so she had to push it home. I had the spanners/tools etc necessary to loosen the frame and remove the chain and put it back where it belonged, and had foolishly not taken them on the ride with us. Lesson learnt.
We could hire bikes there of course, but they would be an absolute fortune, i.e. many hundreds of euros, for two weeks. So cheap mangy bikes will do for us, even if they are a bit low quality. Another advantage is that we have taken to driving down over two days, staying at a hotel overnight, and I don't mind leaving cheap bikes on the roof rack, secured with cable locks of course. I think most wannabe thieves would probably realise the bikes were worthless and it wouldn't be worth the effort.
|
|
|
Post by Hofmeister on Aug 11, 2016 14:40:34 GMT
I don't mind leaving cheap bikes on the roof rack, secured with cable locks of course. I think most wannabe thieves would probably realise the bikes were worthless and it wouldn't be worth the effort. Well lets face it, they aint going to knick your cars are they.
|
|