We’re Packing Our Motorhome For A UK Short Break!
Four months to the day that we parked our motorhome Zagan in his storage space, following a blast across Europe to avoid closing borders and states of emergency, we were back in him today. We’ve been packing for a short break in the UK.
I’ll be honest, when we parked him up I had no idea how long it would be before we’d be back behind his wheel. We were first impacted by the pandemic when our half marathon in Malaga was cancelled, we let it roll over to November, thinking we’d certainly be back on the coast of Spain in our motorhome by then. I think we might have been a tad optimistic. Sure, we could fill up the motorhome and head for the tunnel today, but at the moment neither of us feel comfortable doing that right now.
Jay’s parents are coming out of shielding, but we want to continue shopping for them, to minimise any risk of them catching anything that might see them needing to go to their doctors or hospital. I’m also enjoying being safely tucked up at home, and going out running with a few other members of our club now that we can. It’s also great to see our community reopening, and being here to support it any way that we can.
For now we’ve decided to stay in the UK and just take short trips away. Once Zagan is packed our first trip will see us head a couple of hours away into Derbyshire to enjoy lots of walking and maybe a bit of trail running. We’ve booked onto a campsite for a few days, so we know that there will be some sort of organisation meaning we’ll be able to easily socially distance from others. We’ll probably just leave a basic level of stuff in Zagan after the trip (he was completely emptied when we got back) so we it won’t be such a big ‘hump’ to get over next time we want to nip off.
I do love our little home here in Nottingham, but after four months with no view out of the windows (except our yard, which isn’t massively inspiring), I can’t wait to get out and see the world again.
Ju x
Get yerself a shave lad.
Tried that Johnny. Just grew back. Gave up. 😘
Hi J&J. After calling off our 8 month trip and doing a similar dash bach from Southern Spain to UK (we did the Murcian coast to the Tunnel in 36 hours on 17/18 March), we’ve just enjoyed a short break to Cornwall in Harry which was great! Enjoy yours to Derbyshire! 😁 John, Suz & Finley
Hello both, thanks for update; let us know how you get on! Like you, we’ve planned a short trip in September combined with a visit to family in Northumberland. On booking, we found difficulty in booking sites at weekends although Monday to Friday no problem! May do a couple of ‘Britstops’ for Friday or Saturday nights!
Had planned a trip around Ireland this year. May have anther go at this next spring. Looking at another site it seems this year is a bad year for midges in Scotland!
Good luck and best wishes, Andy and Helen
Hope you’ll feel safe and comfortable on your Derbyshire trip.
We are just back from 9 nights in the Lakes. We stayed at one Camping Club site and a Caravan and Motorhome club site ( Meathop and then Derwentwater). Both were very well managed re extra cleaning, numbers of people using facilities etc. Felt very safe!
It was great to be ‘on the road ‘ again.
Hope you have a great time. Derbyshire is a beautiful county.
Hi Jay and Ju
Such free spirits as you are, you must be climbing the walls to get out!
I was just wondering how you find driving a left hander over here in uk?
Happy travels, Alan
Hi Alan, I do most of the driving but find it very helpful to have a spotter in the passenger seat, checking for oncoming traffic when overtaking and the like. This van has two large side windows which help at some wide junctions too. If we were to spend most of our time in the UK we’d definitely go for RHD though. Cheers, Jay
To be honest, France feels pretty safe….much more so than when we were in the UK. Mask wearing is the norm and from tomorrow obligatory in closed public spaces. Although 1m is the norm for social distancing everyone we meet is very respectful and asks if you want to ‘faire bisous’ or not. This is of course in the country and small towns. We have just had a lovely weekend away with French friends in the countryside. Cathy, who lives and works in Bordeaux, says it varies greatly in the city and one needs to be much more cautious. On balance I would say… it is absolutely fine to come to France but avoid the connurbations…who wouldn’t??? The countryside remains wonderful and feels very safe… people are covid aware, without being paranoid. Precautions are sensible, people are respectful and hey, the weather is fantastic!! Here in the Charente we are looking at an average of 30° for the next week and rain is a distant memory. We are not looking at going to Spain for some time. It is too hot, but not sure that they are so welcoming at present!
Have a good break, Lorraine xx