CC versus C&CC: am I paranoid!!

[BobC]

I know this has been asked before, I can't find previous posts. Is there a big difference between the clubs??

I belong to CC, and feel the fee is worthwhile for sites, mag, etc. I use club sites maybe 3-4 weeks per year and CL 1-2 weeks.

BUT I had bad experience on CC site this year, with standard of member's manners/ behaviour dropping! Poor washroom cleanup, and dog control. Some members are also distinctly unfriendly to single guys; I am quiet, clean and don't wake everyone up at 6am or midnight. I like to head off for a days sightseeing/walking all day and sit quietly over a BBQ and beer at night. Wardens look at you sideways and seem to monitor my movements, whilst the family from hell can sing and watch Tv 'til 1 am. Or is it me? (as Sir Tel would say)

So, does the C&CC live up to the "friendly club" motto??

 

[Parksy]

Hi Robert

General standards of behaviour and good manners are dropping throughout society so perhaps you have experienced a microcosm of the decline on the site that you visited.

It would be a pity to allow one negative experience to put you off and are you sure that you are not mistaking British reserve or aloofness for unfriendliness?

You might experience similar on a C&CC site or you might not, luck of the draw I'm afraid.

One thing in favour of the C&CC is that campers in tents are allowed to use the sites so a single male is not an unusual occurrence and perhaps site wardens might not pay any particular attention to you.

I can vouch for the C&CC rallies, they are friendly in my experience and singlies are welcome so maybe the C&CC would be worth a try.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi robert sounds like you are not using the site mag correctly and picking the wrong sites to go to sorry mate but I don't think the C&CC will be any better judging by the posts made on here. however there may be a solution to hand,

with all the claptrap about you know what roaming about there is no wonder some people do tend to look sideways a bit at single men touring on their own on family sites?? wrong I know but there it is.

one solution is to go on adult only sites or go to your nearest fishing tackle shop and buy a cheap net, every time you come back to the van hang it up outside. that way any nosey parkers will not give you a second look because they will assume you are a fisherman on your own because the wife doesn't want to sit in the van on her own all day.

you may acctually get the odd good morning nice weather for it remark. "how do I know" well I used go off on flyfishing weekends when we had the m/home on my own and yes people did look at you oddly untill the fishing tackle came out then it changed immediately never had a problem on any site I went to.

colin

 

[MikeJE]

Robert,

I had the same 'sideways' looks when I took my wife's male cousin away for a week in the van. Just ignore them - I did.

Mike E

 

[marlot]

Its a side effect of the CRB "everyone is a paedophile unless they can prove otherwise" mentality the government has fostered. Which ironically makes the children less safe in my opinion - we've almost completely lost the community which would help to parent our children.

 

[BobC]

hi robert sounds like you are not using the site mag correctly and picking the wrong sites to go to sorry mate but I don't think the C&CC will be any better judging by the posts made on here. however there may be a solution to hand,

with all the claptrap about you know what roaming about there is no wonder some people do tend to look sideways a bit at single men touring on their own on family sites?? wrong I know but there it is.

one solution is to go on adult only sites or go to your nearest fishing tackle shop and buy a cheap net, every time you come back to the van hang it up outside. that way any nosey parkers will not give you a second look because they will assume you are a fisherman on your own because the wife doesn't want to sit in the van on her own all day.

you may acctually get the odd good morning nice weather for it remark. "how do I know" well I used go off on flyfishing weekends when we had the m/home on my own and yes people did look at you oddly untill the fishing tackle came out then it changed immediately never had a problem on any site I went to.

colin

What an excellent idea!! I don't fish, but this maybe the start of a new fascination.

 

[BobC]

Its a side effect of the CRB "everyone is a paedophile unless they can prove otherwise" mentality the government has fostered. Which ironically makes the children less safe in my opinion - we've almost completely lost the community which would help to parent our children.

Good comment: I do make a point of saying my wife is working or to busy to come away. I might hang some of her pants out so they think she's in residence!!

 

[BobC]

Robert,

I had the same 'sideways' looks when I took my wife's male cousin away for a week in the van. Just ignore them - I did.

Mike E

Funny enough, the best neighbours onsite I have had this year were two ladies. We respected each others privacy, and had polite conversation in passing. I don't know what there relationship was, or care; they had manners!

 

[butler1]

Hello Robert, I use the'van on my own for my fishing trips to Dorset. Like yourself, unless blown out by the weather, I leave site at 7 and return 12 hours later. After a day out bassing it's nice to have a few beers outside the 'van. Most folks are friendly but yes, you do get the looks. The last time, when I left, a lady on the next pitch guided me back on to the hitch. When I told her what I had been doing all week she said 'Soooo THAT'S what you've been doing!!' Clearly it had been playing on her mind. One tip when alone, never take a pitch overlooking the play area!! Best wishes, Butler.

 

[Mel]

Hi Robert, just read your comment to Timothy's excellent point. If you think you are getting funny looks now just wait until you've got women's underear on your washing line. Not sure that you have thought this through.

mel

 

[Ray R]

Timothy

27 Dec 2009 11:00 AM Its a side effect of the CRB "everyone is a paedophile unless they can prove otherwise"

Just because they have a CRB dosent mean they are not a paedophile, it just means they hav'nt been caught yet !!

 

[hogrider56]

CC is an aloof elitist organisation, overpriced, discriminatory, and a lot of other things for which words fail me. IMHO

 

[Bryan_374360331]

That's what a lot of people want...

 

[xtrailman]

paedophile often operate in pairs, male and female.

When i see a lone caravaner, it has never occurred to me that he or she may be be a paedophile!

On a site i use, i regularly see single male caravaners, often using the site to commute from. Makes senze if you work away from home.

 

[DianneT]

We have been members of the Caravan Club for over 30 years. It is a very good and helpful organization and very good value for momey. The Magazine is an excellent publication and in itself is worth the subscription. We only ever use the C.L's these days and they are excellent too. All literature and Campsite Books as Europe 1 and 2 are excellent too. Cannot think what you are on about Phil.

 

[hogrider56]

I suggest you try staying on a CC site as a single person and you will see what I mean

 

[DianneT]

We were on a C.L in Suffolk in September a single guy was on there we chatted to him as the other occupants of the other caravans did no problems. I do not think it is the Caravan Club at fault it is people generally are not so friendly as they use to be. The UK is a very different place these days and not for the best. I think you will find it is different on a CL site than a Club site. But I would not think it would be any different on a C&CC site.

 

[Parksy]

On any site be it CC or C&CC a lot depends on the people who happen to be staying on site at the time.

Both clubs attract members who want to be assured of reasonable standards of cleanliness as far as possible, they want a framework of rules, no late night noise for example and they buy into the many services that both clubs offer.

People don't necessarily go to club sites to make friends or to socialise, rallies and commercial sites cater more for the social aspects of caravanning imho.

We've been on C&CC sites where we've gone out for a meal with neighbours and become good friends and we've been on others where we've been lucky to receive a curt good morning or a nod of recognition. Luck of the draw once again.

We find that on some certified sites other campers are more likely to socialise or chat but the downside can sometimes be that when you pitch up on a quiet cs in a nice corner of the site the next visitor arrives and in accordance with sods law of all the places to chose they want to pitch up right next door and a bit too close. On C&CC certified sites the worst offenders are usually tents who then proceed to light open fires and smoke us out while they are pitched either directly in front thus blocking the view or right where we had parked next to the pitch if we were out when they arrived.

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Well I'm worried now as I will staying at the NEC for a week on my own in February for the Boat and Caravan show.

Do you think I should rig up a dummy in a rocking chair in the front of the van so people don't think I'm some sort of psycho?

Anyone attending the show please come visit me on the Bailey stand ........

.......and check out how nice the caravan showers are ;O)

Brian

 

[LMH]

Hi Robert

I wouldn't judge any site or people on the one experience.

I've been away three times this year by myself (and dog). The first was a CCC site, second two commercial sites.

Didn't experience any sideways glances etc. Each time I was pitched near the dog walk and most people as they were passing (if I was outside) said 'hello'.

I've seen a few single men either in tents, vans or campervans and it wouldn't even cross my mind that they're some sort of weirdo's. I've seen a few single women on their own too. Infact, last year, i got talking to a woman in a massive (and I mean massive) tent who was tenting on her own. Well - technically, she was waiting for her new partner to arrive but that never happened, but best not go there. Anyway, when it came to taking her tent down, she started and there must have been about six different blokes who all went over and asked if they could help. I thought that was lovely. However, she politley declined their offers, saying as she intended to tent alone in the future, she needed to know how to erect the tent then taken it down all by herself.

There are some horrendous snobs in caravanning that's for sure.

Lisa

 

[LMH]

Well I'm worried now as I will staying at the NEC for a week on my own in February for the Boat and Caravan show.

Do you think I should rig up a dummy in a rocking chair in the front of the van so people don't think I'm some sort of psycho?

Anyone attending the show please come visit me on the Bailey stand ........

.......and check out how nice the caravan showers are ;O)

Brian

Will it be a full moon when you're there Brian?

Lisa xx

 

[BobC]

Thanks to all repliers: my, oh my what did I say t get some of you het up! Yes some CC members are stand-offish, but there are some on any site I think.

I think it may be just some isolated sites I've had problems with, were people have came for years and notice strangers - I spent some time down in London recently, council run site, and most on site were working and very friendly.

Site in Huntly I really like - stayed for couple of weeks last year, the guy next door had sadly lost his wife so was trying solo for first time. We both got funny looks until people found out. They have separate areas for solo/couple and families and tents - works very well. The wardens are very good, and sus you out. I always tell them what I am doing.

I agree with the "oh that's what you're doing !", I try to speak to my neighbours to say hope "I don't disturb you when I go out in the morning walking", at least then their curiousity is sorted ..

On the paedophile subject....I honestly hadn't thought about that as an issue, and I am probably one of the few on site who has been CRB checked as I work with kids, but it shows the media has effected society badly. I'll display my paperwork in the window next year. Next the wife's knicks!

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi robert hope you find better sites to go on in 2010 just enjoy yourself, if you end up on the same site as us you are wellcome to a evening coffee and chat we will know who you are by the stickers and the panties hung outside "still think you should buy a fishing net as well" you won't be able to miss us were the ones with the black cairn terrier that thinks its a pit bull.

colin

 

[Chris_374413356]

Hi Robert, get a dog, a single man walking is always suspicious but a guy with a dog must be a good guy........

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

If I was single I'd definitely have a dog. I couldn't think of a greater reason for going off on walks or even a reason so I don't have to talk to myself.

I'm married and have three small dogs although we've only recently had the third because sadly I don't think our elderly old girl will be with us come the caravan season. She is now 15 1/2 and is beginning to show her age. I do know that when the inevitable happens I will be in pieces but at least we have the other two to help us get over the loss.

Get a dog Robert but please do clean up after it ;O)