We're just back from a mostly enjoyable three weeks in France... except for one hour which we'll never forget..
Between Orleans and Clermont-Ferrand on the A71, south-bound, and needing a fuel stop. Pulled into services - aire de Chaumont s/ Tharonne and, as always, checked which way caravans were being directed and followed the signs. We're pretty sure we'd been to this one before and it was OK. Around the fuel pumps it was, as often is, a bit tight but we navigated out without any hiccups. Also watched a few caravans go ahead of us and were confident we'd be fine.
Just to add to the story, we have a 7.9m twin axle, towed by a LR Discovery. So we're a pretty long outfit.
Heading out of the services is where the fun began. It was hot (30/32 degrees) and rammed (lunchtime on a July Friday)....
We were heading towards the services exit sliproad, where the car and lorry lanes converge, and realised it was far too tight to turn, with high concrete (scuffed) barriers either side of the lane. We got out to have a look. Definitely too tight - not enough swing to make the turn without taking the back end off the caravan.
The hooters started and the French began getting tetchy.
We scratched our heads and looked again. "I don't know what to do", I said. "There's only one thing we can do," my husband said, "we're going to have to unhitch and stick it on the mover".
"Oh. My. Goodness" I thought (or at least something along those lines.)
So we spent the next 20 minutes doing exactly that. My husband calmly and carefully going through the process. Me trying to fend off the frustrated French. It's helpful that we both speak fluent French, as one rather cross lady came over all shouty and arrogant, we politely explained what was happening and politely asked for her help in explaining to other travellers what was happening, expressing our apologies, and saying that the best way of helping was leaving us to calmly sort it out. At one point we had at least 25 people around the caravan, watching. In fairness, once they understood, most were supportive and friendly, only one twit was upping the stress levels by honking his horn, tapping his watch and saying we were making him late for work.
Hitching was the 'fun' part - as we had to block not only the car exit, but the lorry exit too as the lanes converged. We didn't actually count them, but reckon about 100 vehicles must have been held up by us
After hitching we set off on our way.... and at every service station found ourselves asking why, with all the land surrounding the French aires, do they make all the turns so very tight (even on caravan and lorry lanes) and use the concrete barriers (which, if you look, are all scuffed)?
Oh - the icing on the cake - our 8 year old daughter complaining that the delay meant her ipad battery had gone dangerously low.... a comment which fell on deaf ears!!!
We're happy to say the rest of our travels went well (except my husband then leaving his mobile phone in the toilets at the next aire, but we got it back thanks to a very kind French man who answered it when we called it and brought to the next services for us).
We won't be stopping at aire de Chaumont s/ Tharonne again. But we will be back in France ASAP
Between Orleans and Clermont-Ferrand on the A71, south-bound, and needing a fuel stop. Pulled into services - aire de Chaumont s/ Tharonne and, as always, checked which way caravans were being directed and followed the signs. We're pretty sure we'd been to this one before and it was OK. Around the fuel pumps it was, as often is, a bit tight but we navigated out without any hiccups. Also watched a few caravans go ahead of us and were confident we'd be fine.
Just to add to the story, we have a 7.9m twin axle, towed by a LR Discovery. So we're a pretty long outfit.
Heading out of the services is where the fun began. It was hot (30/32 degrees) and rammed (lunchtime on a July Friday)....
We were heading towards the services exit sliproad, where the car and lorry lanes converge, and realised it was far too tight to turn, with high concrete (scuffed) barriers either side of the lane. We got out to have a look. Definitely too tight - not enough swing to make the turn without taking the back end off the caravan.
The hooters started and the French began getting tetchy.
We scratched our heads and looked again. "I don't know what to do", I said. "There's only one thing we can do," my husband said, "we're going to have to unhitch and stick it on the mover".
"Oh. My. Goodness" I thought (or at least something along those lines.)
So we spent the next 20 minutes doing exactly that. My husband calmly and carefully going through the process. Me trying to fend off the frustrated French. It's helpful that we both speak fluent French, as one rather cross lady came over all shouty and arrogant, we politely explained what was happening and politely asked for her help in explaining to other travellers what was happening, expressing our apologies, and saying that the best way of helping was leaving us to calmly sort it out. At one point we had at least 25 people around the caravan, watching. In fairness, once they understood, most were supportive and friendly, only one twit was upping the stress levels by honking his horn, tapping his watch and saying we were making him late for work.
Hitching was the 'fun' part - as we had to block not only the car exit, but the lorry exit too as the lanes converged. We didn't actually count them, but reckon about 100 vehicles must have been held up by us
After hitching we set off on our way.... and at every service station found ourselves asking why, with all the land surrounding the French aires, do they make all the turns so very tight (even on caravan and lorry lanes) and use the concrete barriers (which, if you look, are all scuffed)?
Oh - the icing on the cake - our 8 year old daughter complaining that the delay meant her ipad battery had gone dangerously low.... a comment which fell on deaf ears!!!
We're happy to say the rest of our travels went well (except my husband then leaving his mobile phone in the toilets at the next aire, but we got it back thanks to a very kind French man who answered it when we called it and brought to the next services for us).
We won't be stopping at aire de Chaumont s/ Tharonne again. But we will be back in France ASAP
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