Our European trip

[Devonisheaven]

I am sorry, but I just don't get your reasoning for my quip about " saving lives" and Shackleton as I never mentioned Shackleton. My thoughts regarding saving lives was that trying to do that sort of journey with a caravan in 3 weeks, one would become tired and loose concentration on the road resulting in an accident that may or may not involve others.

……With his family on board!

 

[Gafferbill]

Post removed.

 

[Dustydog]

Seems like we all have the long distance daily tow T Shirt.

For a number of years we have driven virtually non stop , 350 miles from Northumberland to home at the end of our Scottish tours.
The actual driving mostly motorways is not too taxing. It needs an early to bed the night before. Getting the caravan ready, ie removal of security stuff etc. Never felt knackered afterwards.

For me it’s not the driving but the hitching and pitching.

Looking at the OPs proposal I have to ask is there any time available for,R&R and sightseeing?
Or is this a sponsored how many towing miles can I do in 3 weeks?

 

[otherclive]

Seems like we all have the long distance daily tow T Shirt.

For a number of years we have driven virtually non stop , 350 miles from Northumberland to home at the end of our Scottish tours.
The actual driving mostly motorways is not too taxing. It needs an early to bed the night before. Getting the caravan ready, ie removal of security stuff etc. Never felt knackered afterwards.

For me it’s not the driving but the hitching and pitching.

Looking at the OPs proposal I have to ask is there any time available for,R&R and sightseeing?
Or is this a sponsored how many towing miles can I do in 3 weeks?

Didn’t you post of a recent trip home from Gairloch with two 6 hr non stop tows, and basically said those days were over.

 

[Dustydog]

Didn’t you post of a recent trip home from Gairloch with two 6 hr non stop tows, and basically said those days were over.

That was last year Clive. It was a marathon run over 48 hours. We haven’t done Northumberland this year but will go next year with a stop over each way seeing friends and family.
Whilst we are fit enough the days of long non stoppers are not our first choice

 

[otherclive]

That was last year Clive. It was a marathon run over 48 hours. We haven’t done Northumberland this year but will go next year with a stop over each way seeing friends and family.
Whilst we are fit enough the days of long non stoppers are not our first choice

Gosh didn’t realise it was 12 months ago. Temp is fugit faster than ever, or so it seems.

 

[RogerL]

Gosh didn’t realise it was 12 months ago. Temp is fugit faster than ever, or so it seems.

It must be how Einstein worked out his theory of relatively - as we get older we seem to get slower so time appears to go faster.

 

[Mel]

I am sorry, but I just don't get your reasoning for my quip about " saving lives" and Shackleton as I never mentioned Shackleton. My thoughts regarding saving lives was that trying to do that sort of journey with a caravan in 3 weeks, one would become tired and loose concentration on the road resulting in an accident that may or may not involve others.

I know that you didn’t mention Shackleton. I have read the thread. I agreed that the warnings about the amount of driving were appropriate . My point was that the extreme diversion from the OP powered by stalwarts who like to talk amongst themselves could not be justified beyond a few posts warning of dangers. Any new forumite is not going to stay long if every discussion they start very quickly ends up in the way this one did.
Yes, some folks just join to ask for information and then never post again. This is absolutely fine; surely we are all happy to help? However, those who might stay and become regularly posters will be driven away when it becomes clear that they are not welcome.
Mel

 

[Dustydog]

Sorry to continue Fred Drift.

Statistically looking at the Forum Membership numbers the main contributors are 20 in all.
The PCv magazine monthly circulation is 24000.

Where are all the 23, 980 potential Forumites 🤔

 

[Paul Martin]

A big thank you to Steven and Hutch for actually taking the time to reply with something helpful. Also, thank you to Mel (moderator) for jumping in and acting as a referee and politely pointing out that folk were going wildly off topic.

Whilst I respect and appreciate that everyone is entitled to an opinion, I did NOT join this forum to be ridiculed and belittled at my plans.

All due respect, I did state in a post that I am used to driving large vehicles over long distances. Due to working within the railway industry, I am also trained to concentrate for long periods. As previously pointed out by someone, everyone has different capabilities.

So @Buckman HOW BLOODY DARE YOU!!!!!

Do you actually think that I would purposely put other people and/or road users at risk ?!?

I am trying so hard to keep this post clean so I won’t actually type what I’m thinking.

 

[Buckman]

So @Buckman HOW BLOODY DARE YOU!!!!!

Do you actually think that I would purposely put other people and/or road users at risk ?!?

I am trying so hard to keep this post clean so I won’t actually type what I’m thinking.

I did not think that I was ridiculing or belittling your plans and was only trying to offer helpful information. I mentioned it because safety is paramount for every one and not just yourself. It does not matter whether you are a long distance driver or not because trying to do that sort of journey in 3 weeks may not be safe.

In addition, towing a caravan is a totally different kettle of fish to driving an artic etc. You may drive large vehicles, but you aren't you restricted on the amount of driving you can do in a day i.e. rest breaks etc?

 

[RogerL]

I did not think that I was ridiculing or belittling your plans and was only trying to offer helpful information. I mentioned it because safety is paramount for every one and not just yourself. It does not matter whether you are a long distance driver or not because trying to do that sort of journey in 3 weeks may not be safe.

In addition, towing a caravan is a totally different kettle of fish to driving an artic etc. You may drive large vehicles, but you aren't you restricted on the amount of driving you can do in a day i.e. rest breaks etc?

The HGV drivers' hours are longer than most contributors on this forum would tow their caravans.

I use HGV limits as a basis for my self-imposed limits which are longer than most contributors here.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Roger,
There are TWO sides of opinion re this matter re mileage and driving time and each are equally valid.
Personally my main concern would be the time spent "on the road driving" rather than actually enjoying the various areas you will, by reason of the itinerary and distances involved in the available time, be forced to drive through rather than stopping to explore.
Your plan does seem to be, to my mind, very much "A Busmans holiday" Insomuch as your holiday will be pretty much the same as your working day, i.e. driving for a large proportion of it.
My working life was spent driving, and thats the very last thing I wanted to do on holiday.
Either way I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip, but I am sure you can understand for many it isnt what they would class as a "holiday" But each to his own of course.

 

[woodsieboy]

I can't see anywhere Paul says he is a HGV driver, he drives large vehicles in the raiway industry

 

[Buckman]

I can't see anywhere Paul says he is a HGV driver, he drives large vehicles in the raiway industry

Correct he only mentions it in the post where he scolds me for trying to be helpful.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Its hardly surprising that new members join our forum then disappear. The usual suspects sharing their experiences, which while valuable, don't provide a simple answer to the original question. Then the discussion becomes between old members at the exclusion to the newcomer.

Plus we get fatuous remarks that may seem humourous but contribute nothing.

Why not answer the question first then share your experiences and try and avoid excluding the new member.

 

[Mel]

As there are no further helpful comments to this post, I have locked the thread.