http://www.camc.com September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine 59
Good Samaritans
While towing up to the Lake District
on the M6 recently, we suffered
a blow-out on a caravan tyre, with
s o m e d e b r i s i n o u r w a ke ( I c a l l e d
H i g hw a y s A g e n c y s t r a i g ht a w a y ).
Almost immediately another
caravanner stopped just ahead of us
to check we were okay. As he drove
off, another car stopped behind us
and a chap in his 30s (with two little
girls asleep in the back of his car) also
came to see if we were okay, advising
u s n ot to c o nt i n u e t r y i n g to f i x i t
ourselves. He seemed very
concerned for us – the debris must
have made the incident look a lot
more scary than it had been.
We thanked him and sat tight
waiting for the cavalry. Another
15 minutes passed and we saw this
same man walking down the slip road
with a bag of sausage rolls, cheese
pasties, water and cake to keep us
going in case we were in for a long
wait. Thankfully, Green Flag were
soon with us and we were on our way
within the hour, only to have a second
blow out on the remaining caravan
tyre less than a couple of miles later.
The same recovery team returned
and were amazing. We followed
them all the way to Carnforth to the
farm-based Certificated Location
we had booked. Our caravan was
deposited on the pitch and within five
minutes fellow campers, Margaret
and Jim, came over to ask if we took
milk and sugar and proceeded to help
us get set up.
I really hope these people get to
recognise themselves from this tale.
We have been caravanning for over
30 years and never had problems like
this before, so to then receive all of this
kindness from complete strangers
was overwhelming. There are some
really lovely people out there.
Sue and Neal Clements, via email
Kind gesture
What could be friendlier than another
Club member giving you her tea
towel because you had forgotten
to p a c k yo u r s? T h a t i s ex a c t l y w h a t
another member did for us. Then she
said, “Just keep it, I have plenty with
me in our caravan.”
I was so grateful and at the same
time beating myself up for leaving
ours on the kitchen bench. Oh yes,
I knew exactly where they were!
Now each time I reach into my drawer
and that ‘friendly’ tea towel meets
my hand, it makes me think of that
ve r y k i n d fe l l o w C l u b m e m b e r.
Carole and Denis Martin,
HampshireElectrical warning
While enjoying a stay on the New
Forest Centenary site, I noticed that
an owner of a campervan had left
their pitch. Nothing strange about
that, but the electrical hook-up was
left plugged into the post with the van
end left on the ground. It was also
raining. I reported this to the site staff
who disconnected the lead and put
a plastic bag over the 16A connector.
A couple of minutes later a toddler
came along. It’s not outside the realms
of possibility that the child could have
picked up the lead and suffered horrific
injury – or worse. This is not a dramatic
observation but a reality.
This is just an accident waiting to
happen. So, if you are leaving your
pitch, just remove your lead from the
post. Remember too that when you
hook-up, you plug the hook-up lead
into your van first, then the post.
Chris Bushell, via emailA year on one site
We re c e nt l y s t a ye d a t t h e C l u b ’s S t a r t
Bay (formerly Stokeley Meadow) site
a n d i t o c c u r re d to m e t h a t t h i s w a s
the 40th year we had been coming to
the site in our own caravan, having
previously used my wife’s parents’
van. I took my log with us. After we
had been there for six nights I knew
we would pass a milestone. Yes, we
had spent 365 nights on the site over
4 0 ye a r s. H a ve ot h e r m e m b e r s
achieved a similar milestone on their
favourite site?
Roger Muir, via emailFirst-class facilities
How nice it was to spend four days
at the Club’s Kinlochewe site in
a beautiful area of the Highlands on
S c ot l a n d ’s n o r t h - w e s t c o a s t. I t i s w e l l
situated with mountains on either
side, and we were very impressed
with the site staff, Andrew and Susan
Glasgow, who were enormously
friendly and helpful.
After spending five weeks in the
Hebrides where Club sites were not
available, it was such a pleasure
getting to Kinlochewe where we felt
so much at home. I often think thatwe take the Club and its sites for
granted, but we are so fortunate to
have such a well-run organisation.
We live in South Africa and have
spent the last 12 summers as
members of the Caravan and
Motorhome Club touring the British
Isles and Europe in our motorhome,
and we feel privileged to have been
able to make use of the Club’s facilities.
Rhys and Norma Rolfe, via emailArrival times 1
I am becoming increasingly
concerned that some Club members
can no longer grasp relatively simple
skills like telling the time.
As we all know, when you choose
a site from the Directory i t w i l l s t a te a
time not to arrive before – for example,
for Warwick Racecourse it’s midday.
Why then on a recent visit to the site
did some inconsiderate members
c o n s i d e r i t to b e a c c e p t a b l e to s t a r t
queuing up to get in from 11am?
The site staff had not even had
t i m e to f i n i s h c l e a n i n g t h e to i l et a n d
shower blocks at that point. Arriving
before the permitted time is
becoming an increasing problem
across the network, causing
dangerous congestion, particularly
at sites with limited access such has
Brighton and Cheddar.
I think the only way to put a stop
to t h i s i s fo r a l l s i te s t a f f a c ro s s t h e
network to turn away all arrivals
before the permitted time for that
particular site. After all, if you book a
hotel for the night with, say, a
c h e c k- i n t i m e o f 2 p m , i t ’s n o u s e
turning up at noon expecting access
to your room! If you are lucky the
hotel reception may look after yourluggage but you will be sent away
until your check-in time.
So please everyone, plan your
journey, stick to the Club rules and
make everyone’s well-earned holiday
more enjoyable.
Mike Mallen, via emailArrival times 2
It must be one of the biggest
bugbears of many site staff when
members turn up early when the
earliest arrival time has been clearly
stated. The arrival time is there for
a reason. Mainly for allowing
members to leave, especially if the
e nt r a n c e to a s i te i s n a r ro w a n d s i n g l e
lane, and also for the staff to carry out
any necessary jobs around the site.
My husband and I arrived home
yesterday after 18 lovely days in
W a l e s. We e n j o ye d n i n e n i g ht s a t t h e
Brecon Beacons Club site (with the
b e s t s h o p! ) a n d t h e n m a d e o u r w a y
to C o e d -Y- L l w y n i n S n o w d o n i a.
We set the alarm early and set off
thinking that the journey would be
longer than it was. We were aghast to
find the sat-nav telling us arrival was
going to be 10.35am – and the site
had clearly stated no arrivals before
1pm. So what did we do?
We found a lay-by with a beautiful
view and stayed there for 2.5 hours,
made our lunch, walked the dog, read
and had a nap until it was time to
leave, so that we would arrive at the
appropriate time – after 1pm!
I t re a l l y g a l l s u s to s e e s o m a ny
members just turn up and expect to
be accommodated. It is selfish. So
c o m e o n fe l l o w c a m p e r s , i f w e c a n
find a lay-by, why can’t you?
Jenni Brittle, via emailPlaque race
I have been a Club member for 27
years and always collect a plaque
when staying on one of your sites.
My in-laws (Stan and Sylvia
Morris) were site staff for many years
and before that we always had a bit of
a competition going as to who could
collect the most plaques. We never
caught them up/overtook them until
after my father in-law sadly passed
away in 2014.
To date I’ve collected 140 plaques
and try to travel around every two to
three days so that we can get more
plaques when we are away!
Stephen and Denise Morris,
via email