Trouble with my mojo

[Moonraker 2]

I seem to be having a little trouble and wondered if anyone else has the same.

When I first got my van at the tender and enthusiastic age of 60 I travelled all over, and right down to southern Spain. I stayed it many places including rather unsavoury laybys.

I don't know if it's covid lockdown or age related ( I am now 70) but I am struggling to decide whether to go to France for a couple of weeks, or just stay in England.

I know England is wonderful and in the past have done both.

 

[jagmanx]

Maybe go to France.
Recent years have not been good for us
2020 we remained in Thailand
2021 did all the covid hassle and got to uk in June
A delayed return to Thailand so 3 months cold living.
2022 was good with 5 weeks in France.
We were due in uk soon but medical issues mean we are unlikely to get to uk. This summer.
So 3 failures in 4 years have prompted us to sell our vehicle.
Very reluctantly but not viable to keep it
Many other minor reasons also add up to make it all not as much fun as it used to be..
We knew this would come at some stage but we have been somewhat ambushed in recent weeks and so all a bit sudden.
Other no motorhome considerations also playing a part.
Hey Ho.

 

[marchie]

I seem to be having a little trouble and wondered if anyone else has the same.

When I first got my van at the tender and enthusiastic age of 60 I travelled all over, and right down to southern Spain. I stayed it many places including rather unsavoury laybys.

I don't know if it's covid lockdown or age related ( I am now 70) but I am struggling to decide whether to go to France for a couple of weeks, or just stay in England.

I know England is wonderful and in the past have done both.

Between England and France, I'd go to Spain [but I'm only 69 and have been confined to barracks for nearly 7 months for reasons various and diverse]. This afternoon, the Stroke Clinic awaits

Steve

 

[2cv]

France does seem to have much unrest at present plus there’s the hassle of getting there. As soon as I can physically get in the van we’ll be off to explore our beautiful British Isles again.

 

[alcam]

In southern Spain right now and glad I'm here . But I do know what you mean.
I'm 73 now and would be seriously worried if I stopped travelling to Europe.
Not quite as confident as I used to be but still get to lots of places .
Think once you are on the ferry you'll get the buzz again

 

[Herbenny]

I think a lot of us feel the same since lock down,
I still get my years mixed up and life is certainly very different. I heard someone in the shop yesterday say “stay safe” I nearly lamped him one

If you physically able and willing go and start your adventures again France is calling you, there are many lovely places in this country but we have decided to try and balance the two

 

[barryd]

Not lost my mojo but several things have kept us confined to the UK in recent years. Firstly of course Covid, then the age of my van which I worry now wont be up to the mountainous and demanding trips we used to do on mainland Europe in the past for many many years and finding a replacement has been impossible. My knees are a lot worse now also. Would love to go back and we might this year possibly but having said that the five month UK tour we did last summer in the UK was one of the best trips we have ever done. Mainly the South West, Devon and Cornwall, Scottish islands and the Lake District. The weather helped of course. Great trips can be had in the UK but I would like to relive some of the fabulous Euro trips we once did. Being tied to just 90 days puts me off a bit also to be honest.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Not up on it Barry but couldn't you nip out the other side of the EU after 90 days then come back in after the allotted period?

 

[myvanwy]

Using up our full quota in the EU starting at the end of this month. At least they cater for (and seem to want) us.

 

[RSD7a]

Van life in France is so easy. Last summer, at 69, and not having driven in Europe a while (COVID etc) it was a breeze moseying over to visit our daughter in Switzerland. We kept clear of the toll (peage) roads and mainly tootled along on the fairly traffic free back roads. So many Aires to stop in, that bit was easy. Only thing is to be aware of the speed cameras, especially in villages. We used the channel tunnel for the first time too which was also v straightforward.

 

[groyne]

I'm 66, Mrs G and I have spent less than 3 weeks at home so far this year. We'll be back mid April for a rest. Then we'll head to Scotland for a few weeks before the main summer holidays. End of August probably ferry to Ijmuden, work our way to Munich (for October fest) and on to Vienna. Home mid October. Christmas and see in the New year, then repeat.
Keep going till either we or the money runs out.

 

[trevskoda]

Come to Ireland, we need your money, do bring a umberdoodle as its been known to rain.

 

[barryd]

Not up on it Barry but couldn't you nip out the other side of the EU after 90 days then come back in after the allotted period?

Nah not easily. Once your 90 days are up you have to wait another 90 days to return. Might do Devon and Cornwall and take a ferry to Brittany for a month or two then come back the same way. Will see.

 

[Deleted member 81036]

Plenty of other EU countries to try, go somewhere you've not been before.

And remember......... there will come a time when you won't be able to go, for an assortment of possible reasons.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

That was my thinking, and Hank might be ok without having to climb an alp.

 

[UFO]

I thought fully retiring would give us more time to travel and that we would easily top 100 nights a year in the van. Having a daughter and family - our only grandchildren, in Australia = spending nearly 3 months there over the UK winter. Got back in March, sort out medical appointments and before you know it a quarter of the year has gone. I find having a plan is important. So around 4 weeks in May up the Welsh coast to Liverpool and then back through the middle of Wales. Then six weeks or so in September / October in Spain and Portugal. Without a plan before you know it the year has gone. We often used to go away for 5 nights in the south-east, have not done that for a while, our excuse is it's too cold but that did not used to be an issue. Like any 'habbit' once you stop it can be difficult to get back to it - I'm sure the psychologists will have a word for this!

 

[barryd]

That was my thinking, and Hank might be ok without having to climb an alp.

It will probably be ok anywhere but I would rather have got the crunchy gear box repaired. It just feels wrong to abuse it like we used to. To be honest I am not bothered where we go. Back to a few old haunts or abroad to a few old haunts. I reckon over the past 15 years we have more than seen the best bits of Europe. I doubt there is anything we havent seen or done that can top what we have already seen and done. I prefer these days to get back to somewhere I know is fabulous and stay there until we want to move on. As long the weather is good and I can get out on the scooter or sometimes the Kayak, I'm happy.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Finding our next blummin' van to go anywhere would be a good start for us!

They're like slippery eels just now. Spot a good one and within seconds some other s*d has nabbed it. Grrrr!

I would like to get over to Europe in the colder months...

 

[marchie]

Nah not easily. Once your 90 days are up you have to wait another 90 days to return. Might do Devon and Cornwall and take a ferry to Brittany for a month or two then come back the same way. Will see.

Check the EU Official Stay Calculator, Barry. There is an advantage available because of the 'Rolling 90 Days in any one 180 Days'. If you use your 90 days in one trip, then you will have to wait 90 days for the next visit. HOWEVER, if you limit your first trip to say 60 days, then you leave yourself 30 days unused, and if you take a second trip after a 70 day stay back in UK, you will begin to gain the use of days from your first trip that have 'decayed' [are older than 180 days], enabling you to anticipate those decaying days. In effect, if, say the first 30 days of your first trip will be more than 180 days by the planned end of your second trip, you can add them onto the 30 days you have left from your first 60 days trip.

It needs some playing around with dates [but the EU Stay Calculator is designed to permit this], but the difference that saving some of your original 90 days is worthwhile. It can make the difference between squeezing in a second trip that finishes in Autumn sunshine. instead of one that ends in Winter

Steve

 

[Val54]

I seem to be having a little trouble and wondered if anyone else has the same.

When I first got my van at the tender and enthusiastic age of 60 I travelled all over, and right down to southern Spain. I stayed it many places including rather unsavoury laybys.

I don't know if it's covid lockdown or age related ( I am now 70) but I am struggling to decide whether to go to France for a couple of weeks, or just stay in England.

I know England is wonderful and in the past have done both.

As a recently turned 70 year old, having survived the big C , I'm still pursuing the mantra that I should go as far as I can whilst I physically can, the years skip by far to quickly to resign yourself to the UK. The cost of travel insurance may well make that decision for me in the future. Get those ferry tickets booked