Washing the van when wild camping.

[5andy]

I know your not going to believe this but we were just packing up to leave a camper park at El Campillo yesterday when the lady across from us climbed up the ladder, then bike rack, hopped on to the roof and started washing away. I would say to Christine that this could be added to her list of things to do……but I’m too scared. Not sure what is more surprising, her cleaning the roof or the husband reading the newspaper.

Oh and I only wash the flies off the front of the van while we’re away. I have tried leaving them but they tend to get welded on in the heat after a few months.

 

[mark61]

View attachment 147106I know your not going to believe this but we were just packing up to leave a camper park at El Campillo yesterday when the lady across from us climbed up the ladder, then bike rack, hopped on to the roof and started washing away. I would say to Christine that this could be added to her list of things to do……but I’m too scared. Not sure what is more surprising, her cleaning the roof or the husband reading the newspaper.

Oh and I only wash the flies off the front of the van while we’re away. I have tried leaving them but they tend to get welded on in the heat after a few months.

Good man!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I have a pressure washer with the snow attachment, but that involves a lot of messing about, by which time the enthusiasm has waned.

Is there a spray and wipe option worth looking at where you can do a little at a time?

 

[barryd]

View attachment 147106I know your not going to believe this but we were just packing up to leave a camper park at El Campillo yesterday when the lady across from us climbed up the ladder, then bike rack, hopped on to the roof and started washing away. I would say to Christine that this could be added to her list of things to do……but I’m too scared. Not sure what is more surprising, her cleaning the roof or the husband reading the newspaper.

Oh and I only wash the flies off the front of the van while we’re away. I have tried leaving them but they tend to get welded on in the heat after a few months.

Good grief!

That Hymer looks like its just come out of the showroom anyway!

Talking of insects. I have noticed a distinct lack of them getting splattered on the van or even on the bike this year. Apart from hitting a swarm of flies on the way up to Arran way back in May there has been hardly any. The front of the van has hardly any on and I've hardly had to clean our helmet visors over the past six months. Bizarre.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Good grief!

That Hymer looks like its just come out of the showroom anyway!

Talking of insects. I have noticed a distinct lack of them getting splattered on the van or even on the bike this year. Apart from hitting a swarm of flies on the way up to Arran way back in May there has been hardly any. The front of the van has hardly any on and I've hardly had to clean our helmet visors over the past six months. Bizarre.

We said the same in France, too much insecticide being used and very worryingly it killing billions of bees.

 

[barryd]

We said the same in France, too much insecticide being used and very worryingly it killing billions of bees.

It was mainly France I noticed it. Not good.

 

[Fazerloz]

Those of you who have read through this thread and have found you are exempt from the hosepipe bans may have to apply to the relevant water authority for an exemption letter, otherwise it may not apply to you. Also the exemption only applies to you and no one else in the household.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Those of you who have read through this thread and have found you are exempt from the hosepipe bans may have to apply to the relevant water authority for an exemption letter, otherwise it may not apply to you. Also the exemption only applies to you and no one else in the household.

Not sure about that, liz used to get my hose out,(not so.much these days) and although she might qualify for a BB, she hasn't applied so far.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Surely that's what rain is for. Maybe a quick scrub over with a sponge or brush. But it'll only get dirty again.
But my screen and side windows - as new!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Ours is a bit grubby to say the least had it four years but I've only been up to washing it a couple of times.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

It was mainly France I noticed it. Not good.

Did you notice the severe lack of water too? All the reservoirs were so low.
We cycled round the largest in France and you were a long way from the water all the way round.

 

[barryd]

Did you notice the severe lack of water too? All the reservoirs were so low.
We cycled round the largest in France and you were a long way from the water all the way round.

No. When was that? We were at Lac de Serre-Ponçon and Lac st Croix which are both massive in July and August and they were full. I did wonder at the time if maybe they ensure those two at least are full over the summer holidays because they are such a massive tourist pull.

 

[Pauljenny]

Just take your van on a drive through the Yorkshire Dales.
It will soon be impeccably clean.

 

[Robmac]

Just take your van on a drive through the Yorkshire Dales.
It will soon be impeccably clean.

Acid rain Paul?

 

[Wooie1958]

Ours is a bit grubby to say the least had it four years but I've only been up to washing it a couple of times.

Maybe you could get someone to wash it for you and remunerate them from that secret stash you have hidden way

 

[Pudsey Bear]

That's the problem with dementia, I forgot whete I put it, certainly not behind a bar though.

 

[Sharon the Cat]

No. When was that? We were at Lac de Serre-Ponçon and Lac st Croix which are both massive in July and August and they were full. I did wonder at the time if maybe they ensure those two at least are full over the summer holidays because they are such a massive tourist pull.

We were at Lac du Der-Chantecoq, according to Google the largest manmade lake in France, in mid October. Notice how low the pontoons are against the pilings.

Lac de Fabrèges, Laruns is fairly small, but was one I can remember as just being a puddle. No pics because it was so sad to look at. Lac d'Artouste higher up had a lot more water.
Sorry, no scooter for scale.

None of these made us want to wash the van. We did fill the tank with water cascading off a snow shed though.

 

[barryd]

We were at Lac du Der-Chantecoq, according to Google the largest manmade lake in France, in mid October. Notice how low the pontoons are against the pilings.
View attachment 147154

Lac de Fabrèges, Laruns is fairly small, but was one I can remember as just being a puddle. No pics because it was so sad to look at. Lac d'Artouste higher up had a lot more water.
Sorry, no scooter for scale.
View attachment 147156

None of these made us want to wash the van. We did fill the tank with water cascading off a snow shed though.

They are low! This is what ChatGPT says so its probably wrong.

1. Seasonal Water Management Cycles​

France’s reservoirs (especially in southern and western regions) are managed seasonally:

• Winter & spring: Reservoirs are filled from rainfall, snowmelt, and river inflows.
• Summer: Levels are maintained high to supply water for irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric production, and tourism (boating, swimming, etc.).
• Late summer to autumn: Water levels drop because inflows decrease (less rain, rivers run low), while withdrawals continue for:
  • Irrigation (late crops)
  • Cooling for power plants
  • Hydroelectric generation
  • Ecological flow maintenance (ensuring rivers downstream don’t dry out)

So by October, after months of high demand and low rainfall, reservoirs are often at their annual minimum before refilling begins again in winter.

---

2. Tourism Is a Factor — But Not the Main One​

Yes — in regions like the Alps, Pyrenees, Dordogne, and Provence, local authorities and EDF (the main operator of dams) do try to keep big reservoirs visually and functionally full in July–August for:

• Recreation (swimming, boating)
• Aesthetic reasons (important for tourism-based economies)
• Local climate buffering (a full lake cools surroundings slightly)

However, this is typically a secondary consideration compared to water security and power generation. In practice, reservoir management is a complex balance between:

• Hydroelectric optimization
• Irrigation timing
• Ecological needs
• Tourism and local politics

 

[Sharon the Cat]

They are low! This is what ChatGPT says so its probably wrong.

1. Seasonal Water Management Cycles​

France’s reservoirs (especially in southern and western regions) are managed seasonally:

• Winter & spring: Reservoirs are filled from rainfall, snowmelt, and river inflows.
• Summer: Levels are maintained high to supply water for irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric production, and tourism (boating, swimming, etc.).
• Late summer to autumn:Water levels drop because inflows decrease (less rain, rivers run low), while withdrawals continue for:
  • Irrigation (late crops)
  • Cooling for power plants
  • Hydroelectric generation
  • Ecological flow maintenance (ensuring rivers downstream don’t dry out)

So by October, after months of high demand and low rainfall, reservoirs are often at their annual minimum before refilling begins again in winter.

---

2. Tourism Is a Factor — But Not the Main One​

Yes — in regions like the Alps, Pyrenees, Dordogne, and Provence, local authorities and EDF (the main operator of dams) do try to keep big reservoirs visually and functionally full in July–August for:

• Recreation (swimming, boating)
• Aesthetic reasons (important for tourism-based economies)
• Local climate buffering (a full lake cools surroundings slightly)

However, this is typically a secondary consideration compared to water security and power generation. In practice, reservoir management is a complex balance between:

• Hydroelectric optimization
• Irrigation timing
• Ecological needs
• Tourism and local politics

Interesting. This supports that.
The only boats on the water were small day fishing boats and some dinghies sailing on a separate area of water. The one marina where we looked at the dates closed, I think, on the 15th of September. But I was amazed to see that every single boat had been taken off the water, hence the empty pontoons, maybe that's the norm.

 

[barryd]

Interesting. This supports that.
The only boats on the water were small day fishing boats and some dinghies sailing on a separate area of water. The one marina where we looked at the dates closed, I think, on the 15th of September. But I was amazed to see that every single boat had been taken off the water, hence the empty pontoons, maybe that's the norm.

Yep. When I think about it most of the times I have seen them low is the back end of the year.