Would this happen in the UK?

[Canalsman]

I parked up at the POI in Collobrieres, south of France, two days ago and received an enthusiastic greeting ... from the land owner

His English was perfect, and he told me he had ceded the land to the commune for use by motorhomes.

"Stay as long as you want, it's free," was his initial comment.

He then explained about facilities such as water and waste disposal.

I have stayed here for the past five years or so, so much of it I knew already. But it was such a pleasure to be greeted so warmly.

By coincidence the gentleman had a dog with him called Bella, sharing her name with one of my Lurchers.

There are ten other 'vans here tonight, many more than previously, but I'm here a little later than before.

 

[st3v3]

Very cool. Is he getting 11 bottles of wine for his hospitality?

 

[antiquesam]

Of course it does. I very often have people come up and say things when I'm parked up. Fortunately, I'm not as good at hearing as I once was, but I feel sure they're being polite.

 

[trevskoda]

Of course it does. I very often have people come up and say things when I'm parked up. Fortunately, I'm not as good at hearing as I once was, but I feel sure they're being polite.

Only panic when you see a pitch fork.

 

[Canalsman]

Of course it does. I very often have people come up and say things when I'm parked up. Fortunately, I'm not as good at hearing as I once was, but I feel sure they're being polite.

Me too, but my hearing is pretty good, and their mutterings often include the word 'campsite' ...

 

[toasty]

What a lovely attitude he has!

 

[The laird]

Restores faith in human nature as you read all bad most of the times ,well done monsieur

 

[wints]

Better not mention we're rooting for Wales (today only)...

Love that area of France...and the rest of it!

Allen

 

[Snapster]

The French are proud of their country and love visitors. A few years ago, we moved to France and I had to fly back to the UK to bring back our other car. First stop in France was at the aire overlooking Mont st Michel and Avranches. I parked behind a French car with 2 men standing at the open boot having lunch. One of them looked at me as I got out of the car and shouted “Welcome to France” in heavily accented English.
I can’t imagine anyone in England being greeted this way.......

 

[Wooie1958]

Slightly different to the last time we pulled onto a Sainsbury`s car park to get some provisions in the motorhome.

We always park well away from the store so as to not intrude because we take up 2 spaces.

Security was there within a minute or so telling me i couldn`t camp there, i explained we was there to shop but he still told me i had to move.

Whilst he was there i rang the wife who just dumped the shopping trolley mid store and walked out.

He told me i was petty and stupid for doing that because she could have continued with the shop before we left.

I`ll let you guess what my response was to him.

I emailed a complaint to Sainsbury`s head office who didn`t even dignify it with a reply.

I never have and never will step foot on a Sainsbury`s premises ever again.

 

[fred]

I parked up at the POI in Collobrieres, south of France, two days ago and received an enthusiastic greeting ... from the land owner

His English was perfect, and he told me he had ceded the land to the commune for use by motorhomes.

"Stay as long as you want, it's free," was his initial comment.

He then explained about facilities such as water and waste disposal.

I have stayed here for the past five years or so, so much of it I knew already. But it was such a pleasure to be greeted so warmly.

By coincidence the gentleman had a dog with him called Bella, sharing her name with one of my Lurchers.

There are ten other 'vans here tonight, many more than previously, but I'm here a little later than before.

Sounds absolutely idilic. Is it signposted/can you let us have directions please? In our area of France there are none like this that we have heard of but the welcome in small villages/towns is always encouraging.

 

[wints]

Slightly different to the last time we pulled onto a Sainsbury`s car park to get some provisions in the motorhome.
We always park well away from the store so as to not intrude because we take up 2 spaces.
Security was there within a minute or so telling me i couldn`t camp there, i explained we was there to shop but he still told me i had to move.
Whilst he was there i rang the wife who just dumped the shopping trolley mid store and walked out.
He told me i was petty and stupid for doing that because she could have continued with the shop before we left.
I`ll let you guess what my response was to him.
I emailed a complaint to Sainsbury`s head office who didn`t even dignify it with a reply.
I never have and never will step foot on a Sainsbury`s premises ever again.

Hi Graham...with hindsight (great thing...I know)...your wife should've wheeled her full trolley straight to the manager, that might have made a difference.

I know that Sainburys in brig have had no end of probs with travellers camping on the extended car park.

regards
Allen

 

[Wooie1958]

Hi Graham...with hindsight (great thing...I know)...your wife should've wheeled her full trolley straight to the manager, that might have made a difference.

I know that Sainburys in brig have had no end of probs with travellers camping on the extended car park.

regards
Allen

Hi Allen, i did wave yesterday when passing on the way up to ASDA but you must not have been looking out of the window

P.S.

It was Sainsbury`s in Shrewsbury.

 

[trevskoda]

Even though you own land there is no mission here of seeding or letting a van or two on because the council would be round like a shot reading some bylaw which prohibits you doing so,but if you were a traveler type they would not come within ten miles in case they caused any trouble which would result in two black eyes or worse.

 

[wints]

Hi Allen, i did wave yesterday when passing on the way up to ASDA but you must not have been looking out of the window

Made use of bus passes yesterday...ended up in Wetherspoons (greyfriars) for morning coffee, then a stroll round town...beggars(?) in every other shop doorway down Friargate!...and what a racket those karaoke singers on the pavement make...not pleasant, think we'll stick to Chorley.

Allen

 

[TJBi]

Sounds absolutely idilic. Is it signposted/can you let us have directions please? In our area of France there are none like this that we have heard of but the welcome in small villages/towns is always encouraging.

Last May, I was passing through a village in NE France and saw a sign to an aire. It turned out to be a new, recently established, single-space overnighting aire (no services) in a pleasant location on the edge of the village. That evening, the mayor came to greet us with a bouquet of lilies of the valley for my partner. He also (repeatedly) offered EHU, (which I repeatedly declined, as our solar panels were more than adequate for our needs). The following evening he visited us again, once more offering electricity, which I again declined, and then salad vegetables from his own garden. Not sure how many UK mayors would be so welcoming.

If you join as a full member, you will find this one (which I'm not identifying further) and the one posted by POI Admin on the Online Map of POIs.

 

[trevskoda]

Your more than likely to get your windshield egged here.
Maybe france should now be on my list to go places.

 

[in h]

Slightly different to the last time we pulled onto a Sainsbury`s car park to get some provisions in the motorhome.

We always park well away from the store so as to not intrude because we take up 2 spaces.

Security was there within a minute or so telling me i couldn`t camp there, i explained we was there to shop but he still told me i had to move.

Whilst he was there i rang the wife who just dumped the shopping trolley mid store and walked out.

He told me i was petty and stupid for doing that because she could have continued with the shop before we left.

I`ll let you guess what my response was to him.

I emailed a complaint to Sainsbury`s head office who didn`t even dignify it with a reply.

I never have and never will step foot on a Sainsbury`s premises ever again.

What did he intend to do if you refused to move it?

 

[Robmac]

Conversely, my daughter and her husband and 2 kids toured Italy last year in their VW camper and got nothing but rudeness pretty much everywhere that they went, both from campsite staff and Italian campers.

It has been suggested that they may have been taken for Germans, apparently the Italians and Germans aren't the best of friends?

 

[barryd]

I absolutely love Collobrieres. Its one of our favourite Aires in France. Well the Aire is the other side of the village but the grass parking that they let you park on is just outside the other side of the village and always loads of space. Been there a few times now. Last time it was August 2017 but there was a heatwave and it really was scorching hot. Ants were a bit of an issue so you had to watch where you park. I can remember doing the coast though on the scooter where it was a pleasant 28c then flying back inland over the hill to Collobrieres down some of the lanes it was like being in a furnace. I think it reached 38c. I think we stayed 10 days.

The only thing I will say is firstly its not that easy to get to and there is only one real safe approach from the west in a big van and secondly you need a scooter or a car to get down to the hot spots on the coast or up in the hills. Just about every van has a bike, quad or car.

Village is cracking as well. Some great bars and a few eateries and its famous for Chestnuts. I was a bit worried last time as a lot of the chestnut trees are at the back of the grass parking and people were nicking them. The lady that owned the trees came down and wasnt very happy. I was worried it would end in them banning parking. Its a great example of how using a bit of spare land on a village edge works for everyone. We ate and drank and bought supplies there every day. Everyone is happy.