Delivery of "The Beast"
Delivery of new Motorhome was 4th March 2013, RS Endeavour at 9 metres long, 3.5 high, big vehicle but fitted out very nice indeed.
Brought it back to Tamworth to get it loaded up for trip to Sotogrande Spain but could not go until 13th March as bad weather, high seas etc!
Overnight from Portsmouth to Caen, but would not do this time again as docked in Caen at 6.45 FR time which was 5.45 UK/body time so next day's driving was tiring.
Drove with son Robin down through France into Spain to look for a stopover site using Camperstop Europe. Excellent guide but not enough information on access to sites where you can stay for the night.
Probable downside - the book would be twice as thick!
Hendaye was no good as full and difficult to get too with something as big as our vehicle so ended up is an excellent site in San Sebastian. Slightly upset the other vans as we switched on the generator to boil kettle for a cuppa at 8.30, soon had someone knocking on the door complaining about the noise as it was reverberating off large wall in front!!
Lesson - park well away from everyone in future!!
Off early next day through Spain, easy drive as weather cold but sunny, no snow or rain!!
Next stop was supposed to be in Merida, but nightmare to get too as Sat Nav took us through a residential area then tried to take us through a gap in a narrow low bridge - 3.45M high & 2.5M wide vehicles do not fit through 2.9m high & 2.2M wide viaduct!!!
Detour was through the town and when we got there it was a public car park with abandoned cars so quick turnround and back on the motorway for 30 miles to a superb service station with a huge secure lorry park all free!
Moral of the story - check out stopovers on Google Earth!!
Reached Sotogrande Saturday 16th around 12.00 so not a bad journey, averaged 22.5 mpg, checked everything worked apart from the oven! The auto levelling was superb and the gas heating brilliant which also pumped of loads of hot water for showers.
