Read about the Giboney family tour in their California!!
I have always been an outdoor type person and previous to the California had owned a Caravan which we used on the two weekends a month I had off, to get away to the coast for surfing and kayaking. Not slagging off the Caravan but I always used to look on in envy at the freedom of the campervan, and swore to myself that one day I too would be cool and trendy.
One of my colleagues in work had owned an old bay VW camper and it was always a standing joke about the AA refusing to deal with him anymore. Another colleague had owned a VW type 4 and converted it himself although good the finish looked DIY. Then one sunny day I came across the California and was hooked, from the exterior to the interior it had everything, Gadgets (i am know as a kit monster in work), looks and VW build quality and reliability. Big problem how to convince the wife parting with the Caravan (shower and toilet) and 40k to the California (mid life crisis as she put it), i did tell her that it was safer than having a motorbike again.
I took her to VW and to my surprise she too was hooked (I think it was the feng shui interior). It was ordered and here we are today, the blinged up black T5.
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Your now thinking what’s this got to do with France. Well four years ago we had gone to France camping, two years ago we went in the caravan, this year was the turn of the California and boy was I nervous it had to impress the wife, if it didn’t no matter how good it looked I would be paying for an ad in auto trader.
The previous trip in the Caravan to France was the Loire valley but to be honest the weather was not great and as my wife is a sun worshiper this trip had to be hot, hot, hot. We had been to the west coast camping and found the weather great so we looked for an ideal site. A friend recommended a site in Lacanua Ocean. The site being a Yello Parc called Le Grande Pins. On the net it looked great, swimming pool, kids club, bike rides, restaurant, bar, sports facility and the quality of a caravan and camping site, oh and close to the beach with the best surf in Europe.
So site was booked at a cost of £260 for two weeks, next was the ferry. I had used the tunnel in the previous trip but this year trying to be tight (yes I know welsh) I decided on Seafrance. Total price return was £130.
Once booked my wife started packing two months before we were due to set off. The night before we were due to leave we decided that we would stop halfway down in one of the service stations in France. This is something France is brilliant for. Along most motorways in France they have service stations and Aire de services. The latter being toilet stops with parking for overnight caravans and camper vans. Over here they called dogging sites!!!!, but in France they are safe, secure, clean and tidy.
We therefore had to pack the van accordingly for an overnight stop. However I stored everything, it had to allow the rear bench seat to drop. The hardest part being able to stow the headrests as they fold down. I managed to pack everything into a t-shape with spaces for the head rest and placed the large Kyham awning on the parcel shelf to sit between the bench and captain chairs when the seat was flat. Chuffed with my packing of the van ( I too have OCD for packing and stopping rattles) I loaded the 4 bikes on the back and found an excellent place for the body boards. They fitted under the bike rack and I was able to strap them down.
I took with me the following, porta poti stowed in the cupboard, cadac BBQ with small 6kg gas canister, two extra chairs, two fold out sun beds(not taking again) clothes mostly my wife and children’s (too much), tinned food, laptop (not taking abroad again), iPod stereo and kyham awning with floor.
Once the trip had been booked I started looking for items to improve life on the van, I bought from Brandrup the pots and pan set (brilliant take up little room) the plate holder (ocd for rattles), porta potti (needed with kids). I then bought the magcode thing and this started the post on “i don’t have a magcode”, so i sold to Tom and bought the din with two adaptors (brilliant buy). I then decided the kids needed a TV for the long trip. We had headrest ones before but they had broke, so I needed something new and different for the California. I wanted a DVD that could be used not only for the journey but on site as well, I also wanted to use it in work and anywhere else (don’t tell the boss).
I found what I was looking for on a Website called Three little monkeys. It was a complete kit of one 8.5inch DVD player NEXTBASE with centre mount and two wireless head phones (great). The difference with this being that it sat dead centre for the kids in the back Attached to the head rest of the driver or passengers seat. You could take it off and sit it on the side with the stand and battery (no wires) or when the seats were turned around place it back on the centre stand for all to snuggle on the bench seat and watch a film, what was also very good was that you could purchase a fm transmitter to have the sound through the vehicle and a digital TV receiver. I didn’t buy these, but for the kit as described total price was £260. A little expensive but given that you can use it anywhere and the fact there was only one wire. I thought it would be worth it, Oh it also folds out the way allowing easy movement from front to rear. (picshol55 and hol56)
We set off from Bridgend and headed for Calais, kids watching DVD with headphones, wife asleep and dad rocking out to Iron maiden, Metallica and the Foos. When the wife was awake she only scared the **** out of me. I pride myself on my good driving being able to see from the elevated position of the California well into the Future. What I could see was totally different to the pink and fluffy world my wife was in. I could see cars up in front too close together touching their breaks all the time causing everyone who was too close to do the same. Me travelling at a safe distance could see this and wouldn’t need to brake just slow down slightly. My wife seeing the cars in front braking and me taking little or no action would scream at the top of her voice, brace for impact by placing two hands on the dash (airbag, I know) and scare me half to death, I would try to find out where the danger was from until realising that as usual a mole hill had become a mountain. What would then take place would be a 10minute discussion of what a crap driver I am and that I nearly killed the kids (go figure) (note to VW, ejector seat would be nice). I then would tell her about all the driving qualifications I have and who gets cheaper insurance only to be reminded of whose suspended from driving police vehicles at the moment (another story).
We arrived on the ferry and my wife headed straight for the shop, kids toys and perfume later, I swore that next year would be the tunnel (no shops). We arrived in France and set off. The route I left up to TOM TOM which was to cause much satisfaction with the wife (I told you so). We were headed towards Paris then to Orleans where we would cut across to Bordeaux. Paris not a good idea especially while driving 40k van (OCD kicked in don’t mark my van). We arrived at our overnight stop on the motorway a little Aire de service just outside Orleans on the toll road, I figured we would be safer on the toll road and away from any big town. We parked up with some other campers and had dinner which we made the night before at home and stored in the fridge (less hassle), got the kids off and set up the inside for bed. A quick check of the van set off another OCD that I have, my black van was no longer shiny, hot weather and 82mph made the front look like a bugs morgue. (pic hol002)
The next day we arrived at Lacanua Ocean after 1000miles and two refuels, not bad. The total cost of tolls for this route was 130 euro. The location was great and the weather was hot. We had a lovely flat pitch with hook up and we set up the awning and everything else. The clothes we had packed into a small plastic three tier shelving trolley which stored flat on its back loaded on the trip down, now fitted in its new home the awning. The BBQ was great and because the pans had no handles to melt I could do all the cooking on the BBQ. The poti went in the awing as well. (Pic hol015)
Fearing the heat of a black van one other purchase was again from brandrup. The Airsafe allows the tailgate to be opened securely to allow air to flow and was great. (pictures hol57 and hol58)
We stayed at this site for 10 days and had made a number of day trips out to places like Archaron, Carcans and Bordeaux all the time taking food and drinks with us, saving money (tight i know).
The site had a great friendly continental feel to it with mostly German, Dutch and French users. Brits were in the minority and were not made to feel as if they were. Every morning we would go cycling as there were routes clearly marked. The beach was safe and clean and well patrolled. Access to the site via car and foot was via security card so the kids being 7 and 4 were able to play with all their new friends. The surf was great and Aaeron took up a new hobby, skim boarding. Oh they even had a car wash on site (OCD firmly in its closet). (pichol12)
We only had two nights of rain. The average temp was 28c and inside the van the display showed 36c on one day but with the roof up blinds drawn the van never really got unbearable. What I do want now is a small electric fan that is quiet just to get the air flowing on a hot muggy night. The DVD came into its own. Kids would wake up at six first light as they always do, slight hangover I would pass up the DVD and headphones and back to sleep for an hour. Those were the times I would of paid more for the DVD.
We packed up the night before and again making sure we could park up and pitch on the way back. Not wanting to go through Paris I picked an alternative route on TOM TOM. I showed my wife the route and said there a nice big bridge to cross, little did I know that this was a car ferry, TOM TOMS fault. The route was up to Royan to le mans and the Rouen and Calais. An hour longer than the other route but avoided Paris. We arrived at the car ferry near Royan and being stubborn and not wanting to admit fault, said we were crossing it, a two hour wait all the time with my wife glaring at me, we paid 30euros and crossed the port. This route was a lot better more enjoyable with scenery and the tolls were a lot less. Including the ferry this route only cost us 60 euro. We stopped just outside Calais 20miles and again parked in an Aire de service that had wind turbines right next to it, we had made food the day before and settled off to sleep. No problems at all, we woke in the morning to find other campers and cars parked all around. These sites are really safe and free. (pic hol045)
We made it to the ferry terminal 3hours before we were due to set sail, but paid £10 extra to catch an earlier ferry. Another shopping spree and I really will get the tunnel next year.
We arrived home after 2000 miles I immediately started cleaning the van (OCD twitching again) and sorting out all the stuff. Everything we had bought and used worked well and the van had performed faultlessly. Fuel economy was good, Comfort was extremely good and the California excelled at long distance driving. In total the holiday cost with fuel and all the tolls etc came to under a grand not including spending money.
Although different to Nick and his family holiday, I think the two holidays really show how the California excels at touring and also static location holidays, put it this way no auto trader ad. Oh on the journey I saw several Ferrari,s, Bentleys even a Bugatti but only one other California (shame it wasn’t you Nick). The amount of people who were genuinely interested in the van was unbelievable (I see a business opportunity here). GI,s van hire?
One of my colleagues in work had owned an old bay VW camper and it was always a standing joke about the AA refusing to deal with him anymore. Another colleague had owned a VW type 4 and converted it himself although good the finish looked DIY. Then one sunny day I came across the California and was hooked, from the exterior to the interior it had everything, Gadgets (i am know as a kit monster in work), looks and VW build quality and reliability. Big problem how to convince the wife parting with the Caravan (shower and toilet) and 40k to the California (mid life crisis as she put it), i did tell her that it was safer than having a motorbike again.
I took her to VW and to my surprise she too was hooked (I think it was the feng shui interior). It was ordered and here we are today, the blinged up black T5.
Your now thinking what’s this got to do with France. Well four years ago we had gone to France camping, two years ago we went in the caravan, this year was the turn of the California and boy was I nervous it had to impress the wife, if it didn’t no matter how good it looked I would be paying for an ad in auto trader.
The previous trip in the Caravan to France was the Loire valley but to be honest the weather was not great and as my wife is a sun worshiper this trip had to be hot, hot, hot. We had been to the west coast camping and found the weather great so we looked for an ideal site. A friend recommended a site in Lacanua Ocean. The site being a Yello Parc called Le Grande Pins. On the net it looked great, swimming pool, kids club, bike rides, restaurant, bar, sports facility and the quality of a caravan and camping site, oh and close to the beach with the best surf in Europe.
So site was booked at a cost of £260 for two weeks, next was the ferry. I had used the tunnel in the previous trip but this year trying to be tight (yes I know welsh) I decided on Seafrance. Total price return was £130.
Once booked my wife started packing two months before we were due to set off. The night before we were due to leave we decided that we would stop halfway down in one of the service stations in France. This is something France is brilliant for. Along most motorways in France they have service stations and Aire de services. The latter being toilet stops with parking for overnight caravans and camper vans. Over here they called dogging sites!!!!, but in France they are safe, secure, clean and tidy.
We therefore had to pack the van accordingly for an overnight stop. However I stored everything, it had to allow the rear bench seat to drop. The hardest part being able to stow the headrests as they fold down. I managed to pack everything into a t-shape with spaces for the head rest and placed the large Kyham awning on the parcel shelf to sit between the bench and captain chairs when the seat was flat. Chuffed with my packing of the van ( I too have OCD for packing and stopping rattles) I loaded the 4 bikes on the back and found an excellent place for the body boards. They fitted under the bike rack and I was able to strap them down.
I took with me the following, porta poti stowed in the cupboard, cadac BBQ with small 6kg gas canister, two extra chairs, two fold out sun beds(not taking again) clothes mostly my wife and children’s (too much), tinned food, laptop (not taking abroad again), iPod stereo and kyham awning with floor.
Once the trip had been booked I started looking for items to improve life on the van, I bought from Brandrup the pots and pan set (brilliant take up little room) the plate holder (ocd for rattles), porta potti (needed with kids). I then bought the magcode thing and this started the post on “i don’t have a magcode”, so i sold to Tom and bought the din with two adaptors (brilliant buy). I then decided the kids needed a TV for the long trip. We had headrest ones before but they had broke, so I needed something new and different for the California. I wanted a DVD that could be used not only for the journey but on site as well, I also wanted to use it in work and anywhere else (don’t tell the boss).
I found what I was looking for on a Website called Three little monkeys. It was a complete kit of one 8.5inch DVD player NEXTBASE with centre mount and two wireless head phones (great). The difference with this being that it sat dead centre for the kids in the back Attached to the head rest of the driver or passengers seat. You could take it off and sit it on the side with the stand and battery (no wires) or when the seats were turned around place it back on the centre stand for all to snuggle on the bench seat and watch a film, what was also very good was that you could purchase a fm transmitter to have the sound through the vehicle and a digital TV receiver. I didn’t buy these, but for the kit as described total price was £260. A little expensive but given that you can use it anywhere and the fact there was only one wire. I thought it would be worth it, Oh it also folds out the way allowing easy movement from front to rear. (picshol55 and hol56)
We set off from Bridgend and headed for Calais, kids watching DVD with headphones, wife asleep and dad rocking out to Iron maiden, Metallica and the Foos. When the wife was awake she only scared the **** out of me. I pride myself on my good driving being able to see from the elevated position of the California well into the Future. What I could see was totally different to the pink and fluffy world my wife was in. I could see cars up in front too close together touching their breaks all the time causing everyone who was too close to do the same. Me travelling at a safe distance could see this and wouldn’t need to brake just slow down slightly. My wife seeing the cars in front braking and me taking little or no action would scream at the top of her voice, brace for impact by placing two hands on the dash (airbag, I know) and scare me half to death, I would try to find out where the danger was from until realising that as usual a mole hill had become a mountain. What would then take place would be a 10minute discussion of what a crap driver I am and that I nearly killed the kids (go figure) (note to VW, ejector seat would be nice). I then would tell her about all the driving qualifications I have and who gets cheaper insurance only to be reminded of whose suspended from driving police vehicles at the moment (another story).
We arrived on the ferry and my wife headed straight for the shop, kids toys and perfume later, I swore that next year would be the tunnel (no shops). We arrived in France and set off. The route I left up to TOM TOM which was to cause much satisfaction with the wife (I told you so). We were headed towards Paris then to Orleans where we would cut across to Bordeaux. Paris not a good idea especially while driving 40k van (OCD kicked in don’t mark my van). We arrived at our overnight stop on the motorway a little Aire de service just outside Orleans on the toll road, I figured we would be safer on the toll road and away from any big town. We parked up with some other campers and had dinner which we made the night before at home and stored in the fridge (less hassle), got the kids off and set up the inside for bed. A quick check of the van set off another OCD that I have, my black van was no longer shiny, hot weather and 82mph made the front look like a bugs morgue. (pic hol002)
The next day we arrived at Lacanua Ocean after 1000miles and two refuels, not bad. The total cost of tolls for this route was 130 euro. The location was great and the weather was hot. We had a lovely flat pitch with hook up and we set up the awning and everything else. The clothes we had packed into a small plastic three tier shelving trolley which stored flat on its back loaded on the trip down, now fitted in its new home the awning. The BBQ was great and because the pans had no handles to melt I could do all the cooking on the BBQ. The poti went in the awing as well. (Pic hol015)
Fearing the heat of a black van one other purchase was again from brandrup. The Airsafe allows the tailgate to be opened securely to allow air to flow and was great. (pictures hol57 and hol58)
We stayed at this site for 10 days and had made a number of day trips out to places like Archaron, Carcans and Bordeaux all the time taking food and drinks with us, saving money (tight i know).
The site had a great friendly continental feel to it with mostly German, Dutch and French users. Brits were in the minority and were not made to feel as if they were. Every morning we would go cycling as there were routes clearly marked. The beach was safe and clean and well patrolled. Access to the site via car and foot was via security card so the kids being 7 and 4 were able to play with all their new friends. The surf was great and Aaeron took up a new hobby, skim boarding. Oh they even had a car wash on site (OCD firmly in its closet). (pichol12)
We only had two nights of rain. The average temp was 28c and inside the van the display showed 36c on one day but with the roof up blinds drawn the van never really got unbearable. What I do want now is a small electric fan that is quiet just to get the air flowing on a hot muggy night. The DVD came into its own. Kids would wake up at six first light as they always do, slight hangover I would pass up the DVD and headphones and back to sleep for an hour. Those were the times I would of paid more for the DVD.
We packed up the night before and again making sure we could park up and pitch on the way back. Not wanting to go through Paris I picked an alternative route on TOM TOM. I showed my wife the route and said there a nice big bridge to cross, little did I know that this was a car ferry, TOM TOMS fault. The route was up to Royan to le mans and the Rouen and Calais. An hour longer than the other route but avoided Paris. We arrived at the car ferry near Royan and being stubborn and not wanting to admit fault, said we were crossing it, a two hour wait all the time with my wife glaring at me, we paid 30euros and crossed the port. This route was a lot better more enjoyable with scenery and the tolls were a lot less. Including the ferry this route only cost us 60 euro. We stopped just outside Calais 20miles and again parked in an Aire de service that had wind turbines right next to it, we had made food the day before and settled off to sleep. No problems at all, we woke in the morning to find other campers and cars parked all around. These sites are really safe and free. (pic hol045)
We made it to the ferry terminal 3hours before we were due to set sail, but paid £10 extra to catch an earlier ferry. Another shopping spree and I really will get the tunnel next year.
We arrived home after 2000 miles I immediately started cleaning the van (OCD twitching again) and sorting out all the stuff. Everything we had bought and used worked well and the van had performed faultlessly. Fuel economy was good, Comfort was extremely good and the California excelled at long distance driving. In total the holiday cost with fuel and all the tolls etc came to under a grand not including spending money.
Although different to Nick and his family holiday, I think the two holidays really show how the California excels at touring and also static location holidays, put it this way no auto trader ad. Oh on the journey I saw several Ferrari,s, Bentleys even a Bugatti but only one other California (shame it wasn’t you Nick). The amount of people who were genuinely interested in the van was unbelievable (I see a business opportunity here). GI,s van hire?