Day 5

Day 5 was bitterly cold. Thank god for thermals and good ski gear.

I drove off to fill the van with water, On returning to our pitch I was unable to level the van as I still only had one snow chain and could not drive up the chocks. I then thought I had to do it. I managed with more tooing and throwing to fit the second snow chain. However everytime I got on the choc it simply spun off due to the ice. A very nice french man in his hymer next to ours was great. He came over and jacked up the van with his posh jack and we simply lowered the van on to the blocks.

We then headed off back up th emountain to attempt some blue runs. We were now completely in control of our skis but the kids just simply went downhill very fast, in fact very fast. I on the otherhand opted for the side ot side slow motion down. Skiing was an art form best displayed by the Pralognan under 10s ski club whom flew down and nearly knocked me over several times!! they just make it look so easy!. blasted show offs.

On returning to the site the boys engaged in some sledging, Nikki and I had a brief go but opted to go for a walk and take some scenery pics instead.

Day 4

We awoke on day 4 to yet more snow. Excelent, off we went in to town to hit the slopes. By watching others I had now learned how to turn and how to move on skis. This allowed me and the boys to progress up the mountain and come right down on the green slopes. What was good to see was my kids having fun. Not only were they having fun they were having some spectacular crashes which would of made any beadles about TV show. We spent all afternoon on the slopes before retiring back to our van with a crepe on the way.

Back at the van Nikki thought we had a blocked waste pipe. I looked and it was obvious that it had become frozen. The icicles hanging off the waste container gave it away. I then got the generator out and attempted to defrost the pipe to no avail. WIth a bit of twisting and turning the pipe broke off in my hand. This meant our water now went in to a bucket and I would have to fix it when and if we got nessie home.

I had also conquered the art of emptying the casetted toilet. This was to be done by loading it on a sledge. What a fine peice of thinking.

Day 3

The begining of day 3 was to nearly become our first disaster. After being kept toasty warm by the gas heating in the van and pulling down the blinds to begin our next part of the journey. I attempted to start the van and the cold had killed the battery. But hey this is modern enginering we are talking and with a few adjustments Nessie fired up and away we went. Very lucky, I had not thought about the extreme cold on the battery and why all the other vechiles had blankets over their engines. I just thought it was because they all loved their cars!!

Anyhow with problem solved we set of for our site. When coming off the motorway and begining the ascent to our area we would be staying, the beauty of the place we were going started to show. I have visited the blue ridge mountains of Virginia, the Pyranees and other places. The beauty of the Alps though started to leave us all astounded. The further off the Mway we travelled the more the road started to twist.

Eventually we arrived at our site, the boys could not wait any longer out they jumped off in to the snow. The snow was really deep. In some places it was at least 3-4 ft deep. Now I had managed to drive all the way to the site without once using snow chains. When we arrived I stopped and thats right, could not get started again! I needed to put chains on to travel a measly 15 ft on to my pitch. Prior to my trip I had been advised to learn how to put chains on in poor weather, so when you are required to do so you can do it. I heeded the advice and put chains on untill I was sure I had it sussed out. However, as the law of sod goes, I attempted to put my chains on and bingo, could not do it, I huffed and puffed pulled and twisted kicked and swore until eventually one chain went on. The other however did not, so it was one chain on and a little momentum to get on to the pitch. What makes this worse is that we were the only English on the site. There were probably 20 + motorhomes and a couple of caravans but no English. Therefore the determination not to let my country down and show our continental cousins that I could put chains on was all to much. I had failed. I hung my head in shame as I moved up the 15 ft with only one chain, cursing the company that I brought them from (must be there fault dont fit etc) until I came to a stop on my pitch. With everything set up and with a blanket enlisted to keep nessie's engine warm we sat down for a nice drink. Total journey time to the site from Bourgneauf had only been about 1.5 hours but a journey I could do everyday and stilll be amazed by what you see.

We then decided to walk in to town to pick up our ski gear. Town is about a 5 min walk tops. We got our equipment and went to look at the slopes. Having never skied before other than a dry slope we had no idea what to expect. What we were greeted with was what looked like a nice gentle slope with a button lift to get a bit of practice. We brought a couple of runs up the slope and got to the top. The kids took off with no problems other than the odd fall. I took off and was greeted with what can only be described as the fear of god. The skis were way to fast. I attempted my taught at dry slope plough, to no avail. the best course of action was to fall down. I dusted myself off and realised that what I had learned at ski school was not much used to me in the real snow. However I kept at it untill I could go down the slope still scared to death but at least I was going down. After a couple of hours on the slope we went back up to the site to warm up and introduce ourselves to our French neighbours. The town was really stunning with snow all over it and all over the ground. It was like the ploughs had left it to allow it to nessle within it's own beauty.

All the xmas lights were on and their were no larger louts, loud brash Brits, just really pleasant French Families. The people within the town also spoke very little to no English whatsoever, this made it all the better for us as we like to improve our French whenever we can.

With the temp falling to -20 again we fired up all the heat and settled down to some good old nintendoing, before a spot of Jack Daniels to help keep the cold out.

DAY 2

On the road nice and early saw us drive to through Lyon and in to Bourgneuf. A lovely little village with a nice aire to use as a parking spot. The more we drove the bigger the mountains got. We saw a couple of English MHs on the other side of the road , one of whom I recognised as someone I had been communicating with on a forum whom was returning from the site we were going to.

On arriving at Bourgneauf the cold was imense. -20 I kid you not. and we were not even in the mountains yet. Bourgneauf aire was located next to a nice boulongerie for some morning snacks. It is also only a further 1.5 hours to our destination and also other good skiing areas. Therefore this makes an Ideal place to stop whilst getting to see the snow reports prior to deciding where you are to go. The road in to Bourgneauf is slightly winding and difficult but not to much bother for an experienced continental driver like me!!!!!!!!!!. Met with another Motorhomer from Holland whom was friendly and of on a skiing trip with his family. Which Nikki asked a really daft but thought provoking question. Bourgneauf was a big aire. Poor fort bleau but a big aire. With all the places to park I opted to pull up next to the Dutch motorhome? why? why do people do this? I don't know? perhaps it has something to do with the community spirit that MHs feel or even safety in numbers who knows, answers on a postcard please.

The total journey time was approaching on 6-7 hours, once again with plenty of stops to allow the old nicotine levels to be increased and the kids to stretch their legs.

DAY 1

After waiting for what seemed like ever our ski trip was under way. Xmas had gone and boxding day to. We had to first go to Tesco and exchange a phone we brought Harley for xmas and then we had to go to Aldi to get some ski socks for the kids. The journey down to Dover was not to bad except for major hold ups on the m25. We struggled to make it to Dover for our ferry but did so with mins to spare.

We then drove through France using boring old toll roads to get down to a motorway aire in Troyes. Not normally the type of aire I elect to stay on but, it seemed safe enough with lots of English mainly parked up in their cars and a good police presence. Total journey time including ferry crossing was about 13 hours. Not of course all solid driving. Much of this was done with mainy small time stops.

BRRR More skiing preperation

brrr skiing preparation continues

Well this skiing trip is proving to require more planning than I first thought.

If spending a small fortune on a few lessons and ski clothing was not bad enough.
The planning has continued with a thorough check of the motor home. This was completed with a quick test down to Moreton in the Marsh caravan club site to meet family and exchange Xmas presents. On the journey the new tyres and wheels both looked good and of course improved the driving no end. The new reg plate with our own private no and initials looks cool, and I know some may view it as a waste of money, the fact is that it looks good and further personalises our pride and joy.
So what needed doing? Well firstly I have had to change the leisure battery as the last one proved to be shot. This was done for £50 but I have had to fit it myself. I have gone for a bigger one than last time which meant some playing around with it's housing. The daft thing about leisure batteries and motor homes is that to fit it you have to remove the drivers seat!!! Not a big job by any means, just simply a pain in the axxe. The annoying thing was I removed the seat to take the old battery out, topped it up, and put it all back together, only to find it is shot after all so the whole process started again.
I have been offered a little generator to take with us which I will do just in case things go Pete tong.
I have changed the oil and filter and completed some basic checks to the MH. In doing so I came across a water hose that was leaking slightly, so a new jubilee clip and it's sorted. I always believe it best to carry out these checks prior to taking on such a long trip.
I have been checking the temp for the resort we are going too, and just can not believe my eyes, last night it was marked as -24 o !!! Jesus I'm going to freeze. I have been and got new gas, including a larger capacity gas bottle meaning I will be taking with me a total of 17.5kg for two weeks. I hope this is enough and it should be, bearing in mind we will be on electric hook up for a few of those nights.
The Itinerary for our trip has now changed to.
Firstly this is plan a.
Leave for Calais on the Morning of 27th. Ferry to Calais at about 2-3 pm. Follow this with a drive down and stop somewhere near Reimes on an aire. Make the site of Pralognan on the Friday or if not an aire at Bourgneuf. Spend the new year at the site and leave on the 2nd to travel to an aire at Le saisies.
Spend a few nights there maybe 4/5 before moving on to an Aire at Le's gets.
The reason behind this is quite simple, MONEY. We are trying to do this skiing trip on a budget of under £1500 inclusive of fuel and skiing. To stay on a decent site is £30 per night, whereas staying on an Aire is about £5 per night if that. This will save us in excess of £150.
Then of course there is the skiing kit itself. It was always my intention to hire the kit when we were there. However, with moving about this is proving a costly exercise. therefore I am thinking I might buy some used gear to take with us. An example is that to rent skis and boots is about £220 with us moving about (3of us wife wont ski). Whereas I can buy skis for the kids of £50 each followed by a set of boots for £25 each. I would then need kit for myself so am scouring ebay for kit. If I choose this option then it will come to about £220-£250. But here's the good bit, I have our own ski gear to either use again or sell on ebay to get most of me money back.
I have had to secure some winter sports insurance and have managed to do that for about £40.
The best part of this skiing lark is the bit where you have to get some snow chains. I purchased these for about £40 and they come saying EASY TO FIT. Easy for who? I ask, someone with a degree in personal engineering maybe. Anyhow I have given it a go and think I finally have the hang of it.
So all in all it's just Christmas to get out the way and then we're on his way.
Posted by panagah
Labels: Our next trip

Our Skiing trip

Well with Christmas fast approaching and stuck for things to do I havedecided to take the family on a holiday we won't forget. We are going skiing.Yep skiing. We have never been before and decided to give the motorhome a go to the French alps. We have had a few lessons on the dry ski slopes, we have loaded everything in to the motorhome and look set to get going. The new alloy wheels and number plate are fitted. And we head out on December the 27th. So stay tuned and i will update of things to do and hopefully not to many things not to do in the new year. By which time I might of even learned how to blog video.