World Wide Walkies

Barolo or Bust – Camping Sole Langhe, Vergne, Italy

Barolo 1 — Ready to Roll in the Rain; Except, Houston; We Had a Problem!

A Lesson about Leccy & A Trauma in the Terroir

At 9pm, the gods turned a fire hose on us. The furious winds that had battered caravan Kismet all day gave way to torrential, hammering rain. The ferocity of the wind vindicated our decision to stay an extra day in Les Arbrets and avoid towing. (For advice on towing in wind, please see my blog To Tow or Not to Tow? – Is it Safe to Tow in High Winds?)

The following the morning, we were smothered by snuggly pups; perhaps scared by the rain still hammering on the roof. It made for a slower than intended start; Ruby gave us one of her little songs, then every time I tried to get up, she threw her paws around my neck and pushed me back down. Puppy love is impossible to resist!

In any case, it wasn’t the most alluring day to get outside. A swamp the size of The Everglades had formed around Kismet’s step, then, things improved markedly once we had squelched through it to pack everything away in the rain. For the first time in her life, Big Blue refused to start. Her battery was completely dead. Continue reading “Barolo or Bust – Camping Sole Langhe, Vergne, Italy”

Caravan / Motorhome Sat Nav – Tom Tom GO Camper Review, Warts & All!

If you are thinking of investing in a Caravan Satnav, here is my independent review of the Tom Tom GO Camper, which we purchased with our own money and have used in Europe for the last year.

Vents Violentes, The Beautiful Village & The Eternal Hill – Vézelay to Les Abrets, Isère, France

Vezelay 1 — Atop its ‘Eternal Hill’ – the village of Vézelay, ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France.’

A wet morning gave way to a better afternoon – and the opportunity to explore the medieval streets of Vézelay, ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France.’Continue reading “Vents Violentes, The Beautiful Village & The Eternal Hill – Vézelay to Les Abrets, Isère, France”

25 Ways to Improve Caravan or Motorhome Security At Home & Abroad

It’s that time of year when many of us are putting our beloved caravans and motorhomes to bed for the winter.

It is difficult to find reliable figures, but my research suggests that each year in the UK, between 1500 and 3000 caravans are stolen. Most sources suggest that, with the increasing popularity of the British ‘staycation’, theft of recreational vehicles is on the rise. Very few stolen caravans are recovered – so besides the upset and inconvenience, theft will have a very adverse impact on your insurance premiums.

Theft can happen at any time, but the majority of caravans and motorhomes are stolen from storage. The Camping and Caravan Club reported that gangs are even using satellite mapping technology to identify valuable leisure vehicles on vulnerable driveways or storage sites.