Is it better on your own

briwy

briwy

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VIP Member
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3,151
Location
Matlock & Pyrenees
Vehicle
T5 SE 180 4Motion
Well just been sitting in my comfy Cali armchair on the 600 mile drive down to the Pyrenees from Dieppe this morning.
Just me.
No nagging,
No can we listen to XXX
No can we stop here
No oh look at that when I'm trying to get through a French city atvrush hour
No can we stop at the next services
No oh can we go back iveI forgotten to lock the front door
No do you where my glasses are
No. Oh XXX has had a baby
No .can't fill up here it's too expensive
No anything in fact
No stopping for an hour when all it needs is ten minutes
Volume up, Hendrix, Clapton, BB king, Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Bonamassa, Eurythmics .and many more
Absolute bliss.
Two weeks before she flies down to join me
 
Hope she's not reading on here....:D
....agree 100% Brian , mine is not reading here eigther !

Might come over and join you;)
 
We stayed in a villa in Spain two years back & left the Mrs & 3 kids at Girona airport so my son & I could have a peaceful drive home, Littlest wanted to go on airplane & with no luggage the 4 tickets only cost about £90 in total.

Dropped them at 10am they got home at 5pm, we got in at 3am despite having been stuck in a jam by the Milau bridge for about 5 hours.

Also got a thorough going over at customs as they thought it was odd we had a booking for 6, luggage for 6 but only 2 of us in the van.

It was the best £90 i've ever spent.


Best ever drive was after dropping the then girlfriend off at Inverness airport to fly home, whilst I drove the Caterham home, coming across Ranoch Moor at 11pm on a summer evening, roof off, with no traffic about was memorable.
 
YES
:cheers
Anything gets lost, I did it. Want to explore , I do it, need a kip, I have one and there is only me to fall out with !
Who needs witnesses?
What was the question??
 
briwy said:
Well just been sitting in my comfy Cali armchair on the 600 mile drive down to the Pyrenees from Dieppe this morning.
Just me.
No nagging,
No can we listen to XXX
No can we stop here
No oh look at that when I'm trying to get through a French city atvrush hour
No can we stop at the next services
No oh can we go back iveI forgotten to lock the front door
No do you where my glasses are
No. Oh XXX has had a baby
No .can't fill up here it's too expensive
No anything in fact
No stopping for an hour when all it needs is ten minutes
Volume up, Hendrix, Clapton, BB king, Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Bonamassa, Eurythmics .and many more
Absolute bliss.
Two weeks before she flies down to join me
Click to expand...
I went to Provence on my own in my cali twice last year and it was bliss.
 
briwy said:
Well just been sitting in my comfy Cali armchair on the 600 mile drive down to the Pyrenees from Dieppe this morning.
Just me.
No nagging,
No can we listen to XXX
No can we stop here
No oh look at that when I'm trying to get through a French city atvrush hour
No can we stop at the next services
No oh can we go back iveI forgotten to lock the front door
No do you where my glasses are
No. Oh XXX has had a baby
No .can't fill up here it's too expensive
No anything in fact
No stopping for an hour when all it needs is ten minutes
Volume up, Hendrix, Clapton, BB king, Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Bonamassa, Eurythmics .and many more
Absolute bliss.
Two weeks before she flies down to join me
Click to expand...
Enjoy it while it lasts Brian, you'd better have done all your jobs before she arrives lol. I bet she's made a list, what is it about lists??
 
Just sitting here in solitude in Velma, down in Portsmouth for a few days helping to run a disaster exercise. My work all done for the evening so headed back to my little haven on four wheels to chill. Just made a crusty roll with the remains of lovely smoked pork loin we grilled at home on Sunday in the Cobb, poured myself a Hoegaarden. Listening to Schumann and catching up with the forum (just seen Auberg-ine's stunning map table**, gotta get me one of those).

Shame I couldn't have brought the dog, that would have made it Caliperfect. And Mrs VD, of course.

** https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/show-me-how-youve-made-your-interiors-your-own.19968/page-4
 
I'm off to Scotland for a week on my own at the end of June for a bit of peace and quiet, fresh air and exercise. Can't wait.

Nice when the family are with me but great when I'm off on my own :)
 
My work is a bit more flexible than the OHs, so we’ve done similar before where I drive out solo (with dog) earlier, and the OH then takes a flight out to join me...... Works a treat!

“Absense makes the heart grow fonder” as they say :D
 
I did Manchester to Malaga three days on my own 1800 miles last weekend. The first two days ok but didn’t have enough iPod storage :headbang the last day was quite lonely I must say.
Never driving France again. So boring it’s like being on the moon. Ferry from Santander on the way back.
 
To answer the OP..

No.

44,000 miles on my own.....10,000 miles with a companion ...... second choice every time.
 
I have my 3 week trip to Scandinavia on my own while SWMBO does her Art Courses etc: - Doesn't like the cold. Then I take her to Italy, and California and Australia.
So 3 weeks out of the year I get to choose the music, stop when I like and camp wherever. Perfect compromise and we're still married after 45 years.
 
I absolutely love being on my own. No
Where are you going?
How long will you be?
What’s for breakfast/lunch/dinner?
I can do what I want, eat and drink what I want, go to bed and get up when I want, watch tv, listen to music or read.....
Happy days
 
Off to Devon on my own in a few weeks, then thinking about plucking up the courage to go abroad in van for first time....main concern is for dog on ferry options....not totally alone, but ideal combo!
Denmark meet sounding a great excuse.....wondering where to go... might do southern Norway as a test for the north when I have more time....sadly I probably won't have dog by then!

Never alone with a van and dog....I love meeting folks...that's the beauty of camping!
 
The Mrs doesn’t like camping so each year l go alone (such a shame)
Play list sorted,fishing rods and dog on board
Whoopi France here we come :happy

Alan
 
Last year I had a 10 night Easter trip to the Tarragona area in my then 7.5m Dethleffs Motorhome usually shared with the wife, two teenage boys and a large Boxer Dog.

I have to say it was part Bliss ( but part weird) being able to do just as I pleased!

I cruised down through france on the A6 stopping for Coffee and food when and where I pleased before spending first camping night at the site besides the Pont-du-Gard. Lovely to sit out in the sun order a large beer and a spag bol and just relax before walking over and viewing the amazing roman aqueduct/bridge - recommended

Next day pushed on to Barcelona area and stayed at nice sites in Roses and then L'Escala before I met up with friends camping at Camping Tamarit Park Resort near Tarragona - again highly recommended with beachside pitches and great facilities including a well stock shop with massive ice cold wine fridges... Walks on beach dinner with friends and being able to sit back and enjoy a bottle of wine in total peace....

Next I moved on to a site near Le Barcarès in France and enjoyed a few nights before slowly heading back through France staying at Le Castels sites.

Conclusion: I have made several trips like this in addition to the normal family trips (Year before a solo trip to the ALPs to look at new sites for the summer) and although they are great they are very different to the comfortable feeling I get when we are all discovering places and attractions together - alone there is just a little something missing but that might just be me.... or guilt!



 
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Our road trips are ace. Mrs Pod buys The Sun and keeps me entertained reading out tabloid trash stories. I love Dear Deidre. She always keeps the van stocked with Road Trip Sweets and in-flight snacks.

Jury is out on dog versus Mrs? Thankfully not had to choose.......yet
 
Beware, I will be printing this thread out and bringing it to the next meet to use for blackmail and extortion purposes! ;)
 
Have to agree with GrannyJen - However when circumstances dictate or by choice I would say better to travel alone rather than stay at home. The reality is on your travels you will meet people and interact. Life is what you make it and a Cali makes it just that more enjoyable.
 
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