Kris Emery
Hi from Kris and Gill Emery from Switzerland, a short introductory story...
We have always enjoyed camping – but tents are starting to be challenging – so we looked at mobile homes. In May, we rented one (based on Fiat Ducati chassis) and took it off to France. I (the driver) discovered it handled like a lorry – well it was 3 tonnes heavy 6m long, 2.50m wide and 2.30m high with a bitch of a clutch and a handbrake on the wrong side (i.e. not the same side as the gear lever). Hill starts were a nightmare! Plus side it had a double bed, loo, shower and a big fridge, dinette, and fixed double bed. So was very comfortable. We took it off to France eventually Dijon and the weather was fairly good so we had a good time. Downside of this type of camper is that it is too big. So, to park in a supermarket you have to be outside and take four parking spaces and, for example, we wanted to visit Beaune you cannot find suitable parking slots and underground parking is a no-no. It was enjoyable but not the camping solution we were looking for.
In August our daughter and family bought a Cali Ocean Grey. Very nice too. So, we borrowed it for a weekend. It suited our needs very well. Most importantly drives like a car with and automatic gearbox. Yes, we liked it – there are compromises – no loo or shower so you need to park near amenities – fridge is small but holds plenty of bottles.
So in August we bought one too! Why the Ocean Grey - well discussion with a knowledgeable dealer pointed out that it had laminate floors which are easy to clean (given our Labrador this was a good selling point) and also the 17" wheels brake pads lasted longer and were performed better. So we hunted around and got a good price on a demonstrator model. We call it Gandalf (after Gandalf the Grey in Hobbit, Lord of the Rings etc.).
After a couple of September weekends shakedown trips we headed off in October to France via Italy for a tour of the Cote d’Azur. We crossed the Alps and overnighted near Genoa (Milan driving a nightmare as usual) and then took the coast motorway west – all short tunnels, high bridges, high crosswinds and into France. Drove down to Monte Carlo Casino for the hell of it, then on past Nice and on to Cannes – drove la Croisette (for the hell of it) and then to a campsite in Frejus to meet up with our Cali daufghter and family. Spent a couple or three nights there then on past the lovely Saint Maxime (must revisit), St Tropez to Ramateuille for another three nights. The rains came Saturday morning. we carried on west to the Camargue again to enjoy a couple days by the beach. Milly our dog loved it.
So now Gandalf is waiting for Spring in our garage, I take him out fro a spin every couple of weeks, weather permitting (he does not have winter tyres so have to be careful) and now looking forward to Spring maybe down to Malaga, Croatia also look inviting. Nice thing about Sweitzerland you are in the middle of everything!
We have always enjoyed camping – but tents are starting to be challenging – so we looked at mobile homes. In May, we rented one (based on Fiat Ducati chassis) and took it off to France. I (the driver) discovered it handled like a lorry – well it was 3 tonnes heavy 6m long, 2.50m wide and 2.30m high with a bitch of a clutch and a handbrake on the wrong side (i.e. not the same side as the gear lever). Hill starts were a nightmare! Plus side it had a double bed, loo, shower and a big fridge, dinette, and fixed double bed. So was very comfortable. We took it off to France eventually Dijon and the weather was fairly good so we had a good time. Downside of this type of camper is that it is too big. So, to park in a supermarket you have to be outside and take four parking spaces and, for example, we wanted to visit Beaune you cannot find suitable parking slots and underground parking is a no-no. It was enjoyable but not the camping solution we were looking for.
In August our daughter and family bought a Cali Ocean Grey. Very nice too. So, we borrowed it for a weekend. It suited our needs very well. Most importantly drives like a car with and automatic gearbox. Yes, we liked it – there are compromises – no loo or shower so you need to park near amenities – fridge is small but holds plenty of bottles.
So in August we bought one too! Why the Ocean Grey - well discussion with a knowledgeable dealer pointed out that it had laminate floors which are easy to clean (given our Labrador this was a good selling point) and also the 17" wheels brake pads lasted longer and were performed better. So we hunted around and got a good price on a demonstrator model. We call it Gandalf (after Gandalf the Grey in Hobbit, Lord of the Rings etc.).
After a couple of September weekends shakedown trips we headed off in October to France via Italy for a tour of the Cote d’Azur. We crossed the Alps and overnighted near Genoa (Milan driving a nightmare as usual) and then took the coast motorway west – all short tunnels, high bridges, high crosswinds and into France. Drove down to Monte Carlo Casino for the hell of it, then on past Nice and on to Cannes – drove la Croisette (for the hell of it) and then to a campsite in Frejus to meet up with our Cali daufghter and family. Spent a couple or three nights there then on past the lovely Saint Maxime (must revisit), St Tropez to Ramateuille for another three nights. The rains came Saturday morning. we carried on west to the Camargue again to enjoy a couple days by the beach. Milly our dog loved it.
So now Gandalf is waiting for Spring in our garage, I take him out fro a spin every couple of weeks, weather permitting (he does not have winter tyres so have to be careful) and now looking forward to Spring maybe down to Malaga, Croatia also look inviting. Nice thing about Sweitzerland you are in the middle of everything!
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