am I the only one who leaves early when going away, load the caravan night before get children up and into car thats hooked and off all by 4am esp when going to Devon/Dorset stop at Stone Henge for Coffee at around 6am and we are at coast having breakfast by 9am then off to site and set up by the time others are sitting in a traffic jam. if going alone I leave even earlier, couple of hours nap and off out for the day by mid day. even on way to isle of wright I am at docks by 8am.
so often hear of Jams and hold ups at mid day caused by holiday trippers. and no wonder work drivers hate us so much. many think I am mad setting off that early but todate "touch wood" allways have had a swift trouble free run.
only vehicles on road are Lorries and vans plus the odd car or two. have the inside lane to myself and cruise control on. fuel use is around 20% better than return journey when we almost always return mid to late Sat and Sunday to aviod M25 rushhour traffic.
Better to spend more time at your destination than on the road!!!
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Not so much of the 'Owl trail' now were retired and dont tend to go away at the busiest times, but when hubby and I were both working and the girls were small, time was of a premium, and sometimes we would load the van up the day before and then take off straight out of work, which for me was often after a 10pm finish of shift.
We would drive until around 1am, then pull in somewhere for a couple of hours snooze till around 4am, have a coffee and continue on to be parked up within a couple of miles of the site waiting for them to open before we could finally pitch up.
I can remember one particular night when we did this, we were GT Yarmouth bound via the A47, and every layby we had previously used for a break on earlier journeys along that route, was occupied by a vandalised or burned out car. It made us feel on edge for stopping off in the area, and i continued to drive down to Breydon without a break, arriving at the golf course CL at 4am, which was not a problem as we had previously stayed there, and were aware that it was possible to pull up on their large carpark and await for staff to arrive the next morning.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 22/4/2011
pull in somewhere for a couple of hours snooze till around 4am, have a coffee and continue on to be parked up within a couple of miles of the site waiting for them to open before we could finally pitch up.
I can remember one particular night when we did this, we were GT Yarmouth bound via the A47, and every layby we had previously used for a break on earlier journeys along that route, was occupied by a vandalised or burned out car. It made us feel on edge for stopping off in the area,
yep thats also a point never been questioned early morning when pulling over for coffee and rest. in gate or field entrance. had it several times later in day. I guess its a case of let one let all. and in the early hours its live and let live. even had police have coffee with us before now.
Always travel overnight for at least the first leg of our journey in France. Start out from home late afternoon. Early evening ferry and then keep going.
I'm the opposite , or should say was ! When the end of the holiday approached , I got itchy feet, you know you've got to go , so I just want to get under way ! Quite a few times we've left a site a day or even two early ,and if the weather was'nt too good , that gave me more reason to leave . When I should be enjoying the last of the break , I just want to get the journey over with ! Perhaps its because we usually have two ferries to deal with . But now my dear wife absolutely refuses to leave before time , even if there was a blizzard in August she will now stay till last day whatever, a good thing really because I enjoy the end of the hols as well now !
It depends how far I am going but these days I tend to stick within about a two or three hour journey. Since most campsites don't allow you on until at least midday there is little point in going before about 9am or 10am...after the rush hour.
Going home is different. I tend to get up fairly early (7'ish) and once I start packing things away I find myself continuing until it's all in the car...then not much point in hanging around. I am usually away by 10am at the very latest.
We always have good intentions and get up at a reasonable time then seem to find a million last minute things to do or one of the cats has gone into hiding and we then have to find him, and get him to come out from behind the fridge or when we were moving he hid behind the dish washer which could be accessed through a cupboard. I had the devils own job getting him out of there. So we never leave the house before 11 am. Then need to stop for food an hour later. But we don't go so very far and if we are going to Belgium we will make a two day trip of the journey and see things on the way.
He likes to be on the road before 7 even if we are only goin into wales (2hrs trip). Saturday morning are quiet because they dont have the mon-fri rush hr of us going to work , so its the best . I love the morning mist and damp dew smell that the cue for my holiday starting even for the weekend. The annoying thing thou NOW about leaving early is campsites do let us on till 2. 2 could have a a swim in their pool . had lunch as ready for my afternoon nap (in the sun ) please why ! do they insist you are off site BEFORE 10 and not allowed on till 2 . They dont even mow the pitch inbetween . I would much rather me on site early and leave the site early for somebody else to arrive (early to enjy their holiday !)
Yes we do Devon end may we wake kids 2-30 car packed hooked up done leave by 3 1 stop half way hopefully!!! There and just wait for pitch but site let us use pool whilevwe wait no traffic for bank hols!!!
Quote: Originally posted by stephenn280575 on 22/4/2011
Most of the sites that we go to don't like people arriving til after 12.00.
found a few like that and I just park up and walk to town if near or park up along the beach for an hour or so. although most of my regular sites dont mine my being there early only problem being at times I cant pitch untill one is free. if I am paying for a week they have a choice accept and be helpful or upset and poss loose a regular known customer.
I have in the past for the sake of being reasonable offered to pay the day before fee and when I put it to them they tend to say no it will be ok. I would much rather pay an extra tenner than sit on the M25 in the mornings heat. with all the others. let alone the M3 or A303 what a Joy that is in the heat.
I always leave home early. For one thing it avoids most of the traffic, and also gives more time at wherever I'm going - I absolutely refuse to spend the first day of my break travelling, especially if I only have three or four days. When I was with my ex we very often left at 2 or 3am if we had a long-ish drive ahead. Driving to Great Yarmouth on my own last year I left home at 5am - coming to Filey today I left at 6.30 as it's only a two-and-a-half hour drive. And like the op I tend to stick to regular sites where I know it's ok for me to arrive early.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
We left at 4am when we were going to Scotland and Cornwall and if we are going something like South Wales then we go about 6, it usually depends on the distance we need to travel. We visit a site in Towyn regularly and then we don't leave till 11am as there is nowhere really to wait and the site won't let you on till 12.
As far as coming home is concerned, if we have a long distance to travel then we pack as much as posible on the Friday night so we can get an early start on the Saturday but if we're not too far we just leave everything til the morning we leave.
Unless the weather is terrible we have been known to leave early a couple of times if the weather has been awful and we have then had a lovely day on the Friday, we would pack up and leave while the sun had the awning dry.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: am I unique in leaving early ??
He likes to be on the road before 7 even if we are only goin into wales (2hrs trip). Saturday morning are quiet because they dont have the mon-fri rush hr of us going to work , so its the best . I love the morning mist and damp dew smell that the cue for my holiday starting even for the weekend. The annoying thing thou NOW about leaving early is campsites do let us on till 2. 2 could have a a swim in their pool . had lunch as ready for my afternoon nap (in the sun ) please why ! do they insist you are off site BEFORE 10 and not allowed on till 2 . They dont even mow the pitch inbetween . I would much rather me on site early and leave the site early for somebody else to arrive (early to enjy their holiday !) 
