Month: February 2018

Speed Limits Are Changing on 400,000km of French Roads

Published on by Paul Hickman

From 1st July 2018 Speed limits are changing from 90Km/h(56mp/h) to 80Km/h(50mp/h)

Needless to say, The French don’t seem too impressed.
Here is an article in the Guardian with more details
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/france-cuts-speed-limit-rise-deaths

And More from the RAC
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/driving-abroad/speed-limits-in-france/

 

The change applies only to the French version of our A & B roads it does not apply to Motorways which have a higher limit of either 110 or 130 Km/h and roads in towns which have a lower limit.

This even though it’s only a 6mph difference will will significantly increase travel times over the vast distances of French countryside.
The change is being introduced to improve road safety and you can bet that the French Police will revel in the chance to hand out a few more fines. Remember speeding fines are an on the spot fine for foreign motorists and could see a return to the days when us foreign truckers used to have to carry as much cash as you could, to pay the fines that at one time you were guaranteed to receive.

So watch your speed in France this summer. If your car has cruise control and or a speed limiter use it! It only takes a small lapse and it could well get expensive!

It’s not going to stop us heading to our favourite campsite in the far South.

Snowdonia Ultimate 3 in 1 Coat Product Review

Published on by Paul Hickman

Being campers in the UK means 2 things. You WILL GET WET! You WILL GET COLD!

These are 2 inescapable facts, so to combat this we campers go in search of things to combat these facts. Namely warm and dry clothing, also heat and alcohol work too but this is a review of a coat!

In the summer I needed a lightweight waterproof coat as yes it does rain in summer, especially in the Both West, so I spent the amazing sum of £120 of my very own pounds on a Helly Hansen Vancouver jacket, and I was very impressed. It did exactly what it said in the label.

So along comes winter and I realise that my old 3 in 1 Coat is looking a bit shabby and could do with reproofing. I washed itinerary the required technical washing solutions but it still didn’t look too great it was however waterproof again.

Time for a new winter coat.

Now I am not exactly small in stature or in girth so off I went to Jacamo website where I found some coats in my size all claiming to be warm and waterproof.

I ordered 2 to try a Helly Hansen and a Colombia at almost £200 each!

They both got sent back. The Helly Hanson was too short and the Columbia was too big but it was promising. However no smaller size was available.

Enter the Snowdonia Ultimate 3 in 1. Most of these jackets have a waterproof outer and a fleece zipped inside. This has a down type padded jacket zipped inside and was only £100. What had I to loose. I knew the coats were ok as my old 3 in 1 was a Snowdonia too.

It arrived and I tried it on in the kitchen over a t shirt. In 2 minutes I had to take it off I was boiling!

The inner and outer come down long enough at the back to keep my bum warm and the outer material feels good quality. I decided this was the keeper.

It’s billed as waterproof, windproof, breathable and warm. Windproof, waterproof and warm I can concur as that very night was blowing a gale and lashing it down so I wore it to go to my gig. I never even noticed the wind and the rain didn’t bother it at all. The inner jacket collar comes all the way up inside the outer jacket collar and is padded all the way to keep your neck nice and cosy.

This is a fab coat available in sizes up to 5xl so an average family of 4 could probably camp in it quite comfortably.