Carry on camper van
- 16 May 06, 03:21 PM
LONDON - Hello I'm Paul Fletcher, one half of "Fletch and Ricco" - we'll be the most regular contributors to this World Cup blog.
Our blog starts for real when we leave England for Germany on 7 June, but don鈥檛 for a moment think that we haven鈥檛 already been busy.
Ricco (Martin Richardson) and I will travel around Germany in a and with this in mind recently went on a day鈥檚 driver training with one of the best in the business - Ronny Mapes.
鈥淩onny,鈥 said Ronny, 鈥渉as a saying for everything.鈥 And he really wasn鈥檛 joking.
鈥淚f it's clear grab a gear鈥, 鈥淏rakes to slow, gears to go鈥 and 鈥淢ore paint, more danger鈥, are just a selection of Mapes' wisdom.
We met at a car park off the A3 south of London early in the morning and for the next few hours learnt how to drive the Ronny way.
Of course, as all instructors who have been round the block a time or two well know, the key to underlining you own skills is best achieved by highlighting the numerous flaws of those you are teaching.
Martin and I each drove for a few miles - I simply wasn鈥檛 very good, Martin had a touch of the boy racer about him.
Then Ronny took over - smooth corners, vanishing points and optimum sight lines. Honest, it was a joy to behold.
I鈥檇 picked the mobile home up the day before and spent ages looking at it before plucking up the courage to climb in and drive.
The , for those of you in the know, is huge, especially given that we got the last one left. How does this affect the size? Because it is disabled converted and, with its huge shower space at the back, stretches for an impressive 6.3 metres.
Being a mini driver, the motor home seemed huge but Ronny was full of reassuring words and handy clich茅s that soon put me at ease.
We lunched at another car park, this one over looking the North Downs, and ate our bacon butties surrounded by police driving instructors and people walking their dogs.
Ronny then took us for a spin on the M25, explaining the true art of overtaking and the merits of triangle and diamond formations (don鈥檛 ask).
By the time we shook hands and bade our farewells to Ronny in mid-afternoon I felt as though I was well on the way to taming the monster.
Of course, we drive on the left in England. . .
Comments Post your comment
If you leave for Germany on the 7th of July you will sadly have missed the entire tournament although there will be a tremendous sausage festival to visit in Dortmund.
Complain about this post
Well spotted Richard, that now reads '7 June', though Fletch will no doubt appreciate the tip about the sausage festival..
Complain about this post
Car-parks, in a motorhome, blimey can you post the picture once you have ripped the roof off the thing please.
Complain about this post
To mspoke,
Have you never heard of an outdoor carpark?
Complain about this post
Excellent article for your blog. I am predicting that Germany or Brazil will win the World Cup given experience and discipline. In the first game between Germany and Costa Rica, Germany will defeat Costa Rica by a goal of 2 to 1 [I say this with a heavy heart because Costa Rica is one of my favorite teams].
Complain about this post
Andrew - yes, but all over the continent the entrance to car parks (outdoor ones too!) usually have a 7-8ft height barrier and you are likely to forget you are driving something 10 feet tall. Just posting from experience having followed sports events across Europe myself, I've had a few near-misses when I've forgotten what I'm driving.
Driving on the right is the least of their worries.
Complain about this post
Hello, I am a freelance sports journalist from Scotland and was unfortunately unable to get any media accreditation for the World Cup (but like the Murphys I'm not bitter) and was just wondering if there is any space left on the camper van (sorry, motor home) for me?
Being a Scot, maybe I'd bring an interesting dimension to the trip considering my country is a footballing non-entity and the Auld Enemy, England, have a very real chance of winning football's biggest prize.
PS: I'll cook breakfast and dinner every day of the trip...and wash the dishes. Shall I pack my bags then?
Complain about this post
John, the idea of somebody making breakfast every morning really has its appeals, especially with a promise to do the washing up as well.
Alas, I'm not sure that there will be any spare room inside the mobile home. It is a bit like the tardis in reverse - it seems huge from the outside (and when you're driving), but not quite so spacious once inside.
You are not the first person to ask the question but you definitely delivered the best pitch.
Complain about this post
Mspoke is spot-on. These continental car parks seem designed to trap unsuspecting tourists. I should know - I tried to drive under one such barrier in Brittany last summer, totally forgetting there was a roof box on the top of the car. Believe me, it did not make for a pleasant outcome. Hopefully Fletch and Ricco will be nothing like as less absent-minded than me - but fellas, just make sure you're attuned to the sound of ripping metal...
Complain about this post
Hello, we shall be travelling to Germany in our very own campervan.
It's a six birth monster....unfortunately I have five rather large friends along for the journey!
Any tips on where to stay in Frankfurt.
We are thinking Eine Tesco Karpark ?
Complain about this post
Assuming you make it to Munich for June 9th...! make sure you head to the English Garden for some pre-tournament build up before the opening game. The place hosts a wonderful beer garden where ample waitressess serve steins of beer, 4 at a time.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Good luck
;o)
Complain about this post
I'm very envious here. As a podcaster covering the World Cup, I'd love to be out there in person.
If you're trying to pass the time inbetween matches, check out the podcast. We put out a new one every day, chock full of news and listener comments. Feel free to cover us in your blog :)
The site is:
Our free world cup wallchart can be found at:
Soccer_Shout_World_Cup_Wallchart_v1.xls
The wallchart can help you run a prediction league with all the people in your office / class / mobile home.
Complain about this post
Fletch, you think that you will be struggling for space in your motorhome? there are 2 of you in yours, we have got 5 of us... in a 4 berth motor home!!!
Gonna be more the friendly :-)
Complain about this post
Hi there.
Im one of 8 lads going off in a minibus / camper van. Set off 6th june arrive back 12 july. Most of our places of rest are sorted except frankfurt.
Whats this eine tesco Karpark then? is eine an area of the city? or is this a wind up or are you really staying there?
Complain about this post
to Peter Hobson... I think the literal translation of eine Tesco Karpark would be, well, a Tesco carpark... it's certainly gonna be a long trip for your mates!
Complain about this post
I tend to agree with the point made by Mark above.
Complain about this post
I tend to agree with the point made by Mark above.
Complain about this post
Matt,
Good to hear from you. We have only a rough schedule of where we will be staying. I guess that we will just to have to play it by ear since we do not know where we are going to be half the time.
I'm hoping that plenty of people will use this blog to post their ideas and suggestions of what to do - and just as importantly - where to avoid.
I get the impression that the campsites of Germany are going to be heaving with people travelling around.
Complain about this post
According to Football Focus, you want some suggestions of things to do during your stay in Germany.
If you're into interesting transport, why not visit the town of Wuppertal, and take a trip on the Einschienige H盲ngebahn System Eugen Langen, or the Schwebebahn (suspension railway) that runs along the course of the river Wupper?
Complain about this post
Well chaps, if you are going to be touring Deutschland for the duration of the World Cup I have a suggestion that should be irresistable...
Are you aware that the famous Nurburgring F1 circuit is open to ordinary motorists in their own cars (or camper vans)?
After your advanced lessons in cornering and overtaking on the public highway how about Fletch and Ricco taking on the curves and straights of the infamous 20Km Nurburging circuit?!
I can think of nothing better than two brits tearing up Schumacher's Lap Record in the 主播大秀 Camper Van... Do it for Blighty!
Here is a link with openig times and cost for the track! Ich Wunsche Dir Gluck...Viel Spass
Complain about this post