Guernsey trip

[widdowson2008]

Guernsey trip information

First of all, I have to say that our Bongo performed perfectly from start to finish. A true lady.
I kept a close eye on the TM-2 combo unit during the trip and for piece of mind, it is an excellent piece of kit – well worth its cost – thanks Haydn.

Got to Weymouth ferry terminal and was 1st in queue.
Within 5 minutes of turning the engine off, another Bongo pulled up at the side of me. Had a chat and it transpired that the guy lived on Jersey and was returning home having just purchased his Bongo from the UK.
(Reg.No. N386 HAB – green AFT – anyone recognise the registration?)
Got his email address and suggested he join BF – apparently, he has already browsed the site and intends to become a member.
He told me there were a few Bongos on Guernsey (I only saw one but wasn’t particularly looking for them).

Medical
 E111 not valid in Guernsey
Ferry
 Went on Condor Express – 2hrs 30mins (approx) – good crossing but I was told it can be a bit hairy if the weather is bad.

Campsite - Vaugrat Campsite - Tel: 01481 257468 Fax:01481 251841
Campervan ruling on Guernsey is that you can take a campervan but you are not allowed to sleep in it. We had no problem at all. From what I was told, the ruling was an attempt to prevent the mass siting of cheap accommodation for immigrant workers. If you are concerned about complying with the local laws, then you can apply to the Guernsey authorities for a permit for a short stay. This permit doesn’t cost anything but it will make you totally legal.

The campsite comprises:
 3 large fields – fully equipped in situ tents if required
 leccy points limited (5) in one field
 toilet block– very clean – very hot water
 washing facility – very clean – very hot water
 showers (+ disabled shower/toilet) – very clean – very hot water but showers cost 20p for 4 minutes (free in disabled shower)
 general – easy access to main coastal road/beach (3 minutes walk) well maintained, clean, quiet site – helpful owner
 plenty of field space for children to play safely

General
 children – excellent (and big) beaches on the North/West coast
 dogs – Guernsey folk like their dogs but they are keen to clean up after them
 waste site - Pembroke Bay area - site is only a couple of hundred metres long and doesn’t spoil the coastal path
 public toilet facilities are excellent in Guernsey – plenty of them and very clean

Prices
 food is more slightly expensive than UK (or so the wife tells me – but she is TIGHT) so take your own
 diesel – around 80p/litre – cheapest I got was 78.9p/litre
 petrol – around 79p/litre
 sightseeing – where entrance fees are applicable, they are very reasonable and good value




Getting around
Driving
 Roads When you see the roads, it becomes apparent why they don’t want caravans on Guernsey – the largest road is equivalent to a ‘B’ road in the UK. Good road surfaces but narrow – just enough room to let 2 single deck buses to pass – 3” clearance between busses/walls.
 Speed limit is 35mph max. and this is reduced to 25mph in places. Personally, I found that 30mph was plenty fast enough and spent most time at 25.

Parking
 Guernsey has BRILLIANT parking arrangements – you can park almost ANYWHERE. The only restriction is the length of time and this varies between 10 minutes and 10 hours. You will need to visit the local police and get a time card (£2 – for life) on which you set your parking start time. This system works.

Traffic lights
 Only a few on the island – instead, at road junctions, they have either
o A solid yellow line – this means STOP and give way
o clearly marked ‘filters’ – this means take your turn
Both of these works extremely well– the traffic moves smoothly – we should have them in this country!!!!

Cycling
 a coastal footpath/cycle path exists and is generally easy going – also plenty of ‘tranquil’ roads inland (but we never got onto these as the wife is a ‘sea’ freak)

Bus service
 60p, any distance (even all round the island) – clean, efficient, ON TIME

Beaches
 North/West coastal beaches are large, clean, and safe (good sand-castling stuff)

Sightseeing
 German occupation sites seem to be predominant as you would expect as this was a time in the history of Guernsey that will never be forgotten. Gun emplacements and other German concrete structures dominate Guernsey and at first, I wondered why they didn’t get rid of them. They form a part of Guernsey history which in turn is a stark reminder to everyone who sees them what can happen when some nutter tries to take over the world.

There are many other things to see but easier (and better described) if you go on the Guernsey tourist website.

If I didn’t find posting photos such a hassle, (I enjoy looking through others posted pics) then I have a few memorable ones to post, however ………………..another time perhaps

In general, we found the 7 days spent in Guernsey very relaxing and will probably go back next year.

[bigdaddycain]

WOAH! What a great post! I wish i could afford the time to get out & about a bit more in the old bongo... Oh well... I'll get away in her when i can.

Thanks for the write- up...Just missing the pics!

[helen&tony]

Hi
Excellent stuff....and , from all accounts not a bad life in the Channel Islands....the only thing I regret in life is not buying a business there in the late 70s....I am not a person given to "Regret"...but that one....oh dear
Cheers
Helen

[widdowson2008]

WW2 German bunker/gun emplacement transformed by some enterprising fellow into a pub/restaurant

If this works, I'll try the rest

[widdowson2008]

pics not in any specific order

[widdowson2008]

****ed up - sorry - appeared twice

[bigdaddycain]

There'll be no stopping you posting pics now you've started steve! I partuicularly liked the pic of the harbour at sunset, that one was greeting card material! How weird does that bongo look with Guernsey plates? I've got so used to seeing bongo's with UK plates now,that they even look odd with japanese plates on!

[widdowson2008]

Had a squint at my pics and thought I'd just put the record straight.
The bloke with my missus is not me - its my son and he is currenty head chef at a rather posh restaurant in Guernsey.
I'm the ugly one behind the camera which took the pics.

[westonwarrior]

I removed the duplicate post for you to save scrooooooolllllllling

[widdowson2008]

Thank you westonwarrior - I was wondering how I could do that

All I need to do now is find out how it happened so I can avoid doing it again.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi Steve, sometimes big posts (especially posts with lots of pics on) can take a few moments, a few minutes even to upload to the forum... If you thought that nothing was happening (a big white screen) you probably without even realizing it pressed "submit" again...hence, two identical posts pop up!

[widdowson2008]

Hi Steve, sometimes big posts (especially posts with lots of pics on) can take a few moments, a few minutes even to upload to the forum... If you thought that nothing was happening (a big white screen) you probably without even realizing it pressed "submit" again...hence, two identical posts pop up!

That is PRECISELYwhat happened. Thanks bdc. What do you suggest? fewer pics per post?

[mister munkey]

What do you suggest? fewer pics per post?

Patience Young Grasshopper.

[widdowson2008]

What do you suggest? fewer pics per post?

Patience Young Grasshopper.

[Diplomat]

As promised, I waved to you Steve from Jersey but by the look of things you were on the western side most of the time!

Yes those German bunkers are impressive. As a ten year old I played in bunkers which the invaders had been in ten to fourteen years earlier. Only when you grow older do you realise that ten years back is nothing.
To us kids the occupation was something that the grown-ups talked about and to us might as well have been in the previous century!

Guernsey still reminds me of how Jersey was in the fifties and sixties before greed and development took over.
Fortunately, as your wife will appreciate the seascape and in particularly the intertidal zone remains almost unique in the world. The nearest I have seen anywhere else is the Gower.

This year I took some high and low water photos to show to friends in Tobago who simply do not believe that the tide can go up and down so much.

I'm not sure that I would be happy running a Bongo full time over there as they are not very common and there is not the back up or expertise that exists on the mainland. VWs are by far the most popular campers over there and almost obligatory for surfers. Whatever one chooses, salt spray and drips from boards or kayaks are a source of serious rust.

Glad the campsite was OK. It looked like my sort of place but I did wonder what it would be like in a gale.

Did you see any of the airshow? A bit disappointing this year as a lot couldn't get over due to excessive crosswinds.

Frank