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Set off down to the Tunnel for two weeks biking in Sospel, San Remo and Finale in the camper. 2 hours into journey geared down for traffic jam on A14 and got a wining from the gear box and then no gears. Managed to limp off and AA think something bad has gone in the box. Sat waiting for transporter to take us back home. Managed to get it booked intp Ford but holiday is cancelled.
Feeling a bit gutted 😭
Ah no, that's crap. No possibility of renting a canper (or even a van and grabbing a tent along the way?
Only consolation, but not much is that it broke down before the tunnel. You've got 2 weeks of, just grab a cheap holiday to anywhere and look into renting bikes and riding wherever you are.
No rental at this short notice. Sat here cancelling stuff whilst we wait. Tunnel is sorted. Will just loose deposits on campsites. Will reassess tomorrow when I can get my head round it
Part of me thinks it wasnt meant to happen when Uni threw the spanner in the works on Abigales race
Oh shit no. Crushing!!
Just gets better. We are too big for the breakdown truck so now have to wait for the big one that will take us half way back and then have to swap on to another. Going to be a long night. Might as well put the kettle on.
Commiserations.
Was expecting to read about an injury from the thread title, so y'know - at least you all still have your health.
I realise that doesn't help, sorry.
Going to be a long night.
Good job you're in a camper where you can sit down and relax then.
Shit as it is worse things could have happened.
That's crap news Tracey, hopefully tomorrow after a bit of sleep and s rethink a plan B will come up.
Balls, hope it doesn't take too long to get back home
Maybe just try to do some U.K. uplifting if you have another vehicle?
Sucks when you’ve planned something so meticulously and something like that happens completely unpredictably.
Oh no nightmare, hope you've made it home by now
Not good news at all, but it does sound an interesting adventure that you are now on...
Oh no - I hope the journey home wasn't too much of a mare, and you've found a good compromise for your two weeks.. no chance of hiring a vehicle for two weeks to get you there?
Update
Second truck arrived at 9 and it still wasn't big enough, took him a hour to load it on and was hanging way off the back. Got to the swap over at 12 and another 45 mins to get it off. Third truck was a monster and we were loaded in 10 mins. Got to the Ford garage at 2.30 and spent the night on the entrance road. Met the service guy at 7.30 as arranged, unloaded everything and have just sat down for a coffee at home and reassessing everything.
Not sure on plan B yet, the sensible thing to do is go back to work and take the holidays somewhere when we have the van back. That way it gives us time to sort out an itinerary.
Don't think the disappointment has set in yet.
That is so shit.
That sucks big time.
The sort of thig I worry about when going away.
Hopefully Ford sort the van quickly and you can get some time away soon.
Ahhh what an absolute PITA that is. Sorry your holiday is ruined. Hopefully the Van will be a quick fix. Is it in warranty ?
Just out of interest what was your itinerary ? Any particular camp sites / stop overs you would recommend ? Thinking of doing something similar next year.
Still awaiting some feedback from the garage, van is four years old so out of warranty.
Itinerary was a couple of nights at Lake Annecy relaxing then down to Sospel for three days riding after that down to San Remo for another three days riding and then to Finale for a week riding.
The campsites on the way down were booked but haven't used them before. Sospel was going to be done using downloaded maps and San Remo from Trailforks.
We have always stopped on the Tahiti campsite in Finale and used a mixture of Finalefreeride guided tours and the campsite uplift facility.
We will probably do it next year around the same time.
Proper rubbish. Sorry 🙁
Rubbish 🙁
Hope the camper doesn't cost too much to repair.
That's a shame, only consolation is the breakdown happened this side of the tunnel I guess. It's rare for fairly new vehicles to just go bonk these days. Have you worked out a plan B as yet - I'd be tempted to just do something spur of the moment rather than go back to work, as that would be depressing.
Back at work this week, plan B will be to book a late availability some where warm without the bikes for next week and then take another week off when we get the camper repaired. Might need to invest in a bikini.
That’s truly naff
We camped at Tahiti 20 years ago, was a nice site. I had my first Birra Moretti there (before they were available in UK).
Bummer.
Got the good news tonight that the gearbox has been repaired and van is ready for collection
Plan B ended up with a late availability to the Tui Magic Life resort for a week in Southern Italy. Loads to do and will just do the France Italy trip next year at the same time.
Could have been worse you might have booked the replacement with Thomas Cook!
😂
What was the problem with the gearbox?
Pleased you managed to get the gearbox sorted Tracey!
Enjoy Southern Italy!