Security Camping in France

[Riktus]

Hi All
Planning a camping jaunt in France May 2010 - really looking forward to it and busy planning routes etc at moment.

However - can anyone comment or offer advice on the level of courtesy and security I can expect. The reason i ask is because I used to camp allot with my family in France when i was a teenager and the experiences were fantastic. All campsites were clean and tidy with good facilities and leaving (none expensive) gear in your tent like clothes and cooking equipment was never a problem.

Getting to sleep on a night was also pretty good back then - noise on the sites would dampen down at about 11.00p.m cos there was always loads of families etc.

Whats the mood like now - cos that was back in the 80s?

I do plan to carry expensive gear like camera and phone with me on the bike (and lock it in cases overnight) but wasnt planning on taking all my gear with me every day>

I would be grateful of comments....

Cheers
Rik

 

[Wapping]

Nothing much has changed since you last went. France is still a civilised western democracy. Your stuff will be as safe there as anywhere. The campsites are, by-and-large, still excellent whether they are municipal (anything from very basic to very well kitted) to large private run affairs. Some can get very full, so it's sometimes booking ahead.

Just take some sensible precautions, just as you would at home.

Don't leave valuable gear lying around, where it esay for someone to pick the pieces up. That includes your passport, camera, bike keys, watch, wallet, tickets. I can't recall anyone ever having anything stolen from a tent..... but no doubt it has happened.

In short, don't put temptation in people's way.

Buy travel insurance.

 

[Steptoe]

. I can't recall anyone ever having anything stolen from a tent..... but no doubt it has happened.

.

Yes, it does happen. I was camped with a goldwing owner and an XS1100 and they both had the tents neatly cut open and anything of any value removed while the slept.

And this was in those halcyon days back in "safe" eighties.

Everywhere is safe, until the one single tealeaf in a hundred mile radius appears and likes the look of how easy you've made life for him.

 

[Wapping]

Yes, it does happen. I was camped with a goldwing owner and an XS1100 and they both had the tents neatly cut open and anything of any value removed while the slept.

.... "Aha, monsieur, three persons, three tents but only, ow you say, les deux rubberies?"

"Me'be you 'ave some leetle thing to explain, non?"

 

[Riktus]

Thanks fellas

I tend to always keep my valuable items as you discribed with me in a tank bag - but do like to get out and about without all the luggage boxes on.

Least I dont have to pack a hair drier anymore like back in the 80s!

Rik

 

[Invicta Moto]

Least I dont have to pack a hair drier anymore like back in the 80s!

Rik

I do but it ain't for me.

 

[Wapping]

Thanks fellas

I tend to always keep my valuable items as you discribed with me in a tank bag - but do like to get out and about without all the luggage boxes on.

Take care, you are starting to drift into, "Should I take my panniers off?" territory

 

[STUBBS]

had no problems camping in france for years now anything og great value goes in the bottom of my sleeping bag whilst sleeping then locked on the bike during the day

 

[Riktus]

Take care, you are starting to drift into, "Should I take my panniers off?" territory

Saw that thread so I chose my words very carefully!!

Although saying that I have just bought a couple of the pannier "studs" and have a friend who is an engineer so have asked him to weld them to the ends of my security chain. This way they can link the boxes together (and through the handle on my Givi topbox) and attach to a pole or tree etc. Not the best security in the world but it saves anyone waltzing off with them.

My original question had more to do with a couple I met in the services last year who had a caravan on - they were heading back from France and had been burgled while they were asleep. I was fairly shocked but they said they were the lucky ones as it was "apparently" common for French Burglers to pump gas into caravan windows to reder the occupants unconcious so they could steel the contents undetected. It just didnt seem to be the France I knew and loved when younger and I actually started to think if things had got that bad I may change my intended destination.

However I am more comfortable with it now - there is always a risk wherever you go but the above story sounded a bit crazy.

Rik

 

[bladerunner]

I've been camping France regularly last 30 years - no problems to report yet.

I tend to avoid, if possible, the crummy in town municiple sites with spotty yoofs hanging around and go for the more established sites. As always, if the Germans are camping there it is likely to be pretty good.

Valuables get locked in panniers.

 

[ChasMill]

Nothing much has changed since you last went. France is still a civilised western democracy.

Apart from the human turd that was left by the door of my tent at Arnage a couple of years ago during the Le Mans 24 hours - the one trodden in my Groomy?

Mind you, that was probably the Germans who took offecnce to my Adolf Hitler, European Tour 1939 - 1945 T shirt.

 

[Wapping]

was "apparently" common for French Burglers to pump gas into caravan windows to reder the occupants unconcious so they could steel the contents undetected.

Most normal blokes pump out sufficient gas to render the whole of France unconscious or at least nauseous.

Don't worry, nobody will gas you in France.....