THE MONARCH HAS LANDED
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Island measuring nine miles by five miles. Sittingabout 14 miles off the French coast, opposite the Cherbourg peninsular the Island has its own laws, currency and Parliament.
Following three years of negotiations, and for the very first time, the Camping and Caravanning Club had persuaded the Jersey Government to allow caravans and motor caravans to the visit the island, and we were lucky enough to be invited to participate in one of these trips on the occasion of a holiday rally.
With 30 outfits due to attend and the excellent organisational skills of our Rally Stewards, John and Barbara Barker, this promised to be an event not to be missed.
We were booked on Monday's 09.00 ferry sailing from Portsmouth on the Condor Line, so we set out from our Warwickshire home on the Sunday and stayed overnight at the Camping and Caravan Club's Chichester site.
As this site is only about 20 minutes travelling time from the docks, we had a fairly leisurely start to the day and arrived at the harbour at around 07.30.
The Condor Ferries 'Commodore Clipper' is a rather unconventional looking ship and boarding was also somewhat unconventional.
Embarking and disembarking is from the stern so 'U' turns were the order of the day, as was the ascent of a long ramp with caravan to gain access to a higher deck.
Although primarily a freight vessel, the passenger accommodation is very good, extremely clean and without exception, we found the staff friendly, helpful and smiling!
A variety of meals are available throughout the voyage, and there is a licensed bar, duty free shop and a 'quiet' lounge for relaxation.
The voyage takes ten and a half hours and the ship rolls and wallows somewhat. No stabilisers, perhaps.
A stop for unloading in Guernsey for an hour and a half seemed interminable but we finally docked in Jersey at 19.40 pm. For the long crossing like this there is only one service daily, with an overnight return arriving at
06.30 am.
An alternative means of transport is by Condor Fast Cat, which takes around three and a half hours, includes a stop in Guernsey, and runs a more frequent service than the Clipper.
Some of the ralliers who used this service experienced somewhat choppy conditions and looked rather green about the gills on arrival!
As we drove off our vessel, a representative from the camp was there to guide us to the site.
They were doing this for everyone as they did not want anyone to get lost.
Everyone disembarking from the ferry is met in this way since the approach lanes are very narrow and the entrance to the site has to be negotiated with care.
We sympathised with anyone brave enough to bring a larger caravan than our Monarch. We were very appreciative of the 'guide' service - you would not want to go astray when towing on the Jersey roads.
Our holiday was two weeks long with our rally stewards, John and Barbara devising many ideas to fill our time, so there was no need for anyone to feel left out.
There are so many places to visit and so much to do on this sunshine island that two weeks is nowhere long enough.
We had borrowed an Isuzu Trooper to be the work horse for towing our Bailey to Jersey, but we had been offered a smaller Subaru to use during our time on the island.
We were very thankful for this as some of the lanes are little more than pathways. Jersey drivers are very courteous and there is far more giving way than we experience at home.
Although other camps were involved in this trial, our destination was the Beuvelande Camp, which is an old established site close to the village of St Martin.
The De La Haye family opened the site in 1965 and it is now owned and run by Steve De La Haye, whose father started it all. It has been steadily developed over the years and there are plans afoot for further improvements..
Currently is site is more geared up for tents and trailer tents than for caravans,and the pitches are somewhat average in size..
The hook-up at five amps also needs a little up-rating if the Jersey authorities are going to make caravans a permanent feature on the island.
The site has a very good restaurant where the food is excellent and there is plenty of it.
There is a shop, a travel agent, a heated swimming pool, a large games room, cycle hire and TV room.
All the usual facilities including immaculate shower/toilet block, baby changing, special amenities for the disabled, dish washing and laundry are also available.
Everything that you could possibly need to make your stay pleasant is provided and the owners could not have been more helpful. Loathe as we are to admit it, we had never been on a Camping and Caravanning Holiday Rally before and we wondered who we would meet and what outfits they would be using.
This first Jersey Rally attracted around 30 units, split about 50/50 between caravans and motor caravans, and one couple even brought their tent on an aeroplane.
All the participants were Club members and the age range, at a guess, around 60 plus.
A good cross section of occupations was represented, although we thought that most were now retired or semi-retired.
The group seemed to gel fairly well and one could always find someone with whom you could have a good natter. There was plenty of gossip, exchanges of information and discussions on the poor quality of British caravans. This was a constant source of moans. Why can't they get it right we wonder?
The island's hire car companies did quite well from this rally. Part of the condition of allowing motor caravans on to the island was that they were not allowed to travel around the roads. If owners wanted to explore, and they all did, they had to find other forms of transport.
To assist the Tourist Board had kindlyloaned three people carriers for our use and the Stewards press ganged three drivers to man them when necessary.
Of course, you could always walk or cycle tool All sorts of activities were arranged to keep the campers occupied, most of which we took part in. There were trips to some of the 'must see' attractions including the German Underground Hospital, Samares Manor, Jersey Pottery, the Lavender Farm and a day trip to St Malo.
A couple of group dinners took place in the site restaurant with dancing to follow.
This saw the emergence of some very competent line dancers who happily helped thoseless confident. On both these occasions there was a superb atmosphere and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Barbara escorted the more energetic on a walk down to Gorey Harbour via the local dolmen (an ancient, neolithic burial ground reputed to be 3300 years old, and there were barbecues, a highly competitive boules competition, bingo and videosin the marquee.
The stewards organised a book exchange service.
The island has something of a reputation for good food, and the gourmets amongst us could take advantage of the endless choice with, needless to say, a superb selection of seafood naturally being the local speciality.
We were not backward in sampling the many delights.
There was plenty of gossip, exchanges of information and discussions on the poor quality of British caravans.This was a constant source of moans. Why can't they get it right we wonder?
In general the Sunshine Island lived up to its name and if the sun was not shining, at least it was warm.
Temperatures reached around 25°C on some days and we all came home looking as if we had visited warmer climes.
Much publicity is being given to the poor state of the Jersey tourist industry and the site owners hope that the admission of caravans and motor caravan onto the island will become a permanent feature from now on.
In our opinion it could not fail to bring a very welcome increase in holiday makers visiting the island, and in turn all sections of the industry would benefit.
We think the Rally was huge success and most of the credit for this must go to our Rally Stewards John and Barbara.
Not only are they both extremely talented but they worked like Trojans to keep everyone happy and provide such a diversity ofactivities..
Our grateful thanks must go to the Carefree Travel Section of the Camping and Caravan Club for allowing us to sample this very interesting and enjoyable rally.
Adrian French
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Adrian In Jersey