August Newsletter
- Bob and Wendy
- Aug 3
- 8 min read
Welcome to the August edition of the newsletter.
In this month's edition we have a full tour report from Gwyn and Debbie on our Swiss & French Alps Tour that came back at the beginning of July.
We have also taken part in our abseiling challenge off the top of Coventry Cathedral for a charity that Colin and Sue are closely involved in. Sue has written up a lovely report on that one (as Wendy and I are still shaking).
We have done the draw for the NEC Motorhome Show tickets. Read on to find out if you have won. We also have the timetable for our talks at the Inspiration Theatre during the show and they have announced a celebrity guest (who is actually quite good)!
We also wanted to mention the Sweden & Arctic Circle Tour that is heading off in a week's time. Our picture is of Gamla Stan (old town) in Stockholm. This "expedition" is the biggest and longest tour we have ever done and we just wanted to wish everyone "bon voyage" on its maiden trip. Say hello to Santa for us.
As usual we have another “cut out and keep” recipe and this month’s motorhome tips are about warranties.
NEC Motorhome Show October - winners
The orange woolly hat draw has been drawn and here is a photo of the winning drawees. We will be making direct contact with you if you have won to explain how to collect the tickets.
Congratulations to all the winners.
If you didn't win, you can still come and see us in October where this year we will be ditching the "Crossings' Cupcakes" (too messy and go stale too quickly) for "Crossings' Cookies" (last longer, make less mess and still alliterate).
We look forward to seeing you all at the show.
NEC Motorhome Show News
We will be on Stand 9.34b in Hall 9 (our usual spot). Wendy and I are there all week and there will be a steady rotation of our other tour leaders in attendance too.
In addition, we will be doing a presentation at the Inspiration Theatre. This year's topic is Tuscany & Rome. It will be the same blarney everyday with the times shown below:
Tues Weds Thu Fri Sat Sun
10.30am 3.45pm 10.30am 3.45am 3.00pm 11.15pm
The full list of celebs is yet to be announced but they have confirmed a really good booking, which is Ben Fogle. He will be "in conversation" with someone (probably Roland Rivron) at midday on the Friday. Ben is an interesting fella who travels extensively and has met lots of folks living off-grid lifestyles so should be very entertaining. Look out for photos of Ben and Wendy after she gate-crashes the green room in October.
Tour Report - The Swiss & French Alps
Thanks to Gwyn and Debbie for the following tour report:
"After an early evening introduction to each other on a beautiful evening in Kent and a good night’s sleep, we were bound for the continent by ferry in the blazing sunshine on a calm sea with not so much as a ripple, for our first overnight stop on French soil in the Champagne region.
The next day’s drive was to the ‘capital’ of the Burgundy region at Beaune where many of our guests spent the afternoon in this ancient walled city sampling the beers, wines and ice creams before enjoying an evening tour group three-course meal at the restaurant on site with a chance to sample more of the Burgundy wines on offer.
Another day, another adventure, on to Annecy for three nights and a chance to recharge the batteries. A coach trip to Geneva was included in our itinerary and guests also took full advantage of the beautiful Lake Annecy and surroundings in the hot sunny conditions as well as the cooling pool on site.
Suitably refreshed, we made our first inroads into Switzerland as we travelled to the capital, Bern in hot, sunny conditions and a chance to discover the city. During our stay a total of 19 from our tour party, which included three tour leaders, completed the local tradition of floating for 2km down the fast-flowing River Aare into town from our campsite along with hundreds of others. What an experience.
Onwards and upwards, or deeper into the valley in this case, to Interlaken and the lakes of Thun and Brienz, again in full sunshine and very hot conditions for five full days of serious downtime where, once again our intrepid guests did everything from lake cruising, funicular rides, cycling, bus rides and train journeys around the region including up to the viewing platform on the Jungfraujoch for spectacular scenery of the Alps with nearby Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. One brave couple even completed tandem paraglides. Incredible.
Sadly, the five nights in this region had to come to an end as we began our journey back to ‘blighty’ leaving Switzerland for a two-night stop back in France at another vibrant city, Strasbourg with more sightseeing in the heatwave.
Our final destination took us back to the Champagne region, with a full turnout at the on-site restaurant for a final meal and goodbyes before our concluding drive back to the ferry port at Calais the next day and an early afternoon channel crossing in misty but smooth conditions back into Dover after a very successful and enjoyable tour with a wonderful group of people.
Debbie and I want to thank everyone for joining us on this tour, and of course our new Tour Leaders, Rob & Chrissie Farrant who helped immensely during the tour. Our job was also made so much easier with a group of people that fully immersed themselves in their adventures and shared them with each other along the way. It was a pleasure to meet every one of you and we hope to see you on future Crossings Motorhome Tours".
The Swiss & French Alps Tour will be running again in 2026 from 15th to 30th June. At the time of writing there are two spaces left. Full details are on the website: https://www.crossingsmotorhometours.com/the-swiss-french-alps-2026
Sponsored abseil off Coventry Cathedral
Wendy and I were lucky enough to be invited to abseil off Coventry Cathedral earlier this month. We have many personal connections to Coventry and it was a fantastic experience for us, not least standing at the very top of the cathedral (before coming down the quick way).
This was all done for the Coventry Mission, a local charity that Colin and Sue are involved with. We would like to thank everyone who sponsored us. The total raised for the mission by all the participants stands at around £3000, with more money still coming in. It's not too late to add a bit more to the total if you would like. Details of the charity and the Just Giving page are here:
Thanks to Sue and Colin for the following write-up:
"A soggy Saturday in July, after weeks of glorious sunshine, was the day that Bob and Wendy took to the “ropes”. They had bravely agreed, along with seven other people in our group, to abseil down the side of Coventry Cathedral – a mere 90 ft – to support a charity that we are connected with - Coventry City Mission.
There were some anxious faces as the group waited to get roped up. First the disclaimer form had to be completed, then it was kitting up with helmets, harnesses and gloves before the group set off up the spiral staircase and out onto the roof of the Cathedral. Apparently, the views were amazing.
We were watching from the bottom as one at a time the abseilers climbed carefully over the top onto what looked like the narrowest of boards wobbling in the wind. Wendy first on rope number one followed by Bob on rope number two. Trusting in the ropes and guided by the instructors at the top the descent began. Bouncing gently off the wall they made their way down and within a minute or two they were both back on firm ground, proud of their achievement and ready to cheer on the rest of our group.
Well done both and thank you to anyone who sponsored Bob and Wendy. They raised over £500.00 which, plus gift aid, will make a huge difference to the people we support".
Coq au Van (the amusingly titled recipe feature)
Smokey Vegetable Jambalaya
Ingredients
120g/4½oz dried kidney beans, soaked overnight or 400g tin kidney beans, drained
olive oil, for frying
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp fennel seeds
150g/5½oz brown basmati rice
1 bay leaf
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 vegetable stock cubes, crumbled
750ml/26fl oz boiling water
500g/1lb 2oz mixed frozen vegetables
Method
If you’re using dried kidney beans, drain the soaked beans in a colander, rinse thoroughly, then tip into a saucepan and cover with plenty of fresh cold water. Bring to the boil and cook at a rapid boil for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1–2 hours, until soft. Drain, then set aside to cool.
Heat a splash of oil in a wide casserole over a medium-low heat and fry the onion and garlic gently for 5 minutes until soft. Add the smoked paprika, herbs and fennel seeds, fry for 30 seconds more, then stir in the rice.
Add the bay leaf, cooked (or tinned) beans, chopped tomatoes, stock cubes and boiling water and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 25 minutes.
Stir in the frozen vegetables, cover with a lid and remove from the heat. Leave to stand for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are warmed through.
Motorhoming Tips
This month's tips are about warranties. These are quite complicated but here is my take. If you are lucky enough to own a new or nearly new motorhome then you will get a warranty for the front (engine) bit from Fiat, Ford, Iveco, Mercedes, Man etc and a warranty for the back (habitation) bit from Pilote, Burstner, Rollerteam etc.
The warranty for the front bit typically lasts for 2-3 years depending on the manufacturer and usually includes breakdown cover in the UK and Europe. There are exclusions for wear and tear and you also need to keep up annual servicing with a recognised dealer (which can be expensive in itself).
The warranty on the habitation part usually lasts 2-3 years also depending on the manufacturer, but there are usually longer warranties on water ingress, which may last for up to 12 years. Again you have to keep up regular servicing in the form of habitation checks with a recognised dealer.
If you are buying older motorhomes there are warranty options that cover the front and back bits. We have found the best of these come from the dealers, who may give you a few months or up to a year. With these you take them back to the dealer to be fixed or to another specified repairer. As they sold you the van, it is in their interests to fix any problems you may have.
You can also buy "insurance-backed" warranties, where you can then take your van to any participating dealer who then claims the costs of any repairs back from the insurance company. We have had less luck with these as often the dealers don't really want to do the work and then have the hassle of claiming the money back. We would be interested to know your experience of these.
In all cases, you need to check the fine print carefully to see what is and is not covered. You must also ensure that you keep up with any servicing or habitation check schedule as failure to do so will invalidate the warranty.
Keep in touch
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Please feel free to contact us at any time. When we are away, calls will bounce to our mobiles at no expense to yourself.
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