Pariahs

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We have just left Ikea Mecia today after a couple of nights,  proper camperstop but just a carpark with dump and fresh water facilities. There were mh there who clearly had been there longer than the prescribed 48 hours, we witnessed dumping of grey waste down the drains rather than moving the mh to the service point. 

Not everyone who uses “free” stops abuse the area, we only stop where its a proper aire payable or free, or sometimes a campsite if we cannot find a suitable camper stop. If we are on a free aire with no facilities we stop no longer than 3 days as we need to dump our waste so check in at another camper stop with facilities. 

There are alot of freeloading dirty people out there we witnessed dumping of toilet cassettes in the hedge near malaga beach last year as we sat having lunch in the carpark which clearly said no onernight parking  but were not all the same

in one day, today, we've stopped at several places...

Alvor, just parked on the street (loads of room) and walked down to the beach area...huge free car park with very many MHs there....I have no idea what services are there, but if I wanted to overnight there, I'd ask around...

are we pariahs?

Moved up the road to Albufeira, huge Lidl car park with dedicated MH parking spaces and large 'welcome' notice....parked up, then explored beach area on foot and had lunch on the seafront...walked back through the old town, bought a sweater for our GD, then back up to Lidl and did our shopping there, before moving on..

are we pariahs?

we were heading for Tavira but decided to check out Olhâo...again, first port of call good old Lidl....4 camper places......parked up, then set off to explore the town, came across a MH parking area....large sign Campers Welcome 24 hrs gratis. decided the town was worth further exploration and this would be a better spot to overnight than Lidl....(but thank you Lidl, you have the right approach) so we moved the van and are parked up for tonight....breakfast on the prom in the morning..

are we pariahs?

now, we haven't use a campsite (nor will we tomorrow at Tavira) so are we freeloaders as we are not paying for our overnighting, nor spending it on a dedicated campsites?

OTOH, we've spent around €70 today in the local community which probably wouldn't have happened if we couldn't have found the convenient parking that's so gratefully provided.

the camper stop here has possibly 70 vans, spread over 4 seperate parking 'sections', so doesn't feel too crowded....there are a large number of French vans here and I'll wager many owners will be in town (only 300m) tonight for dinner, so the bars and restaurants will do very well.

are they pariahs?

We had a great night at Stratford. No HGVs, brilliant dog walk, quiet. Mind you, it was November, so dark when we pulled in after 10pm. We just slept, up at 8pm, had a wash, walked dogs and drove down to Evesham Country Park for a lovely breakfast. Few years ago now. 

I think you’re missing the point slightly BB. No one is saying stopping the odd night and behaving appropriately is wrong. It’s when a small minority pitches up in an inappropriate place, stays for days on end, doesn’t dump waste as they should and is not spending much in the local vicinity. It’s a different culture, a different form of governance over on continent than in the UK. So no you’re not anything like a pariah. But the ones we saw at Mounts Bay were certainly borderline. Let’s just say I have seen cleaner and more polite Travellers. 

I agree with your overall point, but there are some (certainly on CT) who think MHs should only park in council licensed premises....

..and for someone to say an unspoiled spot is spoiled the minute a MH turns up would be a bit hypocritical if they enjoyed that same spot by driving up and parking there in their car...

perhaps im not looking in the right (wrong) places but, despite using many a car park, I can't say Ive ever seen anyone dumping their toilet in a hedge or anywhere else nasty...

i spoke to a guy in Benicassim a couple of years ago who had a 'prime spot' on the prom and was there for many days....I asked him about this very subject and he said that he just drove up to the aire (2km) and emptied there...

perhaps he was a good freeloader?

im sure you're right and there are certainly some pretty foul folk around, it's just that perhaps I'm not 'wild' enough to see this behaviour.

like many areas, the few will likely kill it for the many....

The only place we have ever Wildcamped is on the Northwest coast of Mull opposite Ulva and it WAS idyllic, but we only stayed one night and no, we left no trace at all of us being there. My wife is not comfortable Wildcamping but me, I love it, but only in remote places with no other choice. And providing no waste is left behind and no damage done I dont see any problem....Pariahs only if they damage or  defile the place they are staying.