Hook up and leave at 2am or not

Its many years now since we drove all night and day but we were younger then.

We used to set out early evening from north Germany heading for the channel ports of Calais or Dunkirk. OH did the driving the 2 boys were in the back  mostly sleeping and I would nap now and again. Once at the port we left the boys asleep and OH would grab a coffee. Once on board we had to wake the boys up but they had a good 6 hours so were ok. 

A drink and something to eat then it was usually time to get back in the car and start to drive up to Scotland. Stopping every couple of hours for drinks food and toilets. OH managed all the driving with no ill effects.

Those were the days, would not even consider it now a days, we stop overnight twice now when going to the channel ports. Our son on the other hand will do Tidworth to Perth in one go, stop overnight then go back down again the next day. He does this when he collects his 2 children from boarding school. Sometimes its his wife that collects the children, she usually stops for a couple of days though before going back.

We try to stick to 200 - 250 miles sometimes a little more if going to the ports.

Its what you are used to, if you are a long distance driver as your job, then not an issue but if you are not used to doing long distance driving and especially at night towing then don't do lit. 

What a reassuring thread this is. We all do something slightly different, the changes more notable as we get older and have more time on our hands. One common point though stands out though, and that is what we are happy and feel safe to do governs how we travel.

 

Colin

I guess you just need to plan what you do arriving into Cornwall early. There will be plenty of lay-by options on the A30 to pass a few hours or maybe less if travelling to a site in the far west? 

Personally I never sleep properly before commencing a middle of the night journey so would always opt for an overnight stay near the destination rather than drive tired and arrive knackered. Also, the world can seem an inhospitable place at 3am if you have any problems especially motorway services - personal choice.

Personally i think it is dangerous to drive long hours without a break, when living in Scotland we regularly used to drive to Rooksbury park 12 hours towing the van, but we used to stop at Tebay services grab a nights kip and then continue, i once did it solo in the Discovery but vowed never again, grabbing a cat nap doing 70mph is not my idea of fun, but i was much younger, now 5-6 hours is more than enough for me. When the children were young we would always leave at some ungodly hour because they were too excited to sleep, now we are in no rush so now we just chill leave whenever, arrive whenever, as for leaving the caravan hooked up, we have left our van hooked up in worst places than on our drive, Tebay services for one, to get a meal in the restaurant even when it has been the Appleby Horsefair, 

Tebay campsite looked very much like it was still there a few weeks ago...only called in at the services though so not 100% sure

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Most of us will have done a similar trip at some stage and we’ve all experienced those “unusual” feelings as our bodies rebel at the lack of sleep and adrenaline fuelled journeys only adding to the excitement of the forthcoming holiday.

The only flaw in setting off so early is your arrival time in Cornwall and we’ve all read the posts about those who turn up early at sites! 🤬

You don’t mention which day of the week you intend to travel but I would certainly avoid Fridays and Saturdays (for obvious reasons) if you can.

I’m lucky to just jump in the car and turn the key with everything ready but have previously attached the caravan with hitchlock and wheelock in place, a practice which continues whenever  we stop at service areas.

 

We've been to Hayle in Cornwall for the past 5 years and we usually set off around 2am. Its so much better traffic wise. We arrive near to our destination around 9am & sometimes they let us check in (if our pitch is free) on other times we find a lay by close to site have a brew and I generally get a few hours sleep. 

That said this year we couldn't leave home (Manchester) until 6:30am and we sailed down the M6, M5 & A30. At no time did we slow down lower than 50mph. Same coming back, but we went and came back on the Sunday.