A couple whose campervan got stuck in a narrow lane in the west of the country during a six-hour “nightmare” apologized to the people they detained.
Stan Markland and Norie Williams, from Hayling Island in Hampshire, were staying at a campsite in St Austell, Cornwall, when they left early Saturday July 3 to get home on time.
Using a Caravan Club GPS which Stan said was supposed to take into account the width of the vehicle, the couple left the campsite and took what they believed to be the same road they had arrived on.
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But, as Cornwall Live explains, Stan quickly realized something was wrong.
“Once we got on that road we were on our way,” he said, “We took a wrong turn and that’s it. We couldn’t see anyone or a warning saying no RVs.
The 3.5-ton motorhome came to rest in a narrow lane around 10 a.m., leaving the vehicle stuck.
Stan continued, “We couldn’t go forward or backward, and every time I wanted to go forward I would slip.
“I have been driving motorhomes for years, I am 72 years old and have never had a problem.
Fortunately, the couple were helped by onlookers – locals, other tourists – including cyclists who Stan and Norie said helped move large boulders that allowed them to turn around.
Stan added, “It was a nightmare. But the people were good and the locals were lovely, kept checking to see if everything was okay.
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“The cyclists helped us, the van is front wheel drive, it would not go up the hill because it was wet and greasy. I couldn’t reverse it either. They helped me back down to the beach. Then they started to move these huge rocks.
Others, Norie said, knocked on the van to make sure they were okay, as they sometimes got stuck inside.
Norie described the ordeal as incredibly stressful and added her thanks and apologies to everyone who was there: “We are so sorry to all of the people who had to walk far and find an alternate route to the beach.
“We really didn’t see any warnings and signs on the roads. We were trying to get home.
After being stuck there for about six hours, the couple were helped by a Green Flag recovery vehicle and the National Trust – whose four-by-four vehicle towed them to freedom.
Stan and Norie said they were incredibly grateful to everyone who helped and checked them out and asked if anyone knew the group of riders to contact.
If you know them, contact Cornwall Live – and we’ll pass them on to the now very grateful couple.
Despite the mishap, Stan said it didn’t deter them from Cornwall. However, he said, they won’t rush the RV back down.
“We love Cornwall, we have visited beautiful places,” he said. “We’re home and dry now, fixing a few dents on the motorhome.
“We’re a little worried about going back down. Next time we will go to a campsite on a wide road and take everything from there by bus.
He further said it seemed the area was notorious and even the National Trust driver told him he had had issues there before with a stuck trailer.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-07 18:52:55
