France - 7th to 11th June

[Kwacky]

Hi Folks

This summer we're heading over to France again. You may remember Duke and I went over last June and caught up with Cookiemonster and his wife.

The plans are being finalised but roughly it's Portsmouth 9am sail with Brittany Ferries to Cherbourg. We come back on th Sunday morning via the Chunnel. You can see below what sort of route we'll be taking. It's an ongoing discussion as we look at places to visit and the roads we're on. There's no intention to spend much time on the tolls and motorways.

It's a leisurely ride, I'm not looking to do big miles each day. No where is set in stone, so if we see somewhere we like, we might stop off for a coffee and cake or spend the evening there. It's more about sight seeing and having a relaxing biking break.

This is what is proposed at present:-

Day 1 - Wednesday
Portsmouth
Cherbourg
Sees

Day 2 - Thursday
We can then head down towards Poitiers and pick up or drop off Cookie (if he's joining us) before going back over towards Orleans

Day 3 - Friday
Orleans to Nancy or Metz?

Day 4 - Saturday
Do we want to end up close to Calais so we can make an early return home on the Sunday?
Say Metez to Lille? We can run along the border by the look of the map
Depending on how we get on we can look to stop somewhere closer to the Eurotunnel.

Day 5 - Sunday
Lilles
Calais
Folkstone
Home

Once In France the proposed stops are never more than 400km away. I'm basing it on a maximum of 5 hours riding a day. That's 80kmph on average which is about right IMO

[duke63]

Ypres is a good place to stop on the last night. Its a fabulous place with much the same flavour as Bruges and loads of restaurants and bars.

[Rossgo]

I wish I could I have no more holiday left for this year
Have a great trip though guys

[kingfixer]

I will be on holiday in Croatia then, have a good time guys !!

[Cav]

I just had a look at that route... at least 1200 miles!!

That's an awful lot of backache for me haha. and fuel for that matter - At least 10 tanks of fuel

[D6Nutz]

I can't get away for 5 days, would love to come for some of the trip though. I'll have a look at a map and see if I can come up with anything.

[duke63]

Still ok for this Kwacky? I think the balance is due for the ferry soon and the trip is only 2 months away now

[Kwacky]

Yes mate. Holiday booked at work. Ferry deposit paid. Bring it on!

[baaluo]

Well, that looks like a hell of a vacation, a long road to ride. Have fun mate

[Kwacky]

This has come around quickly.

I've printed off the usual documents - insurance, medial insurance and ferry ticket
I've put a GB sticker on the top box, which should fall off during my tour
Medical kit, puncture repair kit and hi viz vest found and stashed in the top box
Euros bought
Passport and driver's licence located

I'll pack this weekend.

Fingers crossed for good weather.

[Blade]

Sticker a Brexit sticker on the panniers and Montys phone number and you should be good to go

Have fun and stay safe hope the weather is kind to you and say hello to the cookie clan

Have a good one.

[Rossgo]

Wow this is coming quickly I remember when you first post this thread!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[C00kiemonster]

Sticker a Brexit sticker on the panniers and Montys phone number and you should be good to go

Have fun and stay safe hope the weather is kind to you and say hello to the cookie clan

Have a good one.

Hello

Looks like weather should be warm, but maybe humid. I'm riding up to meet the fellas at their first destination - Sees and with them for a couple of nights..

Good weather, no traffic, good roads, good company - whats not to like (apart from the French)

[Blade]

Haha. Nice one Cookie.

Have fun boys

[Kwacky]

I'm hoping the weather in France is better than the crap we're being served in Blighty at present.

[C00kiemonster]

La météo est bonne ici

[Kwacky]

I see the evening Ferry has been cancelled. The weather for tomorrow looks loads better.

[Kwacky]

I've just had a text to say that our ferry tomorrow has been cancelled.

[Kwacky]

Duke and Brittany Ferries have sorted it. Poole sailing, getting in slightly later. It's the one I did last year. An early start tomorrow but it'll be worth it.

[C00kiemonster]

Duke and Brittany Ferries have sorted it. Poole sailing, getting in slightly later. It's the one I did last year. An early start tomorrow but it'll be worth it.