Wapping
Brenchleyhibs
Kev B
Paula
Hare About
Wilburt (double)
alleycam
I have created a route based on the jaunt we made in July.
Notes:
(1) I plan to be at the Chunnel in good time before departure and have a coffee in the 'Travellers experience' thing. I have taken up parking in the dedicated bike parking area. Take a bit of care when parking as some of your fellow bikers are sometimes not the brightest shillings in the box, doing their best to block earlier arrivals in.
(2) As we are on a later than usual crossing it's hard to find somewhere for lunch. I suggest we bring a sandwich to either scoff on the train or when we stop for a coffee, probably in Albert in the mid to late afternoon.
(3) Loading of the train has become a real lottery of late. I have therefore routed us into the fuel station straight after leaving the train, just to gather ourselves up. If by chance you / we are on a freight train there is a chance the exit arrow on arrival in France directs you left not right at the top of the ramp. IGNORE the arrow, turn right. The left turn arrow is the usual freight route, past the giant lorry fuel depot. It's a real bitch to get back, particularly if others are at the other fuel station waiting.
(4) We have a stretch of motorway from Calais to junction 8 at Cambrai, about 45 minutes. It costs a few euro.
(5) Fuel. Please can everyone get on the train with a full tank.
Calais to St Quentin is about 120 miles. Please can we all top-up again on arrival in St Q, ready for the next morning's departure. Here's why:
(A) Fuel on the next day is a bit few thin on the ground before we get to St Valerie, 140 miles away. So, unless your bike can do 260 miles comfortably, you ain't going to make it all the way from Calais. If it can, great.
(B) My bike and Paula's will do about 160 miles before expiring. As I would like to have more than 20 miles leeway in case of problems, she and I can splash some in at Peronne on the Sunday too, which will give us maybe 60 miles spare.
There is lots of fuel at St Valerie and again on the short run of motorway to skip out Boulogne.
(6) Sunday: Sunday's total mileage back to Calais is about 220 miles, so a decent day's schlep. If we can get going at 09:00 wheels rolling, that would be great. Lunch is another tricky one, as the return route does not throw up any obvious stops. Last time I nipped out and bought everyone a baguette, which we eat at Picquiny, which worked fine. I suggest we do the same this time.
(7) We have six bikes, which is somewhere between running the marker 'drop-off' system or not. I think we might as well do it as it keeps everyone together. We got broken up in July; no great problem but we probably lost an hour whilst we regathered.
(8) I will PM everyone my mobile number.
Richard