Calais-Milau-Monaco and back

[longjohn]

Hi me and two friends are off round France crossing over late on the 22nd Aug, we will be travelling to see a friend near Challans and then plan to visit Bordeaux onto Millau then across into Monaco and surrounding area, heading back up for the crossing back on the 1st Sept.

Any one know of some nice stop off's we could take in along the way, we prefer to travel on minor back roads for scenery and exploring.

We normally just find hotels along the way.

All replies greatly appreciated.

John

 

[Wapping]

we prefer to travel on minor back roads for scenery and exploring.... We normally just find hotels along the way.

Then we (you and your two friends) should between you:

1. Splash out on a decent map or three or you'll get lost on the minor back roads, that's almost certain.

2. Be able to work something out.

The journey you are undertaking is over 1000 miles, just to get there and a not disimilar distance back. You are asking for 'nice stop-offs' (I guess you mean thigs to see as opposed to cafe's to have a coffee in) but don't know quite where you'll be at any one moment as you are seat-of- the-pants explorers without a hotel.

I can recommend the standing stones at Carnac. They don't do much but..... If you can't make it to see them this time, don't worry. They have been there for thousands of years and probably won't vanish before next Tuesday.

PS Somebody is bound to suggest Oradour-sur-Glane. To save them the trouble..... Someone else will suggest the battle fieds of the Somme and no doubt the national French motor museum at Mulhouse and the restored walls of Carcassonne. Buy Michelin's Green Guide to France (national or regional) and ask a friend to read it.

 

[longjohn]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Hman]

Carcassonne................... well worth a visit.






Hman

 

[Wapping]

Told you so

 

[Gorilla GS]

If you're in Bordeaux and like good wine, visit St Emilion

 

[Simon W]

That's a very, very long loop to cram into that time frame without using a substantial dose of Autoroute... sounds more like two trips crammed into one.

However, I'd definitely recommend Riders Rest as a stop off on the outward leg - www.ridersrest.eu It's about two-thirds of the way to Bordeaux, so one long or two interesting days on back roads. It's an easy day's ride direct to Millau from there, too. Whichever way you plan to go from there, Tony who runs it will doubtless be able to give good route advice

 

[Wapping]

That's a very, very long loop to cram into that time frame without using a substantial dose of Autoroute... sounds more like two trips crammed into one.

Hang around a while, you'll get used to similar ideas from bods..... and often just as vague.

It's doable in the time.....only depending on quite how many miles and hours (over the 1000 or so miles to be ridden on the way down) he wants to spend involved in....

we prefer to travel on minor back roads for scenery and exploring.

Only he and his two mates know the answer to that one

 

[Wapping]

In a moment of abject boredom just now, I asked Google to map it out avoiding highways and tolls. I wasn't far out at over 1000 miles.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sadd...naco&gl=uk&dirflg=ht&doflg=ptm&mra=ls&t=m&z=6

....France crossing over late on the 22nd Aug, we will be travelling to see a friend near Challans and then plan to visit Bordeaux onto Millau then across into Monaco and surrounding area, heading back up for the crossing back on the 1st Sept.

He doesn't say what time his crossing is back on the 1st.

Either way, let's look at what it's invoved.

Day one is really 23 August, as the crossing over is not until late on the 22nd. The last day is 01 September, let's assume late afternoon or early evening. That gives near enough 10 full days days.

Subtract half a day (maybe just an overnight stop?) to see the chum in Challons = 9.5

A day to visit Bordeaux = 8.5 days

A day tooling about in Monacco = 7.5 days

You can get from Monacco to Calais in a day if you motorway it. Let's say two if you don't use too much motorway but do avoid going down every single minor road over the 800 or more miles = 5.5 days left.

So that is 5.5 days to do the 1,100 miles of the OP's route Calais > Challons > Bordeaux > Monacco.

That is two hundred miles a day average.... on, what did he call them.... ah yes,

we prefer to travel on minor back roads for scenery and exploring.

Can it be done? Well anything is possible, it all depends on quite what you have in mind.

Any one know of some nice stop off's we could take in along the way,

... Well, yes, of course we do. But just how much time have you got to spend 'stopping off' if you intend to average two hundred miles a day for five and a half days on minor back roads, wondering at the scenery and exploring?

That's what you need to ask yourself.

 

[longjohn]

Hi thanks for all the input,

Looks like after seeing our mate we will be heading off for a night at the bikers rest well worth checking out and then onto Carcassonne which looks magnificent,

 

[Wapping]

All thought of Millau and Monaco gone out of the window?

Sensibly, you can 'do Millau' on the way back home to Calais. There are some good roads to take you from Carcassonne to Millau and then from there up to Calais.

 

[longjohn]

Millau and Monaco are still on for definitely, Monaco is the point we will start heading back up.

We are looking forward to riding some of the coast roads around Monaco.

 

[bimota]

Hi,
if your anywhere between LIMOGES and POITIERS, and you need a bike place to stay my 2 mates have a great bike tour place check there site out you,ll keep going back.

www.motobreaks.com great accomation bar food.

rob

 

[Roberto]

..Monaco are still on for definitely..

In case you have the urge, keep in mind you can't ride your bike up to the Casino in Monaco.

No motos.

 

[Steptoe]

and then onto Carcassonne which looks magnificent,

It's not that magnificent.
In fact i wou.............. No, find out for yourself, it's what makes a memorable holiday.

We are looking forward to riding some of the coast roads around Monaco.

As does most of france during august. Mind you, it won't take long.

 

[Wapping]

We are looking forward to riding some of the coast roads around Monaco.

The coast road (Corniche) is shite. Bounded on one side by the Mediterranean and the other by houses.

Head off up into the hills, with the sea well behind you.

Bod’s fascination with Monaco is hard to fathom sometimes. Expensive and dull…. Unless you have a lot of money.

 

[Wapping]

It's not that magnificent.
In fact i wou..............

It's awesome

 

[earthmover]

Try this:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283430&highlight=barcelona

and this:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204090&highlight=como


Mark

 

[longjohn]

Thanks everyone for all the info and help.

Looks like great trips you had Mark.

John

 

[longjohn]

Hi here is the route we eventually did stopping at the riders rest, missing all Motorway and toll roads whilst in Europe, great trip with stunning roads and scenery, thanks for the help.