France 15/8/22 - Solo trip

[Britishbeefy]

Day 1

Adding some Carolina Reaper chilli flakes to my meatballs the previous evening was not my finest move. I awoke at around 5:45 to a herd of mating hippos trying to escape the brewing eruption in my belly

…….and realise staying in bed another 45 mins is delaying the inevitable and likely to induce an elbow to the ribs.
15 mins in the bathroom is time well spent and a peppermint infusion should make sure the decks are cleared for the 240 mile slog to Dover.
I’m aware this was always going to be the point where I resented not shelling the extra for a cosy cabin on a western channel crossing. £400 instead of £8 (after £20 clubcard) is a price worth paying…..I think. Anyway, those mindfulness sessions might work as I put my head in the moment and butter a slice of toast.
Bike packed by 7am, don’t need to leave until 8 so I get a chance to walk the 4 month old puppy before abandoning him to my daughter’s safe care. Let’s hope the shark on a rope version of him keeps his head down and the teething is sorted soon.

Electrics hooked up, step over the bike, (I’ve raised the seat for this one….trying to get the balance between knee angle relief and feet on the floor at standstill right) and away to go.
And……as expected, a bit of rain to send me off, and 18C. The waterproof gear is on…won’t get hot will it ?


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[Britishbeefy]

Join the M4 at Newport and the miles begin.

Quick pit stop at Maidstone services to fuel me and the GS, salted caramel twix and a caffeine free coke….living the dream.

Arrived at Dover and jumped the cars who were so intent on following each other that they couldn’t see the lady waving from a free kiosk. Unfortunately there was an error with my ticket so had to go to Irish Ferries office. The freight boys were blocking the queue and a lovely lady spotted I was a tourist, and on a motorbike so called me through and got me on the early ferry as the last vehicle. Bonus! The ramp was being lifted as I got off the bike!

Up to the bar, the ferry seems quiet…….which is useful as I suspect I whiff a bit. I left at 18C and a shower but transited the M25 at 29C plus.

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[Britishbeefy]

Super quiet.

Didn’t have a chance to think about whether the bike was ratcheted down ok, I was ushered up onto deck super quickly.

Getting this earlier ferry means I’ll probably get to my pre-paid Ibis Styles earlier than I wanted to……but does mean I can take the non toll route and have a look around on route.
Trying to remember the last time I took a motorbike on a ferry. As a family we did the train several times a year with our motorhome, last time was Aug 2020 in that window between Covid. Can’t remember taking the bike for many a year. Might even be over 10 years……when me and my mate rode to Ukraine and about.
I don’t think my memory is what it was, not sure….can’t remember.


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[walkingpictures]

Have a great trip,looking forward to the next installment

Kimbo

 

[Britishbeefy]

Have a great trip,looking forward to the next installment

Kimbo

Cheers. This first bit always feels a rush, even when you’re ahead of time there’s always a chance of an early ferry so you rush for that

Straight through French immigration no queues at all…….don’t know what people were whinging about.

Hilarious watching a couple of cars in the freight lane on the M20……..you could see it in their eyes…..’I don’t think I should be in here’


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[Britishbeefy]

France!

Like I said, almost 2 years since I’ve been this side of the water, way too long.
250km to my gaff for this evening just south of Rouen. Says approx 3hr on the nav.
I’ve got my Mango tag to try but given the earlier crossing I’m not sure I’ll bother today. Non toll roads are always a favourite, particularly when we travel in the motorhome. Ummm, decisions.

Talking of decisions, the Ibis has its own Bistro so I’m already thinking……do I do that, or do I go fully native and grab Le Big Mac avec frites?

Always like seeing Wally Beaucamp on trips.


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[Britishbeefy]

Travelling as a family we always comment on an Aire de Parc Bench when we see the sign. Had to stop at one to send a photo back to home.

Talking of which……those little moments of homesickness when travelling alone are back. Last time I left the family, apart from a few days for work, was Feb 2020. There was plenty to keep me occupied on that trip, Vietnam was getting very edgy by the time I arrived and within 10 days I was having to make a rush for the airport as Johnny Foreigner was starting to be treated as if they’d got the plague or something!


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[barak666]

France!

Like I said, almost 2 years since I’ve been this side of the water, way too long.
250km to my gaff for this evening just south of Rouen. Says approx 3hr on the nav.
I’ve got my Mango tag to try but given the earlier crossing I’m not sure I’ll bother today. Non toll roads are always a favourite, particularly when we travel in the motorhome. Ummm, decisions.

Talking of decisions, the Ibis has its own Bistro so I’m already thinking……do I do that, or do I go fully native and grab Le Big Mac avec frites?

Always like seeing Wally Beaucamp on trips.


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Have a great trip - hope you have more luck with the Mango tag than I did!

 

[wessie]

If you are going full native then I believe the French Taco is now the meal du jour although if you are in the Ibis styles I think you are in, Rouen Val-de-Reuil, then not one nearby. Seems to be a pub across the road, which is a good job as Ibis quite often don't bother opening their restaurants...

 

[leadfarmer]

A lot of places will be closed today as it’s a bank holiday, “Assomption”

Also, in a lot of towns, many of the restaurants are closed on Mondays anyway

Apart from that, have a good trip

 

[Britishbeefy]

Nearly went around the block for the hell of it.

On another note……the Mango tag worked flawlessly when I strayed onto a toll bit. It’s like magic!


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[Britishbeefy]

A lot of places will be closed today as it’s a bank holiday, “Assomption”

Also, in a lot of towns, many of the restaurants are closed on Mondays anyway

Apart from that, have a good trip

Ahhhhhh that’ll explain the even more deserted villages I rode through then. Cheers.

Yes, the Bistro geezer at this Ibis has gone away on holidays for 3 weeks so it is closed.
I’ll go and see what’s open.

Cheers.


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[Britishbeefy]

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[wessie]

Nothing like experiencing some native cuisine.

 

[Britishbeefy]

Ibis Styles has even got usb sockets, which is useful as this person forgot one of his many plug adapters.

As well as that the a/c seems quite effective, I’m sure this is safe right?

The Seine didn’t look short of water when I crossed it, 3 times, around Rouen. I thought I’d find out why…..it seems it is kept flowing by 4 lakes, unlike the Loire (which is pretty desperate in places).

https://www.sortiraparis.com/news/i...fer-from-the-drought-unlike-the-loire/lang/en


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[Britishbeefy]

Nothing like experiencing some native cuisine.

Exactly…….and that’s nothing…..etc.

I’ve done a couple of BKs in the Uk in recent months, admittedly m-way services. Have to say this beat them…….quality, temperature and must have had double the fries!

Will try and find some force fed liver tomorrow…….or maybe not.


Now……which channel?

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[Britishbeefy]

Tuesday

Breakfast was painful, ride weary backside making sitting hard work and the fear of another 300 miles ahead was daunting….but the food itself was fantastic.
I still don’t know how pain au chocolate can be so much better in France, do they put ingredients in it that are banned in the UK?
Fresh fruit salad, cheeses, meats, baguette…….fruit juices……no wonder my backside is getting a workout.

The forecast was for wet on departure but it never happened. In fact all I got was a few spots along the way for 5 mins, not enough to dampen the speed down from 130 to 110.
I stopped in Orleans to have a look at the Loire, well I say stopped…….I rode over the Loire and stopped alongside it’s little brother. The big one was definitely low with either algae or weed meaning not a lot of clear water.

A mix of autoroute and minor roads was the order today. The villages all look like ‘I’ve been here before’, which I might well have, and very quiet. Couple of 2CVs in action and one Renault 4………also a 205 Cab, they’re starting to fall into the same interest bracket for me now.

Had some fun on the toll, feeling confident after yesterday I rocked up and…….nothing. I even got the tag out and waved at things but it wasn’t having it. Pushed the bike back and tried to get a ticket, but they didn’t work either…….had I approached too quickly for the sensors?
Anyway tried the one next to it and the barrier went straight up. Pushing a loaded GS backwards, in 28C, with the locals bearing down on you……not much fun.

Went through a town called Commentry, not got much to say about that.


Not many photos as I was keen to get to my lake side accomo before it rained, which it did within 20 mins of arrival.

My cousin and his mate have had the most ridiculous day. He was driving from his place to Orleans to collect his fixed T6, water pump broke on the way down last week. Was told don’t get there early as it won’t be ready until 5:30pm. Anyway, it’s not going to be ready until tomorrow………so they’re now heading in my direction for a beer and staying here the night before heading back to Orleans tomorrow.

I fear no beer, as the t-shirt says, but have a feeling one or two might get drunk tonight.


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[Britishbeefy]

The in-laws have got a Welsh Terrier, which I’m sure this isn’t…..but whatever.


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[Britishbeefy]

Classic Intermarche lunch.


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[Britishbeefy]

I’ve tried to capture the ambience from my hotel room……I think the net curtain has a certain something, it really adds to it.


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