France for a novice

[tommyboy]

Got a week off starting this weekend and have decided to try a bit of touring in france I was going to finish decorating the house, laying decking but feck it.
Now although I have travelled around the world it has always been via airlines, trains and charabanc so I would like some help please in planning a trip
I have got a green card, medical cover and breakdown cover but I dont have any idea where to go?
My bike is a 1150 GSA with Mrs Tommyboy on the back, happy to ride for 5 hours a day.
I would like to catch the ferry out this sunday and get home (suffolk) next saturday.
Was thinking of Formula 1 and similiar for accomodation.
Any suggestions for where to visit? I would love to see some spectacular mountain passes but not sure if I will have time in my 5/6 day jaunt.
Cheers,
Tom

 

[Annette]

Tommyboy wherever you go, you'll have a great time. Loads of people will be along in a minute with lots of routes to ride on. With regards to hotels if you want something a little more luxurious than Formule 1 try B&B hotels they are much nicer.

 

[tommyboy]

Bollix I put it in the wrong bit
Mods please plonk it in the right place, ta muchly

 

[Wapping]

OK

You want to go for, for the first time, for a week and you live in Suffolk.

The logical place to start from is Calais, which will lead you to the eastern side of France.

You can do some great roads, down to and including the Route Napoleon, the Milllau bridge, at least one of the very big gorges and back, mostly on National (N) or country (D) roads without too much difficulty. You can also stay in hotels far more adventurous than F1.

PM me for details.

PS One word of caution. Five hours a day, if you split it two and a half hours either side of lunch, if you then bugger about and stop to take pictures or have a pee every five minutes, will get you nowhere in rural France. It's a bloody big country. If you think 250 miles in a day is a long way in England, it's just as far in France.

The suggested routes I can give you will take most of a day, but with (I promise) a decent lunch stop and a break mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Starting at about 09:00 and finishing at about 17:00. However, they do not allow for poncing about.

 

[tommyboy]

Thanks Wapping, have sent you a pm

 

[Wapping]

Thanks Wapping, have sent you a pm

Have PM'd you back.

Just noticed that you are going this weekend.... That's the way to do it.... Plan on Friday.....

Seriously, you will have a great time....

 

[tommyboy]

This is the plan so far

Sunday travel to Dover B&B
Monday 6am Ferry; Calais to Maisons Chaource
Tues; Maisons Chaource to St Seine
Weds; St Seine to Dignes l Baines
Thurs; Scenic loop around Dignes l Baines
Fri; Dignes l Baines to St Seine
Sat; St Seine to Calais 6pm ferry

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Wapping]

This is the plan so far

Sunday travel to Dover B&B
Monday 6am Ferry; Calais to Maisons Chaource
Tues; Maisons Chaource to St Seine
Weds; St Seine to Dignes l Baines
Thurs; Scenic loop around Dignes l Baines
Fri; Dignes l Baines to St Seine
Sat; St Seine to Calais 6pm ferry

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Tom

Looks good to me....

 

[Greg Masters]

Drive on the right.

Do NOT forget (after a fuel stop, a lunch stop, anytime)!!

Have a great trip.

Greg

 

[tommyboy]

Looks good to me....

Cheers Richard, can't imagine how I came to decide on that route can you?

Thanks for all your help

 

[tommyboy]

Drive on the right.

Do NOT forget (after a fuel stop, a lunch stop, anytime)!!

Have a great trip.

Greg

This is one of my greatest fears! I have done this while driving in Germany a long long time ago but I can still remember the fear on my passengers face

 

[Wapping]

Cheers Richard, can't imagine how I came to decide on that route can you?

Thanks for all your help

No problems.

I have sent you an alternative as well.

Have fun.

 

[tommyboy]

Cheers Richard,

Just looked at the alternative and going to go with that as it is shorter days and also I can build a day off the bike into it, both of which may save my marriage on my first trip abroad on a bike

Cheers,
Tom

 

[franco]

Enjoy

Get petrol on Saturday, a lot of French town have only automatic service on Sunday and they don't all accept UK cards. If you arrive in any town, even villages, most have a tourist office with a list of accomodation available. I rarely book anything in advance, and simply see what's available when I get there. If they have absolutely nothing (only happened to me once, in August), go onto the next place.
Bon route.../Rob

 

[tommyboy]

Thanks for the advice Rob

 

[richie]

and stay in "chambres d'Hote" much better than formule1...

Bon Vacance

 

[franco]

de rien

No probs. Weather looks iffy up north, but by the time you get to Dignes, it should be scorchio. What's the scenic loop ye've got planned round there? Route Napoleon to Castellane, then round the Gorges du Verdon?

 

[Greg Masters]

and stay in "chambres d'Hote" much better than formule1...

... and don't bother to search out the local Hôtel de Ville.

Very few will offer a room/bed to English tourists.



Greg

 

[Fanum]

Tom....when you call round for the Topbox this afternoon, remind me to give you a pamphlet on 'premiere classe' hotels.

They're very similar to the F1s, but the next step up ......shower in room rather than along the corridor for example, and most have free wifi in the rooms

They're still 24 hour/turn up and use the console by the front door places but if your Franglais is up to it, the phone numbers are there as well.

I might well have an f1 booklet downstairs as well...just remind me

Bill

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Formule 1 are fine if it's late in the day and you need somewhere clean and cheap to stay the night. Many are located out of town on industrial estates but will have a shopping mall within walking distance (to get something to eat). We like them but they are very basic. The B&Bs however are quite a bit better and with more character.

Personally with only a week in France, I'd head for Normandy and Britany, or even the Loire Valley. What about a lap or two of the Le Mans circuit ?(OK, 3/4 of a lap). Britany is much like Cornwall.