France May 2009

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The ticket is fixed for departures BUT they will allow you back anytime within 2 hours of your planned return time.

So 16:20 to 20:20 from your current schedule will be free.
 
The ticket is fixed for departures BUT they will allow you back anytime within 2 hours of your planned return time.

So 16:20 to 20:20 from your current schedule will be free.

Thanks for that. :thumb2

I think though the same 'one day' ticket also lasts 24 hours, so the return could be made on the Sunday. It's that what I need to check.
 
Four day jaunt

FOUR DAY JAUNT

I have had a look at the advance booking prices for the end of May 2009. They look pretty good and, I think, worth booking now.

Out Friday 22 May 08:20 train

Back Monday 25 May 17:20 train

Total cost £66 for a fixed times ticket. The more flexible ticket is about £96, so even if you had to pay a surcharge (they often don't bother) to change the return train you still have about £30 to play with.

I am going to book my tickets at least. I will also contact the two hotels to reserve, say, four twin rooms. That is more that we might need but I can always cancel some in the early spring. I would still like to have six bikes on the jaunt, but could stretch to eight at a push.

As I said, I will do the routes in Garmin. If anyone has a TomTom or something else, please let me know. I will ask if some kind Tosser can convert the files for you.

Richard
 
La Coupole is well worth a visit, but allow yourself at least 3 hours to do it justice. Linky HERE. Fascinating place - ironically not 1 rocket was fired from there, as I think the war finished before it was fully operational.

Thanks for that. :thumb2

I have never been, albeit I must havve ridden past well over 100 times.

Richard
 
FOUR DAY JAUNT

I have had a look at the advance booking prices for the end of May 2009. They look pretty good and, I think, worth booking now.

Out Friday 22 May 08:20 train

Back Monday 25 May 17:20 train

Thanks I will get my train(s) booked at the weekend.

Nigel
 
Hi wapping,
Am very interested in the trips but have to wait until the end of Jan09 before i can confirm. It would be 2 of us coming,my wife on pillion.
If you get fully booked up then so be it,will keep an eye on the thread
Regards
Martin
 
Thanks for that. :thumb2

I think though the same 'one day' ticket also lasts 24 hours, so the return could be made on the Sunday. It's that what I need to check.

If you look at sales of the same "bargain ticket" for Sunday .. most return time slots already sold out. Only Midday thing left.
 
ONE DAY JAUNT -

ONE DAY JAUNT - 25th APRIL 2009

I have rechecked with Eurotunnel. Whilst the one day ticket is certainly valid for 24 hours, the Sunday trains are all but full, so you are not guaranteed to be able to get on.

I will be going there and back on the same day, Saturday 25/4.

I have done some work on a route. It will be about 150 miles, in a broad circle, starting and finishing in Calais. We will have plenty of time for a coffee stop and lunch back on the coast.

Richard
 
Four day jaunt

FOUR DAY JAUNT - 22-25 May 2009

I have booked my tickets.

£66 return.

Out 08:20 - 22nd May

Back 17:20 - 25th May

---

I have contacted the two hotels, now only waiting to hear.

Richard
 
ONE DAY JAUNT - 25th APRIL 2009

I have rechecked with Eurotunnel. Whilst the one day ticket is certainly valid for 24 hours, the Sunday trains are all but full, so you are not guaranteed to be able to get on.

I will be going there and back on the same day, Saturday 25/4.

I have done some work on a route. It will be about 150 miles, in a broad circle, starting and finishing in Calais. We will have plenty of time for a coffee stop and lunch back on the coast.

Richard

Thanks Richard - looking forward to meeting you all :beerjug:
 
Is this trip closed to new people, namely me? i.e. Do you have enough already?
 
Is this trip closed to new people, namely me? i.e. Do you have enough already?

Great... I am more than happy.

I will do a quick headcount to see who I think is where.

I would be happy to take as many as want to come. The only real restriction is on the hotel rooms I can get in smallish private hotels....and having half an eye on the idea that this is a tour for people who have not done so much (or any) riding abroad.
 
Right, bookings made as follows:

Out:25/4 @ 08.20 back @ 18.20

Out: 22/5 @ 08.20

Back: 25/5 @ 17.20

Online booking still out of action so spoke to a human being (which was nice).

Two bods each trip (with Mrs ChasMill or The Ror)
 
Out:25/4 @ 08.20 back @ 18.20

Out: 22/5 @ 08.20 Back: 25/5 @ 17.20

That's me sorted as well!
 
Right ho.

Excellent. It's coming along a treat.

Here is what I think the list consists of. Let me know of any glaring errors, please.

(A) ONE DAY JAUNT

Wapping - ticket booked
Chas M - ticket booked (may bring son as pillion, too)
Intermediate - ticket booked
Budweiser - ticket booked
Kev B - ticket booked
NC Pierce - ticket booked

Maybe list:

NC Pierce's brother-in-law
Martinc.d and wife as pillion

(B) FOUR DAY JAUNT

Wapping - ticket booked
Chas M - ticket booked (may bring wife as pillion, too)
Intermediate - ticket booked
Budweiser - ticket booked
Kev B - ticket booked
NCPierce - ticket booked

Maybe list:

Madmikey
Pathalogic
Physiojo (aka Mrs Pathalogic) - riding her own bike
Martinc.d and wife as pillion
Adamneeds
Axeumlidlp
Budweiser

====

I'm not sure which of the two dates.
BrianMaslen
Slowdown

=======

Overall, quite a list, a veritable convoy as ChasM put it.

Now:

(1) I do not mind having a longer list at all. In fact it could make it all quite fun. Nor do I want to be a miserable sod and exclude anyone. I am more than happy to cater for everyone up to and including this post, listed above. Simply let me know ASAP. I will though post up that the list, for now, is full.

(2) The only things to have in mind is that, if everyone comes, it will mean:

(a) I will probably / definitely have to switch hotels into one of the larger chains, simply as the family hotels I had planned will not fit us all in. I do not mind, at all. OK they are not as rustic but they do all work. It will make it a bit cheaper, for sure. I will go ahead and start finding some. The sooner I can hear from the 'maybe's' the easier it will be.

(b) I am mindful that I wanted to include as many 'inexperienced' tourists as possible. That is still the purpose.

The larger group will, without a doubt, get spread out at some stages of the journey, possibly by as much as a mile or more. It's inevitable over routes of 100 miles plus. This is not a problem but we just need to be sensible about it, for those that are not used to it. In short, help each other. I will pick routes to make sure there are not too many unnecessary left, right, left changes in the middle of nowhere. Towns with traffic lights are always the most difficult. I will make sure everyone has a clear route, phone numbers etc. We can operate the 'Marker' system as well, if needed. I will explain the way it works nearer the time.

(c) Getting booked onto the damned train. I know that the train does not have unlimited spaces for bikes, or cars for that matter. On both the Morocco dashes and the Turkey Trot we could not all get on. The same often happens on the ferries. The sooner you book the easier. If you can't get on for whatever reasons, preferably book an earlier train on the way out and a later train on the way back.

(d) Fuel stops with more than six bikes definitely become a drawn-out process. An hour can slip by, so we will need to be reasonably sharp. The fuel stops will be dictated by the smallest capacity bike. I hope that physiojo can join us, so I guess it's her pogo. Again, it's not a problem to manage providing everyone is sensible. All we need to avoid is stopping every 40 miles because someone 'forgot' to fill-up. I will work out fuel stops at about 120 mile gaps (that's about three hours, or so). I will also try to amend the routes so that there is a fill up at the start, middle and end only. So, if you definitely can't do 240 miles on a tank full...fill up. Start and end the day on a full tank, is the golden rule.

===

HOTEL ROOMS

Pillions / husband and wife combos I assume will want a joint room.

I assume everyone else is happy to share?

If anyone wants their own solo room....let me know, please.


===

Cheers,

Richard
 
... The larger group will, without a doubt, get spread out at some stages of the journey, possibly by as much as a mile or more. It's inevitable over routes of 100 miles plus.
Over a hundred miles? Our group once got split up within 200 metres of joining the public road after the lights changed and the ones at the back had to stop. :D This must be a record and was quite funny until we realised that the organiser hadn't told anyone where we were staying as "we were all meant to stick together" :mmmm But you've got that covered.

Looks like a good trip - wish I was going myself now. :blast
 
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