France - the Great '3 Day Bimble'

[Riders Rest]

I have noticed you have taken cancellation insurance I question if it is worth the money...

Interestingly LD-Lines will move or reschedule any booking for a fee of £10 so if for any reason you cannot make the trip you can change the dates or put the ticket on hold using their on-line system or Phoning.

I had to do this last October when my bike broke down on the way to Portsmouth causing me to miss the Ferry I phoned the LD-Lines customer service at about 20h00 boat was sailing at 23h00 and they moved the booking no problem without the insurance. It will still cost you £10 to move the booking with the insurance cover though you might be able to get it refunded on the insurance. Plus if you purchase your ticket using a Visa card you will also get the cancelation insurance for free as part of the terms of the card...

Also if you book as a group on the phone LD-Lines have been known to give a discounted rate worth knowing for future trips.

Blatant Advert Alert If you are planning any longer trips maybe down to the Central Massif or Millau I might be able to help with accommodation and routes to ride etc

Sorry for jumping in I just thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[oldrascal]

Hi Tony,

Glad to see you following our lame attempts at organisation. But you are right of course, I was warned after first posting the idea that the LD Lines insurance is no use if you just want to change your booking. So we've all booked a simple return fare. I'll remember the group booking scheme next time though.

As this is a first trip together for us Southern lads and really just a try-out, you are in any case firmly on my list of 'must visit' places when we organise a more adventurous tour later in the Spring.

Cheers.

 

[Riders Rest]

Don't knock your organisation it is a trip and it does take a great deal of planning especially if it is for a group who don't meet up often or at all except on-line. Not everyone can be bothered

I enjoyed the area you are staying in once or twice - I think St Malo and Le Mont San Michel are worth a visit and probably within range, also a ride up the Cherbourg peninsular on the West coast is quite nice some good quality road serface with sea views and plenty of bends to keep you interested...

Have a great trip and remember your Waterproofs

 

[WindyChuffer]

Just got a PM from Mattrex who is unable to make the trip after all. Tough call mate but we will hook-up next time, I am sure.

So that leaves the following confirmed:

• OldRascal
• Windy Chuffer
• Scuba-Sparky
• GreatScott

As we are all now booked on the ferry, I will email the hotel with confirmation of the 2-day booking. But we have a choice. If we keep the family suite at €120 per night, that works out at €30 each. But the suite has 1 x double bed and 2 x singles, so that means 2 of us sharing the double or 1 in the double bed and 1 on the sofa/floor.

The alternative is keeping the Family Suite and Double Room arrangement at a total of €165 total which is €46 per person per night. But that does give us each a bed and is my personal preference. Can you let me know which option you are happy with, bearing in mind that those who opt for the Family Suite on its own option should, in fairness, share the double bed.

How about this as a suggestion:
- I'll pay for my own room at my cost for the 2 nights. My preference, plus I snore loud !
- This leaves the right number of people, three, to share the Family room, each in their own bed. You can have a private toss-off to see who gets the double!

 

[oldrascal]

That seems to work.

Let's hear from the others and then we can decide at our leisure. But if WindyChuffer is happy about committing to a second room in any case, I can go ahead and book this evening.

Not sure about the tossing-off bit though and I'd rather put up with snoring than the alternative exhaust system cacophony.

 

[GreatScott]

I am quite relaxed about the arrangements. If it comes to it a sofa, even a floor, will do. As long as its warm & dry

 

[oldrascal]

I have just sent this confirmation email to the hotel in Saint-James.

Hello,​

I spoke with you last week about a group of BMW GS riders staying with you the night of Friday April 3rd. I would like to confirm this reservation now but extend it to include Saturday April 4th as well. We need 1 room with bathroom ensuite with double beds and breakfast which I believe is €65 per night inclusive. And also a family suite with bathroom ensuite which has 2 rooms, one with twin beds and the other with double at €120 per night.​

Could you please confirm the reservation and prices. Although I have not yet discussed dinner with my travelling companions, I am sure that we would like to avail ourselves of the menu gastronomique on Friday evening, again I believe that this is €25 per head.​

Many thanks,​

 

[oldrascal]

I have just PMd everyone with contact details of each of us.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Thx for this. The menu gastronomique on Fri sounds like a good call too.

 

[Scuba-Sparky]

Hi All

Seams ok to me. BUT NO !!!

 

[GreatScott]

Well chaps I'm booked on the ferry so you're stuck with me now Next step...where did I put the passport...

 

[oldrascal]

'Eh bien mes enfants, ca y'est, c'est fait'.......we are now in business as we are all booked on the ferry. But we ought to try and film the trip as best as possible so that we can demonstrate our superb road skills and ability to seamlessly mix with the French to the lazy buggers who couldn't be fagged to join us.


Has anyone got a bike mounted video or still camera? Any volunteers for official trip archivist?

 

[GreatScott]

'Eh bien mes enfants, ca y'est, c'est fait'.......we are now in business as we are all booked on the ferry. But we ought to try and film the trip as best as possible so that we can demonstrate our superb road skills and ability to seamlessly mix with the French to the lazy buggers who couldn't be fagged to join us.


Has anyone got a bike mounted video or still camera? Any volunteers for official trip archivist?

Moi - well I have a RAM mount for my point & shoot camera, which does take video, but it doesn't last long and I will probably bring my Nikon too.

I have not got PM by the way

 

[oldrascal]

Just received a nice reply from the hotel:

Many thanks for your booking confirmation for two [2] nights from 3rd - 4th April inclusive departing the morning of the 5th April. As discussed we have reserved you our two bedroom family suite with en-suite facilities @ 120 euros per nights, plus our twin en-suite bedroom @ 65 euros per night. All rates are inclusive of continental breakfast, or a full {English cooked breakfast at a small supplement should you prefer}.​

Also reserved is our set table d'hote gourmet dinner inclusive of aperitifs, canapés, et red house wine @ 25 euros per person.​

Thank you for choosing to stay with us, and we look forward to welcoming you to PETIT-ILLYRIA... Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.​

Kind Regards​

Jean et Gary Johnston.​

N.B We would very much appreciate if you could advise us of your approximate time you expect to arrive at PETIT-ILLYRIA please. !!!!!!!!!!!​

We have a large secure double garage, which you may use to park your motorcycles in during your stay with us.​

Bearing in mind that the €25 gets us an aperitif, 3 courses and as much wine as we can swallow, I think we are on to a good'un here.

 

[oldrascal]

As we have booked 2 nights at Saint-James, I've been looking at where we can go on Saturday. Le Mont St. Michel seems an obvious destination but is only 20 minutes or so ride away so we need to start looking further west into Brittany I suspect.

Anybody got any ideas?

 

[GreatScott]

A visit to Mont St Michel would be nice and a trip along the coast. I don't know if there some good tourist must does. For example I wonder if there is some moument to the Marines' raid at St Nazaire that would be worth a visit? I'll have do get round to doing some research. Are we going to meet up at the Franklin Arms od 21st? If so perhaps we can thrash out a plan then.

 

[oldrascal]

That makes sense as we still will have plenty of time to investigate. So 21st it is then.

 

[GreatScott]

A GPS would be useful (no you don't say ) but I haven't got one. Do any of you guys? I have just splashed out though on a couple of 1:150,000 "local" Michelin maps for Brittany (308 & 309). Some great looking roads and the north coast looks interesting.

I don't know if there any lerkers to this thread who might be able to make some recommendations. I also see the B & B advertise in the BMW club journal. I wonder if they can make some suggestions.

See you next weekend

 

[oldrascal]

I have a Zumo550 hard-wired onto the bike so that takes care of that little problem.

 

[Riders Rest]

There is a museum at St Nazaire which incoorporates part of the Submarine pens where the Commando raid went in. Does that count as a memorial ? I do not think it was a predominantly Royal Marines Commando raid though I think it was pre-mountbatten creating the Royal Marines Commando but there were Royal Marines in the Commando unit which did the job...

There is a No 4 Commando Museum at Ouistram south of Caen on the coast.

I enjoyed a few pleasant ride up the west coast of the Cherbourg Peninsular some fantastic sea views.