Summer Trip to France: Couple of ??s for the Novice...

johnboy

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Hi

I have been researching a trip to France aiming at first week near montelimar and second week in Les Saisies - Alps. Once I have chosen the routes I will post on here for others to make use of if they are any good!

I am planing a two day journey down using autoroutes initially but am wondering how far to go south before taking the more scenic route. It seems to me one day autoroute to say Nevers with an o/n stop in Moulins then start enjoying the route south through the Livradois Foret [D999] to Le Puy then the D578 and D122 through the Ardech and then Montelimar. An alternative is to hack all the way down to Lyon but that seems a very long and unenjoyable slog:mad:!

Couple of questions: Nevers seems best approached via the A77 which would require negotiating around Paris - is this straight forward? Second anyone experienced the Livradois Foret and the Ardeche - tips welcome.

My route from Montelimar to Les Saisies is on the D518 / D531 taking in the Col de Rousset and Grand Goulets - excellently described in the book highlighted by Wapping Les Alpes a Moto [Michelin]. Now I am scared of vertical edges:eek::eek::eek: so would this route scare the s**t out of me or are thos edges nicely protected by crash barriers?

Thanking any seasoned travellers who can help.:beerjug:

Johnboy
 
If you are going to take two days and intend going through Montelimar you can pick just about any route you wish. You have 600 miles from the channel ports to Montelimar.

I do this run 4/5 times a year on the bike or in the car. I usually hit the autoroute to Rheims and then leave it and follow Route Nationals to Lyon, then after Lyon pick up the RN7 to Montelimar.

Once out of Montelimar you have the Baronnies and Ventoux plus a massive choice of routes through to Gorges at Verdon, route Napoleon etc etc. Ventoux is in my opinion a must do. 1909 metres high and stunning views.

However you do it enjoy.
 
If its your first trip to France on a bike give paris a wide berth.

You also seem to be rushing past some of the best countryside and roads in France in your haste to get to the South.

As others have said, autorute to Reims and then the world is your oyster.

Its still the thick end of 1000km - if you're on holiday I'd recommend taking a bit longer over the trip - seems such a shame to rush about on autoroutes when there are fantastic roads wherever you look in rural France - uncrowded roads, fantastic countryside, little villages with bars and restaurants, friendly locals who will drive into the verge to let you past and pretty well zero chance of a speed trap.

Its the lowest stress motorcycling you can get.

The roads in the south and the alps are not particularly better than, say the Massif Central, Morvan, the Vosges or the Jura, but they are a lot more crowded and a lot more heavily policed.

The Alps in the summer are starting to get like the peak district on a bank holiday, too many bikes, too many dickheads and conseqently too many police.

I'd be thinking of something like this - it'll take longer, but you'll get scenery and fantastic (including mountainous) roads a lot sooner than slogging on the authorute.
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=calais&daddr=48.50976,5.09533+to:47.45584,5.5886+to:47.18413,5.81197+to:46.9129,5.76877+to:46.38176,5.80415+to:46.2460626,5.7674856+to:45.9057,5.65287+to:45.8046,5.85454+to:45.58312,5.91104+to:45.43872,5.7574+to:Mont%C3%A9limar,+France&geocode=Fc2OCQMd_UMcAClj4_HXdT_cRzH0edKM4Nm-rA%3BFUAz5AIdor9NACkvScv2BITsRzHQhN6nuV8KEw%3BFWAe1AIdeEZVACkTIjr6m62SRzFhWPu_NM4JEw%3BFQL5zwIdAq9YACkVVZjTqV2NRzHRldXANM4JEw%3BFYTVywIdQgZYACk16-tndT6NRzGhcNG_NM4JEw%3BFcC6wwIddpBYACklSuudxuyMRzHRMu_ANM4JEw%3BFa6owQIdPQFYACkjUbE53ZCMRzFhbLDqKqsIEw%3BFSR3vAIdhkFWACmJbAZLl2iLRzFBZRPrKqsIEw%3BFTjsugIdTFVZACkTtodoaXSLRzGgMzDsKqsIEw%3BFRCLtwIdADJaACmzlsUuaaiLRzHBRPrqKqsIEw%3BFQBXtQId2NlXACmvVB4D4f2KRzGxyTfrKqsIEw%3BFWDppwIdUn5IAClVOn1IIGu1EjHAVfL6frJdOA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=10&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&sll=47.103784,6.230621&sspn=0.862779,2.113495&ie=UTF8&ll=48.224673,5.229492&spn=10.250273,18.676758&z=5&output=embed" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no"></iframe>
<small>View Larger Map</small>
 
stolzy said:
If its your first trip to France on a bike give paris a wide berth.

You also seem to be rushing past some of the best countryside and roads in France in your haste to get to the South.

As others have said, autorute to Reims and then the world is your oyster.

Its still the thick end of 1000km - if you're on holiday I'd recommend taking a bit longer over the trip - seems such a shame to rush about on autoroutes when there are fantastic roads wherever you look in rural France - uncrowded roads, fantastic countryside, little villages with bars and restaurants, friendly locals who will drive into the verge to let you past and pretty well zero chance of a speed trap.

Its the lowest stress motorcycling you can get.

The roads in the south and the alps are not particularly better than, say the Massif Central, Morvan, the Vosges or the Jura, but they are a lot more crowded and a lot more heavily policed.

The Alps in the summer are starting to get like the peak district on a bank holiday, too many bikes, too many dickheads and conseqently too many police.

I'd be thinking of something like this - it'll take longer, but you'll get scenery and fantastic (including mountainous) roads a lot sooner than slogging on the authorute.
<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=calais&daddr=48.50976,5.09533+to:47.45584,5.5886+to:47.18413,5.81197+to:46.9129,5.76877+to:46.38176,5.80415+to:46.2460626,5.7674856+to:45.9057,5.65287+to:45.8046,5.85454+to:45.58312,5.91104+to:45.43872,5.7574+to:Mont%C3%A9limar,+France&geocode=Fc2OCQMd_UMcAClj4_HXdT_cRzH0edKM4Nm-rA%3BFUAz5AIdor9NACkvScv2BITsRzHQhN6nuV8KEw%3BFWAe1AIdeEZVACkTIjr6m62SRzFhWPu_NM4JEw%3BFQL5zwIdAq9YACkVVZjTqV2NRzHRldXANM4JEw%3BFYTVywIdQgZYACk16-tndT6NRzGhcNG_NM4JEw%3BFcC6wwIddpBYACklSuudxuyMRzHRMu_ANM4JEw%3BFa6owQIdPQFYACkjUbE53ZCMRzFhbLDqKqsIEw%3BFSR3vAIdhkFWACmJbAZLl2iLRzFBZRPrKqsIEw%3BFTjsugIdTFVZACkTtodoaXSLRzGgMzDsKqsIEw%3BFRCLtwIdADJaACmzlsUuaaiLRzHBRPrqKqsIEw%3BFQBXtQId2NlXACmvVB4D4f2KRzGxyTfrKqsIEw%3BFWDppwIdUn5IAClVOn1IIGu1EjHAVfL6frJdOA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=10&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&sll=47.103784,6.230621&sspn=0.862779,2.113495&ie=UTF8&ll=48.224673,5.229492&spn=10.250273,18.676758&z=5&output=embed" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no"></iframe>
<small>View Larger Map</small>
Click to expand...

Same route as I use, I'm less than an hour from Montelimar. The Alps is a generalisation, it's a massive area. Montelimar to Gap takes you through the pre Alps and the Baronnies and you can dissapear for hours even at the height of summer. I know, I do it! See South of France in the accom section or Ballistic's write up under gastro 3

Stress free yes I've been coming to and living in this area since the 70's and still find something new to explore
 
The Alps is huge, all in all covering about the same area as the whole of the UK, but densely packed with fine roads. The Motorcycle Journey's book lists 75 trips (1/2 - 1 day each) covering 322 passes.

We like to stop half way down on the way out / back and find Two Wheel Moorings about perfect to break up the Journey and provide a great biker friendly stop in a nice location, but plenty of nice towns en-route, this year we are visiting Troyes for a night on the way back.

Check out google images for Goulet's - you may not like it, I am off there later this year, but we do not mind heights, if you have a real phobia this looks like one of the worst places on earth for you - maybe swing through the Vosges or Black Forest instead - or just get to the Alps ASAP, although many passes do have some drop-offs that have no barriers.

x1.jpg


x4.jpg
 
OK, first trip to France, excellent, I think we can work this out for you.

But, to save us a bit of time first:

Do you have any maps, or are you plotting it all out on a PC?

Do you think that 200 miles in a day is a long way in the UK?

In the UK do you ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes, ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes? Or do you crack on for, say, three or four hours at a stretch?

In short, what sort of rider are you? Flower pressing bimbler or budding World endurance hero? There is nothing wrong with either, by the way.

What time do you want to:

(i) Set off in the morning?

(ii) Stop for lunch (and for how long)?

(iii) Arrive at the hotel in the evening?

Are you on your own? If you are with a pillion, what are their expectations?

Are you determined to get to Moulins at the end of your first day and to Montellimar by the end of the second day?

Look forward to the news :thumb2

PS It makes little odds that the drops have a barrier or a stone wall. If you hit it hard enough it is going to hurt, maybe smash you / your bike or perhaps you are both going to go flying over the top anyway. Comfort yourself that hitting the inner cliff face wall is going to be much the same (but with no final drop). Don't worry about it. Don't look over the edge and you won't go over it, don't look at the wall and you won't hit it.

PPS You do not need to go anywhere near Paris.
 
Wapping said:
PPS You do not need to go anywhere near Paris.
Click to expand...
Problem is all the autoroutes radiate from paris and, if you just use a motorway map to plot your routes, it kind of sucks you in.

Don't forget how much autoroutes cost - Calais-Montelimar will be over £100
 
stolzy said:
Problem is all the autoroutes radiate from paris and, if you just use a motorway map to plot your routes, it kind of sucks you in.

Don't forget how much autoroutes cost - Calais-Montelimar will be over £100
Click to expand...

Calais to Montelimar is 80 euros in a car, less on the bike, approx 50 . From Calais you don't need to go anywhere near Paris take the A26 follow Reims.
 
Wapping said:
OK, first trip to France, excellent, I think we can work this out for you.

But, to save us a bit of time first:

Do you have any maps, or are you plotting it all out on a PC?

Do you think that 200 miles in a day is a long way in the UK?

In the UK do you ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes, ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes? Or do you crack on for, say, three or four hours at a stretch?

In short, what sort of rider are you? Flower pressing bimbler or budding World endurance hero? There is nothing wrong with either, by the way.

What time do you want to:

(i) Set off in the morning?

(ii) Stop for lunch (and for how long)?

(iii) Arrive at the hotel in the evening?

Are you on your own? If you are with a pillion, what are their expectations?

Are you determined to get to Moulins at the end of your first day and to Montellimar by the end of the second day?

Look forward to the news :thumb2

PS It makes little odds that the drops have a barrier or a stone wall. If you hit it hard enough it is going to hurt, maybe smash you / your bike or perhaps you are both going to go flying over the top anyway. Comfort yourself that hitting the inner cliff face wall is going to be much the same (but with no final drop). Don't worry about it. Don't look over the edge and you won't go over it, don't look at the wall and you won't hit it.

PPS You do not need to go anywhere near Paris.
Click to expand...

Some good advice there:thumb
 
I am with the general concensus, head down half way or so on the Paege or RN routes then get off the RN and do some of the Michelin green routes, you wont be disapointed though whichever route you decide.

+1 on France being massif ;)
 
Hi wapping and others for the tips.

This is my first trip to France but first long one with a sense oif adventure.

The planning is taking place all with maps and books set out on the dining room table which is slightly annoying for SWMBO. HoweverI love looking at maps and the Michelin ones show so much detail. The books add the extra detail. I will however plot routes on MapSource and transfer to 660 as a guide on the road and find the campsite.

My constraints are:

1. I have 2 days to get to Montelimar where I will join the family and 3/4 days to return to the UK from Les Saisies. I have no problem doing 250 miles per day [i did 550 miles last year - Reading to Calais to La Rochelle but could hardly walk for two days] but beleive 200 allows for the desriable unknown places / people of interest. On the same basis 2/3 hours in the saddle is fine but I would hope to have interesting reasons to stop in between. Stopping for lunch is more on the "when I need to". I was thinking of camping as this opens up more opportunities for local banter [in menu french by the way]. I will be travelling alone on the way down but may have my 14 year old son on the way back.

2. So I was thinking of following the helpful route through eastern France on the way back but still fancy the central route on the way down.

Any further thoughts very welcome.

Johnboy

Wapping said:
OK, first trip to France, excellent, I think we can work this out for you.

But, to save us a bit of time first:

Do you have any maps, or are you plotting it all out on a PC?

Do you think that 200 miles in a day is a long way in the UK?

In the UK do you ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes, ride for an hour, stop for 30 minutes? Or do you crack on for, say, three or four hours at a stretch?

In short, what sort of rider are you? Flower pressing bimbler or budding World endurance hero? There is nothing wrong with either, by the way.

What time do you want to:

(i) Set off in the morning?

(ii) Stop for lunch (and for how long)?

(iii) Arrive at the hotel in the evening?

Are you on your own? If you are with a pillion, what are their expectations?

Are you determined to get to Moulins at the end of your first day and to Montellimar by the end of the second day?

Look forward to the news :thumb2

PS It makes little odds that the drops have a barrier or a stone wall. If you hit it hard enough it is going to hurt, maybe smash you / your bike or perhaps you are both going to go flying over the top anyway. Comfort yourself that hitting the inner cliff face wall is going to be much the same (but with no final drop). Don't worry about it. Don't look over the edge and you won't go over it, don't look at the wall and you won't hit it.

PPS You do not need to go anywhere near Paris.
Click to expand...
 
Hi All / Everyone :thumb

I agree with Att :eek one this one :bounce1 Have spent many a trip in France avoiding the cities and Auto routes, there is an adventure around every corner in France :augie
And as some one said 200 miles in the UK is a long way, in France you can do that before lunch with a late start!! :JB :green gri :rolleyes:
 
Camping is slow.

Arrive at hotel: Pick up key, enter room.

Arrive at campsite: Find pitch, put up tent, bugger about...........

In the morning: Get up, eat breakfast, leave bed behind, ride off.

Camping: Get up, make breakfast, pack tent and bed, ride off.
 
When are you doing this trip? Dates are important especially if you decide to travel in early July when the whole of France goes on holiday. Montelimar is in the Rhone valley and it can be congested at this time as it's on the main A7 and N7 route to the south coast.
 
I am travelling down on 15/16 July - is this a good reason to go for the central route and avoid the Autoroute Sud?

thornley said:
When are you doing this trip? Dates are important especially if you decide to travel in early July when the whole of France goes on holiday. Montelimar is in the Rhone valley and it can be congested at this time as it's on the main A7 and N7 route to the south coast.
Click to expand...
 
johnboy said:
I am travelling down on 15/16 July - is this a good reason to go for the central route and avoid the Autoroute Sud?
Click to expand...

14th July is a national holiday. The autoroute can be congested from Lyon onwards, depends on what time you hit Lyon on a Friday of the holiday weekend.
Roads are marked with a 'BIS' sign in yellow, these routes avoid the worst of the congestion. Take care with accomadation over this weekend, most of Paris will be on the move south. I always get through on the bike but allow time.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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