Good Morning SWISSERS.
Hopefully this thread is not too premature.
If the folks who are confirmed at this stage fancy it, we could try to plan travel arrangements together and tie up en route and ride together. It may also help some undecided’s to get their act in gear.
My thoughts are -
it would be safer – pull together mechanically, route finding etc.
it may be more economical re group bookings
we get a day’s head start at “bonding”
AND otherwise I’ll have to travel all the way to Switzerland with the Bandit on my own !!!!!
I am assuming that the objective is to arrive in Vevey by Thurs p.m or early Fri a.m.
ARE YOU OK WITH THAT MAGNUM ?
Therefore travel Thursday 10th to arrive at Vevey p.m.
Riding from Friday 11th
Finish back at Vevey Fri 18th
Travel Home from Sat 19th
We could meet Arsey in mid France maybe beyond Paris. Travelling from Guernsey (I presume).
I’ll volunteer myself and the Bandit to check out the options and route plan from England \Wales to Vevey Switzerland.
Just to put some scale to the riding required, my thoughts are:
For us from Sheffield to Dover is 230 miles – 3 - 3½ hrs riding (I would think similar from Wales\ Lancs \Cheshire).
From Calais to Vevey is 515 miles ish – at only 70 MPH average that would mean at least 7 ½’ hrs riding plus say 3 * 20-30 minute stops (every 150-200 miles or after 2 – 2½ ish hrs riding)
Option 1 :
Ride thru to Vevey in one hit – maybe a 10hr day from Calais
Early morning Euro tunnel from Dover to Calais, arriving at Vevey on Thursday evening ready to ride with Magnum on Friday.
Pricing at first stab - £70 per person Return. 7 a.m. from Dover on Thursday 10th and 18.00 return from Calais on Saturday 19th
Option 2 :
Euro tunnel, pricing \ timing remains the same.
Would anyone want an overnighter in France on the Thursday night. Budget 30 Euro\£30
Dijon is approx 325 miles from Calais so the major mileage is done on the first day to enable a 2-3 hr ride to Vevey the next day.
Option 3 :
Hull to Zeebrugge overnight Ferry - 526 miles to Vevey, only 10 miles further than from Calais
This would be a Wednesday night crossing (18.00 hrs) to arrive in Zeebrugge on Thursday 08.00a.m.
Return cost, approx £200 per person with bike, pillions less as foot passengers.
Downsides
- Costs probably up to £50-70 more than Euro tunnel for bike and rider and an accommodation stop (£100 without a stop)
- Possibly extra day of travel, i.e. need to arrive in Hull for a Wednesday night 18.00 hrs crossing
(it is easy for us in the north, we have a 1 hr ride to Hull so probably don’t leave home until 15.30 hrs)
Is it something the Welsh\Cheshire\Mancs would consider or prefer?
Upsides
- EASIER MILEAGE to the point of crossing
- Arrive rested and well fed to do a 9 hr ride to Vevey
I personally would rather do the mileage in Belgium & France than England, doing 200+ miles on the M1 or M6 M5 then M25 M2\A2 is a nightmare at any time.
BELIEVE ME - The easier mileage home from Hull is best appreciated on the return journey after a 5 day riding tour.
The North and South could cross from separate locations and meet in France on Thursday a.m.
Any thoughts or alternates would be appreciated:
Does anyone think the idea of travelling together is worth planning?
Does anyone want to make early bookings? (I think they would be cheaper)
State your preferences and I would be happy to start to organise if every one is OK with that.
Deposits for tickets etc will be required.!!!
Hopefully this thread is not too premature.
If the folks who are confirmed at this stage fancy it, we could try to plan travel arrangements together and tie up en route and ride together. It may also help some undecided’s to get their act in gear.
My thoughts are -
it would be safer – pull together mechanically, route finding etc.
it may be more economical re group bookings
we get a day’s head start at “bonding”
AND otherwise I’ll have to travel all the way to Switzerland with the Bandit on my own !!!!!
I am assuming that the objective is to arrive in Vevey by Thurs p.m or early Fri a.m.
ARE YOU OK WITH THAT MAGNUM ?
Therefore travel Thursday 10th to arrive at Vevey p.m.
Riding from Friday 11th
Finish back at Vevey Fri 18th
Travel Home from Sat 19th
We could meet Arsey in mid France maybe beyond Paris. Travelling from Guernsey (I presume).
I’ll volunteer myself and the Bandit to check out the options and route plan from England \Wales to Vevey Switzerland.
Just to put some scale to the riding required, my thoughts are:
For us from Sheffield to Dover is 230 miles – 3 - 3½ hrs riding (I would think similar from Wales\ Lancs \Cheshire).
From Calais to Vevey is 515 miles ish – at only 70 MPH average that would mean at least 7 ½’ hrs riding plus say 3 * 20-30 minute stops (every 150-200 miles or after 2 – 2½ ish hrs riding)
Option 1 :
Ride thru to Vevey in one hit – maybe a 10hr day from Calais
Early morning Euro tunnel from Dover to Calais, arriving at Vevey on Thursday evening ready to ride with Magnum on Friday.
Pricing at first stab - £70 per person Return. 7 a.m. from Dover on Thursday 10th and 18.00 return from Calais on Saturday 19th
Option 2 :
Euro tunnel, pricing \ timing remains the same.
Would anyone want an overnighter in France on the Thursday night. Budget 30 Euro\£30
Dijon is approx 325 miles from Calais so the major mileage is done on the first day to enable a 2-3 hr ride to Vevey the next day.
Option 3 :
Hull to Zeebrugge overnight Ferry - 526 miles to Vevey, only 10 miles further than from Calais
This would be a Wednesday night crossing (18.00 hrs) to arrive in Zeebrugge on Thursday 08.00a.m.
Return cost, approx £200 per person with bike, pillions less as foot passengers.
Downsides
- Costs probably up to £50-70 more than Euro tunnel for bike and rider and an accommodation stop (£100 without a stop)
- Possibly extra day of travel, i.e. need to arrive in Hull for a Wednesday night 18.00 hrs crossing
(it is easy for us in the north, we have a 1 hr ride to Hull so probably don’t leave home until 15.30 hrs)
Is it something the Welsh\Cheshire\Mancs would consider or prefer?
Upsides
- EASIER MILEAGE to the point of crossing
- Arrive rested and well fed to do a 9 hr ride to Vevey
I personally would rather do the mileage in Belgium & France than England, doing 200+ miles on the M1 or M6 M5 then M25 M2\A2 is a nightmare at any time.
BELIEVE ME - The easier mileage home from Hull is best appreciated on the return journey after a 5 day riding tour.
The North and South could cross from separate locations and meet in France on Thursday a.m.
Any thoughts or alternates would be appreciated:
Does anyone think the idea of travelling together is worth planning?
Does anyone want to make early bookings? (I think they would be cheaper)
State your preferences and I would be happy to start to organise if every one is OK with that.
Deposits for tickets etc will be required.!!!
if there aren't I'll be backing out of the trip ) so I'll leave my travel plans until nearer the time of departure.
