Short Hop in Western France

[Alan PBTD]

Not for a while yet - but there's a Harley Rally in Jersey in September so instead of going straight there and back want to spend a few days in North / Western / France. Probably be 10 bikes and only ''cast in stone'' requirements are we'll land off the overnight Ferry Newhaven / Dieppe one morning and then have to be in St Malo on the Thursday night to catch the Friday am boat to Jersey.

And poss a first night stay in Rouen to have a pint / meal with a few friends

Looking for places to visit / roads etc and is ''La Rochelle'' to far South ?

ta

Alan

[KungFooBob]

IMHO LaRochelle is a bit too far South if you've only got a few days.

I reckon Arromanches-les-Bains is worth a visit for the whole Gold Beach thing and if you've never seen it before you've got to go to Mont St Michel.

Dinan is pretty too.

[DefTrap]

La Rochelle is 4 hours from st Malo, if you don't hang about and bang it down the motorways.

[Alan PBTD]

Cheers All - as some had said La Rochelle is a bit to far so ta for the conformation - As I'll have group of 10 Harleys it's going to be a bit difficult to satisfy everyone and certainly there's a few who won't like bouncing down the Motorways so we'll knock that bit on the head. I've done the WW2 stuff a few years ago but there's a few who've asked so will probably do a bit again. A mate was at ''Saint-Nazaire'' to see the Submarine base last summer and spoke highly of it so will head there and then potter up the coast on the back roads.
Might end up just 3 nights in France - one Rouen way / one south is h and then we have to be in St Malo for a night as the ferry to Jersey is very early. Will have to start looking at hotels and pricing it all up. Piggin Jersey's a fourtune to get on / off / stay but we're commited to go.

Only thing to mention - we're in Ireland ( Kilarney ) first weekend June and the robbin b**stards want a fourtune for a 4 night trip - it'll all but be £900 ( ferry and digs ) plus fuel and some food. Hotels / B&B's are now stupidy expensive - like £150 / £180 a night for nothing special. We normally stay for £100 a night in a self catering apartment in KIlarney but they'd ''lost'' our booking ( 8 rooms !! ) but now want 140.00 per night. It'll be the last year for Ireland, which is shame as it's 60 mins to the ferry from ours, so we'll head south in 2024. Campings Ok tho £20 a night on decent clean sites which makes the B&B's look a lot worse..

So if you fancy a few days in Ireland - it is great, the beers mint and the countryside stunning - just pack a tent and wing it !

[KungFooBob]

Saint-Nazaire is a bit industrial.

The sub pens are interesting, but there's not much else.

[Dodgy69]

Do you need a clean air sticker on bike's to travel through France. ?

[KungFooBob]

Do you need a clean air sticker on bike's to travel through France. ?

Only certain cities.

[Demannu]

And Rouen is one of them!

As long as you have applied for it £3-4, then all is well as it will show up on their system.

But be warned, should you incur Monsieur le flash on your travels, they will have your address on the database and a €130 brucie bonus may find it's way to you.

[Demannu]

www.certificat-air.gouv.fr

Is the official site. Tap on vehicule etranger and away you go.
If any of the bikes are pre 2004, then they cant go into most crit air zones btw!

[KungFooBob]

I applied for one when I went last year, it was shortly after I pressed the button that it occurred to me that I might not be able to speed with impunity any more.

Got a feeling I may well have set a couple off on my way to the Alps, but didn't hear anything. Not sure if maybe the departments aren't quite as 'joined' up as you'd expect... that or next time I get arrested at the border.

[Demannu]

I applied for one when I went last year, it was shortly after I pressed the button that it occurred to me that I might not be able to speed with impunity any more.

Got a feeling I may well have set a couple off on my way to the Alps, but didn't hear anything. Not sure if maybe the departments aren't quite as 'joined' up as you'd expect... that or next time I get arrested at the border.

C'est le savon de Bubba, il veut être ton ami

[ninja]

I've just done this trip....but in the car. Landed at 1430 in Dieppe. We stayed 2 nights in Bayeux and 2 in St Malo. We then drove back to Dunkirk for the ferry back.
Some of the roads inland from the coast in that area are lovely. Not fast, nothing like the mountains further south but still lovely and deserted.
I've got the ferry back from St Malo many times but never done more than got drunk there. It's a smashing place. Worth a look around. La Rochelle is too far away.
I've always loved visiting the beaches and the big German guns at Longues sur Mer. The D day museum at Arromanches has been knocked down and they're rebuilding it at the moment.

[ninja]

I'd post some pics but they're too big.

[Alan PBTD]

cheers all - taking it all in.