Euro tunnel and beyond.

[KungFooBob]

Love the Loire, it's one of my favourite bits of Fronch!

[Dodgy69]

All them lanes and not a single pot hole.

[636mick]

All them lanes and not a single pot hole.

We’ve got some they can have!! True though, not even any on their country lanes.

[Dodgy69]

Last night away tonight and yes, I'm ready for home. It's bloody knackering when your pushing to cover ground. Today I left the hotel about 8.30 am, got here, Berck at 6.30 pm Just short stops, 10 mins the longest.

Tunnel cost me £94 coz it's TT race week coming, planned that well. 12. 30 ish I think.

Anyway today, I was initially heading to a hotel in Berck , 5hrs ish, getting there about 1.30. Now that's too early so thought, maybe i can go to Normandy and thats what I did, it'll only be a couple of hour's to hotel from there.

Headed for gold beach, took photo, memorial photo. As you'll know, you need a few days here but that was that. Phone out, put in Berck Ibis hotel and f... me, it's 4.5 hrs, jeez. Saying about 7pm, that would be 10+ hours on bike, far far too much

The only positive was, lots of motorway 130kph. thznk god. I'll come back to Normandy some time and do it properly.

[Dodgy69]

Home sweet home. but not without possible consequence.

It was a 1hr run up to tunnel from hotel in Berck. Finding terminal wasn't my strong point but eventually done. Train was very quiet I thought. ( TT £94 ??? ) but all going smoothly. Satnav set for home.

On joining M20 Satnav found a quicker way, what I didn't realise was that, it was the Eastern route, east London, some tunnel, M11, A14 etc. Think it put me on M25 first and grid lock, then Ulez zone, which my bike doesn't like, how much is fine ? then grid lock on M6.

Was filtering quite nicely I thought, moving traffic but under limit, keeping close to white line so could under or overtake at will. Cars often quite staggered so easy done. Got to M6 and much slower. Following white line, most move over, but you always get the twats. One in particular moved over right in middle lane, pushing me right and R/H pannier just scuffs against car in R/H lane. No biggy but contact. Horns heard but bollox, can't stop here so carried on. No damage to pannier I could see but maybe a paint scuff to car, who knows.

They probably got my plate coz I couldn't get out of sight quick enough. Afaiac, that twat caused it. Anyway, bollox to em. I've no doubt, speed limits were broken on this trip, so will see how the next few weeks go.


Conclusion...fantastic trip, many highs, few lows. 23 days of GS time, never let me down once and did everything asked of it, superb. It'll be about 4300 odd miles, god knows how much fuel, tyre's lasted well, if a bit square, mainly last 2 day's.

Anyway...goodnight, thank you and may your god go with you.... Answers on a post card.

[KungFooBob]

I was going to remind you to pay the DART, but then I remembered it's free for bikes!

Glad you're home safe and sound, was an epic trip!

[Taipan]

Awesome trip. Awesome thread. Thanks for posting it all here.

[Count Steer]

Welcome home.

It rerouted you through the Blackwall Tunnel? It makes, sort of sense if you look at the map but, unless the M25 was a complete car park, it's not a route that I'd have thought of.

Celebration pizza?

[weeksy]

Thread of the year boy.

[Dodgy69]

Welcome home.

It rerouted you through the Blackwall Tunnel? It makes, sort of sense if you look at the map but, unless the M25 was a complete car park, it's not a route that I'd have thought of.

Celebration pizza?

Chicken burger, chips and salad. Bbq tomorrow and my favourite, lamb on Sunday.

[dern]

Nicely done and thank you for sharing.

[636mick]

Brilliant write up, very much appreciated. Sounds like you enjoyed it, it’s made me look at getting another bike so thanks very much. The one thing I miss is trips like this!!
Mick

[dern]

Welcome home.

It rerouted you through the Blackwall Tunnel? It makes, sort of sense if you look at the map but, unless the M25 was a complete car park, it's not a route that I'd have thought of.

Celebration pizza?

Chicken burger, chips and salad. Bbq tomorrow and my favourite, lamb on Sunday.

Would you do it again, what would you do the same or differently and where would you go next?

[Dodgy69]

Ye...would do again. Still want to go to Spain/Portugal and more France. Think I'd leave the tent at home, it creates so much more luggage and weight.

[Bigyin]

Welcome home.

It rerouted you through the Blackwall Tunnel? It makes, sort of sense if you look at the map but, unless the M25 was a complete car park, it's not a route that I'd have thought of.

Celebration pizza?

I have in the past detoured through the Rotherhithe tunnel on the way back from Gatwick when the Dartford crossing was jammed solid for miles and Blackwall was blocked by an HGV accident ..... i forgot it was even there till the sat nav sent me to it

Cracking trip @Dodgy69 and thanks for documenting it and even finishing off with a nod to the magnificent Dave Allen

[Count Steer]

Welcome home.

It rerouted you through the Blackwall Tunnel? It makes, sort of sense if you look at the map but, unless the M25 was a complete car park, it's not a route that I'd have thought of.

Celebration pizza?

I have in the past detoured through the Rotherhithe tunnel on the way back from Gatwick when the Dartford crossing was jammed solid for miles and Blackwall was blocked by an HGV accident ..... i forgot it was even there till the sat nav sent me to it

Cracking trip @Dodgy69 and thanks for documenting it and even finishing off with a nod to the magnificent Dave Allen

I think I've only used either tunnel getting to London City airport. Do satnavs have 'avoid LEZ' options these days? Haven't looked on mine but it seems like a useful thing to have.

[asmethurst99]

I think Google maps have it as “tolls payable” .
Edit I’ve just checked and the ULEZ comes up with a link to the reg number checker

[Dodgy69]

Mines OK...2013 gs. Maybe all bikes are OK.

[Skub]

A very enjoyable thread and so philanthropic of you to endure roadgoing privations just to post up the ensuing dramas.

[asmethurst99]

Should be fine - pre 2008 ish for emissions istr
Anyway as Skub says thanks for letting us follow your adventures