revtothelimit - motorbike forum

In the early stages of planning a weekend trip to see a mate in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, France. Thinking about heading to Folkstone Thursday night and camping there overnight to get rid of the bit from Newbury which will take about 2.5 hours, and getting an early train across to Calais on the Friday morning and doing the run in one go. Then heading back on Monday morning first thing to catch a late train back.

The trip through France will take about 9 hours each way so also thinking of making my way further in to France on Thursday night and camping there. The slog back in one day is kind of fixed as I don't want to use more time off work.

Anyone done a trip like this before on a bike and has any advice? Thanks.

My longest trip was right down to Portugal and Gibraltar in 2 weeks.

JFDI

I think I'd be trying to organise it so I avoided camping near Folkestone and getting across the other side ASAP. Take Thursday off.

From Newbury I'd probably think about getting an early night at home, an early start on the Friday & catch a train around 7am. Get the full trip in on the Friday.

Last time I tried to do all of France in one day from the tunnel was accidentally on a Good Friday. Don't do that.

I'd want a week to do that trip. Good luck!

Dunno why, but I love long motorway drives on bikes.
Always seem peaceful and scream it from 70 to 120 about every 15 mins

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:59 pm I'd want a week to do that trip. Good luck!

It looks about twice as far as Flash's place near Niort, once you're over the Channel and I used to take the interesting route and have a stop over on the way there!

I think after looking at the maps I'd be better taking Thursday off work, leaving Thursday morning, stopping half way down and arriving Friday. Then head back Sunday, stop halfway and get home on Monday. Seems a bit more conducive to not being knackered all weekend and gives me more opportunities not be on the motorway for the whole trip.

Count Steer wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:44 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:59 pm I'd want a week to do that trip. Good luck!

It looks about twice as far as Flash's place near Niort, once you're over the Channel and I used to take the interesting route and have a stop over on the way there!

Hmmmmm

OB and I once did Caen to FLASH in about 5 hours on the back roads, but the main trick there is that we used the overnight ferry. Saves at least 2 hours of riding.

Maybe do that instead of the train? Get a good nights kip on the ferry. Portsmouth is less than 2 hours from Newbury.

Rockburner wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:46 pm

Count Steer wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:44 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:59 pm I'd want a week to do that trip. Good luck!

It looks about twice as far as Flash's place near Niort, once you're over the Channel and I used to take the interesting route and have a stop over on the way there!

Hmmmmm

OB and I once did Caen to FLASH in about 5 hours on the back roads, but the main trick there is that we used the overnight ferry. Saves at least 2 hours of riding.

Maybe do that instead of the train? Get a good nights kip on the ferry. Portsmouth is less than 2 hours from Newbury.

I'll have a look, thanks

Rockburner wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:46 pm

Count Steer wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:44 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:59 pm I'd want a week to do that trip. Good luck!

It looks about twice as far as Flash's place near Niort, once you're over the Channel and I used to take the interesting route and have a stop over on the way there!

Hmmmmm

OB and I once did Caen to FLASH in about 5 hours on the back roads, but the main trick there is that we used the overnight ferry. Saves at least 2 hours of riding.

We could have done it door to door in a day but we went with Moo and Slug on the back roads and Flash recommended a hotel called Le Saumon on the route so we made it a longer holibobs. It was v pleasant so that's what we did each time.

I did Calais down to Bonneville in thw Haute Savoie in 1 day, and the return leg right back to MK at the end of the weekend. That was on a Triumph T100 Bonnie.

It is doable, but not really enjoyable. I would not choose to do it again.

The DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe leaves at 2300 and lands in Dieppe at 0430.
That way you don't have to camp and can have a sleep in your cabin on the ferry and you get an early start when you get to France.
I've done this several times. Got down to Nice in one day.

ninja wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:32 am The DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe leaves at 2300 and lands in Dieppe at 0430.
That way you don't have to camp and can have a sleep in your cabin on the ferry and you get an early start when you get to France.
I've done this several times. Got down to Nice in one day.

Yes - but it's a rather unpleasant experience (I've done that trip two or three times). The Brittany Ferries Portsmouth - Caen (Oustreham) is a nicer ferry, (yes it's pricier) and lands you much further south than Calais or Dieppe . ((I think St Malo is further south, but a longer ferry trip).

You also avoid Rouen.

Rockburner wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:09 pm

ninja wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:32 am The DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe leaves at 2300 and lands in Dieppe at 0430.
That way you don't have to camp and can have a sleep in your cabin on the ferry and you get an early start when you get to France.
I've done this several times. Got down to Nice in one day.

Yes - but it's a rather unpleasant experience (I've done that trip two or three times). The Brittany Ferries Portsmouth - Caen (Oustreham) is a nicer ferry, (yes it's pricier) and lands you much further south than Calais or Dieppe . ((I think St Malo is further south, but a longer ferry trip).

You also avoid Rouen.

Agreed. But for an early start to a long ride/drive, the Newhaven ferry is hard to beat. Way cheaper than Brittany Ferries as well. You get what you pay for, as they say.

ninja wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:12 pm

Rockburner wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:09 pm

ninja wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 8:32 am The DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe leaves at 2300 and lands in Dieppe at 0430.
That way you don't have to camp and can have a sleep in your cabin on the ferry and you get an early start when you get to France.
I've done this several times. Got down to Nice in one day.

Yes - but it's a rather unpleasant experience (I've done that trip two or three times). The Brittany Ferries Portsmouth - Caen (Oustreham) is a nicer ferry, (yes it's pricier) and lands you much further south than Calais or Dieppe . ((I think St Malo is further south, but a longer ferry trip).

You also avoid Rouen.

Agreed. But for an early start to a long ride/drive, the Newhaven ferry is hard to beat. Way cheaper than Brittany Ferries as well. You get what you pay for, as they say.

Last time I did that journey, I was in a FIAT 500 driving down to the Poitier area for a New Years Eve party.... we got to La Fleche before we found anything open for breakfast! I remember driving past the grandstand at Le Man just as dawn was breaking.

I think my main objection is the 4:30 arrival time.... it's just not a civilised time of day.

Rockburner wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:18 pm

ninja wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:12 pm

Rockburner wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:09 pm

Yes - but it's a rather unpleasant experience (I've done that trip two or three times). The Brittany Ferries Portsmouth - Caen (Oustreham) is a nicer ferry, (yes it's pricier) and lands you much further south than Calais or Dieppe . ((I think St Malo is further south, but a longer ferry trip).

You also avoid Rouen.

Agreed. But for an early start to a long ride/drive, the Newhaven ferry is hard to beat. Way cheaper than Brittany Ferries as well. You get what you pay for, as they say.

Last time I did that journey, I was in a FIAT 500 driving down to the Poitier area for a New Years Eve party.... we got to La Fleche before we found anything open for breakfast! I remember driving past the grandstand at Le Man just as dawn was breaking.

I think my main objection is the 4:30 arrival time.... it's just not a civilised time of day.

Yes, it's unholy, that's for sure. I went a few weeks ago. It seemed to take forever to pass an open boulangerie. But you can get some good miles in before the locals wake up.
My girlfriend liked the fact that you can have a sleep on the boat and we got all the way down south in a day.
My time off is pretty limited though, so I'd rather crack on and get to some hills as soon as I can.

Easyjet from Bristol into Toulouse (from £25 each way in April). an hour in a hire car and job jobbed.

I wouldn't want to do a 550 mile day on the bike after camping in Folkstone then doing it again 48 hours later.

Few more days and an enjoyable route us the correct answer.

Rockburner wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:18 pm
I think my main objection is the 4:30 arrival time.... it's just not a civilised time of day.

I had no idea such a time existed. It sounds most uncivilzed.