88KE and myself had an excellent trip to France in May where we met Bikerboy and Jude. Hospitality and the welcome was great.

So. This idea germinated this time last year.

Question now, any interest in a trip for 2015. Ferry for bike and rider return in May €140 on Irish Ferries and great value camping at the French municipal sites.

I am on for May and very flexible on dates. I know holidays take a little arranging so . . . . .

22nd October 2014:
I am adding in 'interests' as this could be an interesting adventure....and encouragement to others. Likely date out is Saturday 30th May as in the Irish June bank holiday weekend.

There is not really any need to book ferries early, they don't book out early and I will keep an eye out. So no pressure or hassles on getting there. And no fixed rigid routes apart from a good wish list.

TacKler
88KE [Will and Alex]
92KK
Comberjohn
Sgmayhew.

Maybe.  I know the Irish can be a little flexible in their timings ... like, give or take a week.   :geek: 

I may consider going slightly later, i.e. late May/early June so as some of the passes are not snowed in and the weather is a little warmer.  I missed out on the Dolomites and Stelvio, so that is a must. 

At the moment I am tossing up between the US and EU, for next year, so I will need some more convincing that the EU is preferable.  I think that a K and  7 and a 5 would have to be thrown into the equation to swing me towards a flight west.   

Mmmm K100LT in 88KEs bike shed performed as it should on our French trip. But he left a K75 parked at home. . . . .

We have been discussing leaving bikes in Europe and I now can leave one in Antwerp, if I sort the L T.

So some of the Italian and Alpine passes now come on the agenda.

TacKler wrote:Maybe.  I know the Irish can be a little flexible in their timings ... like, give or take a week.   :geek: 

I may consider going slightly later, i.e. late May/early June so as some of the passes are not snowed in and the weather is a little warmer.  I missed out on the Dolomites and Stelvio, so that is a must. 

At the moment I am tossing up between the US and EU, for next year, so I will need some more convincing that the EU is preferable.  I think that a K and  7 and a 5 would have to be thrown into the equation to swing me towards a flight west.   

I've got one you can have for the trip! Swinging??? EH??? EH???

Sounds like 88KE has thrown down the gauntlet.

Had this wild idea- you come to ireland and we all head to France and after a week or so (irish weeks sometimes have 14 days) you disappear off to the Alps etc etc and leave the K75 back at Bikerboy's place so we have an excuse to go back down again. . .

Sounds like 88KE has thrown down the gauntlet.

Had this wild idea- you come to ireland and we all head to France and after a week or so (irish weeks sometimes have 14 days) you disappear off to the Alps etc etc and leave the K75 back at Bikerboy's place so we have an excuse to go back down again. . .

92KK K100LT 193214 wrote:Sounds like 88KE has thrown down the gauntlet.

Had this wild idea- you come to ireland and we all head to France and after a week or so (irish weeks sometimes have 14 days) you disappear off to the Alps etc etc and leave the K75 back at Bikerboy's place so we have an excuse to go back down again. . .

Is someone trying to bribe me into making an appearance, or are they just trying to twist my arm?   

twisting your rubber arm  :joker:

Go on 88 give it a good twist he will come.

RicK G wrote:Go on 88 give it a good twist he will come.

He's getting the full "Chinese burn" here Rick!  

And he hasn't had the ice cream at Ballycastle yet, or come down the Conor Pass, or enjoyed an Ulster Fry.

All we need is to fix some weather. ......

Jeez Olaf don't attemt to fix it! It will only break again in half an hour here.

We get Comberjohn to fix the weather! I have a distillery and two breweries within half an hour of me. That was you can stay under the weather for as long as you want.

88KE wrote:

RicK G wrote:Go on 88 give it a good twist he will come.

He's getting the full "Chinese burn" here Rick!  

Ow, ow, ow!

Think I set up a new thread in error.

Was looking at a May 2015 trip due to all the positives from 2014. So many places to visit and routes to travel that it is impossible to get everything in.

I fancy May as its warm enough to travel comfortably........

Sitting here looking at summer plans....and looking at options.....

Update on travels etc.

School holidays start on Friday 29th May. There is also a ferry to Roscoff on 28th May
Ferry:
Rosslare to Roscoff Saturday 30th May........arrives about 11am Sunday 31st May. €236.00 return, bike plus reclining seat. €273.00 return with half a 2 berth cabin. Saturday 6th or Monday 8th from Roscoff to Rosslare, 6pm?

Cork Roscoff Saturday 30th May €202 return Brittany Ferries Pont Aven, bike plus reclining seat, €256.00 return bike plus half a 2 berth cabin. Less if sharing a 4 berth cabin. Leaves on Saturday also about 4pm but you are off the ferry at Roscoff at 7.30am. Return is Friday night 8.30pm from Roscoff, either 5th or 12th....arrive Saturday morning at Cork.

Its possible to mix and match too.....not much to choose between the two ferries, both are excellent. Except the Cork ferry gets in to Roscoff over 3 hours earlier and makes for a nice long day.....

Thoughts on routes....

Will and myself found a nice camp site not so far from La Rochelle, a nice distance from the ferry but not too taxing. I now have an invite from a fellow biker to stop off about 40 minutes before La Rochelle, on the A83. A nice municipal camp site there too.

Having missed Cap Ferret this time because of weather it would be nice to add it back in. There is a nice coastal route with a ferry at Royan. The run down to Cap Ferret s excellent and if weather permitted its a nice place to stop over. Nice camp sites down there too.

From there, possibly visit Bikerboy again. Limeuil on the river [Garonne/Visere confluence] had a lovely municipal camp site on the bend in the river, excellent eatery across the road. A good base for maybe 2 days so a lay day and local trips. Visit Brunos too.

Need an overnight stop on the way back too, but that could be up at Mont St Michel and allow 3 hours from there to ferry [Cherbourg or Roscoff].

Let weather be our guide....

We now know the vagaries of food and petrol in France quite well, so I travel with an empty top box so I can fill up with food, shops open 8am to noon and 4-8pm, with a very few open later. So have some space for what you need on the way.

So far 88KE [and Alex] and myself are looking at this but some interest too from Comberjohn and more. For now I don't see much point in booking ferries, no real need as there is generally space for a bike....

Any more thoughts in this?

Olaf.

Changing your handle, Olaf. Are the Garda on your trail?
Suppose I might have to buy a tent and a sleeping bag then.
Looks like I'm in. 
Fancy a trip to France next year and would be good to go with some who know the ropes.

Very good to see you, first in as usual.

You would love it. But as for tents, a decent 2 man is needed, for air space and also in case of wet.... Tunnel is easier to erect single handed, but a dome is stronger and will stay up without pegs. Don't buy too cheap, about


€75 to €100 will buy a good one. Pitch outer first is essential.


And an air bed. I have a footpump and its fine. Don't bother with electric because you cant use them in the night they are too noisy.

The other essential is a decent chair to sit on. Unless you spend mega money on a Helinox €20 in Halfords will buy a decent one to sit on. These are perfect.

Olaf, (ex 92....),

The Chinese do a cheaper copy of a Helinox chair:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Chair-Folding-Seat-Stool-Fishing-Camping-Hiking-Gardening-Beach-Blue-/360898043743?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_furniture_ET&hash=item5407331f5f

I've seen one and compared it to my genuine Helinox and, quite honestly, I can't tell any difference.

Paul.

Olaf,

Your new handle doesn't trip off the tongue any easier than the old one did! Got me thinking though.....

Sadly the dates for the France 2015 run don't work for me - half term for my girls is the previous week and then they are back to school into horrible exams, so I don't think my absence would be appreciated no matter how much I'd rather run off and enjoy myself!

TacKler wrote:Maybe.  I know the Irish can be a little flexible in their timings ... like, give or take a week.   :geek: 

I may consider going slightly later, i.e. late May/early June so as some of the passes are not snowed in and the weather is a little warmer.  I missed out on the Dolomites and Stelvio, so that is a must. 

At the moment I am tossing up between the US and EU, for next year, so I will need some more convincing that the EU is preferable.  I think that a K and  7 and a 5 would have to be thrown into the equation to swing me towards a flight west.   

Dave,

I popped up a post considering a trip to France Saturday 30th May. I am kind of hoping to make it 2 weeks as no one at home is showing any inclination for a family holiday and I like to get outdoors. This will depend on 88KE on how long suits him too.

Comberjohn has already expressed interest.

Olaf.

For Dave....

I believe you slept here too....

On a sadder note Bob just told me that Bruno's wife Isabel had a bad crash off a scooter in the summer and is still recovering. Bruno is on the look out for a K1200.....looks like he picked up K pox too. I think Bert [CF] and that Swiss guy were the start of it. The forum sticker is still on the door too..!



88KE [Will]         Bikerboy [Bob]                                              Bruno                92KK[Olaf]

Taking photo I think was Jude......also a BMW owner. With mit Zorst.

I'm trying to sort school dates but 28th/29th sounds about right for end of School. 

I would love to return to the Vezere  Valley, so much to see and super roads.

That camp stool is a great find SCP, very neat pack size! Any recommendations on a 3-4 season sleeping bag.

Will

Hi Will,
As a serial camper, I use down sleeping bags; a Macpac for winter and an Exped 2-3 season for summer, both very 'roomy' and not restrictive like a mummy bag. Down is expensive but it packs really small and one day I might even buy an Exped waterproof sleeping bag, their advertising video show it floating on an alpine lake! I don't really need one, but it would just be nice to have when the ice starts melting inside the tent.

Exped insulated air mats, down or synthetic, are, to my mind, the best thing since K's were invented, :1B:and they are worth their (minimal) weight in gold. I use a 'DLX9 LW pump' for winter and an 'ultralight 5 LW' for summer.

Paul.

Paul when I was young in Scouts my dad bought us down sleeping bags. awesome, used 4 seasons and always right even in Christmas camping. Icelandic tents. A definite for all year camping. I looked at one recently and fancy one in my Christmas stocking.

I have been round the garden on the sleeping 'bed', camp beds, mats and more and always end up back on the airbed. €20. But my body is funny. 

7 months to go!!

So, last weekend in May it may be.  Which means I would have to arrive a couple of days before hand to acclimatise.

Are there any airports in Ireland?  Or will I have to catch a boat from the UK?  :pale:

D

TacKler wrote:So, last weekend in May it may be.  Which means I would have to arrive a couple of days before hand to acclimatise.

Are there any airports in Ireland?  Or will I have to catch a boat from the UK?  :pale:

D

Eh?

Is this real ? Is there any beer in Australia?

Ok, fun over. We have lots and lots of airports and airport coach services. Our island is so small its a case of anyone who hasn't flown by the time they go to school is rare.

Dublin DUB about 20m passengers a year
Cork ORK about 3m passengers a year
Shannon SNN about 1.5m passengers a year.
Kerry
Knock
Waterford
Galway
Sligo
Belfast also has international routes and very easy access to Dublin. No political issues we can assure you.

On a serious note British airways will route you to Dublin or virtually anywhere via the UK, check bags through etc. The main carriers use the first three but all can handle short haul and 737-800. Aer Lingus also have a regional service which uses the other airports using turboprops. Good service. Connections to anywhere in UK like Birmingham Edinburgh Manchester.

In perspective, the Dublin London route is one of the busiest international commuter routes in the world. Something in the region of 200 flights a week.

Local airlines are:

www.ryanair.com. horrible attitude/services but cheap, you pay for everything. Punctual and reliable and new planes, all Boeing 737-800. If you fly into London Gatwick or Stansted STN lots of services to Ireland.
www.aerlingus.com friendly, European and lots of transatlantic routes, locally often cheaper than Ryanair. All Airbus A320/330. London Heathrow and Gatwick to Ireland.
www.ba.com British Airways will route you to Ireland no problem. DUB SNN and ORK best bet. Codeshare with BA. A very good option for through ticket.
www.easyjet.com European routes but also fly into Ireland. You will change bags, possibly airports. Same as Ryanair but more friendly.
Etihad fly world wide and have a Dubai to Dublin route. Excellent if you route a through ticket that way.
If you travel east via US Aer Lingus have a direct San Francisco to Dublin service.
www.klm.com fly to Dublin Cork Shannon, world wide service
www.airfrance.com.
www.lufthansa.com
www.americanairlines.com

From Dublin there is an excellent Aircoach service to Cork [92KK], Shannon, Wexford [pass 88KE]. Most of them run at night too.

Olaf

Any more thoughts or volunteers for the trip to France next year?
I've got the idea sold to the child bride and now I'm looking forward to it.
Looks like it's going to be around the end of May and about a week to ten days?
Starting to look at tents and bits and pieces.
Has anyone an outline of a possible route yet? Never been to France so no idea where is good.
It's good to have something to plan for when the winter is over. 
Days start to get longer again in only three weeks!

Possible:
Roscoff south to Pontivy to St Nazaire to La Rochelle. Overnight camp. cork ferry?
La  Rochelle to Cap Ferret to Perigueux to Limeuil. Base and explore. Meet Bikerboy and Jude.
Perigueux to Millau to Montpelier. Overnight.
No thought on route back yet!
All weather dependent.

Did some searching on www.brittanyferries.com
Ship is Pont Aven.

Cork to Roscoff 4.30pm Saturday May 30th, docking 7am Sunday morning. Off for about 7.30am.
Roscoff to Cork 9.30pm Friday 12th June. Docking Cork 10am Saturday morning.

€128 return, plus €7.50 booking fee.

Reclining seat accommodation €17 each way. 2 berth cabin €75 each way but might accommodate 3.

Best option seems to be €169.50 return including booking fee and reclining seating. A good ship too.

If 12th is too far out can use Irish Ferries to return earlier.

Looked at the options....just a few thoughts trying to keep daily runs enjoyable. Plenty of municipal camp sites.

12 nights total on the above.

La Rochelle.
Cap Ferret, maybe 2 nights.
Toulouse [tour Airbus A380 factory, €23]
Millau
Limeuil for a few days.
Le Mans and Amboise [home to Leonardo da Vinci]
Mont St Michel and from there to ferry.

Any thoughts on timescales..?

You Irish are a problem!  

This Aussie will be in France in March and sometime in the second half of the year.

You put your little excursion on in May!  Tsk Tsk. (imagine admonishing finger pointing)

I'll get to meet some of you sometime I hope.  

Bill

So when are you in France then? August gets hot in France for us and ferry prices are a bit crazy. 

May date came up bcause:
1: Works for 88KE because is start of school holiday for Alex if he comes.
2: Off season ferry. 
3: Should be good weather but not too hot.
4: Not too busy.
5: Still leaves time for other Kamping trips in June july August.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:So when are you in France then? August gets hot in France for us and ferry prices are a bit crazy. 

May date came up bcause:
1: Works for 88KE because is start of school holiday for Alex if he comes.
2: Off season ferry. 
3: Should be good weather but not too hot.
4: Not too busy.
5: Still leaves time for other Kamping trips in June july August.

My comment was entirely tongue-in-cheek.

I actually won't have too much spare time in March as I'll be in France to help out in my daughter's household due to the new baby arriving in late February.

Second half of the year isn't decided yet. I retire in the middle of the year, and my wife and I will be spending some time with our daughter's family in Rodemack (close to Luxembourg), but other touristy things as well.
We'll likely be avoiding August due to hot weather and tourist crazy crowded season. Beyond that, all unknown.

I still hope to meet some of the Irish Knuts at some time, though.

Bill

Brittany Ferries tonight €64 each way, without cabin, Cork Roscoff. Lunch on me if we do this route. Am just 10 minutes off the route. 

Also, they only take 25% now, balance at mid April.

Olaf

Dear Bill, 

Sorry to hear that the Irish itinerary does not fit.  The bit they have not mentioned, due to the Irish being extremely polite people, is that they are working their plans around me.  In this case you might say, "first in, best dressed".  (further TIC)

So, Olaf, Will, etc. the dates look good, so should be able to finalise travel details in the new year.  Are we factoring a 75C into the ferry bookings? 

Dave.

My daughter is in Antwerp. I will be over there at some point. You will not be so far from us. Usually fly to Brussels and there is a good train service.

Luxembourg to Beauvais airport not too bad eiiher.

TacKler wrote:Dear Bill, 

Sorry to hear that the Irish itinerary does not fit.  The bit they have not mentioned, due to the Irish being extremely polite people, is that they are working their plans around me.  In this case you might say, "first in, best dressed".  (further TIC)

So, Olaf, Will, etc. the dates look good, so should be able to finalise travel details in the new year.  Are we factoring a 75C into the ferry bookings? 

Dave.

I have this idea there is a K75 being factored in here. I was talking with 88KE about the trip today.

Comberjohn as far as I know has his exit visa and Sgmayhew also mentioned having one as we would be in a group.
I am thinking it could be worth making a booking for a 4 berth cabin. I think the reclining seats are allocated when booking and if we book at different times then we end up split. Previously I have had seats booked and upgraded on board by just paying the difference.

The only real advantage of going from Cork instead of Rosslare is the time of arrival, 7am instead of 10.30am. Prices are similar and ships are similar.

For those dates I reckon booking at last minute will work too.

Update 12 December 2014

Looks like TacKler will be arriving at Dublin Wednesday 27 May for ferry for Saturday 30 May.

Outward leg we can use Cork Roscoff Brittany Ferries which arrives 7.00am or we can use Rosslare Roscoff Irish Ferries which arrives 10.30am [after the Brittany Ferries has departed for Plymouth....].

Budget approx €100 each for each way, including cabin space. My latest check on Brittany Ferries was €896 for 5 adults plus Alex and 5 motorbikes going out and 4 adults plus Alex and 4 bikes coming back, mix of cabin and 2 reserved seats but am I happy to travel on the seats....a few litres of petrol is as good as a bed or we can upgrade it later. This was for out on Saturday 30 May and return Friday night 12th June.

We can always use Roscoff to Rosslare to come back earlier than June 12th so we could just book the outwards for now and we can book the return a bit later when we work that out. We need to work a time out with Comberjohn as he was not looking at a full 2 weeks.

My suggestion is book the outward for now.
From Cork it comes at €489.00. They only take about 25% at this time, balance on 14th April. From Rosslare it will be much the same so its a case of deciding which to go for.

Since Cork is obviously a great advantage to me, being only about 15 minutes from the ferry port, meaning everyone has a longer run and I get saved a 3 hour 200km run so I will look after lunch for us if we use that option. You might have to try my home cooking.....if the weather is half decent a bbq lunch might be on the cards....

Brittany Ferries €371 one way Cork Roscoff [depart 4pm Sat 30 May, arrive 7am Sun 31 May] for 4 passengers, including bikes and a 4 berth en suite cabin with a window.....Cabin included at €109 [€27.25 each for 4], travel is €256.

They only need 25% at this time so I could book this leg at this time.

Looks like 88KE, Bill and 92KK confirmed.....

Thoughts......


Return date of Wednesday 10th June from Cherbourg to Rosslare, arrive Thursday 11th June......?? Works out at €211 for 2 plus bikes plus cabin.

Both legs approx €200....with a cabin to sleep in.

I'm not on for this one Olaf. I bought her-indoors a holiday to Florida for Christmas, but the resulting brownie points will have expired long before June.

Mind you, seeing Elizabeth's face when she started reading the flight itinerary and twigged what it was for was worth every moment I'd kept quiet about it!!

Dai wrote:I'm not on for this one Olaf. I bought her-indoors a holiday to Florida for Christmas, but the resulting brownie points will have expired long before June.

Mind you, seeing Elizabeth's face when she started reading the flight itinerary and twigged what it was for was worth every moment I'd kept quiet about it!!

Nice one Dai. 

Holiday in Floriday = 1 Brownie point
New house = 1 Brownie point
Flowers = 1 Brownie point

Forgetting anniversary = -30 Brownie points. 

Hard currency to come by easy to squander.

I had over 100.000 at one stage. I spent 99,999 on buying a bike and a lads night out and just squandered the other one on a row I was sure I'd won

Damn. I forgot the flowers.

I'd love to but nobody to mind the cubs if we run away in May That's the biggest problem arising from having promoted her to pillion....

Bjorn

You need one of those Ks with a sidecar for 2 little ones.......

Yeah, the day I hit the jackpot....

This evening I looked at booking this one to take account of early booking discounts.

For Saturday 30 May Brittany Ferries Cork Roscoff I get a cabin for 4 of us for €99, travel for each of us €64, plus a booking fee of €7.50. Its just short of €300 for 3 of us including bikes. For 4 we would be looking about €365.00 total.

I am proposing to book this for TacKler and 88KE and myself. Anytime before travelling we can add another to this booking to share the cabin.

88KE and myself are looking at return on Wednesday 10th June, Cherbourg to Rosslare, Irish Ferries, leaving 18.00 arrive Rosslare 11.30am Thursday 11th. This is looking just at €200 including cabin for 2. Using Pullman seats about €140.00 for 2 of us.

Travel budget then is about €100 each way including cabin. If we just use the Pullman seats about €160 but we K riders do need a little comfort.


No fixed rigid plans about having a lot of places booked as its not the busy season.
But Bikerboy and Hooligan Pensioner Jude are expecting to see us..........
I did hear a mention of Pyrenees and the time would allow us do this if we head down west to La Rochelle to St Jean de Luz then head east along the Pyrenees and backtrack to Limeuil.

Something to see without a detour as its bang on one of the likely routes coming N164 from the ferry on 31st.....it wont be gone from us. In fact our timing is perfect!! The Blavet valley is worth a visit, it winds its way down to Lorient.

http://guerledan2015.fr/guerledan-barrage-vidange/

Sorry, its in French....


He he 4 months to go......

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote: The Blavet valley is worth a visit, it winds its way down to Lorient.

I'm all for winding valleys on the Moto!

88KE wrote:

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote: The Blavet valley is worth a visit, it winds its way down to Lorient.

I'm all for winding valleys on the Moto!

That link was to a web site for the water dam on the Blavet. When it was built they flooded a valley similar to the Lee Valley in Cork. The Blavet dam is drained very 10 years for inspection and it exposes the flooded out villages and countryside. Seems there are tours etc. They start draining it in March so by end May its dry. We pass alongside it then turn south through Pontivy.....

For any more Eccentrics ferry is booked Saturday 30 May, depart Cork 4pm arrive Roscoff 7am Sunday morning.

88KE 92KK and TacKler are booked.