French Run 2009 - ferry possibility

I've finally got a price from LD Ferries for their Portsmouth-Le Havre
sailings. To begin with, they gave me a quote for passengers and a
separate quote "for my coach".

*Sigh*

"Er, no, I clearly said about 35 motorcycles...."

Anyway, this would involve the 11pm outward sailing on Thursday night
(30 April), arriving about 8am in Le Havre, and the 1700 sailing back
on Sunday, arriving Portsmouth at abut 2130.

Prices are £38 for bike and rider, plus £13.75 for a cabin berth (four-
berth cabin, no facilities) on the outward trip (really, the only way
to do it). For two people it's £57 for the bike and rider and pillion,
plus the berth.

These aren't bad prices at all, especially considering that Le Havre
is a lot closer to Pithiviers. Downside is that those in the Frozen
North will have to forgo some of Thursday to get down there, but then
they tend to do that anyway.

Other downside is the arrival time in Portsmouth, which again will be
a PITA for many people. However, I thought I'd see what people
thought. LD Ferries want 25% deposit, which'll mean anothr call for
funds.

I'm tempted to stick with Dover-Calais, tbh.

 

Where's the fun in being closer to the destination with
all those open French roads to play on? I thought the
whole point of the trip was to ride a bike, not get
pissed on the ferry. Oh, hang on...

 

I'm fine either way.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "TOG@Toil"

Gets my vote.

 

The other downside is 5½ hours on the briny during daytime, which will be
murder, as we won't be able to spend the time drinking.

AOL.

 

Portsmouth sounds good to me too.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

You've changed your fucking tune! Eight hours of concentrated puking
should set you up nicely for the weekend...

 

Either is fine with me.

 

Sunset in May will be about 8:30. Anyway, I'm using the term to refer to
"time while I am awake, sat in the lounge in a fucking boat". I don't mind
long sea crossings when I can have dinner with friends, a few beers, then
retire to my cabin for a night's sleep followed by breakfast and a stroll
downstairs to the bike deck to begin a day of fast riding.

 

I've finally got a price from LD Ferries for their Portsmouth-Le Havre
sailings. To begin with, they gave me a quote for passengers and a
separate quote "for my coach".

*Sigh*

Neil, will the ferries be timed like last year, as in two crossings to
choose from?
I only ask, as last years suited me just fine?

Ta

Nige

 

Adie and I have been looking into going from Portsmouth to Caen but
returning at 8am on the Monday working on the basis that we can have a
bit of a ride around the country then stop in a hotel in Caen on the
Sunday night.

It'll work out dearer than going with the group but we'll be able to
do more than just hammer down to the hotel on the Friday plus have the
Sunday to do whatever we choose. I hadn't posted anything before about
doing this because it just confuses matters and it's a TOG Tour so he
gets the final say on how he sorts it for the masses.

 

That was one of the things on my agenda, and the tramp around the M25

 

I think I'll leave it as is. Those who want to go another route have
always had the option of selecting 'no ferry' on the booking form,
after all.

I don't think we'll be split up into two boats this year, because
they've said they can handle up to 35 bikes, and we're slightly short
of that as quite a few people - Dodger, Bonwicks, and others - are
sorting their own ferries out.

There's also the hassle factor in getting the 25% deposit off everyone
again.

 

Ferries will be whenever ferries will be. They'll depart from wherever
they depart from.

You'd think after years of DFVing he'd know better than to start
offering people choices.

 

Put in those terms, I can see your point. Okay, I withdraw my objections.

It's not the M20 I dislike, it's the whole 200 miles. And that's not such a
grind when it's outbound.

 

I only have 85 miles, but I agree. It's just the way, after blasting
around French roads and generally having fun, you get off the boat,
are confronted by that bloody awful dual carriageway up the hill
towards the M20, with cars intent on sitting in the outside lane at
65mph to overtake the truck that's still a mile ahead of them, all the
sodding cameras, and the sheer crap driving that you've been able to
avoid for the previous 48 hours.

 

I only have 85 miles, but I agree. It's just the way, after blasting
around French roads and generally having fun, you get off the boat,
are confronted by that bloody awful dual carriageway up the hill
towards the M20, with cars intent on sitting in the outside lane at
65mph to overtake the truck that's still a mile ahead of them, all the
sodding cameras, and the sheer crap driving that you've been able to
avoid for the previous 48 hours.

I nipped up the A2 last year & it was better than the M20.

 

That said, the M27/A31/A3 away from Portsmouth is just as bad.

 

It can snarl up pretty bad at Oxford, but generally i use that route. It
used to be bloody murder before it was dualed & even then, until the
Newbury bypass.

 

You looked rather peaky on that tiny seacat from Newhaven, spending most of
the journey outside with the smokers.