Arras - Hoeven Saturday 7th July 2012

As today was a relatively short distance of 250km to Home for the Dutch lads and 327km to Europort for the English lads we had loads of time to do the optional WW1 run. A short route of 70km taking in the Memorial at Thiepval where the names of 73,000 British troops with no known grave are listed. Plus the Canadian memorial at Beaumont Hamel.

In the Somme area of France there are simply to many sites to visit we had to make choices and a couple of hours just isn't enough to do it justice. But enough to get an idea of the butchery they call war.


Then it was off home (well mine) for a farewell drink.

Brive - Arras Friday 6th July 2012

Magic Magic Magic....... A day of over twelve hours and 700km/435miles.


We departed from Brive as planned at 8.00am and arrived at 8.15pm yet still a terrific day. My problem is....as usual.... where to start? Perhaps with last night, as with all groups, nick names have become the norm, every one knew that Sietse has become Derrick? Pauline has become Scaramanga? ( she was bitten by a bug during the night ) as she has now an extra nipple? For those who don't know Scaramanga was an enemy of James Bond who also had  a third nipple, just his wasn't on his leg like Pauline's was. Karen who was Miss Goody Two Shoes the whole trip had never received a fine (that's another story) during the whole trip was now called Mother Teresa. Bob was now Sam after the character in Lord of the rings?

We never knew the height difference between Derrick (Sietse) and Sam (Bob) was so great?


Back to today's ride, I had heard about people chasing storms but have never experienced a storm chasing people, till today? We were on the bikes and looking to the south rain clouds were gathering. Just as we left it started to rain. Luckily within 5km we were ahead of the rain and the roads were good. We left the motorway as planned and headed to Oradour Sur Glane the French Village wiped out by the Germans in WW11.

Fortunately for us when the rain caught up to us we were inside the visitors centre in Oradour so no problem.


Naturally we stayed here far to long, but it was very interesting and impressive. If those are the right words to describe such events. 


Now on to Paris and the ring road. The ring was simply full. For about three minutes we were all good little bikers and sat waiting patiently in the line with the cars. While all the French bikes and scooters went zoom zoom in and out of the traffic. What could we do? So as they say When in Rome do as the Romans do! We were soon riding through the traffic at 40km per hour much to the reluctance of the English lads. Of course by doing this we created our own traffic jam????? we soon had 40/50 French bikers/scooter riders getting annoyed at the silly English and Dutch bikers blocking their way. After a few hand gesture's from irate Parisian bikers we too wound our traffic surfing speed up to 70km per hour. Which does get the adrenalin going at times. 


I must be a sad bastard as I enjoyed surfing the traffic on the Paris ring road (want to go back and do it again) On the motor from the ring road we were riding as usual? at the legal speed of 130km per hour and the French bikers were still zooming past us and riding through the traffic. Unlike the French we do have standards to maintain and remained chugging along within the limit.


While all this is going on the rain clouds are still chasing us, we stop at a Peage... its starts to rain, we ride on it stops... we stop for petrol it rains, we ride on its stops. 


On to Arras on good dry roads, we arrive at the hotel tired but it didn't matter we had enjoyed our day.

Uchaud - Brive Thursday 5th July 2012

The thunder and lighting was working overtime in the early ours of this morning and again torrential rain. However it wasn't a problem as still a couple of hours for the sun to break through??? 


By the time we awoke for breakfast the thunder and lightning was gone, but the skies were still grey and the threat of rain was always  there. After looking at the weather radar we decided to change the route to the Millau Bridge in the hope that we could miss the worst of the rain. To the bridge the idea was good and we did miss the rain in fact we were really enjoying the sun. Just being on the motorway was boring. 

We left the bridge behind and I missed our turn off so I added 20km to the trip. That said, the bridge looks good coming from the north? The road we had chosen to leave the A75 and then cross to the A20 motorway was still fun. But slowly but surely the rain was starting to get us and just before we joined the A20 it was pouring down. We have looked at the weather for tomorrow and with a little luck we should have a dry run, which is just as well as tomorrow is big day. We have 700km/434miles to do. Plus visit the French village of Oradour sur Glane which was wiped out by the Nazi's in WW11. 


Unfortunately we have decided that if it's raing hard we will skip it. So fingers crossed for tomorrow. We are staying in a Campanile Hotel tonight, ummmm while it might be OK for truckers it wasn't one of my better choices. Dole, Castellane, St Maxime and Uchaud were terrific Hotels. Thumbs down for Chambery and here. Fingers crossed for our hotel in Arras. 6.30am alarm, 7.00am breakfast and 8.00am departure tomorrow. I almost forgot, I had an SMS from Kevin yesterday to say he was safe and sound on the ferry, the foot rest was repaired. He did say that the first 100km from Chambery towards Lyon was a nightmare, I presume because of the rain. No doubt I will get the whole story from him when I get home. But pleased they are safe and sound.

St Maxime - Uchaud 4th July 2012

Today was always planned as a sort of rest day, with roughly three hours required to get to Uchaud. 


 We took our time getting up and had breakfast at 8.00am by the pool (as one does) and in the sunshine. ( I could get used to French breakfasts ) Bram had never swam in the Meditereanian sea, so naturally this was to good an opportunity to miss, swim gear sorted then off to the beach, even at 9.30am the beach was already reasonably busy. 

We enjoyed our swim and Bram could tick another item off his things to do list. Back to the hotel where we checked out and left the bikes in the garage and our gear in their baggage room. 


Of course some of the lads had a nipple count competition on the beach. Naturally I lost as I never saw any bare boobs? Heaven forbid! After strolling along the beach Bram, Derrek ( Sietse ) and myself complete with Pauline in tow, went st St Tropez. 


To be honest there is nothing there just some very rich people showing their big boats off and the plebs like us gawking at them. We took some photos then off to Uchaud. When we arrived at Uchaud the hotel was on a busy street and looked like a real run down dump. But when we went through the arched gateway our mouths fell open. There was a huge garden, we didn't get rooms we got little houses, with an electric gate and a 4 meter wall the bikes were also perfectly safe. I would defiantly recommend this hotel to any one. The lady owner was friendly and very helpful.... And did her best to speak English, which for a French person is special. She even had had s sence of humour. However that soon went when I ask for some South African wine hahaha.

Castellane - St Maxime 3 July 2012

What I can say about today is that for the first time during this holiday the only things I have to write about are the usual motor bike topics bikes, bends and roads. 


We left Castellane at 9.00am and within ten minutes we were enjoying the views of the Gorges du Verdon. Simply terrific, of course I will admit that perfect weather does make a dramatic difference to the quality of the ride and the enjoyment. Any biker that miss's the Gorge when doing the Route de Napoleon is missing an experience of a life time. The roads while in lots of places are in need of repair are perfectly safe. The whole route around the Gorge of roughly 174km has only got straight bits in total of about 3.5km. A bikers paradise. The views are simply stunning, to see truly what the Gorge has to offer you would need to stop at every bend. 

However as we only allowed five hours for stops today we had to make choices. We stopped regularly to enjoy the sights. It's magic to be looking straight down and see eagles ( I have now been told they were Vultures???? They were big anyway ) souring in the air 500m below and then watch them climb and literally fly over our heads. 


An option that in my opinion should not be missed while doing the Gorge is the Route des Cretes a sort of tarmaced goat path that is so narrow it's one way. This road/path really does run along the edge of the Gorge with drops of 800m straight down in places, magnificent. In loads of places no crash barriers to spoil the views. With hair pin bends so tight they are really U turns. 

Wow, wow and another wow. I am not clever enough to do justice in words to the Gorge. What I will say is that yesterday when the rain stopped and the sun revealed great views we were impressed, what we have seen and done today was a once in a life time experience .......sigh.....I want to do it again. 


In my enthusiasm to tell the story of the Gorge I have forgotten to mention a few things. Firstly Paul was still having problems with a stiff shoulder from dropping the bike on Saturday so we all voted to put Pauline on the back of the bike with Sietse. 
Naturally we didn't tell Sietse that she was scared of heights. If we did he might have said no. I know the rest of us didn't want a screaming hysterical woman jumping about on the back of the bike shouting Oh my God we are all going die, while going around corners. Especially on the goat path? 


But the views were so spectacular that Pauline forgot all about being scared of heights. She never screamed once! Secondly the Dutch lessons they were getting from Bram and Sietse were not going well pronounceation was a problem? Bram's name they could just about manage the name Sietse was to difficult. So his name was changed to Derrick. Sietse now even answers to it (poor bloke). 


Any way back to bikes, bends and roads. We left the Gorge and rejoined the Route de Napoleon down to Cannes. Good roads but an anti climax to what we had experienced. I had planned that we would drive along the coast road from Cannes to St Maxime. 
What I didn't know was that the route I planned was under what must be the lowest bridge in the world and naturally the French being French don't place warning signs? Cars were going through so I thought if they can get under then so can we??? I got through with two inches clearance at the top of my wind screen, arial bent almost double and head hanging to one side. Luckily my loyal followers also managed to get through without whacking their heads on the bridge. 


To be honest the coast road was not one of my best ideas, while it was good to see it, the beaches were simply to busy. Lots of traffic, every pelican crossing was being used as people returned from the beach. We were all pleased to arrive at the hotel and get out of our hot leathers and into some thing cooler. Plus of course to enjoy a pint.

Chambery - Castellane Monday 2nd July 2012

I had hoped that today I would just have a story to tell about riding the bike, but things didn't work out that way. My problem is where to start with the story? Yesterday I had hoped that Kevin would change his mind about returning home but unfortunately it wasn't to be. 
When going outside to wave Kevin and Helen off we discovered firstly that football hooligans had pushed Paul's new BMW bike on to its side damaging the front of the bike. (ffs). 
Secondly two men had tried to rob our hotel, but security was able to prevent them getting into the building? However non of our group had heard any thing, perhaps for the better. Kevin left so the seven bikers were now six. Then the next news, Ian and Claire had also decided to return home for personal reasons. Leaving us now with five. It's starting to get like ten little Indians sitting on the wall? I really do think that I could sell the film rights to our story and make a fortune. 


 We were now on our way to join the Route de Napoleon at Grenoble. With the rain getting progressively heavier as we climbed further up into the mountains. But at last the sun started to break through the rain clouds. The views were simply terrific and what a difference to ride the bikes in the sun and perhaps more importantly on good dry roads. 

We all had the feeling wow....this is what motor biking was all about. Naturally at this stage the different levels of experience began to tell. My problem was that I was the only one with a working GPS and must lead, thus the better bikers were always biting my bum. The bends (some realy tight hair pin bends) and views do make the Route de Napoleon (in my opinion) one of the best biking roads in Europe. 


Our hotel in Castellane is excellent not like the one we had in Chambery last night. We had the distinct impression that you could hire the rooms there by the hour??? But to be fair we are here for the biking and hotels are not really important. The weather forecast for the next couple of days is good, which is just as well as we're are doing the Gorges du Verdon tomorrow. Plus the second part of the Route de Napoleon down to the coast.

Dole - Chambery Sunday 1st July 2012

After yesterday's adventures I was hoping for a more relaxed day, how wrong could I be. However like all good stories I must again begin at the beginning. The hotel where we stayed provided an excellent breakfast, and coming from some one who thinks that the full English break reigns supreme that's saying quite some thing. 


We left the hotel for our first experience of French "B" roads. Naturally we needed to find a petrol station that was open on a Sunday and of course an ATM machine. Luckily the bank was no problem and while we found a petrol station that accepted credit cards it was only with the help of a German tourist that we managed to get any petrol out of the pump. Sad when you think about it. It took an Englishman, a Dutchman and a German to work one French petrol pump. 


The rain was at this stage light to moderate. The route we had chosen was great. Excellent views ( when the rain allowed us to view it ) we were approaching the Swiss border via one of the national park roads when suddenly we were confronted with a barrier saying road closed between 9.00am and 6.00pm. Shit. What choice did we have but to turn around drive back 10kilometers to the last junction and look for an alternative route. 


No sooner said than done. I was leading the pack and had done about 7 kilometers when in true motor police style Sietse over took me and stopped the group. Explaining that Kevin's footrest had fallen off and resulted in a fall. Naturally we turned around again to get to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible. On arriving we were relieved to see that Kevin and Helen were shook up but no injuries other than minor bruises. The bike was fine just the broken foot rest. I must admit it was a great sigh of relief that this was the case. 
Apparently the fall while doing the U turn yesterday had done more damage to the bike than was at first thought. When changing gear his pedal had fallen off resulting in a loss of balance and subsequent fall into (luckily) a raised grassy verge. Unfortunately there was also an electrified cattle fence at the side of the road which was now in constant contact with bike. Helen was under the bike and while trying to push the bike off herself was getting electric shocks. The members of the group who had been riding behind Kevin who at this stage were also trying to lift the bike up and get Helen back on her feet were also getting shocks. As every one was wet from the rain getting an electric shock wasn't difficult. However things had been quickly sorted. 
But I remain amazed how Sietse had the time to help with the rescue and still make enough speed under adverse conditions to catch the lead part of the group up. It was decided that I would take the direct route to the hotel with a still shaken Helen and the rest of the group would help Kevin with an emergency repair. While riding back to the hotel the rain started to fall heavier and heavier making good clear vision difficult. If any one has ever ridden a motor bike with a tense passenger you will understand the effect that has while taking bends. I was impressed that Helen had gotten back straight back onto a bike but was extremely careful not to do do any thing that would cause a slip or heaven forbid, another tumble. But we did manage to get back to the hotel cold, wet but safe. When approaching the Swiss border I suddenly thought oops Helen has no passport ...it's in Kevin's bike. If any Swiss or French customs officers read this then my apologies for people smuggling. Mean while back at Kevin's bike, temporary repairs were being done with the aid of a farmers trailer to bend a spanner to use as a temporary footrest. 


Once all were back at the hotel, showered and had dry clothes even Kevin and Helen were making jokes about the days events. Sadly Kevin and Helen have decided to make their way back to the ferry early tomorrow morning. I sincerely hope that after a good night sleep they change their minds and decide to remain with the group. That's it for today I hope tomorrow the news is less spectacular.

Hoeven - Dole Saturday 30th June 2012

I knew that the planning would never match with the actual events I just never realized that things would so different? However to understand the whole story I need to start from the beginning. Naturally for the lads from the UK the story started yesterday Friday 29th June.

The journey down from Seaton Burn to Hull was uneventful. All the showers were missed and the storm of biblical proportions from yesterday did not repeat its self. The ferry crossing went well the food was excellent and the bar was particularly inviting and for some people it was even open till after midnight?. The planned time table really started to go wrong immediately after breakfast when drivers were called the their vehicles ready to disembark. With two of the bikes the so called quick realism mechanism wasn't as quick as designed to be ( I will leave it open if it was due to being wrongly fitted or a malfunction? ). So that was the first delay.
Then while in the line for custom clearance the bikes were lead to one side and all the bikers had to be breathalysed. Of course this didn't go without comment and Mr R and Mr P, names changed to protect the innocent. Had enough to tell the Dutch Police. However both bikers ended up being very positive about how helpful and intelligent the Dutch police were???? So already a delay of an hour and we hadn't uneven left. 

Departure went as planned with lots of family and friends there to wave the group off. Unfortunatly we were only on the road 15 minutes when we hit our first traffic jam and we weren't even over the Dutch border. So nothing for it but to ride through the traffic jam, which apparently is unusual in the UK. The Dutch and Belgian drivers usually moved to one side to allow the bikes through and the few cars that didn't were always English drivers? Maybe that's why UK bikers aren't keen on driving through traffic jams. The plan was to stop every two hours for thirty minutes. However the ladies decided that this was far to long so every 90minutes we stopped supposedly for 30 minutes but when refueling the bike, a Sanitary stop, a smoke pause and ordering pizza plus chatting its hard to fit it all in the planned breaks? Hence more delays. The journey it's self was good and went very quickly although those at the back of our little group were at times required to be heavy on the throttle to keep up. We knew the motorway bit was a necessary evil, so nothing new in motorway driving. Moving average speed was 106km per hour, average speed including stops was 78km per hour. Top speed just over the maximum limit (well for the most of us) Moving time 6hrs 28 minutes. Distance 686km.

 Almost at our destination 150km to go, sky black, shafts of lightning flashing through the sky. It was decided to put our wet gear on. Fortunetly the was a typical French parking place which we could use. While changing the heavens opened..... Rain and big hailstones they hurt even through our helmets. Luckily we managed to get all the bikes under the cover of a WC building. Not at all good for our image but effective.

We stayed till the worst was over and then continued our journey. We are now 400 meters from the hotel and we make a wrong turn, the first of the day. While doing U turns two of the bikes went over onto their sides luckily no serious injuries, just pride dented. We arrive at the hotel, I get my bike on its stand and one of the lads intending to place his machine next to mine is suddenly attacked by table and chairs. While I didn't witness the attack my self I did see his bike fall and push my bike over too (ffs). Luckily no damage just mud where there shouldn't be mud. Despite the price the hotel is good, food good, beer good, shame about the local wine though? I must admit we have had loads of laughs and looking forward to what tomorrow brings. All tired so an early night ready for an early start tomorrow.

First and last meeting before departure.

Friday 22nd July 2012.

Men, left to right. Kevin, Bob and me (Alan). No, Kevin isn't a Samurai warrior in his free time
Ladies, (Groupies when winding them up) left to right Helen, Karen.


While the meeting was really an excuse for a couple of beers, it did have its plus points. 


The ladies agreed a dress code?????......... (This is a biking week for heavens sake!)
The men agreed who was taking what tools and repair equipment. (Better to have it and not need it, than  to need it and not have it!)


It was explained to Bob in detail where Seaton Burn round-a-bout was?
Helen explained how much she was looking forward to the Ferry back?????


If the meeting was any thing to go by, the trip will not only be memorable but a laugh a minute.

Thats the planning finished

Till now all I have done is written down what the planning is. I am of course very curious how the planning and the reality compare. 


I am intending to do a daily log complete with photos during our trip. Then after that a proper comparison with comments and how we could have improved things?


Roll on the big day.


The big day is Saturday June 30th 2012. Look for the first posts and hopefully photo's on Saturday evening.

Day 8. Saturday WW1 supplement

This route of 75km/47miles non stop would take one hour and twenty seven minutes. The route takes in the Thiepval Memorial and Cemetery which carried the names of 73,000 British and South African men who have no known grave. The Newfoundland Memorial Park with visitors center and preserved trenches.


Then back to the Hotel to collect the rest of the group.


Depart Hotel 8.30am or earlier?


D917              Bapaume
D929              Albert
D73                Hamel/Thiepval
D73                Auchonvillers
D163              Beaumont Hamel
D163              Beaucourt
D163              Beaumont Hamel (again)
D919              Serre/Puisieux
D60                Arras


Return to Hotel 12.00 noon


For the die hard's the memorials are open 24/7 sunrise is at 5.00am?
(maybe the wrong choice of words in this case?)

Day 8. Saturday Arras - Europort

I had deliberately kept the distance for today short as I didn't want the lads who have to catch the ferry to panic or worry. The distance from the Hotel to the Ferry is 327km/204miles and non stop would take three hours and twenty two minutes. As the ferry doesn't depart till the evening there is loads of time. Allowing two hours for stops the latest departure time from the Hotel would be 12.30pm.


Option 1.        Stay in bed and recover from last nights hang over?
Option 2.         Spend a couple of hours touring WW1 sites. (see separate route plan)


Depart Hotel 12.30pm


D950               East
A1/E17           Carvin/Lille
A1/E17           Lille/Dunkerque
N356              Gent/Tourcoing/Lille-centrum
                        Petrol 56km/35,iles from Hotel
A22/E17         Gent
E17                 Antwerpen
E17                 Petrol and rest stop 162km/101miles from hotel. Next planned stop
                        75km/46miles.
R1                   (Antwerpen ring road) Breda
E19/A16         Breda/Rotterdam
                         Petrol 232/145miles from hotel.
A58                 Junction 19 turn right, straight on till round-a-bout turn left and stop at the
                       Tamoil petrol station. Last time to fill up on main land Europe.
                        Next petrol 120km/75miles


Alan's house    Time to leave the Dutch lads and me behind.


Ferry is one hours drive from my house.

Day 7 Friday Brive la Gaillarde - Arras

Today is a busy day, not only do we visit the Village destroyed by the SS in WW2 Oradur-Sur-Glane. But the Paris ring road and in total 695km/434miles to do. According to the Garmin the trip will take seven hours non stop. I have allowed three hours for stops and delays? I just hope I have allowed enough?


Depart Hotel 8.00am


A20                           Limoges/Tulle
                                  Petrol stop 53km/33miles from the Hotel (next planned petrol stop
                                 184km/115miles)
A20                           Junction 33
N191                         The right on the D9
D9                             Petrol 119km/74miles from Hotel    
D9                             Oradur-Sur-Glane * stop here for maximum 90mins.     
D9/D711                  Geux
D711/D38/D381    Chateauponsac
                                 Petrol 186km/116m from Hotel
A20                          Paris
                                 Petrol 237km/150miles Aire du Val de L'Indre Rest Point.
                                 Petrol 285km/178miles from Hotel
                                 Petrol 325km/203miles from Hotel
A20/A71                 Paris
                                Petrol 400km/250miles from Hotel
                                Petrol 485km/303miles. Aire de Limours Bris S/S Forges.
                                Gathering point/rest just prior to the Paris ring road.
                                Next planned stop 40km/25miles???
A10/E50                 Metz/Lille
A6b/E50                Metz/Lille/Nancy
                               Petrol 519km/324miles from Hotel.
                               Petrol 528km/328miles Aire de Repos. Gathering/rest point 
                               just clear of the Paris ring road. Next Planned stop 169km/105miles.
**********                We ride under Charles de Gaulle Airport..... Photo opportunity?
A3                          Lille/Aeroport Ch de Gaulle
A3/E15/A1            Lille/Aeroport Ch de Gaulle
A1                          Lille/Calais/Brussells
                               Petrol 601km/375miles from Hotel
                               Petrol 647km/375miles from Hotel
A1                          Arras/Lille/Calais
A1                          Junction 15 Arras
                               Petrol 694km/433miles meet here to ride to Hotel


                               Arrive Hotel 6.00pm


Ibis Hotel Centre les Palaces
11 Rue de Justice
62000 Arras
0033321236161 

Day 6. Thursday Uchaud - Brive la Gaillarde

To day is a real mixed bag, very small twisting back roads, a couple even unsurfaced? To "B" roads and motorways. We also drive through "Parc National Des Cevennes".


The planned route is 430km/269miles non stop taking 6hrs 8mins. However I have allowed three hours for stops which means we arrive at our next Hotel at 6.45pm


Depart Hotel 8.30am


N113                    Nimes
D14                      Saint Dionizy
D14                      Clarensac
D103/D1              Saint Mament du Gard
D1                         Fons
D907                    Montagnac
D9072                  Lezan
D907/D57            Thoiras
D57                        Lasalle
D574/D39             Soudorgues
D39/D152/D10    Valleraugue
D10/D986             L'Esperou
D986                     Saint Sauveur Camprieu
D710                     Saint Jean Du Bruel
D999                     Nant
D999                     La Cavelerie


A75                       Millau Bridge........ Lunch and rest stop on the north side of the bridge.


A75                       Junction 41
D29                       Segur
N88                       Onet le Chateau
D840                     Decazeville
D994                    Les Bastides
D994                    Montbazens
D840                    Figeac
D48                      Livemon
D802                    Durband
D802                    Junction 56 A20
A20                       Paris
A20                      Junction 51 Brive la Gaillarde


Hotel Restaurant Campanile
Avenue General Pouyade
19100 Brive la Gaillarde
0033 555868855

Day 5. Wednesday St Maxime - Uchaud

The distance for today is relatively short 232km/145miles and mostly boring motorway, which including stops can be done in three hours. So I have planned today as a sort of rest day, leaving every one free to do their own thing. Whether it be a long lie in, a trip to St Tropez or even the Carmargue National Park or Nimes. Providing we can all meet at the hotel at 6.00pm.


Leave the hotel at the latest 3.00pm


D25              Draguain
E80              West direction Brignoles
E80/A8        Salon du Provence
E80/A8        Barcelona/Nimes/Lyon/Avigon
E80/A8        Nimes/Montpellier
E80/A8        Junction 25 Nimes Ouest/Ales
N113/C113 Uchaud


Hotel Les Clos Capitelles
37 Venue Robert de Joly
30620 Uchaud
0033 466359360

Day 4. Tuesday Castellane - St Maxime

The plan is to leave the hotel at 8.30am not because of the distance which is only 273km/170miles but because today should be one of the most spectacular of the whole trip. We technically leave the Route de Napoleon for about 15km/10miles and ride not only the Gorges du Verdon but also the Route des Cretes, which I understand to be a tarmaced goat path...just kidding. Once we leave the mountains we head to the coast near Cannes and ride along the Meditereanian coast to St Maxime. With so much to see I have allowed five hours for stops.


D952          La Palud sur Verdon
                    Point Sublime (best view of the Gorge)
D23             At Auberge des Cretes turn left, this is the Route des Cretes.


Those not wishing to do this bit of the Gorge can stay on the D952 for another 500m and wait at the bakers shop for us to join the road again.


D952              Moustiers ste Marie (bakers shop)
D957              Les Salles sur Verdon
D19                 Aigines
                         Petrol
D71                 Comes sur Artuby
D955/D21      La Bastide


Back on the Route de Napoleon


D6085            Canne


                    Rest point Mediterainian coast/beaches (skinny dipping time?)


N98/D6098   Darse
D6098           Miramar
D559             Agay
D559             Saint Raphael
D559             Les Issambres
D559             St Maxime


Hotel de la Poste
11 Boulevard Fredric Mistral
83120 St Maxime
0033 494961833

Day 3. Monday Chambery - Castelane

Once we leave Chambery and get to Grenoble it is for us the start of the Route de Napoleon. The reason why we are all here.
The distance planned is 273km/170miles which non stop should take us 4hrs 15minutes. However I have allowed three hours for stops as I expect lots of photo stops.
Looking on the Internet and seeing what others have written about the Route de Napoleon the claims are that this is one of the best bike roads in Europe. With every thing from long sweeping 100mph bends to 10mph tight hair pin bends. What they also warn for is bikers riding hard from the other direction? The scenary is fantastic but not advisable to look while riding the bikes.


What ever the truth maybe we will soon be able to compare my expectations with the experience.


Depart Hotel 9.00am


A41                 Grenoble
Approaching Grenoble take turn off Autres Directions/Domaine Universitaire
N87                 away from the town center
D5                   Vizille        Route de Napoleon starts about here
D1085            Corps/Gap
D1085/D85    Rest point Intermarche La Fare en Champsaur (Super Market)***
D85                 Gap
D85                  La Poet
N4085             Sisteron
N4085             Rest point. Stop on the outskirts of Sisteron just past the round a bout.
                         We can ride into Sisteron together and find a place to eat.
N85                  Digne/Nice
N85                 Chaudon Norante
N85                 Castellane


Hotel Du Commerce
Place Marcel Sauvaire
04120 Castellane
0033 492836100


Arrive at the hotel 4.30pm


The Route de Napoleon is separately shown under the usual signposts on a green board.


As most of these roads are B roads there are no Service stations to stop for meals. We will have to find a Baker, Supermarket, Cafe in a village. Which is the reason that I have chosen the above two places for a break. However I think today and tomorrow we need to be flexible.


There is no shortage of petrol stations.

Day 2. Sunday Dole - Chambery

Today is where I hope the fun starts, yesterday was a necessary evil to get here as soon as possible. The distance planned is 300km/187 miles and according to the Garmin navigation it will take five hours 30 minutes, without stops. I have allowed three hours for stops (sanitary/rest/photo). the planning being we arrive in Chambery at 5.30pm.
We ride via B roads to Lake Geneva were we follow the shoreline to Geneva its self hopefully getting a good view of the Fountain on the way. Apparently the road we have chosen from the French/Swiss border to Nyon is great for motors with numerous hairpin bends.

Once we leave Geneva its motorway again till we get to Annecy then again the B roads to Chambery.

9.00am depart Dole.

D7          La Loyle
D7          Belmont
D7          Montbarrey
D71        Ounans
               Petrol 28km/17miles
D472      Chamblay
D472      Villars Farlay
D472       Pagnoz
                Petrol 48km/30miles
D472       Salins-les-Bains
D65         Thesy
D107       Censeau
D107       Petite Villard
D286       Migno Villard
D55/D46  Mouthe
               Petrol 107km/67miles
D389      Switzerland/Le Pont.   Rest point
We cross the France/Swiss border several times during the next 20km
D415       Brassus Carroz
D415       La Cure
D415       St Cergue
D415       Nyon (Shores of Lake Geneva)
1              Not A1. Route de Geneva.
A photo stop at the tallest water fountain in the world.
A1/A41   France/Annecy
                Main road till junction 17
Junc 17  Annecy Nord
Annecy is on a Lake side, I suggest we find a suitable rest place here.
D1508     Mousses
D1508     St Jonaz
D10          La Magne
D10         Le Cruet
D10         La Chapelle St Maurice
D10         Borny
D912       St Martin
D912       Le Chatelard
D206       Aillon le Vieux
D206       Aillon le Jeunce
D206       Les Chevettes
D206       Thoiry
D912       Chambery

Best Hotel
9 Rue Denfert Rochereau
7300 Chambery
0033 479857679

Price per room €74.00

While I have two planned stops shown, I think we need to be flexible as I am unsure what sort of times/distances are possible. Plus what time will be taken up with photo stops etc.

Day 1. Saturday Europoort - Hoeven - Dole (FR)

The planning for today is to leave the petrol station near my house at 10.30am, however this all depends on the ferry arriving on time, the disembarkation and the customs going according to plan.

The distance from Hoeven to Dole is 685km/428miles according to the Garmin navigation time that's 6 hrs 44mins non stop, I have allowed two hours for delays and stops and plan to arrive at the hotel in Dole at 6.15pm. As I know this hotel is out of town and I presume we will all be tired so I have booked a dinner table for us all at the hotel for 8.15pm.

Every one tanks at the petrol station near my house. Next planned stop 206km/129miles
A16           Antwerp    petrol 23.5km/14miles NL/B border
A19           Brussels   petrol 78.9km/49miles
E40           Namen/Luik/Leuven/luchthaven (airport)
E40
Luxembourg/Namen/Brussels          * These two are within 200m of each other.
Luxembourg/Namen                           * Basically its the ring road off and then away from it.
E411         Luxembourg/Namen    petrol 129km/80miles
E411         Petrol 206km/129miles Aire de Wanlin REST STOP
                 N50 08.694 E5 04.636 Next planned stop 204km/127miles
E411         Luxembourg/Namen
E25           Luxembourg/Arlon
E25           Petrol 304km/190miles
A3/E25     Metz
A31/E21   Metz/Nancy
A31/E25   Metz/Nancy
A31          Petrol 410km/256miles Aire de Obrion REST STOP
                  N48 51.380 E6 05.348 Next planned stop 233km/145miles
A31          Nancy/Lyon
A31          Petrol 449km/280miles
A31          Paris/Lyon/Dijon
A31          Petrol 497km/310miles
A31          Petrol 541km/338miles
A31          Petrol 571km/356miles
A31/E21   Petrol 643km/401miles Aire de Dijon - Spoy REST STOP
                 N47 25.413 E5 10.171 Next stop = Destination 42km/26miles
A39          Grenoble/Geneva/Dole
Exit 6       At round about 3rd right D973
                At round about 4th right Ave de la Cote D'or
                1km then turn right D354
                1.5km Hotel

Hotel Chalet du Mont-Roland
F-39100 Sampans
0033 384720455

The price for the hotel is €60.00/double room + breakfast €9.50/pp This is the cheapest hotel on our trip so I am curious as to what it will be like.

I have tried to plan the official stops to once every two hours, the reason I planned the last stop so close to our destination is that tomorrow is Sunday and I am not sure which petrol stations will be open.

While motorways are not our first choice they are a necessary evil to get us as quickly to our "start point" as possible.

This is at the start of the holiday season so don't anticipate much in the way of traffic jams.

Putting meat on the bones

Now we had rough lay out for our trip it was now time to fill the detail, not only the exact route from day to day. But also the Hotels. My French language is almost zero ( the French aren't exactly renowned for their use of foreign languages ) and I was concerned that a group of British and Dutch bikers would not be welcome. But any way, I decided to play it straight down the line, sending the emails in English and explaining that we were a group of bikers on a tour of France. To be honest I was wrong on both accounts. Most of the emails I got back were in English and I felt absolutely no hesitation from any of the hotels about having a group of bikers stay with them.

Tips.

If your sending more than one email out to hotels in the same town or more towns in a short period of time as I did, put the name of the hotel and town in the subject part of your email. It makes life a lot easier in locating which hotel your talking to.Most hotels used my email to reply so it wasn't always easy to see which hotel was giving which price.

While its easy to find hotels on the Internet by entering "Hotels in Dole" for example, take the time to find the email address of the Hotel it's self and not one of the booking agencies.

Use Google maps street view to see where your hotel is located.

I had just sent the emails out for Dole and Chambery when Kevin came with a bomb shell. The company he worked for had decided to change the shift pattern which not only had an effect on the hours he worked but also the hours he had free. Luckily I had not actually booked any hotels so from my side the problem was minor, however we needed a new date for our trip? fortunately we were able to move the date one week back and every one could still go. The only problem then was that the hotels get slightly more expensive as it was deeper into the holiday season. No Doubt Kevin will buy some extra beers to compensate us all for the hassle and extra costs!

Hope your taking note Kevin!

The hotel side was progressing I just needed to get the exact route sorted. I tried Google maps but I found that difficult (probably just me). So I decided to buy myself a Garmin and use map source in my computer to select the route. That also took a while to get used to, but once I had it under control it was even fun to do.

Tip.

When booking hotels for a group its not practical to send the options to every person for approval. I had received a simple guideline from the group, try and book hotels away from the town centres. 

It was fun to receive emails from every body, some with the Geordie sense of humour, some were even sensible. Naturally the partners Helen, Pauline, Claire and Karen were soon christened as Groupies, with the usual Groupie jokes. Totally unfair on them but still funny. I was surprised how receiving such emails worked to motivate me and to build the enthusiasm for every one else