Lost In France

[Centurion07]

I like the idea of sailing down to Santander then driving back up so might try that at some point , 24 hour sailing though

Is the reason I no longer go on boats.

That sailing goes right out into the Bay Of Biscay which is not the smoothest body of water at any time of year, nevermind outside of summer and certainly not during winter.

Ask me how I know.

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[christianUK]

I've got my return from the Two Ball Rally booked up from Bilbao in July next year. Last time I did the ferry several years ago it was fine, the worst part of it was the rather optimistic marketing of the trip as a "cruise" by Brittany Ferries. It had slot machines plus booze and fags for sale so I guess it was some people's idea of a cruise...

 

[wack]

Is the reason I no longer go on boats.

That sailing goes right out into the Bay Of Biscay which is not the smoothest body of water at any time of year, nevermind outside of summer and certainly not during winter.

Ask me how I know.

From the looks of it they do a budget ferry and a cruise ferry , I've been on the cruise ferry to zebrugge which was great, cabaret entertainment, a cinema, casino, bar, restaraunt , we opted for the breakfast and evening meal and it was good

I'd do it again, we did have a mill pond crossing though , all the sailing is at night so you're asleep (hopefully)

 

[wack]

Booked again we enjoyed it that much last year, proper road trip this time though

2 weeks April into May, boat from portsmouth to santander then 2 weeks to drive up through France to get to cherbourg then the fast cat back to portsmouth
1 night in San Sebastien
1 night in Bordeaux
6 Nights in Sarlat
5 Nights in Saumur
1 night near to cherbourg

Can't wait

 

[Silver Dragon]

For the last 10 years or more (trips to Le Mans,South of France and Italy)I have always used the Eurotunnel.It cuts out all the messing about on the ferry and you can’t get seasick.


Just wondering how easy it is with a Mustang in those narrow tracked carriages?

 

[wack]

For the last 10 years or more (trips to Le Mans,South of France and Italy)I have always used the Eurotunnel.It cuts out all the messing about on the ferry and you can’t get seasick.


Just wondering how easy it is with a Mustang in those narrow tracked carriages?

When you book you book as a camper and they put you on the deck with the wider track , I've read you can just get it between the tracks in the car carriages but it is very tight so not worth rubbing a wheel.

It's a very long drive from Calais down to the pyrenees, 1000km

 

[marks]

I went to Le Mans a few years back and i did bump her once on the carriage tracks but otherwise not too bad. It's no issue if you bump it as sides are not high and going very slow. You should have no issues in the normal carriage.

 

[Silver Dragon]

Thanks gents for the feedback on that.

Seem to remember that that the carriage walkways are raised about two inches off the floor so probably still too low for any wheel damage.

Don’t really want to go in with the campers, those motor caravans usually have names like Rapido and they are anything but!!

 

[Beetleything]

Great post !

When i lived in London years ago, friends of mine moved to Normandy and i went from Portsmouth to Caen and loved driving thru the countryside there.

Although in the winter it can get very cold - the local river froze !!!

The door defenders are a great idea !! Another idea would be those magnetic flat panels people put on to advertise their business - just get plain one's - they would cover a bigger area and as long as you where careful putting them on and off , they would be pretty good.

99% of the marks on my car are from car park damage - door openings and shopping tolls etc !!

 

[marks]

There we go, loads of room. Coincidence I took a photo back in 2017, think it was of the car rather than the gap between the side bars

 

[wack]

I think you're on the wide one there

 

[Kristian87]

@marks @wack - I've heard of the wider carriages before, how do you ensure you get one? The narrower option does look a little snug, even if the curbs are low!

 

[marks]

It must have been luck of draw for me if was on a wider carridge as definitely did not ask for one.

 

[wack]

It must have been luck of draw for me if was on a wider carridge as definitely did not ask for one.

I've never been on the train, I think sometimes they look at the car and decide for you if it's not busy

Some carriages are double deck , if you ask for "high side" or book as an over height vehicle you get put in a single deck carriage which is wider and easier to drive in so I read.

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