Bristol to Spain 11th-14th November 2015

[GeoffSmith]

All right, the Elan is too small so it's got to be the Golf.

I'll be taking a few essential out to Spain next month and probably leaving the car there until March. Having rejecting the thought of the 30 hour ferry to Bilbao across the Bay of Biscay at this time of year, it seems to be quicker to go Eurotunnel rather than Poole-Cherbourg. I'll obviously be stopping off at a few places en-route and like the West Coast of America trip in 2011, it would ironic if the stopovers happened to be close to LEC members! This time I won't be encumbered by wife and family so the route may be a bit more flexible. Current thoughts are:

11th Lille - Pascal?
12th Lyon
13th Perpignan via Millau

Any thoughts on must visit places, hotel recommendations things I mustn't forget and do will be greatly appreciated.


USEFUL LINKS:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ov ... index.html

MUST REMEMBER TO DO:
Change insurance to Saga as they let me leave the car abroad for more than 30 days
European breakdown insurance

MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE:
Breathalisers
Headlight stickers
First aid kit
Spare lights
Warning triangle
High viz. jacket
Original registration document
Original insurance document
Original MoT
Toolkit

[Pascal]

--> lemaire.470 __at__ nordnet.fr

[Fredjohn]

Geoff
Not sure exactly which route you're taking but can recommend a couple of hotels before Millau Bridge (go to it's visitor centre, don't just drive over it!!!) And approach the bridge from non motorway roads before you cross: you get better views of it.

Firstly a Lotus familiar hotel The Hostellerie Saint-Jacques in Saint-Saud-Lacoussiere. English spoken, delightful, extremely charming and quaint and wonderful food.

Secondly in Rocamadour the Hotel du lion d'or

Rocamadour is worth a visit on its own, especially if approached from across the valley. And the whole area around St Saud to Rocamadour is full of amazing scenery and historical sites. Google "Perigord" for more info!

Safe journey and happy motoring......

John

PS the photo below in my signature was taken in the Millau Bridge visitor centre car park!

[Pascal]

Hello, do you need an hotel nearby Lille ? Diner 11th evening is ready...

[Rambo]

Sounds like you might need to practice your guitar playing Geoff And your French. Salut

[lotusflasherman]

All right, the Elan is too small so it's got to be the Golf.

I'll be taking a few essential out to Spain next month and probably leaving the car there until March. Having rejecting the thought of the 30 hour ferry to Bilbao across the Bay of Biscay at this time of year, it seems to be quicker to go Eurotunnel rather than Poole-Cherbourg. I'll obviously be stopping off at a few places en-route and like the West Coast of America trip in 2011, it would ironic if the stopovers happened to be close to LEC members! This time I won't be encumbered by wife and family so the route may be a bit more flexible. Current thoughts are:

11th Lille - Pascal?
12th Lyon
13th Perpignan via Millau

Any thoughts on must visit places, hotel recommendations things I mustn't forget and do will be greatly appreciated.


USEFUL LINKS:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ov ... index.html

MUST REMEMBER TO DO:
Change insurance to Saga as they let me leave the car abroad for more than 30 days
European breakdown insurance

MUST REMEMBER TO TAKE:
Breathalisers
Headlight stickers
First aid kit
Spare lights
Warning triangle
High viz. jacket
Original registration document
Original insurance document
Original MoT
Toolkit

Geoff,
I'm n Cap d'Agde at the moment, for the second time in couple of months. I bought 3 return trips Dover to Dunkirk with DFDS for the price of one Eurotunnel crossing and when I came home early Oct gantry signs north of Paris were telling me Tunnel closed because of intruders.. None of the Calais chaos at Dunkirk so although ferry takes bit longer at least it's reliable..
Also recommend a Telepage unit to stick on your windscreen to get through the Peage tolls. Slightly cheaper but SO MUCH quicker.

Also I never take original registration document (V5) - I take a copy with COPY written across and French Police accepted my argument that carrying V5 in the car is a good way to loose both!

[GeoffSmith]

Update:

11th Beuvry booked
12th Issoire booked
13th Perpignan TBD

Pascal - are you be around?
or NON

Thanks for the advice on Millau John. As it's only me and a kitchen sink in the car, cheap and cheerful hotels will do. Apparently. So I'm told.

Thanks for the advice on the V5 Phil - it was worrying me. Hopefully not too many migrants heading my way and I'm not driving back 'till March so plenty of time to see what happens. I'd probably do Cherbourg-Poole to cut down the miles if I was doing the ferry. Télépéage is linked to my UK bank and arrived the day after I ordered it.... unlike the new thermostat for the fridge which packed up last week.

Saga also have a deal on: Legal protection, extra personal insurance and EU breakdown cover package is £100 off, so I can change from Admiral, leave the car over there for more than 30 days, get breakdown cover and still save £20.

[lotusflasherman]

I'm insured with Saga because they came up cheapest on meerkats for UK use and no charge for unrestricted EU use puts them streets ahead. Didn't know about their £100 extra package so thanks for that info'.

If I break my journey because of passengers I use Ibis Budget near Clermont-Ferrand or Issoire that are 56 euros and 'Travelodge standard' but Cap d'Agde is 685 miles from Dunkerque so drive it in just under 10 hours when solo.

My Telepage is same as yours and charged to my UK bank. I have Credit Agricole account in Agde but Sanef charge a monthly fee to euro accounts but only charge a slightly higher fee for the months it's used for UK . Well worth it anyway. In the Elan I had to stop, jump out to run round to push my credit card in - the barrier lifts so run back jump in and drive through before barrier comes down and then put seat belt on . Had a barrier come down when I was putting my belt on before I'd gone through and told I'd taken too long!. I thought they sensed vehicles but seems are timed too.

I had my Calypso Red Eclat in Agde for 2 weeks no problem but Calypso Red Elan (M100SE) came back after a couple of months there with a Calypso Pink rear end . A car cover or dust sheet might be useful.

[GeoffSmith]

Nowt's easy. Went to cancel Admiral last night but luckily realised that Saga had already shut. Logged on this morning, quote for £193 is still there so rang Saga and confirmed indefinite EU coverage, rang Admiral and cancelled. Credit of £50 due back but down to £20 because of £30 admin charge. Asked why as it's their stupid policy that makes it useless, given the usual spiel, asked if supervisor could get involved, put on hold for a couple of minutes and "because I'm such a valued customer" the admin fee is dropped: As it was the last time I argued. And the time before that.
Went back to take out Saga policy online but realised I needed to change the start from 10th to 11th (insurers don't allow concurrent policies). Did that and quote went up £100! Couldn't get the £100 discount back. Rang Saga, told them the story, got the usual spiel of live quotes etc., asked if supervisor could help but told there was nothing they could do as the special deal was not available. Bugger them. Logged onto MoneySupermarket.com from Sarah's computer, gave them another e-mail address and the £100 discount is back. Paid and sorted. Why is it so difficult?

[epipete]

Haven't you forgotten we're now living in a Service Economy, whatever that means.

Frankly, between the twin devils of the IT and Service Sectors I'm increasingly inclined to become a recluse.

If you strip it all out, and I know that you're a 'Techey', isn't this part of what's driving your Spanish sojourne, it's certainly a factor in why we're in Cyprus - to recover a bit of humanity!

Here end'th the day's first philosophy lesson!

[GeoffSmith]

[GeoffSmith]

BOLLECKS to Pascal and Sylvie.

[Rambo]

Probably upped the price when they found out you were a Geordie

[Saltire]

Buen viaje, Geoff. Have a great trip and see you in the New Year

[GeoffSmith]

700 miles down, 650 to go.

Stayed at the perfectly acceptable (with a very friendly proprietor) Hotel Balladins for €35 last night and Pascal and Sylvie took me to the best bar in the lovely town of Bethune. Sorry I couldn't last any longer but I was hanging towards the end. It was a shame that Pascal did not bring the Elan, but the noises from his Elise were rather pleasing on the ear.

The Telepage didn't work coming out of Calais so had to get out and shove credit cards in until it accepted one. Was told that you have to drive past the ticket machine to get it to work, so next one worked fine. Last one didn't as I thought the lane had an orange T but I was mistaken as the sun was in my eyes. Fortunately it was attended and she read the Telepage for me.

Called into the Commonwealth cemetery at Marzingarbe to get some pictures for a friend uo North: It was quite a moving experience.

It is a warm night, so I've just been for a long walk around the lake at Issoire. I'm in the Ace (next door to the budgrt Isis) in Issoire for €45. It's much better tnan the budget Isis in Alicante so might be worth a try Phil. Millau tomorrow then decide whether to push on all the way or stop off in Perpignan. Anyway, get the kettle on: Cap d'Agde is en route....

[lotusflasherman]

700 miles down, 650 to go.

Stayed at the perfectly acceptable (with a very friendly proprietor) Hotel Balladins for €35 last night and Pascal and Sylvie took me to the best bar in the lovely town of Bethune. Sorry I couldn't last any longer but I was hanging towards the end. It was a shame that Pascal did not bring the Elan, but the noises from his Elise were rather pleasing on the ear.

The Telepage didn't work coming out of Calais so had to get out and shove credit cards in until it accepted one. Was told that you have to drive past the ticket machine to get it to work, so next one worked fine. Last one didn't as I thought the lane had an orange T but I was mistaken as the sun was in my eyes. Fortunately it was attended and she read the Telepage for me.

Called into the Commonwealth cemetery at Marzingarbe to get some pictures for a friend uo North: It was quite a moving experience.

It is a warm night, so I've just been for a long walk around the lake at Issoire. I'm in the Ace (next door to the budgrt Isis) in Issoire for €45. It's much better tnan the budget Isis in Alicante so might be worth a try Phil. Millau tomorrow then decide whether to push on all the way or stop off in Perpignan. Anyway, get the kettle on: Cap d'Agde is en route....

I'm still here so if you want me to PM you a contact mobile number let me know... It'''s Residence Agdabella, 6 Avenue d'Outer Mr, le Cap d'Agde, 34300 if you want the address for your Satnav.. Just a small holiday villa but got spare bed if you want a 'freebie'.

[GeoffSmith]

Thanks Phil.

As breakfast was served from 6:00, I decided to make a very early start. I left in the dark, was treated to a spectacular sunrise over the Auvergne and arrived at Millau by 8:30... where the fog was spectacularly thick. I decided not to go down into the town but to stop off at the visitors centre for half an hour then crack on and not stay anywhere overnight, so I was in Moraira by 5:30. The last leg was 667 miles in 10 hours and it was like travelling on British motorways 30 years ago.

[Pascal]

and !

Thank you Geoff for good time in Bethune, see you another day in FR or BE ,
have a great 2016 year everyone,

Pascal & Sylvie