Driving France

Driving France

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Discussion

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
I'm about to embark on a drive down through central France to Port Grimaud near St Tropez.
Route
Calais
Reims
Dijon
Lyon
Avignon
Port Grimaud
About 930 miles door to door!
Tolls, traffic, roadworks, I'm roughly aware of,
Has anyone done this route recently and has some good advice which may help my journey.
I forgot to add I'm doing it on a motorbike so navigating is going to be a test as I can't use a Sat Nav! Map and memory??
How long did it take and at what speeds etc.
I've allowed myself loads of time to get there.
traffic issues around Lyon and other major towns along the route would be good to be prepared for.
I'm sure this thread should be somewhere else but as we're all Chimaera drivers I thought we'd have similar driving sensibilities wink

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
The roads will be lovely and enjoy it by not rushing the journey if you have the luxury of time. How long you down there?
There are a bunch of TVRs on tour in three weeks time

2OOM

374 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
I go down to Gassan every year which is near there and I it do on my bike..
I usually take 2 days and stop at Macon overnight..
Before I started using a sat nav I picked my route and then wrote down a list of large/largish towns and road numbers on the route, you find that the signposts are usually for the larger towns.. I then put this list in my tanks bag pocket with the map under it.
I usually go m/way to Riems - reims(D951)- troyes(d971) - dijon(d906)-macon d/roads - bourge en bresse(d1075) - grenoble - to coast on route napoleon (n85) turn off after digne via lac du st croix (gorges du verdon area) various d roads to draguignan - vidauban then other side of m/way on d48 - d558 -grimaud - port grimaud...
The roads listed were good fun and so just link them together ..

I had a compass as well so when i got lost I just headed south ..

Hope this helps I always travel with the mindset it doesn't matter if you don't know where you are as long as you're heading the the right direction..

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
I've been trying to decide how far I can get south on the first day, Macon is a good target and roughly where I placed myself on the map winkI'll probably stop a bit earlier but that's good to know.
Oddly I have a clock on the bike but also decided a compass would be better, if I'm going south I'll get there sometime smile
So no compass so I'll use the position of the sun laugh
I'll look over the roads you suggest and maybe take a detour. Thanks that's given me a boost!
Oh I'm going for 3 weeks in total including getting there and back......... On a Triumph Thruxton 900, which is low powered and lowish gearing, and full on drop bars fairing the lot. I'm mad but then you probably guessed that already.

It's a challenge. He who dares, fortune favours the brave,,, you only live once, adapt and overcome.
I've given myself nearly 3 days to get there, I'll be cruising with my feet on the engine covers most the way.
There's a holiday at the end of it but really it's about me and the bike and the journey.
I've just had a closer look at the map,,, most of it looks fairly straight forward and I've already written lists of A roads and major towns on route so I should pick my way through ok,,,, famous last words hehe
Cheers Alun

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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Blimey Alun, when are you going,? Not up for that Scottish road trip now then ? wink

2OOM

374 posts

283 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
calais to gassan is 750 miles reims is 250 miles and macon is about 400 I think, the way I go I leave the train at 9 am and get to macon at about 6ish .. if you're taking 3 days then you can go a more scenic route maybe annecy direction and have 2 overnight stops .. The other option is 2 days to get there and have an extra day to go for a ride out when you're down there ..
I haven't done it for a few yrs but the coast road to monte carlo is great and took about 4 hours I think .. it would be a nice run this time of year with less traffic..
A day riding around the gorge du verdun is great as well ..
I've used the sun before I ot a compass it's surprisingly effect except on cloudy days biggrin

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
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ClassiChimi said:
I've been trying to decide how far I can get south on the first day, Macon is a good target and roughly where I placed myself on the map winkI'll probably stop a bit earlier but that's good to know.
You could probably make Macon in a day, but if you want another option slightly further back in case progress is a bit slower, I'd strongly recommend Troyes. A lovely town with lots of old architecture and nice little bars and restaurants. There's a couple of budget hotels you could probably drop into without the need to book.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
I have a waterproof sat nav holder that clamps to the handlebar.

Just get a socket fitted to your bike and Bobs a goodun.

You can borrow it if you like.

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks lads, my preferred option would be to get on with it for the first day then take plenty of time the rest of the journey.
Thanks for the offer Peter,,, I'm leaving tomorrow so I haven't got time to get a charging system fitted for the sat Nav!

I've got my iPhone which I'm hoping to use only to get my location if I get lost?
As 200m says, I'll just write out my route and keep to it until I feel close enough to my destination then maybe start exploring.
The time stopping for fuel and map checking is going to slow me down but I'm not in a hurry anyway.
Thanks for the tip re Troyes, I'll see how I go.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
That's what my son does, he uses his iPhone in this.



It is QD and makes life easy.

Pick it up on your way down if you like!

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
What do you mount that to Peter, that's the biz.

2OOM

374 posts

283 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
If there were 3 roads i could only use they would be the d971 it really is excellent .. the N85 from Grenoble is good as well although Grenoble can be a pain to go through get out of .. the final one d558 is excellent and takes you straight to la garde frienet then Grimaud and then the port .. If you aim for Macon and decide you might not make it baune is very nice in the center ..


Have a great trip .. don't forget your waterproofs the weather looks like it's becoming a bit unsettled ..

leerdam23

606 posts

260 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Done the journey many times. Google maps travel times are usually spot on, plus a few hours for food, petrol etc.. Lovely roads in France and the scenery and weather gets much better south of Lyon. Can do 140 kph without getting stopped (IMHO) though I usually find myself bimbling along quite a bit slower...

Last time I drove down, the only traffic was at Lyon. Managed London to Marseilles in daylight in one day.

Watch out for Diesel spills on the tunnels into Lyon, got caught out there in the rain once or twice...

Also, if you want to eat lunch you will need to be sat in a restaurant/autostop by 12.30, you'll notice the roads get a lot less busy as everyone exits to eat at the same time. if you leave it until 2pm there will be nothing left. Lunch is an institution!




Edited by leerdam23 on Wednesday 2nd September 10:59

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
I've got to go to my local bike shop anyway, I might pick one up. Cheers for the offer mate.
I'm taking the midnight crossing so I can do some of northern France before rush hour Friday morning,,rest, then go again etc. I need one of those mounts really, my only concern is navigating blind.


QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
A lovely town with lots of old architecture ......... There's a couple of budget hotels you could probably drop into without the need to book.



phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
ClassiChimi said:
What do you mount that to Peter, that's the biz.
It has a simple clamp with a ball that the holder clamps to so you can swivel it around and release the whole unit in seconds.

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
All points noted. The weather is my only other real gripe. I'll be taking the water proofs but rain stops play for me so it might take a week to get there. No I'll battle on.
200M I'll be having a close look at those roads this evening. Thanks again

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

148 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all


I think this was a wise move! Simple Velcro straps around fork yolks and a waterproof cover.
I've got a bulb kit, two breatherlisers test kits, tools, torch, two pin plug point, waterproofs and hi viz strips,, it's an endless list, all in a bag strapped to the seat, I'll look a bit pykie but I want minimal wind resistance.
I'll have room for T shirts and jeans only at this rate wink

2OOM

374 posts

283 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
That looks perfect ..
you'll be setting the camera to black and white I take it to be in keeping with the bike .. biggrin
Cable ties and gaffa tape are always useful ..

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
quotequote all
Was that from your bike shop Alun?