Travel warning
Discussion
Firstly, it is by no means certain that this will proceed as stated in the paper today, but you may not know that we have a petrol strike here which is escalating. The usual stuff with panic queues at the pumps, limits of 30 litres, petrol stations closed etc. Even the motorway stations are not exempt it seems, since my friend only just made it home from the coast yesterday, running on fumes. Every station on the motorway home was closed. Yet when I passed by this morning the supermarket was serving and there was no queue.
That is the least part of the problem, since in today's paper the dockers are coming out in sympathy, and at the moment the strike from next week will continue until the 14th June - at least.
Now all this is not meant to be alarmist but a heads up, and to warn you to keep an eye on the situation as regards your ferry. I am in the same but different merde because I am supposed to be at Prescott the weekend before Le Mans and my trip may also be prejudiced.
That is the least part of the problem, since in today's paper the dockers are coming out in sympathy, and at the moment the strike from next week will continue until the 14th June - at least.
Now all this is not meant to be alarmist but a heads up, and to warn you to keep an eye on the situation as regards your ferry. I am in the same but different merde because I am supposed to be at Prescott the weekend before Le Mans and my trip may also be prejudiced.
I have been studying in depth the context of the statement by the CGT and as always with the papers, they never let the truth get in the way of a good story. It seems - as of today of course - that the port blockages will be ONLY the 26th May and 14th June - for the moment. The trains - and I assume the TGV and/or Eurostar - are demanding rolling strikes each Wednesday and Thursday. Last week two out of three TGVs were cancelled.
So it seems my first post was a bit presumptuous, but I would add the warning that if the French are to be obliged to have more flexible working hours and even, God forbid, to work more than 35 hours a week then a national strike is not out of the question, as Le Monde puts it quite succinctly. Watch this space.
So it seems my first post was a bit presumptuous, but I would add the warning that if the French are to be obliged to have more flexible working hours and even, God forbid, to work more than 35 hours a week then a national strike is not out of the question, as Le Monde puts it quite succinctly. Watch this space.
vetteheadracer said:
One of my Facebook friends in Le Mans says that 40 of 140 area gas stations are closed because of empty tanks and of course everyone is panic buying so long queues at the other stations.
This could cause Le Mans to be cancelled at this rate....get it sorted Hollande!
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36358300
Reminds me of the strikes in the UK years back when I witnessed someone manage to get less than five litres in a full tank. Actually, the storage depot here at Le Mans announced in the paper that they have supplies for 30 days, but people still queue to get the last drop in. And the 30 litre limit is a farce. When the pump turns off people just put their card in again and get another 30 litres.This could cause Le Mans to be cancelled at this rate....get it sorted Hollande!
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36358300
Edited by vetteheadracer on Monday 23 May 19:03
Edited by vetteheadracer on Monday 23 May 19:03
Look I am not trying to create a panic here, just to keep you informed of the current situation, which of course loses nothing in the telling. Today's Le Monde says that the CGT is digging its toes in and won't budge an inch, that the airlines are coming on board which will cascade to the air traffic controllers which will end in one domino after another. Except that France is not like the 1992 Billancourt days any more than the UK is the same as in the days of Scargill and Red Robbo. All the unions are posturing and saying that they won't back down. Well, that's what they are paid to say anyway, and they are paid big money to say it (one union official was outed for spending £250,000 on refurbishing his flat). It may be a fart in a thunderstorm or there might be some serious thunder and lightning. At the moment it is theoretically going to get worse, but it is darkest before the dawn etc.
So I'll post as things change either for the better or the worse.
So I'll post as things change either for the better or the worse.
Since I'm overnighting arriving in France on the 14th (bugger!) after Prescott hill climb weekend I've just had a chat with Brittany Ferries. They have made no decisions that far ahead since things might change, but their previous experience is that Portsmouth/Le Havre will be cancelled, those to Cherbourg and St. Malo will run but with delays, and that to Caen (Ouistreham) runs but freight is banned. HTH.
ETA Jerry cans are banned here at Le Mans at the moment. That means my garden tractor is stranded. Is that what the French call a coup de grass?
ETA Jerry cans are banned here at Le Mans at the moment. That means my garden tractor is stranded. Is that what the French call a coup de grass?
Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 24th May 13:14
Quickmoose said:
if that's real-time-accurate, it's a life saver...
Well, since the page says 20.30 hours somewhat behind the times, like 18 hours. Not a lot of use then. So I had a look here:-http://www.vinci-autoroutes.com/fr/article/points-...
This might change your route but is more up to date being 9am today, but again that's five hours ago. If I find anything else to help you I'll post.
fatboy18 said:
Anyone know if you can convert a V10 engine to run on Red Wine?
Ah, the little known Lafite conversion! One to be much appreciated, the exhaust aroma of blackberry with a subtle hint of gooseberry. One for the connoisseur this, and Jacques used it to good effect. Expensive though.It is 5 litres in the boot, in a proper can. Can't see anyone checking it though. In 30 years I have never been asked for an MOT or to see my triangle, nor anything except the cheery smile as I hand over the speeding fine. Anyway, I am just off to the pumps to fill the XKSS before my trip to the UK, and I'll fill up a can for the mower while I'm at it.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 25th May 12:07
What a bloody farce! I went to fill up the XKSS at 4pm local time because all the mumsies are at the school gates and fill up before they go - and after in some bloody cases - and the 30€ limit applies, which with 98 fuel didn't get me far. So I drove out and back in two more times to get the tank full.
Rich you have mail.
SITREP.
Today 75% of TGVs won't run, and this includes the Eurostar. The purchase of petrol, as one might expect, was three times the usual yesterday, which means it should tail off from now on. To put things in perspective the government has stated that of the 115 days reserve held in stock, only three days have been used. For those hoping to cross to Le Havre, be aware that this is the worst affected, as always. A Bolshie lot they are, and they blocked the Pont de Normandie for three hours for the hell of it.
Strikes and road blocks are mostly confined to access roads to the refineries, and I don't think that any ferry apart from to Le Havre will really have a problem, but one can only hope.
Rich you have mail.
SITREP.
Today 75% of TGVs won't run, and this includes the Eurostar. The purchase of petrol, as one might expect, was three times the usual yesterday, which means it should tail off from now on. To put things in perspective the government has stated that of the 115 days reserve held in stock, only three days have been used. For those hoping to cross to Le Havre, be aware that this is the worst affected, as always. A Bolshie lot they are, and they blocked the Pont de Normandie for three hours for the hell of it.
Strikes and road blocks are mostly confined to access roads to the refineries, and I don't think that any ferry apart from to Le Havre will really have a problem, but one can only hope.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 25th May 16:08
eastsider said:
And to think I have been winding up the Tesla driver in our group that most likely has to route via Paris/the Periperique for an IKEA car park supercharger. He might yet have the last laugh...
http://www.01net.com/astuces/5-applications-gratui...
Have a nice day.
You know, I'm pleased I started this thread if only for the grin factor. Lighten up folks, we are only just over a week from test day and a couple of weeks from when you all arrive. In our hearts are are pretty sure things will sort themselves out but it is great fun thinking about the alternatives. I went past the local petrol station and there wasn't one person in it. Things are going back to normal so boring. No more to talk about but the weather. Come to think about it, where is the annual weather thread? Someone should start it ASAP or else it will be too late. Must close since it is 10.30 and I must clandestinely go out and fill the two jerry cans for the mower. Totally illegally of course.
Bumped into a friend in town yesterday who told me that he had phoned the supermarket to get permission to fill a couple of cans so he could get his classic back from the garage. They said it was currently illegal but if he waited until after 7 pm no staff would be there to stop him!
On a serious note this could just be a lull in the storm since the discontent over the new law hasn't gone away. Prices have risen sharply though for no reason. Profiteering. Next big strike still planned to the 14th.
On a serious note this could just be a lull in the storm since the discontent over the new law hasn't gone away. Prices have risen sharply though for no reason. Profiteering. Next big strike still planned to the 14th.
We had six Bentleys come through Le Mans yesterday I presume on their way to the Hotel de France. Petrol is freely available again although the banning of filling cans is still in place because the next strike is on the 14th. As regards the future, I keep getting emails and calls but who can tell? The lines have been drawn and it is handbags at 10 paces but it could get a lot tougher before the end of the dispute. But for sure it is going to be tough the week before Le Mans.
Last weekend we had one month's rain in three hours, over 100mm, villages flooded, and it rained for 36 hours non-stop. Tomorrow, test day, storms are forecast. At my house you wouldn't know it had rained, nor at Blue or Maison Blanche because it is sandy. But the new camping (forget the name) and BSJ are solid clay. A hot week is now forecast as from Monday though, but my fear is that BSJ, which is a hay field at the moment, won't dry in time. That's all.
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