N138

[Racing Daz 04]

Whose taking the N138 this year? Did it last year and no traffic, guess all are jumping on the new autoroute.

[gt6]

Never use the auto route always use the old N138, to tight to pay the tolls, and autoroute is boring.

[Nick M]

Racing Daz 04 said:

Whose taking the N138 this year? Did it last year and no traffic, guess all are jumping on the new autoroute.

Bit of both, but will be doing the N138 from Rouen to Gacé and then jumping on the autoroute for the last bit to Le Mans.

[blueST]

We'll be doing at least some of it, depends on how much progress we can make. Don't want to be rushing to put the tent up before it goes dark, especially if the weather is suspect.

[Racing Daz 04]

Thank god there's still some traditionalists out there that enjoy the N138. Agreed that the autoroute from Rouen is boring but still need to keep an eye out for the plod with owl glasses.
Tried last year for a quick stop at Auberge de la Maison Rouge for a quick top up but was closed. Really disappointed, always good to sit and watch the metal go by. Decent bar on the right few miles later, not sure what its called but it's just on a bridge with a lay by outside so easy to get parked up.

[Scott330ci]

I couldn;t even find it on the map, can anyone point it out for those of us who haven't been?

[blueST]

Scott330ci said:

I couldn;t even find it on the map, can anyone point it out for those of us who haven't been?

It has been renamed the D438 now, runs from the South of Rouen, to Le Mans via Alencon.

[Racing Daz 04]

If you google earth Rouen and follow the south perimter road, you can pick up D438/N138 on the map. You need to keep your eyes peeled but belive me its worth it. Nice long straights and undulating corners through some great scenery. But just watch out for the Gendarmes. They wern't in force last year but you just never know.
It will take you all the way to Alencon and then about 25 miles onto Le Mans.....Enjoy!

[James P]

blueST said:

Scott330ci said:

I couldn;t even find it on the map, can anyone point it out for those of us who haven't been?

It has been renamed the D438 now, runs from the South of Rouen, to Le Mans via Alencon.

Is it not the D338?

[Racing Daz 04]

Just double checked on multimap and its the D438

[yellowxpack.]

Note its changed to D438 from A, so the speed limits have changed, despite some of the old speed markings being there. We did the route last year and was alot of fun, but la plod are still enforce...

[johnhere]

Here is the Google Map showing where Le Bounty is (A) just off the D338 (old N138) if it comes up as a satellite view click on the top right MAP button. You can now follow your route.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

John

Edited by johnhere on Thursday 15th April 13:48

[Nick M]

yellowxpack. said:

Note its changed to D438 from A, so the speed limits have changed, despite some of the old speed markings being there.

Could you clarify that please - are speed limits just different on D roads compared to N roads ? Or have they just reduced the speed limits on some sections of the road to less than 90kph (which I thought was the default speed limit for open roads in France).

[gt6]

Don't bother with maps/sat navs. On the motorway out of rouen the old signs have mostly been changed but if you take the turning after the ruin castle of Robert the diable (you can't miss it) you will be on the old N138 and you can then stay on that road all the way to Le Mans, plenty to see, plenty of interesting places to stop have a drink and watch the world go by, and it is a good few miles less than the auto route. No tolls to pay and you can stop at supermarkets at bernay/gace and stock up before you get to the campsites, unlike Carrefore at le mans they will not have been stripped of all bread and BBQ goodies.

Driving to Le mans is half of the fun of this trip, motorways are as boring in france as they are in the UK.

[//j17]

If you want to avoid the police, and everyone else for that matter try the D30 South West out of Alencon, through Fresnay-sur-Sarthe on the D21 to Conlie. Lovelly, bendy, empty roads and the dead straight run along the D304 to join the N138 just North of Le Mans.

[bort]

438 north of Alencon and 338 south, or was it south and north ?

[James_N]

gt6 said:

Don't bother with maps/sat navs. On the motorway out of rouen the old signs have mostly been changed but if you take the turning after the ruin castle of Robert the diable (you can't miss it) you will be on the old N138 and you can then stay on that road all the way to Le Mans, plenty to see, plenty of interesting places to stop have a drink and watch the world go by, and it is a good few miles less than the auto route. No tolls to pay and you can stop at supermarkets at bernay/gace and stock up before you get to the campsites, unlike Carrefore at le mans they will not have been stripped of all bread and BBQ goodies.

Driving to Le mans is half of the fun of this trip, motorways are as boring in france as they are in the UK.

Sounds a nice little route to take. Whats the road names for the sat nav?! I need sat nav. I get lost in my home town!

[HOOKY305]

You wont need Sat Nav to get to Le Mans you just need to follow the first British car you see with a load of stickers on it !!

[Pacey]

N138 for us this year, we're not spending £30 on tolls for the privilege of getting to Le Mans 30 minutes earlier than usual.

[johnhere]

Just put in Tours or Le Mans and turn off motoway route or toll route.