Distance and drive times (Calais - Le Mans)

[williamp]

Living in Kent, I always go Calais to le mans via Rouen and Alecon. We leave bloody early and try to get to gace for Lunchtime.

The peage routes are not that expensive, and they are a lot quicker with less traffic.

[gilesn]

What day William?

I'm going for the first time this year and getting the 10am Calais Fast Ferry on the Thursday.

[Johnny Boy]

I knew there was a comprehensive set of directions, and I've just remembered where they were:

http://sites.clickandbuild4you.co.uk/the-twats_com/page99.html

Regards

John

[sixspeed]

We're getting an 7.30am Ferry out of Calais (Sea France) on Thursday morning. It was my first year last year, and we took the Calais-Rouen-LeMans route, and well.. we're doing the same again this year, just because it was such fun! I think the drive down is half the fun of the trip. It certainly was in our group anyhow!


-andy-


>> Edited by sixspeed on Thursday 3rd April 12:57

[Lensey]

Sixspeed, I'm getting the 7am Seafrance so know doubt see you on the way down. Saw you last year in the traffic jam going through the town, not going through the town this year as the temp went upto 110!

>> Edited by Lensey on Thursday 3rd April 14:31

[johnny boy]

Right, decision made.

Sod Paris, we're going through Rouen so we'll probably see a load of you guys en route.

John
Dover-Calais Seacat Thursday 12th, 9AM

[sixspeed]

Lensey - nice one! I'll be sure to wave/say hi if I see you on the way!


-andy-

[ian d]

N138 Rouen-Le Mans is the ONLY road to take, shame on those who go via Paris!

[williamp]

gilesn said: What day William?

I'm going for the first time this year and getting the 10am Calais Fast Ferry on the Thursday.

First thing Friday, I'm afraid.

[qualityscrew]

Avoid N roads and motorways where possible - too much traffic and 'Le Flic' everywhere! Although my routes are either Cherbourg, Caen, or Le Havre, I've been doing the trip soooooooo many times, that I only use D roads - they are usually traffic-free, so the police don't usually bother with them, and there's usually some serious scenery and lunch stops!

[johnny boy]

qualityscrew said: Avoid N roads and motorways where possible - too much traffic and 'Le Flic' everywhere!

Well, this is the one advantage of going via Paris. The autoroutes are very quiet (except the Perepherique and major toll booths) and the Gendarme presence seems to be about zero - in fact, we've only ever seen them on the run up to the Calais toll booth when returning home.

Are we saying, then, that going via Rouen means sticking to the speed limits is an absolute must? Or, do you just 'go with the flow'?

Regards

John

[chrisgr31]

johnny boy said: Are we saying, then, that going via Rouen means sticking to the speed limits is an absolute must? Or, do you just 'go with the flow'?

Well I always go from Dieppe through Rouen to Le Mans and usaully go slower then the flow, as travelling with a friend who drives substantially slower than me.

Last year however following a vandalism attack on my car I was stranded in Rouen for 24 hours whilst my friends went on to Le Mans. So I followed them down on the Friday. I drove like the wind, overtaking everything I could see. Realised the trick was to follow the motorcyclists, as that way I knew it was at least safe to pull out to see if it was clear to overtake and follow them through. I saw no sign of any speed traps, and indeed haven't on any trip t Le Mans.

Having said that I'll be caught this year!

[neilr]

Last year from leaving the campsite to pulling up at the tunnel, was 3hrs 55mins including stops totalling 40mins. dont know how this rates in the 'getting there quick' stakes but we werent hanging about. However, we left early on the Sunday (10am) due to a couple of us needing to be back in blighty a bit early. First time ive left so early, didnt see a single officer of the law all the way back.

[charlescrawley]

neilr said: First time ive left so early, didnt see a single officer of the law all the way back.

Same as going early... We go down on the Wednesday morning, to make a bit of a holiday of it... The only time I've seen a gendarme was in '98 when I drove down in my tank of a Merc. My mate Ash was spotting and we were barrelling along at a fair speed when we came across one of those huge long convoys of trucks on one of the miles long straight roads... Anyway, I stick my nose out, Ash says it's all clear and I boot it... Far off in the distance is a speck of a car coming the other way. No problems, we'll be past this lot soon... Anyway, rack the car up to about 130mph and there's still no let up in the convoy.. Car is getting closer in front of me... Getting a little worried by now... ;-) Within seconds, he's only about 100 yards away, now obviously a police car and flashing his lights like mad. We've got a head on speed of probably over 200mph. I just manage to squeeze back onto my side of the road at the head of the column, but not before forcing him onto the verge. I'm glad I didn't see him again...

[shoebag]

I have been Eurotunnel the last 3 years and also qualifying 1 year in the last 3 and the route is a fantastic via Rouen. I did Rouen to the Eurotunnel terminal last year in 63 minutes last year and that is approx 100 miles. That was on the sunday night.
My best time to Le Mans from Eurotunnel terminal on the Friday morning catching the 8.21 from the UK is 2 hrs 55 minutes!!
The N138 is a great piece of road to Alencon from Rouen and even at sensible speeds you can do Eurotunnel to Le Mans in about 5 hours including a 1 hour stop for lunch and fuel.
Beware of the police on the N138 especially on the run back on the Sunday evening after the race. Also do not use a radar detector in France 'cos if you get caught with one the police are likely to cut your balls off!!
You have been warned.

[GingaNinga]

We usually do the Portsmouth - Cherbourg run which leads into the Alencon run, it is excellent fun )
We have seen quite a few police there on the Friday in the past, none the last two years on the Thursday though.

[beemer]

----------------------------------------------------
shoebag wrote:

I did Rouen to the Eurotunnel terminal last year in 63 minutes last year and that is approx 100 miles. That was on the sunday night.
----------------------------------------------------

good effort, that - I did the same in 2001 - just over the hour mark for Rouen to Eurotunnel (in a BMW M5 Touring!), and made it 205km total, so your average is up around the 120+ mark!!

will be back for another go this year, this time in a 4.5 Cerbera - what price a sub-60 minute run??

BTW, you can't beat this run, the autoroute from Calais to Rouen is billiard table smooth and v quiet - just don't miss the turning off to Rouen at Abbeville (looks like the road you're on goes straight on, but you need to go right (or else end up in Paris!)

see you all there on Thursday afternoon

Sean

[Steve_T]

beemer said:
will be back for another go this year, this time in a 4.5 Cerbera - what price a sub-60 minute run?? Sean

Depends on if you get caught!

[beemer]

Steve_T said:

beemer said:
will be back for another go this year, this time in a 4.5 Cerbera - what price a sub-60 minute run?? Sean

Depends on if you get caught!

...by what, exactly??