What Time To Leave

[Fruitcake]

Gents, the Fruit-machine and NickJ's Lotus have to be on the 08.40 ferry at Dover on Thursday morning. We are just outside Liverpool.

A member of our group says we're to leave a 4 am. I think this is too late, any suggestions/comments (bear in mind we have to negotiate the M25 in the morning time)?

Cheers

Dan

[Mr Beckerman]

They normally like you to be there an hour in advance of sailing (last check in type affair), so I'd say go earlier, just to be safe. Probably not too easy to get a later ferry if you miss your booked one over the next few days.

[Fruitcake]

It says we're to be there at least 30 mins beforehand.

I don't think getting on to another one is that easy either as they will all be full!

[willdew]

So about 300 miles.

Depends what speed you choose to drive at that time in the morning.

If it was me, I might think that leaving at 4am will mean by 7am, as the traffic starts to increase on the M25, I'd have covered 280 miles or so, which should mean I was leaving the M25, joining the M20 (which is the crutial bit).

I think you'll make it leaving at 4am, but I'd leave at 3:30 to have a little more of a buffer.

[S1mon.]

I need to be at Folkestone bt 8:00 AM, so will leave at 5:00, and i only have 180 miles to cover.
If i were you i would leave earlier.
Better an hour early that 5 mins late.

[Alex@POD]

From Wrexham I need 4 hours to Dover... With early morning traffic and to allow for maybe a slow truck overtaking another one, i'd leave at 3.30 to keep the ferry people happy, plus iirc it's first in first out on the ferry, great to be ahead of the load...

[FUBAR]

If you're there a bit early, then there's time for some breakfast

Dont see the problem

[speed8]

7am seems to be the crucial time on the M25 from the trips I've made down there.
If you can be off the M25 by then you should be ok.

[wrightyrs]

I'd leave as early as you can as the M25 around the A10 junction is down to 2 lanes for roadworks and gets busy from early on,anytime after 6am and it'll take you minimum of 20-30mins to get through and some sections are reduced to one lane overnight so could slow you down even more.

And you never know what the weather might do tonight so the roads might be slow going because of all the rain.

Edited by wrightyrs on Tuesday 13th June 21:34

Edited by wrightyrs on Tuesday 13th June 21:36

Edited by wrightyrs on Tuesday 13th June 21:37

[neilsie]

i'd go on wed evening and catch some zed's in a cheap hotel. takes away the worry, allows you to catch up on some sleep before the drive in france.

[carsarecool]

neilsie said:

i'd go on wed evening and catch some zed's in a cheap hotel. takes away the worry, allows you to catch up on some sleep before the drive in france.

^^^^^^ Wot He Said!^^^^^^

[Touching Cloth]

FUBAR said:

If you're there a bit early, then there's time for some breakfast

Dont see the problem

Try looking down

[Manx]

Sorry to be a doom and gloom merchant....but I really think there is NO CHANCE you'll make Dover if you leave the Liverpool area at 4am
Not a chance in hell. You're going to have to average WELL in excess of 85 - 90 mph for the whole journey....you MIGHT just do that UNTIL you hit the M25....but after that....you've got two hopes....and one of them's "Bob".

I live just off the M25....From Junction 10 I'm allowing an hour and a half!! It's about 90 miles!

My tip is to stay at a Travel or Premier Lodge....about 45 - 50 quid for a room. There's a Travel Inn about 3miles from Jct 9 M25 near Dorking.
Im part of a small convoy on the same ferry as you....leaving from the Dorking area.

Hope to see you on the Ferry.....please don't miss it....you'd be gutted....and why stress youself out for the sake of less than 25quid each?

Cheers

[willdew]

Manx said:

Sorry to be a doom and gloom merchant....but I really think there is NO CHANCE you'll make Dover if you leave the Liverpool area at 4am
Not a chance in hell. You're going to have to average WELL in excess of 85 - 90 mph for the whole journey....you MIGHT just do that UNTIL you hit the M25....but after that....you've got two hopes....and one of them's "Bob".Cheers

I disagree. It's completely up to the driver, but it's easy to sit at 95-100 all the way at that time in the morning.

I agree it's cutting it a little fine, but I'd bet they'd make it.

That said, I'm not advicating risking it. I'd leave nearer 3 - 3:30 and stop for breakfast if I had spare time.

[Saabyfox]

Would your cars also need a fuel stop on the way down to dover ? Can you get 300+ miles out of a tank ? Thats 15 minutes wasted just filling up.
I agree with others 4am would be cutting it fine. Only takes for extra foreign lorries on M20 to slow things right down to a super crawl and your stuffed.

Get there early, go and find a truckers foodstop and grab a cuppa and bacon buttie or two before getting on ferry!

[Fruitcake]

Thanks guys, I am prepping the cars now and then I shall report back to you about the leaving time which shall hopefully be around 3.00 am at the lastest.

Thanks

Dan

[FUBAR]

Touching Cloth said:

FUBAR said:

If you're there a bit early, then there's time for some breakfast

Dont see the problem

Try looking down

And your point is?

[leozwalf]

Ooooh we're on the same crossing as you

Not sure this is any help at all as most people have given good advice there.

BUT - we're coming from the M40 junction of the M25 and will be leaving at 6. From this area to Dover is around 1hr 30mins so we'll have half hour cockup time.

Don't go across the north of the M25 (unless you're coming down the M1?) as there are roadworks around a part of it so the south half will be quicker (So I've been told)

[ProPlus]

We are going for the 10:05am thursday crossing from Calais and we are setting off at 6am just to be safe.... Where are we leaving from, Clapham, we reckon on 2.5 hours to get there as it will rush hour in London at the time.