maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
  
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Oh dear - easy done 
We were on R10 - good mix of sun and shade. Temp got up to 36 on some days.
Might do tunnel next year (Tesco vouchers  ) - ferry was nearly £650 this year 
Add that to the diesel cost and it smarts a bit 
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 20th Aug 2013 10:06 am |
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Gabbo
Member Since: 26 Feb 2013
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 227
  
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We wont be doing the tunnel again, its too far in one go, we used 3½ tanks of fuel getting there!
Portsmouth St Malo with a cabin for us, yes the cost is more but the time you've calculated fuel and tolls its not too bad
36 pah, we had 44 (in the sun) at 18.00 and 30 in the shade, it went off the thermometer a couple of times. Fortunately we had shade too.
I was ate by the mosquitoes the little  D4 Fuji White HSE with Black Pack, TV, RSE, Tow Pack, Side Steps & Heated Steering Wheel
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| 20th Aug 2013 10:11 am |
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maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
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Must admit it was easy.
Evening departure, got off at St. Malo 08:30 - arrived at site 15:00. On return, stopped at the municipal site in St. Malo which is 5 mins from ferry. Mind you, it's a bit tight getting into and onto the pitch.
Might see you next year 
ps. Daughters tent said 58 
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| 20th Aug 2013 10:14 am |
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markbrads
Member Since: 15 Apr 2013
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 234
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| Re: back from France and a few comments |
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Gabbo wrote:Firstly what a machine. We have a lunar 650 so its not light and we had 2 bikes and a roof box
Sat nav is poor imho compared to vw, merc and volvo
We had to get a move on at one point and I was amazed at the stability. Although it doesnt like scanias the new merc actros, tankers or wagon and drags in close convoy #twitchy
We did 1700miles and averaged 17.5 according to trip so im guessing that's closer to 16.5!
Keyless entry is fantastic and so is harmon kardon (when kids aren't in it)
Stupid question - where did you put the bikes 
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| 20th Aug 2013 9:34 pm |
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Petec1982
Member Since: 19 Jul 2013
Location: Northampton
Posts: 17
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maplecottage wrote:Gabbo - yes, St. Augustin
Logis du Brueil - great site, been before and enjoy it every time. Pitches are enormous (150 m2) and great facilities with fantastic pool.
Stayed there a few times.....cracking site and some great forest roads round there too. Heading over to France in a couple of days with the (non tin) tent...think we will give Annecy a try this year! 8)
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| 20th Aug 2013 9:45 pm |
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Gabbo
Member Since: 26 Feb 2013
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 227
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| Re: back from France and a few comments |
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markbrads wrote:
Stupid question - where did you put the bikes
On the roof next to the roof box D4 Fuji White HSE with Black Pack, TV, RSE, Tow Pack, Side Steps & Heated Steering Wheel
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| 20th Aug 2013 9:49 pm |
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gvw
Member Since: 16 Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 872
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How did you find the traffic?
We have just got back from a trip to northern Spain (Costa Brava) and travelled through France.
This is the first time we have ventured abroad with the tintent and was told by many people how easy the french toll roads were to drive on and how little traffic there was.
It was a nightmare as it seemed we chose to go during the main french holidays (1st 2 weeks in August) and spent nearly the whole journey there (Friday & Saturday) and the 1st half of it coming back (Sunday and Monday) in congestion, sharing the roads with the masses travelling down to the south of France
The Monday was great and we reached Calais with hours to spare after setting off early thinking we may get caught in traffic again. 
If I go again next year do I need to plan to travel during the week rather than weekends to avoid the traffic
For the record we did around 2400 miles and averaged 19.5mpg according to the iphone although the car was showing just shy of 22.
The car performed great and was a godsend in the heat (mid 30's) and traffic with plenty of space for the family and the auto gearbox easing the situation .
We had just a small issue with the RSE DVD which didn't go down too well but could have been worse 
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| 21st Aug 2013 8:25 am |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
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for tolls, get a www.saneftolling.co.uk TAG.
saves masses of time in the tolls and you can go through the HGV Tag lanes which means there is loads of space either side and you don't need to squash the caravan up against the concrete walls to reach the ticket machine !! Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
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| 21st Aug 2013 8:51 am |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18573
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If you can do a bit of French translation, you can go direct via APRR's French site at www.aprr.fr
http://www.aprr.fr/fr/souscrire_telepeage_liber_t/commandez_badge
It's cheaper than the UK set up (and does work with UK addresses and payment cards) 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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| 21st Aug 2013 8:54 am |
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gvw
Member Since: 16 Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 872
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Yes, good point - I forgot to mention that I had taken the advice of other forum members and got myself a tag before my journey.
This certainly helped out at the toll boths as we didin't have to que for any even though the roads were mega congested
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| 21st Aug 2013 8:55 am |
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Petec1982
Member Since: 19 Jul 2013
Location: Northampton
Posts: 17
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I would avoid travelling on Saturdays between July 10th and August 30th, as this is the French school holiday period.. On these days, many French motorways - and in particular all the main arteries to the south - will be heavily congested. The worst bottlenecks are in the Rhone valley south of Lyons, along the south coast, and around Bordeaux.
I would recommend a Thursday night crossing and travelling Friday - it will save you a few quid too!!
We are travelling tomorrow night Portsmouth to Le Havre. 109 quid versus 220 on Friday night 
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| 21st Aug 2013 9:03 am |
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Gabbo
Member Since: 26 Feb 2013
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 227
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We had the tag and can definitely recommend it. Stuff that had passed us 5mins before the tolls were overtaking us 15mins after them 
TBH we didn't have a problem with traffic as we only travelled down on the Sunday and was there by 11.30am D4 Fuji White HSE with Black Pack, TV, RSE, Tow Pack, Side Steps & Heated Steering Wheel
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| 21st Aug 2013 9:11 am |
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DSL
Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73121
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Yep, tags are an absolute godsend to beat the queues at the peage choke points. Especially if you don't have anything in the roof and you use the <2.0m lanes. Even more useful if you're travelling on your own as no more painful interaction with the gearstick. 
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| 21st Aug 2013 9:20 am |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
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if you do have stuff on the roof and get charged at Class 2 , question it, ive just had £20 refunded from the trip we did in June Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
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| 21st Aug 2013 9:23 am |
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DSL
Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73121
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Hang onto it, that'll pay for the beers in October!!
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| 21st Aug 2013 9:24 am |
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