The drive is Fantastic. I drive back from Geneva to the UK about twice a year. The only bad part of the trip is arriving back in the UK!!
Tell me about it. I normally degenerate from relaxed happy do$h to raging do$h within 10 miles of Ashford due to the sodding awful standard of driving in the UK. Then you pull in at a motorway service station to find the worlds fattest, surliest, hairiest woman expectorating into your coffee before slopping it all over your hand when she tosses it at you. I know there is a bit of an anti thing about eastern europeans working in the uk, but you always get your coffee in the cup and a smile with the Poles.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
15th Feb 2007 11:01 am
nickgriff
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Switzerland/France
Posts: 58
Drinking English motorway service station coffee......brave man!!!
With the advent of Costa Coffee the risk is mitigated.
I got home from my trip up to Silverstone on Tuesday night, extolling the virtues of the cup holders, at which point my wife pointed at my chest and burst out laughing as my shirt was decorated with finest Mocha, extra shot.
As I pointed out, LR's cupholders can't really be held responsible for me absent-mindedly taking a gulp of scalding hot coffee before desperately trying to spit it back through that tiny hole in the lid of the cup.
By dung dill hurbs....I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
15th Feb 2007 11:26 am
Nickhearne
Member Since: 28 May 2005
Location: Beaconsfield Bucks
Posts: 992
Just be careful of old french chaps driving down the wrong way on the auto routs!!!!
A year ago yesterday & still not resolved the insurance, Land rover assistance are great & will get you home should you have to leave your car behind
This tell all!
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic3070.html?highlight=Range Rover Sport Estate 2.0 P400e Hse Dynamic Black
D4 HSE Santorini Black
Almond Arabica hide & Walnut trim Now sold
Discovery 3 TDV6 SE
Zambezi Silver Ebony leather Now sold
Last edited by Nickhearne on 15th Feb 2007 3:42 pm. Edited 1 time in total
Just be careful of old french chaps driving down the wrong way on the auto routs!!!!
The autoroutes are full of them. Sometimes I think I'm the only one on the right side of the...... Oh CRAP! ::swerve::I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
15th Feb 2007 3:30 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
luckily all French people are carefully trained to be able to remain in full control of a car while gesticulating with both arms and their head out of the window
(and I am fully qualified to say that )end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
A few notes from several navigational rallies passing through France and several bike trips too . . . . .
1) Have credit card and cash to hand somewhere central for passenger to use at tolls.
2) Off peak times consider using N roads, as they are generally along side the autoroutes and free - fuel is cheaper too.
3) speed camera's on a bike, great as forward facing. there is a company currently buying French motoring convictions, paying the french fine and following up with UK drivers. legally they can do this and up the fine to cover "costs".
4) autoroute Police do not time between booths.
5) As already said, keep all documents safe, photocopy them too saves leaving them with Police etc if something happens.
6) Have a good map and take a good camera for the journey.
7) make sure you have the emergency kit that you should have for France and if anyone else is travelling with you consider some cheapo personal radio’s – the range is fine for “we need fuel, we need a wee†calls and saves mobile costs."To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
15th Feb 2007 3:40 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
Re: French driving
90BHP wrote:
3) speed camera's on a bike, great as forward facing. there is a company currently buying French motoring convictions, paying the french fine and following up with UK drivers. legally they can do this and up the fine to cover "costs".
4) autoroute Police do not time between booths.
3). careful, not true everywhere now, the rear view ones are creeping in.....
4). Agreed where you pay cash, however if it is ticket between booths they don't have to The peages are just convienient to save the Gendarmes actually having to chase you end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
OK so I should have said they don't use the times on the tickets to nick you as the times cannot be used in french Law - they tried / failed / french farmers blocked the roads etc and they don't do it anymore !
We did however get flashed by a forward facing camera on our bikes (well over the limit) and stopped at the services, changed gear, helmets, rain gear on (summers day) and got asked a few questions, got lots of interest from the plod at the next toll booths . . . . Agreed they're not all forward facing."To finish first, one first has to finish ...."
15th Feb 2007 4:08 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
No one seems to worry about the UK Police as much as they fear the Gendarmes.........
end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
15th Feb 2007 4:12 pm
nickgriff
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Switzerland/France
Posts: 58
Given the choice, I would take the British Police anytime. I see nobody has mentioned the French Custom officers.....they normally sit at the Peage (Viry) just before Geneva. Now they are EVIL!
15th Feb 2007 4:15 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
whereas the ones at Thonon can't be bothered to ever come out of their box end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
15th Feb 2007 4:16 pm
SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
however.......the ones who caught me driving enthusiastically in Calais Docks were quite thorough and unpleasant end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
15th Feb 2007 4:18 pm
Nickhearne
Member Since: 28 May 2005
Location: Beaconsfield Bucks
Posts: 992
You should have chains if your driving to the ski resorts!
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic2581.html?highlight=Range Rover Sport Estate 2.0 P400e Hse Dynamic Black
D4 HSE Santorini Black
Almond Arabica hide & Walnut trim Now sold
Discovery 3 TDV6 SE
Zambezi Silver Ebony leather Now sold
15th Feb 2007 4:33 pm
Alex E Holy Bratwurst!
Member Since: 22 Mar 2006
Location: Club Tropicana (the drink's aren't free)
Posts: 869
i use the "head in the sand" method of driving - follow AndrewS as close as possible to a point where you can't see the road.
if i can't see them...... I'm Powered by........Diesel
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The peages are just convienient to save the Gendarmes actually having to chase you 
