Gary Taylor Posted September 4, 2019 Posted September 4, 2019 Hi all firstly thanks to those who managed to come to Bo'ness either with their westy or to come and introduce themselves and have a chat. as we are coming towards the end of our planned runs / events and we have some more planning / thinking time it is time to start thinking ahead. Whilst sat talking on Sunday, the subject of a trip abroad was raised and as it was something we have discussed in the past, I was asked to throw a few ideas together. So hear we are, please feel free to comment suggest things and let me know if it is something you are interested in . The first question is ; When ? , how long ? , then how far ? how many miles in a day ? and where to ? and whats involved ? amongst many more. What i have jotted down is based on my own experience of westy touring abroad and is by no means comprehensive or set in stone so a suggested itinerary would be something like this; Time in the year by a majority agreement, but in reality we are planning for summer 2021 Saturday am meet at a central point, Bo'ness then depart together; saturday; Bo'ness to Bakewell, 7 hrs / 300 miles saturday night stopover Sunday; Bakewell to Portsmouth, 6 hrs / 210 miles Sunday night ferry departs at 23.00 hrs to Bilbao monday / monday night onboard ferry arrive Bilbao 07.45hrs tuesday morning Tuesday; Bilbao to Pau, through the pyrenees, 8hrs / 250 miles Tuesday night stopover Wednesday; Pau to La Rochelle, 6 1/2hrs / 240 miles Wednesday night stopover Thursday; La Rochelle to Dreux, 7hrs / 250 miles Thursday night stopover Friday; Dreux to Lille to Ghent, 7 hrs / 225 miles visit westfield france in Lille Friday night stopover Saturday; Ghent to Ijmurgen, 7 hrs / 190 miles Saturday ferry departs at 17.30 hrs to Newcastle Saturday night on ferry Sunday ferry docks at 09.15 hrs Sunday; Newcastle to Bo'ness, 3 hrs / 125 miles then home Total days away 9 Total miles circa 2000 Anticipated costs based on next summers (2020) prices Ferry to Spain @ circa £325 based on 1 car / 2 people Ferry to Newcastle @ circa £200 based on 1 car / 2 people 5 nights hotel @ circa £100 per night based on 1 room / 2 people on top of this would be fuel, food / drinks etc Points of note; in all honesty we are probably looking at doing this in 2021 as people are already booking next summers holidays, so you have plenty of time to persuade wife, partners or girlfriends to come ( not all 3 as you've only 2 seats) after all it will be a social event as well given that we will spend the evenings together. You WILL get lost or at least be temporarily unaware of your position occasionally but its part of the fun. The daily milage is no more than what we do up here on days out as normal In rural france the a and b roads are 50 mph limits and strictly enforced as are the town speed limits which vary. when travelling as part of a group abroad there should be occasional stops to let everyone regroup and stretch theirlegs. Each car gets a daily list of proposed stops for points of interest, lunch and hotel in case of seperation. If someone wants to see something different so be it we can rendezvous at lunch or teatime. Above all a couple of the most important things to remember is that plans are adaptable and to be considerate of each other as we are suddenly spending a week together. Most importantly its a holiday for EVERYONE to enjoy So if its something you would be interested in then let me know and over the winter period we can get together and discuss and plan things out, as I said earlier this is my quick thoughts on it since sundays blethering. Regards gary Quote
MrPid Posted September 5, 2019 Posted September 5, 2019 Sounds like an excellent idea. I am just outside Portsmouth so can meet at the ferry port. 1 Quote
Kingster Posted September 5, 2019 Posted September 5, 2019 We could meet up on your last day for a run up from the Shields Ferry through Kielder and the borders. Way more fun than the horrible A1 and only adds an hour or so 👍 2 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 1, 2019 Author Posted December 1, 2019 Well here we go just home from our lunch meet and we spoke about our euro trip so here is a provisional route, nothing set in stone so have a look and see what you think ; day 1, Saturday depart Edinburgh to Bakewell , 300 miles @ 7 hrs day 2, sunday Bakewell to Portsmouth, 210 miles @ 6 hrs Sunday night board ferry to Bilbao depart 23.00 arrive Tuesday 07.45 Day 4, Tuesday Bilbao to Pau, 250 miles @ 8 hrs Day 5, Wednesday Pau to La Rochelle, 225 miles @ 7 hrs Day 6, Thursday La Rochelle to Le Mans to Mont Saint Michal, 275 miles @ 7 hrs Day 7, Friday Mont Saint Michal to Lille, 250 miles @ 7 hrs visit club Westfield France Day 8, Saturday Lille to Ijmurgen, 210 miles @ 7 hours Saturday teatime board ferry Ijmurgen to Newcastle 17.30 depart / 09.15 arrive Day 9, Sunday Newcastle to Edinburgh, 125 miles @ 3 hrs as said earlier this is just an idea to mull over, distances are staying off motorways and timings are approximate thus allowing some leisure time for stops/ evenings, then next July / August we will start booking ferries and hotels . So would need an idea of numbers for then Quote
GuitarmanUK Posted December 2, 2019 Posted December 2, 2019 Sounds fab and I would be interested in joining you. I would look to meet up in Portsmouth and probably do the Eurotunnel back but the rest sounds good. David 1 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 2, 2019 Author Posted December 2, 2019 Hi David yes that would be fine, keep an eye on here for news as we go through the first half of next year Quote
pistonbroke Posted December 10, 2019 Posted December 10, 2019 Ijmurgen to Newcastle Did you mean "Ijmuiden " to Newcastle . (perhaps too much newky brown ) 1 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 10, 2019 Author Posted December 10, 2019 11 hours ago, pistonbroke said: Ijmurgen to Newcastle Did you mean "Ijmuiden " to Newcastle . (perhaps too much newky brown ) Well spotted Quote
Tom Frankland (T3OMF) Posted December 11, 2019 Posted December 11, 2019 On 02/12/2019 at 12:46, GuitarmanUK said: Sounds fab and I would be interested in joining you. I would look to meet up in Portsmouth and probably do the Eurotunnel back but the rest sounds good. David Hi Gary Can you add us to the list as well, again being from the south, we'll meet you at Portsmouth as well Cheers 1 Quote
simon walton Posted December 11, 2019 Posted December 11, 2019 Hi , I would be interested as well and based in the south so would meet you at the ferry or possibly bakewell 1 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 11, 2019 Author Posted December 11, 2019 Hi Tom and Simon added you the provisional list keep an eye on here for updates although I would suspect it’ll be quite for a while over the winter months 1 Quote
clansman Posted December 13, 2019 Posted December 13, 2019 Hi Gary count Angela and I in for this trip. 1 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 14, 2019 Author Posted December 14, 2019 16 hours ago, clansman said: Hi Gary count Angela and I in for this trip. Will do Quote
Ali and Gail Posted December 20, 2019 Posted December 20, 2019 Put us on the list mate, don't know how I missed this thread 1 Quote
Gary Taylor Posted December 23, 2019 Author Posted December 23, 2019 On 20/12/2019 at 23:07, Ali and Gail said: Put us on the list mate, don't know how I missed this thread Just keep an eye on here for updates they Will be sporadic to begin with Will be nailing down details end of summer Quote
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