Home to Brittany via Poole and Cherbourg with only three stops (2 Cigarette stops, and one fuel stop). Four hundred and fifty miles or there abouts. There was a fourth rest of course on the ferry.
I travelled on the Brittany Ferries fast crossing at 07:30. I was up at two am!
I'm not keen on the fast craft crossings as they seem to be less considerate with bikes. The normal crossings have more time for their turn around so they can be a little more customer focused as they load the vehicles. Plus the fast craft are so awkward to load. Imagine a floating multi-story car park with too few spaces. The cars seem to be packed in at strange angles. The ferry had a sort of roll on wheel clamp for bikes which held it up without it's stand. A little wobbly until it was strapped down, I felt I had to be quite careful unloading my top box.
The crossing took about two and a half hours. I slept through most of it despite the occasional whinging kid trying to wake me up. There was plenty of space and I soon abandoned my allocated seat for a place near a window.
On arrival in Cherbourg I found a super market petrol station and filled up. The price of fuel in France has gone up considerably. By my rough calculations at €1.30 it's more expensive than the UK now. There was a time not so long ago....
As always the French had been looking after their roads and the superb surface and slowing rain allowed me to make good time to Carhaix. There are a lot more speed cameras now too, but they are well signposted, so there's no excuse for having your photograph taken. Once you pass the sign, you have to keep a look out for the little grey box. They're not as obvious as UK cameras.
I unloaded the luggage and headed off to the supermarket to stock up on groceries.
For me, this sort of journey is only possible on a Pan.
I travelled on the Brittany Ferries fast crossing at 07:30. I was up at two am!
I'm not keen on the fast craft crossings as they seem to be less considerate with bikes. The normal crossings have more time for their turn around so they can be a little more customer focused as they load the vehicles. Plus the fast craft are so awkward to load. Imagine a floating multi-story car park with too few spaces. The cars seem to be packed in at strange angles. The ferry had a sort of roll on wheel clamp for bikes which held it up without it's stand. A little wobbly until it was strapped down, I felt I had to be quite careful unloading my top box.
The crossing took about two and a half hours. I slept through most of it despite the occasional whinging kid trying to wake me up. There was plenty of space and I soon abandoned my allocated seat for a place near a window.
On arrival in Cherbourg I found a super market petrol station and filled up. The price of fuel in France has gone up considerably. By my rough calculations at €1.30 it's more expensive than the UK now. There was a time not so long ago....
As always the French had been looking after their roads and the superb surface and slowing rain allowed me to make good time to Carhaix. There are a lot more speed cameras now too, but they are well signposted, so there's no excuse for having your photograph taken. Once you pass the sign, you have to keep a look out for the little grey box. They're not as obvious as UK cameras.
I unloaded the luggage and headed off to the supermarket to stock up on groceries.
For me, this sort of journey is only possible on a Pan.
