Anyone fancy a little bit of inspiration just ahead of our little French trip?
Mark Beaumont fastest man around the world on a bicycle and recently completed the Americas End to End is currently touring the UK with his slide show(!) and anecdotes from his adventures. Anyone fancy a night at the Assembly rooms on the Friday before our trip let me know on the 12th April at our meeting at the Flowerpot.
See Link http://www.derbylive.co.uk/Public_Event.aspx?ID=735
I would like to go but the Missus is not too keen so am lookin for bikemad company I thought of you Guys. Wonder why?
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Tour Leaders?
With a little help from us, Clyde has done a magnificent job in planning/replanning and rescheduling the ride in May to take into account availablity of overnight stops and the discovery of new bits of greenway/VV. It would seem only fair that we should take our turn in actually leading for some part of the ride. With 6 of us, this works out at a day each with Clyde perhaps taking one of the first 6 days then the last one which is likely to be "on home turf".
Perhaps we can give this some thought and come to a conclusion on 12/4.
Perhaps we can give this some thought and come to a conclusion on 12/4.
Day 6 - Angouleme
Reservations have been made for 3 rooms at the F1 Hotel on the northern outskirts of Angouleme for Sunday 23rd May. Total cost was 123 euros. At todays rate that equates to £111.13 or £18.52 each including breakfast but by May, who knows!
I think that completes all the 6 days?
I think that completes all the 6 days?
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Train Journeys on Monday 17th May to Portsmouth
Times and costs are now available for your likely journeys.
Keith and Maldwyn, who will use either Derby, Nottingham, Long Eaton or East Mids Parkway have little option but to route through London. It is not a long or particularly hazardous trip across London from St Pancras to Waterloo if you know the way (I can provide a route). There is a snag:
Your trip from London Waterloo to Portsmouth must begin before 16:45 or after 19:00.
If the former, you can leave Derby or Notts around 14:00 and arrive into Portsmouth a little after 18:00. The cost is £20.
Alternatively you can wait until about 17:00 from Derby/Notts to get to Pompy around 21:00 for £23.
From Burton on Trent the standard route is via Derby and London while from Birmingham there are a number of routes.
You can catch the 13:10 or 14:10 to London Euston thence over to Waterloo for a train to Portsmouth. Cost £12. This gets you to Portsmouth for about 17:00 or 18:00.
You can catch the 13:03 or 14:03 to Southampton Central and change there for a direct train to Portsmouth. This will cost £19
You can catch the 14:33 or the 18:33 to Reading, then to Guildford and finally to Portsmouth, also for £19.
These costs would be inflated by whatever it cost to get to Brum.
Alternatively, Shawn, I think I would consider asking Mrs B very nicely to take you to Derby or Leicester. Leicester costs are as Derby.
One other idea which has occurred for travel on East Midlands Trains and South West Trains which do the journey from us to London and from London to Portsmouth respectively. Both are owned by Stagecoach so you could look at the www.megatrain.com website to see if you can get any cheap tickets that day. You can book now for 17/5.
Any questions or doubts, ring me or e-mail me or raise the problem at our meet on 12/4.
Keith and Maldwyn, who will use either Derby, Nottingham, Long Eaton or East Mids Parkway have little option but to route through London. It is not a long or particularly hazardous trip across London from St Pancras to Waterloo if you know the way (I can provide a route). There is a snag:
Your trip from London Waterloo to Portsmouth must begin before 16:45 or after 19:00.
If the former, you can leave Derby or Notts around 14:00 and arrive into Portsmouth a little after 18:00. The cost is £20.
Alternatively you can wait until about 17:00 from Derby/Notts to get to Pompy around 21:00 for £23.
From Burton on Trent the standard route is via Derby and London while from Birmingham there are a number of routes.
You can catch the 13:10 or 14:10 to London Euston thence over to Waterloo for a train to Portsmouth. Cost £12. This gets you to Portsmouth for about 17:00 or 18:00.
You can catch the 13:03 or 14:03 to Southampton Central and change there for a direct train to Portsmouth. This will cost £19
You can catch the 14:33 or the 18:33 to Reading, then to Guildford and finally to Portsmouth, also for £19.
These costs would be inflated by whatever it cost to get to Brum.
Alternatively, Shawn, I think I would consider asking Mrs B very nicely to take you to Derby or Leicester. Leicester costs are as Derby.
One other idea which has occurred for travel on East Midlands Trains and South West Trains which do the journey from us to London and from London to Portsmouth respectively. Both are owned by Stagecoach so you could look at the www.megatrain.com website to see if you can get any cheap tickets that day. You can book now for 17/5.
Any questions or doubts, ring me or e-mail me or raise the problem at our meet on 12/4.
Friday, 12 March 2010
Anyone need anything while I'm in France?
I'm off to France in a few minutes. If you want me to get anything or check something out, let me know by email/blog/text (07855804451)/phone (0033547770082). See you in April!
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Aprils Meeting Date change proposed
Hi All
Can we consider changing the date of our April meeting as I am planning a short break with the wife from April 15th in Murcia. Last minute arrangement so I have only just realised the clash. Can we move the meeting forward to a night earlier that week or the week before say 8th April or perhaps sunday 11th or Monday 12th. I should be able to make each of these dates at the Flowerpot. Once confirmed we can post the date on the blog. Has everyone booked hotels for their nominated nights? Shall we square up on costs at the April meeting? I have not yet booked the ferry as there doesn't seem to be any urgency and I am waiting for Keith & Maldwyn to confirm they are to travel on the overnight crossing from Portsmouth to Caen on the 17th May. The cost of a cabin,3passengers+3 bikes comes out at around £190 in total or £64 each. No discounts seem to be available.
Please reply with suggested alternate dates for April meeting, sorry for disrupting our plans but I sure you all realise its important to keep the good lady sweet and onside!
Regards to all
Shawn
Can we consider changing the date of our April meeting as I am planning a short break with the wife from April 15th in Murcia. Last minute arrangement so I have only just realised the clash. Can we move the meeting forward to a night earlier that week or the week before say 8th April or perhaps sunday 11th or Monday 12th. I should be able to make each of these dates at the Flowerpot. Once confirmed we can post the date on the blog. Has everyone booked hotels for their nominated nights? Shall we square up on costs at the April meeting? I have not yet booked the ferry as there doesn't seem to be any urgency and I am waiting for Keith & Maldwyn to confirm they are to travel on the overnight crossing from Portsmouth to Caen on the 17th May. The cost of a cabin,3passengers+3 bikes comes out at around £190 in total or £64 each. No discounts seem to be available.
Please reply with suggested alternate dates for April meeting, sorry for disrupting our plans but I sure you all realise its important to keep the good lady sweet and onside!
Regards to all
Shawn
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Martin's Schedule
Tuesday 18 May 2010:
8.02 St. Pancras - Paris Gard du Nord 11.17
13.16 Paris Montparnasse - Briouze 15.20
If I am not on the train don't wait for me because the next train from Paris does not get to Briouze until 19.44. I will try to work out some contingency plans before our next meeting!
Wednesday 26 May 2010:
8.43 St. Astier - Bordeaux 9.57
11.25 Bordeaux - Paris Montparnasse 14.40
18.13 Paris Gard du Nord - St. Pancras 19.34
Martin
Monday, 8 March 2010
Poitiers Booked for 22/05/2010
I have booked the Hotel F1 in Poitiers Sud for saturday 22nd May along with my return flight for the 25th. Still need to book trains and Ferry crossing.
Maldwyn and Keith I assume we are still travelling together from Portsmouth on the night crossing on the 17th May with cabin facilties to arrive refreshed!
If you will confirm this is the case then I am happy to book online this crosssing for the 3 of us + bikes. I will look again for discounts on single crossings but am having no luck to date.
Maldwyn and Keith I assume we are still travelling together from Portsmouth on the night crossing on the 17th May with cabin facilties to arrive refreshed!
If you will confirm this is the case then I am happy to book online this crosssing for the 3 of us + bikes. I will look again for discounts on single crossings but am having no luck to date.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Travel to/from France
I am now booked on the 10:25 Eurostar service from London to Paris on Monday 17th May, travelling standard class. I should arrive in Caen late afternoon and will meet Clyde there. We are staying overnight in one of the Caen Formula1 Hotels there. I expect we shall ride to meet Keith, Shawn and Maldwyn on the 18th somewhere on the Greenway from Ouistreham. Dont be TOO early, chaps so that we can enjoy our eat-all you-can buffet breakfast!
My return trip is 19:13 from Gare du Nord on Tuesday 25th (First Class so a meal and lots of wine). That should make for a comfortable start from Grignols.
My return trip is 19:13 from Gare du Nord on Tuesday 25th (First Class so a meal and lots of wine). That should make for a comfortable start from Grignols.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)