We are going Dover/Calais
We are camping
we have 3 support vehciles Mini bus, Tansit and car.
I've a book of Scout Campsites but it seems a bit thin.
Blimey - That is more than enough support vehicles !!!!!
We have never used support vehicles, we have always lugged the lot.
However some comments in no particular order.
If you want to PM me then it's explorers(at)severndroog.demon.co.uk and I'll give you a number of one of my colleagues who has done more cycle trips with Explorers that I have, and has a list of all the scout camp sites we have used.
I'm sure you have looked at the costs, but with 3 support vehicles I would have left the car and transit in Dover and only taken over the mini bus (with trailer ?) with the Unit going as cycle/foot passengers. And then simply used the minibus as a kit waggon and broom for the stragglers
Calais to the Belgian boarder, there are Scout sites, it's fairly flat and well worth a diversion to show the unit the WW1 front line (Menem Gate worth the diversion)
Belgium - Alsong the coast is built up, inland is nicer
Merkenveld Scout Camp site is very good, indoor and outdoor accomo, they even produce their own beer! It is about 45 mins riding distance to Brugges
We stayed close'ish to the coast, but not right on it in Belgium, we only hit the Dutch coast at Rotterdam and went all the way up to Den Helder.
Maps - Get the Esterbauer Bikeline maps - utterly brilliant.
If you have not already done it, I'd try end ensure that you do at least a day, and ideally an overnight dry run with as many of the Unit (and all the cycling Leaders) as possible, as ther must be rules on the road. No one can overtake the leader (who is the one that can read a map whilst riding a bike), the Unit must keep two bike lengths apart, overtaking must be one the correct side only, stopping at traffic lights, and the you really want two leaders at the back, one with the tool kit and know how to use it.
