andym said:
The change in Paris is actually pretty easy. Gare du Nord by RER to Chatelet les Halles then RER again to Gare du Lyon. 15 mins tops.
If changing in Paris is an issue, (and I prefer to avoid it if I can) there's a useful service that goes from Lille Europe all the way to Marseille via Lyon - unfortunately it's not much help going to Grenoble.
You can also take unpackaged bags on sleeper trains which serve a wide range of destinations - but unfortunately not to Grenoble (with a 3 hour journey time who would bother with a sleeper?
Oh and flying doesn't involve stress and aggro? Pull the other one.
OK the choice is;
Whilst carrying two tourers broken down & bagged up plus panniers, tent etc. and bearing in mind mrs d is 5'1";
Lift / taxi home to railway station
home station to waterloo
waterloo - st pancras
eurostar to paris
Gare du Nord by RER to Chatelet les Halles then RER again to Gare du Lyon.
Gare du lyon to grenoble
Or
lift to Heathrow (about an hour)
fly to nice (or lyon if we want to be closer)
cycle towards grenoble (might get there, might not, we like to make it up as we go along)
Like i said, if we could take built up bikes all the way on the train and so be able to cycle from home and between stations we would, we've used french local trains and generally think trains are the second best form of transport after bikes (ships are third).
And i don't remember saying flying was either stress or aggro free??