The Fridays Tour de Normandie 2015

[StuAff]

Not relevant Frank. Rendevous at The Ship has not been a problem for the past two years. And AFAIR no one was the worse for wear on boarding (as opposed to disembarkation).

It is a chance to meet up with everyone in congenial circumstances and chat in comfort. I'm not going to stand around for an hour and a half or desert my loaded bike, I'm going to eat. I'll be where you want me at the time of your choosing. If that doesn't include The Ship would it be possible for you to take a two minute diversion and ride past since Frank in the Flesh beats Southern Scheduled Arrival Time by a large margin. We can then follow you in good order to the start line. Everybody happy?

Not counting the tight-margin-but we-made it trip self and Mary took from Fratton last year...which wasn't that much of an issue really. Sounds like a most excellent compromise to me.

 

[mmmmartin]

The ticket says we need to be there 90 mins before departure

It's a good idea to but early rather than late, if only because on a few occasions we have been searched by the Brittany Ferries security, which delays you getting on the ferry and is a pain. You may want to have your herd of cats in one group and then approach the check-in box all together and be very co-operative with the nice ladies: they have the power to make life very difficult if they want to. Remember that there is one in every crowd and there will inevitably be someone who misses the ferry. Tough.
Finally, when you get on it's nice to be sitting at the front so you can see the sea. And even nicer if someone remembers to bring wine. And something from which to drink it.
Finally finally, when you get off the ferry you should see me as I will have been browbeaten by Simon into meeting you and taking you to the Ibis La Glacerie. I hope to have lunched rather too well @ Chez Cri Cri. Look for someone pissed.

 

[Andrew Br]

We may cause a bit of an issue here:- our train doesn't get into Fratton 'til 13.42.
I thought that would be enough time to allow for check-in (I'm sure the web-site said 60 minutes when I booked the tickets).
Needless to say, we shan't be going to the pub.

 

[frank9755]

Not relevant Frank. Rendevous at The Ship has not been a problem for the past two years. And AFAIR no one was the worse for wear on boarding (as opposed to disembarkation).

It is a chance to meet up with everyone in congenial circumstances, chat in comfort. I'm not going to stand around for an extra hour and a half or desert my loaded bike, I'm going to eat. I'll be where you want me at the time of your choosing. If that doesn't include The Ship would it be possible for you to take a two minute diversion and ride past since Frank in the Flesh beats Southern Scheduled Arrival Time by a large margin. We can then follow you in good order to the start line. Everybody happy?

By all means go to the pub beforehand. If I manage to get an earlier train, I'll join you. However, at 2:30 I am going to be in the car lanes with a view to checking in. Most likely we'll have to wait there for some time but if they come and check us in and you are still in the pub, we'll send you a consolation post card!

 

[StuAff]

We may cause a bit of an issue here:- our train doesn't get into Fratton 'til 13.42.
I thought that would be enough time to allow for check-in (I'm sure the web-site said 60 minutes when I booked the tickets).
Needless to say, we shan't be going to the pub.

You'll be fine. From the pub to Fratton and back to the port with Mary only took 23 minutes and we weren't hammering.

 

[mmmmartin]

Fratton 'til 13.42

Andrew - print the maps, read instructions from @StuAff and read, mark, learn and inwardly digest. It's 10 minutes to the ferry from Fratton. Basically it's only one road and you turn left and the second (?) set of lights and it's about 100 yards and under the dual carriageway and you're there. (Or get an earlier train if you can, obvs....)

 

[Andrew Br]

An earlier train isn't an option (it costs £f*ckmehowmuch ?).
I have both maps, a GPS track and I'll study the route lots before Friday.
We'll get there as soon as we can .

 

[StuAff]

An earlier train isn't an option (it costs £f*ckmehowmuch ?).
I have both maps, a GPS track and I'll study the route lots before Friday.
We'll get there as soon as we can .

Copied over from my earlier post.
Exit the station from platform one/ticket office side, go to the end of the road, where you'll want to go right. That junction is actually left turn only, so use the cycle path on the bridge & the ped crossing there to get going the right way. Straight on from there until Kingston Crescent junction (streetview here), where you make a left. Bear left at the next junction, there's an underpass and a couple of crossings that will leave you right in front of the ferry port entrance. It's a couple of miles, so I'd allow more time than fifteen minutes if you can.

If in doubt, give me a ring and I'll lead you down. Same applies to everyone, of course.

 

[srw]

We may cause a bit of an issue here:- our train doesn't get into Fratton 'til 13.42.

Which is still 20 minutes, or 50 minutes in case of incompetence, early than mine.

 

[dellzeqq]

By all means go to the pub beforehand. If I manage to get an earlier train, I'll join you. However, at 2:30 I am going to be in the car lanes with a view to checking in. Most likely we'll have to wait there for some time but if they come and check us in and you are still in the pub, we'll send you a consolation post card!

Quite right too. Bear in mind that Frank has to be at the ferry terminal to meet the early arrivals. There are, lest we forget, (counts fingers) 18 people on this ferry journey.

As in

Adam B
Andrew Br
Charlie B
Claudine C
Frank P
Gordon P
Helen S
Katharina S
Lee H
Mary L
Olaf S
Rebecca O
Sonia W
Stephen W
Steve R
Stuart G
Uta W
Michael A

You should all have Frank's mobile number, so if you are going to be a minute later than 3, call him.

 

[StuAff]

You have eighteen fingers?

 

[srw]

Just gone to put my bike in the car and discovered a flat tyre - the little foil strip that covers the join in the factory-built rear wheel has begun to ruck up. Fortunately I discovered it where I have rim tape to provide a bit of protection.

[Sudden realisation]

I'd probably better look at the front before Friday. Bother.

 

[redfalo]

Well - given it took the best part of the whole day to get four or five of us out of a pub in Bognor a few weeks ago, would you fancy my chances of getting a couple of dozen people out of one in two minutes flat?

very true, and it would get even more difficult ounce you started to perform your special Cactus trick

 

[wanda2010]

I don't have Frank's number.............

 

[srw]

I don't have Frank's number.............

It's 9755.









(Or for the serious answer, one of SL's emails - the one with the attachment including a google map from Portsmouth and Southsea - has it in.)