The Fridays tour - Normandy 15th-22nd June

[wanda2010]

I am slowly calming down now. Thanks TMN and StuAff.

Now all I need to do is get the bike unstuck from the big ring tomorrow and clear my workload!

 

[StuAff]

Interesting development: three of the local audaxing contingent (Paul Metcalfe, Urban-Biker and Keeks of YACF fame), who self and a few others will know from the odd ride here and there, are going to Le Havre on Thursday night, and will be riding back to Cherbourg over four days via the D-Day beaches and assorted bars and restaurants. They're going to be in Barfleur Sunday night. Might be nice to sort out some sort of meet....?

 

[StuAff]

Persons on the Portsmouth - Caen ferry Friday night, meet and eat before boarding? Suggestions anyone?

Ship and Castle pub near the port?

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

Is this for trains on the Friday afternoon or Saturday? I've not booked train tickets yet but a groupsave is a good idea.

 

[StuartG]

Is this for trains on the Friday afternoon or Saturday? I've not booked train tickets yet but a groupsave is a good idea.

There appears no way back by train to London on Saturday 22nd for Cherbourgers ...

 

[wanda2010]

I'm staying overnight and travelling up on the Sunday morning.

 

[StuartG]

Calling StuAff,

I have to cycle from Portsmouth Harbour (coming across the Gosport Ferry). Is it possible to cycle through the naval base roads (Mountbatten Way etc) or do we have to go up the A3 Marketway? Streetview shows a cyclist using the pavement there. And I can see why!

 

[StuAff]

Stu, naval base is no through route. Market Way is indeed a bit hairy unless the roads are quiet.

 

[StuartG]

Market Way is indeed a bit hairy unless the roads are quiet.

Well we did have a practice round the Gatwick A23 on Saturday afternoon. I'll let you know which is worst (if we survive) ...

 

[mistral]

A Fullers pub a couple of minutes away from the boat. Excellent. Thanks Stu.

Need to be at the port by 22:00 latest so meet in pub from a couple of hours beforehand?

Sounds like a plan. Not sure how I'm getting to P'mouth yet, may not be there until 9ish.

 

[ianmac62]

There's nothing at the International Port except a Costa, if I remember rightly.

Others may have local and/or more recent knowledge than me - but I cycled in 2011 to meet up with a group at the port. Despite the port service building being cavernous, empty, and with huge acres of space, within three minutes of wheeling our bikes just inside the door, a most unhelpful man said, "You can't bring those in here!"

We drank our Costa coffees inside with the bikes outside leaning against the front glass wall of the building. Perhaps I was the only one hoping the glass would crack.

Serves as a shelter if it's wet, I suppose.

 

[StuAff]

Went in this morning to get my Euros...no bikes sign on the door!

 

[dellzeqq]

Ignore my last remarks then everyone.

I'm getting a deserved telling off for being prescriptive. Apologies all round

So...............my suggestion, and it is no more than a suggestion, is that people who are travelling down from London catch the 12.02 from Victoria, which comes through Clapham Junction at 12.08 and gets in to Portsmouth and Southsea at 13.58. That way you may be able to get a Groupsave. I'll circulate the rest of the peeps tonight

 

[dellzeqq]

let's be clear about this - the people at the port in Portsmouth are not very nice at all. They don't want your business, and they really don't want your business if you're on a bike.

 

[mmmmartin]

the 12.02 from Victoria, which comes through Clapham Junction at 12.08 and gets in to Portsmouth and Southsea at 15.58

No doubt I have completely misunderstood this conversation, but I fret that those on a train arriving at 15:58 will need to get to the port, check in, and get on the boat, all in two minutes.