What's a chap to do in La Havre?

[chap]

My apologies to those I offend, I understand that this is a loose definition of touring and pales in comparison with the feats of endurance that you all would expect. However, you may be able to provide the most relevant advice to me.

The issue is that I have noticed that LD Lines have an excellent offer at the moment where a foot-passenger can travel from Portsmouth to La Havre and back for the very recession-friendly sum of £20. This is an offer I intend to take up. However, the problem is that I do not know how to go abotu transporting my Brompton nor where to go in La Havre. Thus my issue is one half travel, the other half logistics.

Has anybody had experience of travelling by bike in the said ferries? The outgoing journey shall be overnight, and the cost of a single-berths made the trip not worthwhile so I shall be in a reclining chair - this is where I am anxious to make sure that my trusty steed is secured.

Then there is the place itself. La Havre, apart from its market seems to benefit solely from not being Calais. Therefore, I would like to take a mini-trip and see some of that French countryside. Any suggestions? I have 8 hours to spend there, and would like to see some sites as well.

If anyone can help, that would be very much appreciated.

 

[andym]

There will probably be a small room for bikes on the car deck this will probably your best bet - after all no one is allowed down there during the voyage. There might be a luggage room on the passenger decks. I doubt you're going to want to lug it aroung with you all night and I doubt there will be space under the reclining chair.

And not being Calais seems like a considerable advantage to me, but it does seem a wee bit unfair as Le Havre is a World Heritage Site - so presumably there's something worth seeing.

http://www.le-havre-tourism.com/

 

[rich p]

I can remember having trouble finding the way onto the Pont du Normandie but it's quite a spectacular sight if you can work your way into the countryside nearby.South west I would think.

I headed uphill from the port (NE?) originally, toward a forested area supposed to contain a now defunct campsite. It was an attractive area and would lead nicely out to more rural France. I'd suggest getting a local map before you go if you can.
If you have time to go over the Pont du Normandie you could get to Honfleur for lunch. That's a lovely quayside town.

 

[Bodhbh]

I have taken a folding bike on the ferry, and it's as easy to leave it with the regular bikes on the car deck than lug it around. I suppose one (unlikely) worry is that someone might fold it up and throw it in their boot. I'm not sure if they let you lock the bike to any part of the fixtures, maybe it's possible at least to lock it up with itself or some luggage so that it's unfoldable.

 

[Ian H]

Just join the cars on to the ferry and they'll point you to where the bikes go.
Le Havre is a surprisingly nice place, mostly rebuilt after the war. Find the town centre. There are various squares, one has a huge white sculptural shape which is a cinema or theatre. There's a nice inexpensive hotel there. The Place d'hotel de Ville has a very good restaurant.

Getting out of the town inland is tricky. Fromn the ferry you need to get on to the road under the ramp, heading right. This takes you through a huge industrial area. Keep going until the road bears left to join another main road, straight over and keep following the old road. Eventually you're in countryside following the Seine Valley. Somewhere along there there's a free ferry that crosses to a dleightful village here: google map

 

[andrew_s]

This is the route we took from the main ferry to the Quillebeuf ferry (ignore the section on the E05 and follow the south side of the ship canal).
You get to take a close look at the Pont de Normandie. I wouldn't recommend trying the ride over - it's a motorway with a 1m wide cycle lane protected by a rumble strip.
The main hypermarket is here

 

[rich p]

I have to admit that I really enjoyed cycling over it. It's not scary but there is a frisson and a view!

Here's Mrs rich p coming up

 

[dragon72]

Whenever I'm in Le Havre, I always eat here: http://www.taverne-paillette.com/
Very good traditional French brasserie serving very decent food at reasonable prices.

 

[Cathryn]

Dad and I took the tandem on this ferry, it's a good ferry and the £10 reclining seats are utterly brilliant, wholly recommended. I did a blog of the trip here...

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=2588&v=2W

The Pont de Normandie is hard to find, we ended up on the motorway, but great to cycle over and Honfleur is just the other side and utterly beautiful. Le Havre is pretty soulless but it has a great modern art museum down the coast (come out the ferry and go left down the beach front) and they do a good hot chocolate.

 

[Arch]

I've only done the Portsmouth-Le Havre in a van so far, but other bike crossings have just involved joining the cars (usually right at the front of the queue) and then going hell for leather when the chappie waves you on! (You don't need to race, but after time hanging about in port, and in a group of recumbent trikes, it happens) The bike will be secured with straps on the car deck (and I suppose you can lock it too, maybe so prevent folding like Bodhbh suggests), no-one can get to it during the voyage, and you're often among the first back down to your deck anyway, as the cars often contain families who take a while to get organised.

I suppose with a Brom, you might be able to go on as a foot passenger, and I guess you could handcuff the folded thing to yourself while you nap.

We drove over the Pont, I think, and it was good, I love bridges, and when we go to France via Le Havre this year, we'll be riding over it.

 

[chap]

Excellent, thank you for your replies (keep them coming if any), I think I will 'risk' the foot-passenger option since it really is no bigger than a briefcase when folded, and I want a quick gettaway so I can maximise my time in La Havre.

Will check out the resturant, and might dare the bridge. From what I have heard, French drivers -excluding Parisians - are generally better behaved around cyclists than our own. When I was last in Paris, the Vélib scheme seemed to have increased awareness amongst them, so hopefully all should go well.

 

[chap]

Dad and I took the tandem on this ferry, it's a good ferry and the £10 reclining seats are utterly brilliant, wholly recommended. I did a blog of the trip here...

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=2588&v=2W

The Pont de Normandie is hard to find, we ended up on the motorway, but great to cycle over and Honfleur is just the other side and utterly beautiful. Le Havre is pretty soulless but it has a great modern art museum down the coast (come out the ferry and go left down the beach front) and they do a good hot chocolate.

Thank you for the link, and indeed the fantastic blog, it just goes to show the wonders of the internet. I now have a better understanding of the ship facilities (yes I can lock my Brompton against the seat), and also where to go: Honfleur less Harfleur and breeze through La Havre!

Love the t-shirts too.

 

[hubbike]

I've done this too.

+1 for Pont du N and Honfleur: a very beautiful town. Then perhaps continue along the normandy beaches, eat ice-creams and learn a little about the d-day landings. oh and go to Bayeux (they've got some old tapestry there).

 

[Arch]

Will check out the resturant, and might dare the bridge. From what I have heard, French drivers -excluding Parisians - are generally better behaved around cyclists than our own. When I was last in Paris, the Vélib scheme seemed to have increased awareness amongst them, so hopefully all should go well.

In all the miles I've done over there (probably nearly 1000), I could pretty much guarantee that a car that came too close would have a GB plate...

 

[Cathryn]

Thank you for the link, and indeed the fantastic blog, it just goes to show the wonders of the internet. I now have a better understanding of the ship facilities (yes I can lock my Brompton against the seat), and also where to go: Honfleur less Harfleur and breeze through La Havre!

Love the t-shirts too.

Glad it helped. Have a great trip.