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Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:45 pm
by Mike
Right so last year I went to Normandy on a ww2 sightseeing mission. I went with six lads from work and it was fantastic. We caught the overnight ferry Portsmouth to caen then cycled to cherbourg using mainly the GR route n lanes. There are cheap campsites on route and plenty of great bivy options along the coast. So im looking to do the trip again this summer sometime. Would there be any interest from you guys? This will be over four days in total and pretty chilled out

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:04 pm
by Taylor
Interested depending on dates and pink tickets.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:25 pm
by adjustablewench
Can girls join in too or would I have to don a fake beard and pretend to be . .er . . Ernie?

As per ff would depend on dates, but sounded like a great trip

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:28 pm
by Taylor
Pink ticket provisionally gained, so long as my parents can babysit.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:15 pm
by Mike
Dates are flexible, although id have to do it in my four off but as u know Taylor I get a lot of them so cant see why we couldn't sit down n sort somat. AW for sure its a great trip let's just hope whoever comes one of us can speak a little french otherwise it could get interesting. Last yr we had one translator :D

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:22 pm
by Taylor
For my parents it would be easier to come down in term time so they only have to deal with school runs and after school rather than all day.
So mid week would suit me.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:23 pm
by Matt
I may be retired so could be up for this

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:18 pm
by Dan_K
I'd be interested if it's over a long weekend outside of the school holidays.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:27 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Are we going over in Captain Matts boat?

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:06 pm
by TheBrownDog
Dan_K wrote:I'd be interested if it's over a long weekend outside of the school holidays.
Here here.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:35 pm
by adjustablewench
A long weekend in term time may be doable for me too, easier if it falls when my two are with their dad so in july thats the weekends of the 11th and the 25th - but will try and make it if poss whatever dates the masses need to go with

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:38 pm
by Taylor
Shirley the dates around 6th June are best?

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:44 pm
by adjustablewench
Bear bones Normandy invasion would be appropriate, but falls on my weekend - booo

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:14 pm
by Mike
I was thinking around end of june beginning of July before the kids are off. Sept would also be a good time but im in the states biking most of it :lol:

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:53 pm
by adjustablewench
The weekend of 27th june is better for me, how do your shifts work? Do you know what they are far in advance?

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:47 am
by Mike
Yeap iv got all my shifts set. I will look at dates this week and post up some options for people to decide, im fairly flexible

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:57 am
by Blackhound
Could be interested depending on dates, summer already filling up. How did I ever have time to work? TdF is first weekend of July so will be in Yarkshire then.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:20 am
by Mike
ah sub standard yeah, im joining chew for that. Thanks for reminding me on that one blackhound.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:21 am
by Mike
haha brilliant ive just read my post back and its re worded it for me :lol:

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:29 am
by adjustablewench
Good job someone is organised - yes I will be tdf'ing too

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:37 am
by Taylor
Last year when I was there it was 5th june-9th june so there was loads of re-enactors driving around in Willis jeeps dressed up in period uniforms. Saw a group of thirty or so motorcycle outriders and some Krauts.
Image
(My FiL talking German to a bunch of Frenchies, not one of them understood him)

These things don't normally happen at any other time of the year and as it's the 70th anniversary I'd urge anybody thats interested to change shift's/weekends/parenting if at all possible to accommodate this.

Captain Fantastic's Mini Bear Bones should be round June time and the TDF is in the UK 5/6/7 July.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:19 pm
by Mike
Flatfishy, i cant do the first week in june as im on leave for that tour and ive got twelve days off which im heading to the cairngorms for some bikepacking sorry chap. Right ive had a look and the possible dates im gonna look to go are as follows

Bearing in mind that its a full four days over there and we travel down the night before to catch the over night ferry from Portsmouth. Return very late on the four day to maximise the time there.

So my dates are

25-28 may ( driving down on the 24 )
26-29 June ( driving down on the 25 )
12-15 july (driving down on the 11 )

I think from memory we leave around 5pm ferry time is 11ish ( i will need to look into these though ) and the return time was around 11pm ish at portsmouth

I wouldnt be booking anything yet anyhow so anyone interested has plenty of time to think it over ;)

mike

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:38 am
by adjustablewench
Those june and july dates are cool with me - but I would bow out of the june dares if I manage to get Glastonbury tickets in the resale . . . I mean I like you all and everything but

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:06 pm
by TheBrownDog
I could make the June and July dates pending the Comptroller General's approval.

Re: Normandy bikepacking summer trip?

Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:43 pm
by Taylor
Of those dates the June ones are probably best for me.
Grandparents are provisionally booked, just need to OK with the fun police.