Toffs-G

I know what you mean, although I was born in South Africa to English parents so I got used to my mother insisting on the full traditional lunch but eating it by the pool sitting in shorts (that's us sitting in shorts not the pool)

Plan is 2/3 days to get there 4/5 nights there then 2/3 days on the way back, Mappy.com puts the route at Calais (we only use the tunnel after the dogs got so stressed out in the car on a delayed ferry crossing) Lille - Paris - Narbonne then along the coast, don't know if that is the best way - Superior knowledge would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Gary

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Cheers
Gary

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"

lebesset

well , for that sort of timing you will need motorway nearly all the way unless you want to arrive stressed out

but the best route from the tunnel is abbeville , rouen , chartres ,orleans , clermont ferrand , A75 to the med via millau then down the coast as you say ; wouldn't consider the route you mention even in summer...funnily enough I have just done it on the way back from england as I detoured to visit in belgium and then had to go to Lyon !!!

the A75 is free except for the millau viaduct and has the advantage that , despite being fairly high , it has never been shut in adverse conditions whereas routes like the rhone valley DO get shut from time to time

don't worry if you don't get a booking ...apart from benidorm there is always somewhere available with friendly faces about , especially if you speak afrikaans , the dutch are everywhere

clearly you will just need somewhere safe for your overnight stops , give us an idea of your schedule [ like morning train or late evening or ...well you get the idea ] and will suggest some suitable places ]

Toffs-G

Hi Thanks for that

I hadn't thought about the Peripherique best to avoid

Have just called Marjal and booked in from 24th Dec to 2 Jan, it is my mothers 79th on 1st Jan so thought it would be a good idea.

I am looking at the Eurotunnel and will go over on the evening of Monday 21st Dec stay at the Calais Aire then stock up following morning at Auchan and hit the road.

Do you think that 2 days is sufficient?

So looking forward to it because the Dordogne holiday we had booked didn't happen

Thanks
Gary

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Gary

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"

TeeMyob

Does mother like the idea of a Spare driver?

lebesset

with one driver I certainly would regard that as a big stretch , if you have 2 it would be ok , 2 hour stretches eat up the kilometers

failing that couldn't you get away over the weekend ? even crossing on sunday night would make a difference , give you a little slack in case of unforeseen events

and frankly shopping before leaving calais sounds a bad idea , you would lose a big chunk of the morning , bound to be something open late night ...... my objective would be to make pezenas for the night with your schedule [ just north of beziers ] , excellent spot for the night and back down at sea level , must be 800 Km though ; after that sea level all the way , give or take

hilldweller

If any of the merry band of funsters is still standing on the 1st we'll raise a glass.

I'm surprised you chose somewhere as obvious as a sunny beach in Spain when a nice wet field in Cheshire was on offer.

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Brian.

Toffs-G

Thanks

Indeed the toss up between the beach and the wet field was difficult

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Cheers
Gary

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"

Toffs-G

Just one driver, unfortunately I am tied up Monday morning otherwise would definitely get away Sunday, I should be able to get away Monday just after lunch so will probably go as early pm as possible and then do the shop that afternoon, then at least try to get 100-150km under our belt that evening it should help a bit.

Cheers
Gary

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Cheers
Gary

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page"