French Strikes and Blockades 17th Nov

[Armytwowheels]

Has anyone got any news on this? We arrived and parked up at Gravlines last night and don't know whether to sit out the day here or push on south.

I have Googled may times and only found a pretty useless map that doesn't help at all.

 

[Lofty1]

If you are in no rush sit it out, better than getting into a conflict the French love to blame someone and a brit reg vehicle might be an easy target for their boredom.

 

[Clarky]

There are worse places to be than Gravelines, although I guess its damp and murky this morning.
If it was us I think we would just chill in the cosy van and have a nice walk when the weather brightens up a bit.
Better than stranded beside the road somewhere with the French burning tyres all round you.

Enjoy your winter trip.

Richard.

 

[Nicepix]

The French authorities do not know how big this protest will be. Usually it is trade unions or other organised bodies who arrange these things and they are obliged to give the authorities notice of impending action, numbers of protesters, etc. The Gilets Jaune protest was started on social media by a small group of ordinary people and has mushroomed from there. Along the way several unofficial hard line protest groups have aligned themselves to the protest and they are loose cannons.

The Gendarmes say that they will remove any unauthorised road blocks, but there are plans to have endless pedestrians crossing major roads on zebra crossings which is something the Gendarmes cannot legally stop. Nobody including the organisers know whether this will be mahoosive or a damp squib. But I'll bet Macron is hiding behind the chaise longue this morning

https://www.thelocal.fr/20181117/france-braces-for-travel-turmoil-as-yellow-vests-take-on-macron

 

[SpeedyDux]

These aren't the usual activists, so "Emperor" Macron and his heavy-handed Interior Minister could be shooting themselves in the foot with their dire threats of up to 2 years jail and 4,500 Euro fines for protesters who block roads.

French cops might also be having a "no PV" day in sympathy. We shall have to wait and see.

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[klaatu]

The Minister of the Interior has said that there are more than 1000 protests in place, with more than 50,000 protesters. One protester has been accidentally killed in Savoy after being hit by a car, the driver apparently panicked at a road block.

 

[Munchie]

blocked around us Colin!

 

[Nicepix]

This really has taken off. There are gilets jaune hung up on people's gates and outside local shops. The photos in local new channels show protesters standing in the roads unlike usual protests where roads are blocked by vehicles. This makes it harder for the Gendarmes to intervene as the Code de la Route gives pedestrians priority over vehicles.

The people have spoken.

 

[laneside]

Well we have just had three cars passing us on the D901 with horns blaring and our Super U petrol station has no blockade or queue.

 

[yodeli]

My town BALMA is surrounded. It has just been on BFM TV.

I don't know whether they'll be still there at about 6.00. I'm supposed to go and feed my Dad.... If not Mum will have to stand next to his bed for about an hour and an half. The nurses arrived an hour later for his morning care.

Tomorrow is another day....

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[Nicepix]

Well we have just had three cars passing us on the D901 with horns blaring and our Super U petrol station has no blockade or queue.

Not surprising at the prices they charge I go past there on a regular basis and it is rare to see a vehicle at the pumps let alone a queue

I always used to try and fill up when I was over Ruffec or Civray way as the fuel is usually 2c cheaper than Chabanais which is usually 1c cheaper than where you are. But recently I found out by accident that the diesel at L'Isle Jourdain gives me at least 10% more mpg so that's where I now usually fill up

 

[laneside]

Not surprising at the prices they charge I go past there on a regular basis and it is rare to see a vehicle at the pumps let alone a queue

I always used to try and fill up when I was over Ruffec or Civray way as the fuel is usually 2c cheaper than Chabanais which is usually 1c cheaper than where you are. But recently I found out by accident that the diesel at L'Isle Jourdain gives me at least 10% more mpg so that's where I now usually fill up [/QUOTE

Is it all downhill from there?

 

[Nicepix]

It would be difficult to go downhill for 800km

 

[Armytwowheels]

The sun came out and we decided to stay put. We are getting on with jobs in the van and will go for a walk into the town shortly.

 

[Jands]

Was heading for Noirmouter this morning but after seeing the problems on Saumur and needing fuel found a nice aire by the Loire.
Went for a walk this morning, had some soup and stick for lunch.
Afternoon watching the football results and a nice chilli for dinner.
Back on the road tomorrow.

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[scousebird]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46233560
Sad news

 

[Armytwowheels]

They are still blockading. The buggers got us in the middle of nowhere.

 

[yodeli]

Some really go mad. I'm not surprised you found some in your way today in spite of action being over.
Of course a death is always a pain, but why oh why did that woman gilet jaune try to stay in the way. The driver was a mum who wanted to drive her daughter to hospital .... she should have gone out of car and explain and gilet jaune should have let her go. The world goes mad ....

 

[Armytwowheels]

Someone tried to drive through while we were waiting just now.. the protesters seem to have no idea of there own safety when mixing with vehicles.

 

[PhilG]

Its why i avoid the place at all costs. i wish we could still get boats straight into Belgium.

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[Wildbill]

they wont blockade the German just get behind a German van they will throw up there hands
bill

 

[klaatu]

i wish we could still get boats straight into Belgium.

Hull to Zeebrugge?

 

[Armytwowheels]

Well, they got us again just south of Rouen. Three blockades later and a slow walking blockage along the A13. We called it a day and got off to found a nice enough aire in Pont-de-L'Arche.

I hope they are all going back to work tomorrow.

 

[PhilG]

Hull to Zeebrugge?

Stupid money, just want to be able to go from Dover

 

[scousebird]

Well, they got us again just south of Rouen. Three blockades later and a slow walking blockage along the A13. We called it a day and got off to found a nice enough aire in Pont-de-L'Arche.

I hope they are all going back to work tomorrow.

The aire at Pont-de-L'Arche is one of our favourites. I had a lengthy Franglais conversation with a drunk bloke in a bar there about an umbrella

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[Nirvanauk]

Its why i avoid the place at all costs. i wish we could still get boats straight into Belgium.

Why not take the Hull ferry over?

 

[Nirvanauk]

Stupid money, just want to be able to go from Dover

Its not too bad if you take into account all the extra travel time and expense. Go on, spoil yourself, you know you want to..

 

[PhilG]

Its not too bad if you take into account all the extra travel time and expense. Go on, spoil yourself, you know you want to..

Its 120 miles in the wrong direction to spend 28 hours on a boat ... they could pay me to go and i still wouldnt.

 

[glastry]

About 4 hours to get 90 kilometers from Cherbourg to Brehal today,with the prospect of further disruption on Monday!
Generally we were let through,after being made to wait a while.
A bit slow even for us,and if the translation is correct, tomorrow is to be a slow moving calvacade sort of a day.
Using narrow roads we should be in Portugal by Christmas.
You do get to see the sights.
And the wine is good.

 

[gus-lopez]

The aire at Pont-de-L'Arche is one of our favourites. I had a lengthy Franglais conversation with a drunk bloke in a bar there about an umbrella

What with that & the 3am door knockers

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