D-Day Landings 6th-9th May 2010

[julian]

I am currently organising a trip to the Normandy Beaches and other points of interest in that area. It is proposed to cross from Portsmouth to Caen on Thursday 6th May at 2245 arriving at 0645 on the Friday. Please dont be put off by the overnight crossing, I did it with other Atom owners a year ago. We met outside Portsmouth and had a nice pub meal, drove to the ferry. Having boarded and located our cabins retired to the bar, all very social.

I have a good route worked out taking in the beaches and key towns, total distance is about 300 miles, if that is not enough for anyone please feel free to take yourselves off and explore. The idea is a sensible drive, stopping in nice towns to eat and staying in tidy hotels not arriving too late in the day hopefully finding some nice bars and enjoying the evenings.

We would return on the Sunday on the 1630 crossing, arriving in Portsmouth at 2115, unfortunately there isnt a high speed service that ties in with itinery. Crossing is with Brittany Ferries and is £237 return which includes a cabin outbound and a recling seat for the return. Like I said, the time going out works well for people working and socially, arriving relitively fresh for the drive on the Friday.

I anticipate hotels would be about £100 a night (2 nights). It doesnt matter who your passenger is, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends or youngsters. It would be great to see others come along. I am sure this wont grow into a monster but if we got about 6 cars that would be managable.

The list so far is,

Julian Richards

Steve Gibson

[benyeats]

[quote="julian"]
Having boarded and located our cabins retired to the bar, all very social.
[/quote]

Plus the cabins have really cool beds that come out of the ceilings, worth going for that alone.

Ben

p.s. I have seen the beds so can't justify a second visit.

[Bruce Fielding]

Great idea, Julian!

Sadly, I can't make it, but I know it'll be civilised...!

B

[julian]

Thanks for the vote of confidence from Ben & Bruce but just to add, the D Day Landings and key towns whilst are of a  particular interest to me are to give this trip a theme. We will drive on some fantastic roads free from speed cameras, pass through some great towns and villages and be applauded by the French as we do so. I have driven in France a few times now in the Atom and it is a great experience.

If anyone fancies it, its not a school trip and I personally look forward to reaching our destinations at the end of each day and enjoying good food and lots of beer and wine!

Regards

Julian   

[John Lloyd]

Timing 

My 25th wedding anniversary is on the 4th May and the party is on the 7th and no, none of you are invited and there will be no mention of Atoms all evening!!! 

[julian]

Dear All,

Regarding the proposed long weekend to Normandy, the itinerary is detailed below.

Thursday 6th May 2010

Steve Gibson and myself will meet in West London at about 5pm and drive to The Fox Goes Free Pub, Singleton, West Sussex arriving about 7pm. Food is good.

Having eaten we will make our way to Portsmouth to catch the 22.45 overnight crossing to Caen. The ferry is operated by Brittany Ferries and arrives at 0645 on the 7th.

Cost for one car and a two berth cabin is £232.00. This is return but no cabin on the Sunday.
Essentially outbound for a car is £88.00 and inbound is £104.00 but it is compulsory to book a cabin or a reclining seat at £5, I mention this for people travelling alone and sharing a cabin. Personally, for £232.00 you get your Atom on and your own cabin.

Friday 7th May 2010

Arrive Caen at 0645 then drive to Pegasus Bridge to begin our route. From Pegasus Bridge we head for Arromanches – les – Bains, then turn in land for a few miles and head to Bayeux, continue onto Plage d’ Omaha. If anyone has any particular points of interest then we can stop at those. We continue on the D514 to Valgnes having driven through Ste–Mere-Eglise near Utah Beach which was the first French Town liberated on D-Day where the figure of a paratrooper hangs from the church tower every summer. Taking the D902 we will arrive at Barneville- Carteret, then a short drive to Briquebec and hotel.

Total Mileage 110

The hotel we will stay at is l’Hostellerie du Chateau. The cost for a twin / double room is 88 or 96 Euros per night depending on type of room with a 12 Euro charge per person for breakfast. There is car parking to the front of the hotel and the pictures on their website show it to be well off street. I have spoken to the hotel and it is described as safe. 

Saturday 8th May 2010

Having had breakfast we will depart the hotel and make for Granville taking the D650 coastal road passing through some stunning villages and towns. We then turn inland heading toward Bagnoles-de-l’ Orne, our end of day destination. This is a spa town with the La Vee river passing through it. It is described as having several restaurants specialising in Normandy Cuisine? It also has a Casino for anyone interested.

Total Mileage 114

We will stay at Hotel Boisjoli which is 126 Euros per twin / double and is 11 Euros for breakfast. It has a private car park. Previous guests have included Pompidou and Rommel, the latter not paying his bill upon departure!

Sunday 9th May 2010

Again having had breakfast we take a leisurely drive North heading toward Clecy which is situated on the River Orne, the town centre is described as pleasant with 18th century houses. We will then continue onto Caen for our 1630 departure to Portsmouth arriving at 2115, unfortunately there is no express service that gives us a reasonable departure and arrival time for those that have work on the Monday.

Total Mileage 60

Steve Gibson and I are going to do this trip in any event but it would be great to see others come along. Like I have said, all are welcome and it doesn’t matter if you want to bring youngsters or whoever. It is intended to drive on great roads taking in some historic sights, towns and villages. I have deliberately kept the mileage down each day so we can stop for decent meals and a walk about here and there, also arriving at the hotels late afternoons so we can have a catch up in the bar. Please check out the hotel websites, the hotels look good and I have tried to find ones with safe parking. Driving in France is excellent and knocks spots off  UK roads.

If I have missed anything or the above is not clear then please ask.

Kind regards and it would be great to see others come along.

Julian Richards

[Steve Gibson]

If anyone else fancies la petite blat Française avec nous.

Friday hotel
http://www.lhostellerie-bricquebec.com/

Saturday hotel
http://www.hotelboisjoli.com/

Brittany Ferries
http://www.brittanyferries.com/

[Steve Gibson]

And nous sommes off! Mustn't forget to fit the inflatable Atom wings for the beach landings.

[Drinks]

Have fun, look forward to the pics and write up.

[Rob McPherson]

Bon chance, rosbif's!

[Steve Gibson]

Et nous sommes back, with cars splattered in French bugs.

The weather stayed good, nice and cool, no rain and the roads were just great. Rural drives out there are such a plaisir. No traffic, lots of good surface. The French know how to lay wide and fast curves – and the gendarmes seem to prefer the cities or the autoroutes.

Also learnt a lot about the D-Day landings. The more you discover, the more incredible it seems. Stopped at Arromanche and marvelled at the remains of Port Winston – a 3.5 mile breakwater laid down half a mile offshore, in 12 days, so that the ships could drop off equipment, to then drive it ashore on pontoon bridges or to ferry it by smaller boat. It was used to land over 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles, and 4 million tonnes of supplies over 10 months.

We had a long stop at Pegasus Bridge, too, where the first gliders put down, delivering men to seize the bridge so that the Allies could advance.

Makes you proud to be a Brit. In a Brit car. With a Jap engine. 

[julian]

Second the above Steve.

For the sake of a Friday off work, we had a great long weekend, excellent food, great scenery, hotels were excellent with safe parking. I thoroughly recomend driving in France, very fast roads without being stupid, very few speed cameras which you are warned about and they are there not like here where there are signs and often no cameras. We got a great reception from the French with so many people admiring the cars.

If there is any interest I will organise another one in the summer, after all it is only a Friday off work and not too expensive.

Julian 

[kaygee]

Hi Julian / Steve

would really be up for this- are you planning to do it again this year??

Julian- glad you got back from Le Mans in one piece!!!

cheers

Karl

[Steve Gibson]

Hi, Karl

Yeah, definitely. We're planning some more short breaks. They're not expensive, you get some great driving on empty roads (nothing like the jammed shires in the UK) and les Frenchies are usually very friendly.

S

[kaygee]

Hi Steve

sounds good- let me know some dates when you know , as am definitely up for the d-day beaches etc.

hope you are well

cheers

Karl