Mini's to Millau Bridge (South of France) 17th-19th June 2006

[jongar]

This is the formal thread for

Mini's to Millau, June 2006

The banter thread is located here

I had wanted to go on the Stelvio runs in the past two years, but a lack of time and permission from she who must be obeyed stopped that for me. But now things are different, same ball and chain, but now the insurance is in my name and she is the named driver . Anyway, I was watching watching an episode of topgear a few days ago (dont you just love bittorent), the episode with the 3 supercars enroute to the Millau Bridge. It occurred to me that this would make a superb mini adventure. An early summer run to the south of france over a 3 day weekend. Good long motorways and even better hairpin ridden passes and gorges. A number of options were considered regarding routing, in the end it was decided to maximise time in the south and keep the return journey to the channel ports to a reasonable distance (600 miles in my opinion is to far in a day )

So the important data

Confirmed Runners
F designates Ferry Booked - A designates Accomodation Booked


jongar (Mini OneD ) (co-pilot seat available) F A (Holiday Inn)
jamiebae (Mini One 7 ) F A (F1)
harrop (Mini OneD (co-driver bubblegoose) F A (IBIS)
dwbrown(Cooper S)
Neil the Hat (Cooper S) [COLOR="Orange F A (IBIS)
gordon (Cooper S) F [COLOR="Orange F A (IBIS)


Dates :

10 am Saturday 17th June 2006 - 8pm Monday 19th June 20006

Route

Day 1
Depart Calais 11.00 for Paris
Lunch in Paris, with run around Arc de Triumph (2.5 hours)
Depart Paris 15.00
Arrive Clermont - Ferrand 19.00
Distance 441 miles

Day 2
Millau is 140 miles away from Clermont - Ferrand, a day blasting through the gorges and surrounds en route to and from the bridge ensues
Return to Clermont - Ferrand
Distance 350 miles

Day 3
Depart Clermont - Ferrand 10:00
Arrive Calais 17.00
Distance 441 miles
Stop en route to fill cars with Booze, Fags and Fromage

Now at this point it has been pointed out to me that driving in Paris is not for the faint hearted. 2 things

1, Its the weekend so it is quieter.
2, There is another route, via Reims and Troyes

I don't want anyone to do something they are not comfortable with and it would be easy to meet up with others at Orleans, Vierzon or Bourges. SMS cost nearly nothing. Its a decision that can be made on the day

Ferry's

Everyone is free to make their own arrangements to get across the water - or in some cases from more easterly directions. The proposed starting point is the Tesco Car Park in Coquelles @ 10am - I am aware this is a Saturday so possibly busy, but its only a proposal.

P&O are offering a great deal at the moment £75 including all charges on 5 day or less returns.

The details are Dover-Calais @ 6.25am arriving at 8.40am and Calais-Dover @ 21.15 arriving 21.30

www.poferries.com

Radio's

Its not compulsory to have them but it would be great if we could ensure everyone has a walkie talkie. As a standard MINI2 runs use PMR446 radios, more details on them can be found here (thanks to apple, I still have you bug on my dashboard). I personally ask that if you have one, please use it with an headset - the gendarmes like people to use phones and things, it makes them money.

http://www.appletheminicooper.net/PMR446.shtml

Costs.

You are looking at £70 for the ferry/eurotunnel - its not essential to travel together, though people are welcome to. The Start point will be 'neutral' The Tesco carpark at Coquelles for instance so everyone can fill their tanks with cheap french fuel (Max will be on fumes I assure you)

Tolls. Road tolls for the run will be approx €60 including the Millau Bridge

Accommodation. Rooms run to €60 per night. If you want to share feel free, I can put peoples status in the 'Runners' information.

Finally

If your interested visit the planning/banter thread - if you want to confirm your place pm me

[jamiebae]

I have a Mini One 7

Looking forward to this, it should be great fun

[Neil the Hat]

I am a maybe on this - really like the sound of it (holiday entitlement allowing).

My only worry is getting to Calais for 8am.

[jongar]

I had meant to fix that - start time is 10ish.

Feel free to MSN me jon@jongarside.co.uk

or Skype Text : jongar1000

[Neil the Hat]

Quote: Originally Posted by jongar

I had meant to fix that - start time is 10ish.

Feel free to MSN me jon@jongarside.co.uk

or Skype Text : jongar1000

10am is a little more achievable.

Have subscribed to the thread so should get all the updates.

Will make contact closer to the event.

Good work on this jongar.

[jamiebae]

For those of you unsure if you want to go or not this is what the bridge looks like!

In June last year the tepmerature was over 25 degrees for 50% of days and over 30 for 5 days, rather better than the cold and rain here at the moment!

Oh, and beer is cheap too, about £5 for 24 bottles of Stella last time I was over there I think.

Go on, you know you want to

[jongar]

updated

[dalboyne]

Sorry, can't make the revised dates, guys.

Have a great trip, I look forwards to seeing the pictures!

Ian

[jongar]

Updated - we have more runners, plus minor change to start time to allow for other mini's to arrive on different ferry

[jongar]

and now every day until 18th June when we arrive you can see the bridge - updated every 2 minutes

[jongar]

updated

[Harpo]

Mmmm. Sounds good.

Put me down as a maybe at present.
I'm in France the previous week and may tweak my itinerary to join you on the way back.

Before you book your ferry, remember that the cheapest way to cross the channel is with Speed Ferries.

Want to cross the cahnnel for £19?
http://www.speedferries.com/?source=google

Another bargain basement offer from here
Portsmouth to Le Havre
http://www.ldlines.co.uk/

[harrop]

Harpo....Harrop....Harpo......Harrop

Oh the confusion!

[Harpo]

Quote: Originally Posted by harrop

Harpo....Harrop....Harpo......Harrop

Oh the confusion!

Even our engines sound the same!!!

[jongar]

would be great to have you on board harpo

sadl;y speedferries have sold out of thier 19 quid fares for the weekend we are going - p and o worked out at half the price - not something i was expecting