Citroën Classic Challenge 2015

[citsncycles]

Khyams are good if you want something quick to put up and stow, but they are quite expensive and bulky when packed.

There are some good inflatable tents out there now - again not the cheapest option, but quick to put up or take down, and take up a lot less space than other tents the same size.

I'll be taking the Caranex probably - not as quick as some to put up, but a good setup with the BX.

[Philip Chidlow]

Latest Map Here:

[Philip Chidlow]

SUMMARY

Saturday 13th June 2015: 7:30am - Drive south from Calais to Gien via Abbeville, Gournay-en-Bray, Chartres… (As mentioned, this means that those crossing to Dieppe, La Havre or Caen have a chance of a rendezvous with those from further North). Overnight:http://www.bardelet.com/campsite-france.html

Sunday 14th June: Another early-ish start: The route takes us, (once again for the veterans of the 2012 event) up the Loire, via Sancerre to Nevers. Here we press on South to Vichy, via Moulins. and travel to our second night's stop over (Espalion near Rodez) via the town of Le Puy en Velay missing out Clermont-Ferrand and the ganglion of autoroutes there; we'll instead be driving through the Parc du Livradois Forez. Overnight:http://www.rocdelarche.com/index.html?lg=gb

Monday 15th June: Head for the Millau Bridge. Crossing that, the route splits, giving the choice of a coastal route or cross-country route, both of which have their advantages…
Either cut through the majestic landscape of the Parc des Grands Causses and into the Parc Du Haut Languedoc, passing Castres on the East side and on to the Medieval wonder that is Carcassonne. From there it's up into the Pyrenees foothills. Campsite in the Limoux/Quillan area.http://www.camping-quillan.fr/English/P ... psite.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Or take the coastal route... This option has possibly some less exciting roads initially but once past Beziers things liven up as the route hits the Med. Along the coastal road to Perpignan and then heading up into the Pyrenees and arrive at the campsite from the South. This is likely to be the favoured option if the weather's nice

Tuesday 16th June: On this, Day Four there’s lots of choice; visit Cathar sites, muck about in Limoux etc. but I propose a ‘Raid on Spain’… well, an enclave in the Pyrenees: Llívia (a city at 4,000 feet). This 110-mile round trip will take us through National Park (Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Catalanes) landscapes, along a lake (Lac de Matemale - which is over 5,000 ft up). Should be fun… The plan is to return to camp in time to go to a dinner at this place, for a group nosh-up: https://www.facebook.com/AubergeDesCathares" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). The restaurant’s only 7.6 kms from camp.

Wednesday 17th June: Drive to Pau. Taking the mountain route via St. Girons and Bagneres de Luchon, Gourette, etc. Opportunities for getting off the track too. Overnight: http://www.camping-belair64.com/UK/Accueil.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thursday 18th June: Depart Pau. We travel to Agen via Eauze and Nerac and travel through lovely Bastide country to Cahors and the campsite near there. Timings mean a lunch in or near Agen (where I used to live) and afternoon tea in Cahors. Overnight: http://www.domainequercy.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Friday 19th June: Drive cross country to Angouleme and onwards to an overnight near Bressuire, via Parthenay. Overnight: http://www.camping-ptite-cuiller.fr/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Saturday 20th June: We can start by driving a short distance to the Heuliez factory at Cerizay, before continuing to Saumur (tank museum) and Le Mans in the afternoon. Overnight is the IBIS hotel, Alençon where we will have the Challenge Dinner.
There is a Camping alternative; Camping de Guéramé, (about 2.2km away).

On Day Nine, Sunday 21st June, the World is our oyster. Well, Normandy. We can drive though the huge Forêt d'Ecouves to Falaise then through the Suisse Normande to Bayeux and then do the D-Day bit and visit a beach, museum etc. If you book a crossing late in the day you’ll only need to leave the Caen area for Calais mid-afternoon.

Feedback welcome

IN ADDITION
I have now got Hotel alternatives for each of the camping stop-overs:

Calais: We start from the same place as the 2012 Challenge started and there’s a B&B Hotel there: http://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotels/calai ... pierre.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day One stop-over alternative: http://www.hotelducerf.com/en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Two: http://www.hoteldefrance12.fr/english/eng-index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Three and Four: http://www.hotel-restaurant-canal-en-py ... athares.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Five: http://www.closgourmand.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Six: http://www.orangetree.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Seven: http://www.hotel-lesporting.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Day Eight: For the end-of-event dinner in Alençon a more cost-effective option than the Ibis for the budget conscious... (that'll be everyone then IME ) is the B&B Hotel opposite the Buffalo Grill where we can book a table closer to the time.

http://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotels/alencon.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant ... 2-d4153141" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buffalo-grill.fr/restaurants/alencon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Savings will be in the order of £35 on the room and at least a tenner on the meal.

chaque petit aide

[mds141]

Buffalo Grill!! Did somebody mention Buffalo Grill?!!

[mds141]

Any F1 hotels nearby Phil? I stayed at the Ibis hotel in Epinal on the 2012 challenge and TBH don't think they're worth the money.

[mds141]

F1 hotel located..http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-238 ... ndex.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Leobx16v]

Just out of interest are there any visits to scrap yards????

[Mike E (uk)]

"Just out of interest are there any visits to scrap yards????"

yes, whenever the opportunity arises.

[Leobx16v]

Oooohhh I can't wait I'll be a virgin in a strip club!

[Philip Chidlow]

I'm actually trying to get the route to swing by one or two...


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[mds141]

Will Alsatian dogs be on the scrap yd tour this time around?

[Thread Bear]

This route goes very near my folks gaff if its doing the Lot up to Cahors. Beautiful scenery that gets more 'gorgeous' as you go up. Good wine to, if you like heavy reds. This was the wine region before philoroxia wiped out the vines and Bordeaux took over. Its been depressed ever since and took a huge hit in WW1, as to get paid work most of the men enlisted, and were wiped out, depopulating the area further. It was a secret destination for expat Brits for many years being backward, ox ploughs still in use in the late '60's, but has now been discovered as second to the Dordoigne. Welsh sized Cotswolds is the best description I have heard.

[Philip Chidlow]

There are details if the route a few posts back. It's still not to late to modify in order to pass through nearby places. One of the things it is hard to do is find the locations of good scrappies but I know of one or two we'll pass. One is - or was - small but full of interesting stuff and we it's on the route not even requiring a detour...


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[Philip Chidlow]

By the way Mr T Bear, thanks; interesting information!


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[Thread Bear]

Oh and the local scrappy is Pescadores, across a single lane suspension bridge, if memory serves, of the main road and across the Lot. Opposite is a garage that has a collector of Panhard running it. Not so big on cars when I was last there but loads of interesting crap. Even better is the free dump up the road which is same guy. It is often unmaned and you used to be able to dump most stuff. I think there was a deal with the Local Government to recycle or something. However I have had a number of scooters, early Terrot, Moby, Bernadet firemans helmet type!, Heinkel etc. and even a san permis microcar, Erad from memory, out of that free. His third place of business is an antique/bricant shop for top quality scrap.