ACME goes Dutch

[psyclist]

Just check this page for a number of semi official permanents of 100km starting at Valkenswaard: https://www.mybrevet.cc/nl/randonneursnl/brevet/100-km

Thanks Ivo. For those not planning to ride the 200km Audax, I'm sorting a route that features some places of interest, and ends closer to Hoek. This avoids an epic last day. Those doing the Audax will probably have to ride 140km back to the ferry. My outline plan would be to have the 2 groups converging in the morning or at lunchtime on the Sunday.

[Owen]

I think I'm in.
Just waiting for the boss (work not wife) to confirm I can have the holiday.
I would have to work on the Wednesday and be back in work on Monday morning so my plan is to drive to Colchester and leave my van at a friends and then cycle to Harwich.
I'm definitely up for the Audax on the Saturday as well.

Is there a link for the ferry you are planning to get each way ?

Thanks
Owen

[psyclist]

I think I'm in.
Just waiting for the boss (work not wife) to confirm I can have the holiday.
I would have to work on the Wednesday and be back in work on Monday morning so my plan is to drive to Colchester and leave my van at a friends and then cycle to Harwich.
I'm definitely up for the Audax on the Saturday as well.

Is there a link for the ferry you are planning to get each way ?

Thanks
Owen

Great news.

There's no link to the ferry, but as there are only 2 sailings per day, it's not hard to get the right one. Basically, Stena Line as follows:

Wed 7th Sept, 23:00 from Harwich
Sun 11th Sept, 22:00 from Hook of Holland

I'll also be working on the Wednesday and following Monday. On the last 2 trips I parked in Dovercourt so that I could get back home promptly on the Monday morning.

EDIT: I would suggest paying for the breakfast on the way out. It is a buffet, eat as much as you like. It means that once we leave the ferry we are fuelled up, and able to cycle for the first couple of hours before thinking about stopping for coffee/cake.

[Nick]

I never get the ferry anywhere - is £180 odd about right?

[quixoticgeek]

I never get the ferry anywhere - is £180 odd about right?

Depends, what does that include? Is that a inboard cabin and one human?

J

[psyclist]

I never get the ferry anywhere - is £180 odd about right?

Sounds about right if not sharing a cabin, for a return trip.

[Nick]

I never get the ferry anywhere - is £180 odd about right?

Depends, what does that include? Is that a inboard cabin and one human?

J

Yep, thats it!

I never get the ferry anywhere - is £180 odd about right?

Sounds about right if not sharing a cabin, for a return trip.

Good. Thanks, will let you know if/when I book.

[Oscar's dad]

Just booked with Stena Line 

[psyclist]

Just booked with Stena Line 

Excellent news. Hopefully we'll avoid the downpour that you experienced the last time you rode off the ferry.

[Oscar's dad]

Just booked with Stena Line 

Excellent news. Hopefully we'll avoid the downpour that you experienced the last time you rode off the ferry.

Nope, I've done 2 trips, but neither for the full programme unlike this year.  The first was very wet, the second was dry.

[Owen]

Finally got my new passport.
Ferry booked this morning.

Can't wait

[psyclist]

Finally got my new passport.
Ferry booked this morning.

Can't wait

Excellent news.

I've made progress on the route planning for day one, plotting interesting routes using mostly LF routes (the long-distance cycle network in Netherlands). More than one option will be available, depending on how far people wish to cycle. So we might have different groups on the road.

The overall plans for days 2, 3 and 4 are also sketched out, just needing research to make sure they are interesting to cycle and with suitable places for stopping.

I'll share the details more fully once I've got a good draft.

[Nick]

Think I'm in for this so will book tickets soon and let you know.

[Oscar's dad]

Jolly good 

[psyclist]

Think I'm in for this so will book tickets soon and let you know.

That’s good 

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll sort proposed routes for days 2, 3 and 4. I’ll also contact the hotels … looking at Camponile which are good value and big enough to easily accommodate us all. I’ll check their bike storage arrangements, and also see if I can arrange a discounted block booking.

[Nick]

OK, I'm booked in.

[Snotty Gilbert]

Hi All

I'm trying to book tickets (and it's gone up ALOT since the last trip) - but I can't see how to book breakfast, and the online help and contacts are not working 

Has anyone else managed to book the ferries, cabins and Breakfast?

Cheers

[Oscar's dad]

Hi All

I'm trying to book tickets (and it's gone up ALOT since the last trip) - but I can't see how to book breakfast, and the online help and contacts are not working 

Has anyone else managed to book the ferries, cabins and Breakfast?

Cheers

Not sure I booked breakfast. Booked a cabin ok.

psyclist… what’s the latest on booking hotels?

[psyclist]

Bear with me … I was hoping to get the route and hotels sorted last week, but ran out of time. Will push out details this week. The first 2 hotels will be Camponile … I just need to check things like bike storage, and the potential for a group discount … I expect that won’t be available, but worth a try.

[Nick]

Nice, thanks! Considering bringing the single speed.

[Ivo]

Bear with me … I was hoping to get the route and hotels sorted last week, but ran out of time. Will push out details this week. The first 2 hotels will be Camponile … I just need to check things like bike storage, and the potential for a group discount … I expect that won’t be available, but worth a try.

If you're a member (membership is free) you can have 10% discount on Campanile

[Snotty Gilbert]

It turns out that Breakfast is hidden under

Restaurant Taste

Has anyone else managed to book the ferries, cabins and Breakfast?

Cheers

[psyclist]

I've got a few bits to discuss at MEMWNS this evening, then can share the details of the draft routes and accommodation. Distances remain around the 100-120km per day mark, with short-cuts possible. The 200km Audax on the Saturday has been factored in for those who wish to ride it, but there's a more serene option for those not disposed for the longer distance.

Checking back through this thread, I have the following as confirmed. I know others have expressed an interest but not confirmed yet ... just post here if there's any update.

1. psyclist
2. Deano4
3. Owen
4. Nick
5. Oscar's dad
6. Grey Sheep

[Oscar's dad]

 

[Snotty Gilbert]

1. psyclist
2. Deano4
3. Owen
4. NNN
5. Oscar's dad
6. Grey Sheep
7. Huggy