Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => PBP => Topic started by: FifeingEejit on 08 November, 2018, 07:21:54 pm
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After hijacking Phil W's post I realize I should have posted separately.
I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
As the non-refundable deposit is a hefty lump (I'm a fifer that just means it's over £0) I'll be sailing regardless.
Outwards:
Thursday 15th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham
Departure time: 22:45 (BST) Arrival time: 06:45 (CEST)
Return:
Sunday 25th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Caen/Ouistreham-Portsmouth
Departure time: 23:00 (CEST) Arrival time: 06:45 (BST)
I've taken a 2 berth cabin for myself both directions as I'm a light sleeper and last time I sailed at night I woke up and had to go for a walk at the end of each sleep cycle.
Though if anyone's slumming it in a seat and my cabin's set up appropriately
* I do note that it is the same yard that is building Honfleur that managed an epic cock up with Irish Ferries "WB Yeats" which is still stuck in Flensburg.
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super organised you. :thumbsup:
The train Edin - London - Paris was popular last time (there were even Fifers allowed in 1st class. :hand:) and I'll do the same next time if I qualify etc etc. bookings not open yet tho.
Ive never considered the ferry as the thought of riding from the coast to the start and vice versa has no appeal but courage to those that do.
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The thought of depending on the byzantine Eurostar bike carriage system for PBP. *brrrr*
Riding in Northern France is quite agreeable, and if not, local trains into Paris will be pretty bike-friendly.
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The thought of depending on the byzantine Eurostar bike carriage system for PBP. *brrrr*
Riding in Northern France is quite agreeable, and if not, local trains into Paris will be pretty bike-friendly.
Aye I'd have used Eurostar in a blink of an eye if they let you roll bikes on, though I'm not sure if I could be bothered with taking a bike on the RER.
super organised you. :thumbsup:
early booking = cheaper prices (Fife thinking!) but also locking myself into a holiday in the north of France in the summer isn't exactly disastrous!
but also extra encouragement to batter on through whatever the atlantic throws at us next year.
Ive never considered the ferry as the thought of riding from the coast to the start and vice versa has no appeal but courage to those that do.
I also need to practice being on the wrong side of the road as my riding on the right is limited to Dutch and Danish cycle paths.
Seems to be doable with a relatively gentle looking 200...
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The thought of depending on the byzantine Eurostar bike carriage system for PBP. *brrrr*
Riding in Northern France is quite agreeable, and if not, local trains into Paris will be pretty bike-friendly.
Of course, Id not mentioned that I can get my bike down to the 85cm carry on limit for Eurostar very simply (Ive timed it at around 6 minutes) and have a dedicated carrying bag that goes over my shoulder.
Ive taken this approach on Eurostar half a dozen times now. Never had any hasle.
Add in access to free left luggage at a friends place near Republique and its a no brainer for me.
Ive taken my bike on the RER to / from Invalides and found it pretty easy though I believe some stations dont have access thats quite as straightforward.
For the Rambouillet start I plan to take the RER C to Dourdan (or Dourdan la Foret) and ride the 20km from there.
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I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
As the non-refundable deposit is a hefty lump (I'm a fifer that just means it's over £0) I'll be sailing regardless.
Outwards:
Thursday 15th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham
Departure time: 22:45 (BST) Arrival time: 06:45 (CEST)
Return:
Sunday 25th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Caen/Ouistreham-Portsmouth
Departure time: 23:00 (CEST) Arrival time: 06:45 (BST)
I've never considered the ferry as the thought of riding from the coast to the start and vice versa has no appeal but courage to those that do.
Getting there: Arrive by ferry at 0645. Ride to Caen (17km). Catch train to Mantes-la-Jolie (0742-0922, later train: 0854). Ride to Rambouillet (50km).
Getting back: Reverse or more riding if one wants.
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Been playing with the SNFC site with a train time of tomorrow
Direct Intercities with bikes space at 0742
Otherwise it's a 2 train solution with a wide mangle of options including a fair few via Paris but no bike spaces on trains to Ramboulliet from there (it's now possible to incldue the need for an assembled bike in your search)
€25 though...
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I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
As the non-refundable deposit is a hefty lump (I'm a fifer that just means it's over £0) I'll be sailing regardless.
Outwards:
Thursday 15th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham
Departure time: 22:45 (BST) Arrival time: 06:45 (CEST)
Return:
Sunday 25th August 2019
Ferry: Honfleur*
Route: Caen/Ouistreham-Portsmouth
Departure time: 23:00 (CEST) Arrival time: 06:45 (BST)
I've never considered the ferry as the thought of riding from the coast to the start and vice versa has no appeal but courage to those that do.
Getting there: Arrive by ferry at 0645. Ride to Caen (17km). Catch train to Mantes-la-Jolie (0742-0922, later train: 0854). Ride to Rambouillet (50km).
Getting back: Reverse or more riding if one wants.
I am on the ferry out on Thursday and will be returning on Friday. It would be good to travel down with others.
BB
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I am on the ferry out on Thursday and will be returning on Friday. It would be good to travel down with others.
BB
Me too (Booked on the Thursday night ferry). Thinking of then riding to the eastern side of the Perche to camp Friday night leaving 40-50 miles on Saturday morning to get to the start in good time for registration, bike check and whatever else is needed.
Not yet booked a return ferry as still to decide whether to do 80, 84 or 90h and how much recovery time I want/need before riding back to Caen.
First PBP for me so a lot of unknowns to be sorted out.
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I am on the ferry out on Thursday and will be returning on Friday. It would be good to travel down with others.
BB
Me too (Booked on the Thursday night ferry). Thinking of then riding to the eastern side of the Perche to camp Friday night leaving 40-50 miles on Saturday morning to get to the start in good time for registration, bike check and whatever else is needed.
Not yet booked a return ferry as still to decide whether to do 80, 84 or 90h and how much recovery time I want/need before riding back to Caen.
First PBP for me so a lot of unknowns to be sorted out.
I am booked on the Thursday and Friday night just because of this. If I get fit it could be all over mid day Tuesday.
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I am on the ferry out on Thursday and will be returning on Friday. It would be good to travel down with others.
BB
Me too (Booked on the Thursday night ferry). Thinking of then riding to the eastern side of the Perche to camp Friday night leaving 40-50 miles on Saturday morning to get to the start in good time for registration, bike check and whatever else is needed.
Not yet booked a return ferry as still to decide whether to do 80, 84 or 90h and how much recovery time I want/need before riding back to Caen.
First PBP for me so a lot of unknowns to be sorted out.
I am booked on the Thursday and Friday night just because of this. If I get fit it could be all over mid day Tuesday.
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I'm also now booked Portsmouth-Caen-Portsmouth as follows:
Out - Thursday 15th August 2019 / 2245 Dep
Return - Friday 23rd August 2019 / 2300 Dep
Lounge seat booked both ways but any spare cabin bunks would be gratefully received & paid for. The previously mentioned train options all sound good and I'll check further, but as a PBP newbie following the lead of the more experienced seems sensible.
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I'm another on Portsmouth-Caen-Portsmouth as follows:
Out - Thursday 15th August 2019 / 2245 Dep
Return - Friday 23rd August 2019 / 2300 Dep
Reserved seat for me option of cycle or train to Portsmouth, yet to decide what to do from Caen.
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I'm on the Thursday 15th late ferry too.
But I'm planning on taking the TER to Paris and booked a hotel.
The TER is direct and was only €21 when I did the reverse as a trial last summer.
Plenty of room for bikes on the old TER carriages.
:)
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I'm another on Portsmouth-Caen-Portsmouth as follows:
Out - Thursday 15th August 2019 / 2245 Dep
Return - Friday 23rd August 2019 / 2300 Dep
Reserved seat for me option of cycle or train to Portsmouth, yet to decide what to do from Caen.
Snap.
I have done some initial looking at French trains and there are options for getting the train most of the way.
BB
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Getting there: Arrive by ferry at 0645. Ride to Caen (17km).
It's a slow 17k (assuming you use the canal path - recommended, it's direct and paved, but shared use of course), and the last bit (approaching the station) is fiddly. I would expect at least 1h15 from the border control to the station. The night ferry often docks early but getting through the border is a huge unknown unknown at the best of times, usually quick enough on a bike but well worth being at the front of the queue to roll off the ferry.
The station itself is not very bike-friendly - you may get less than 10 minutes' notice of which island platform the train will depart from, then you have to negotiate small crowded elevators down to the underpass and back up at the right platform all in that short time. Last time I was there one lift we needed was out of service and of course bikes not permitted on escalators.
Getting back I'm not a blagger by nature but I must say I've never had any trouble just turning up and getting on the next ferry, with a bike, at Ouistreham.
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Thanks for the Caen station info.
I missed the beginning of the Oustreme-Cean voie verte last time I tried to use it. Here is my track from last year.
There were some road works around Cean, in case you wonder why my route was circuitous
www.strava.com/activities/1800446051.
The route takes you to Pegasus Bridge.
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Done some browsing of the French train options from and to Caen. There are direct trains to Evreux and then an 80km cycle to Rambouillet, or change at Argentan for the Dreux and then follow the last leg of PBP for about 40km.
I have not travelled on French trains with a bike before and http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html (http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html) mentions that bike reservations should not be needed.
Outline of a plan?
BB
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(Cherbourg to) Evreux to Rambouillet via Dreux and a preview of the final 44k of PBP:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29265763?beta=false
We are taking the Poole-Cherbourg ferry, riding to Valognes, taking the train to Evreux (overnighting there) and then riding to Rambouillet (85km). Reverse on the following Friday.
http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/index2.php?lang=en&cat=randonnee&page=Etape15
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dreux+Control/@48.729814,1.364382,18z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xf33781073d3d9481!8m2!3d48.7298562!4d1.364054?hl=en-US
(as an aside, some of the controls seem to have been 'lodged' on Google Maps)
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Perhaps unsurprisingly Honfleur has been delayed by Flensburger (who state the delay is caused by another ship being delayed...), so Brittany Ferries are rebooking for Normandie carrying out the sailings
They appear to have finally delivered WB Yeats into service, but must be a knock on of that shambles.
Or they've once again told their pre-fab yard in Poland the wrong details for the habitation units.
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Looking at booking Pompy Le Harve? Slightly shorter ride!
Any reason others are choosing Caen?....somthing I am missing?
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The late Oustreme ferry allows a nice sleep .. if you can find a cabin. And a reasonable arrival time. Breakfast at cafe le phare and a bimble to Cean Station in the Voi vert.
I'd go for similar at le Havre if possible.
Unless I've missed something;-)
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As ridiculous as it may seem; the Economie sailing on Bail De Seine to Le Havre is more expensive once you've added cabins (which are compulsory) than the Cruise to Ouistream on Normandie at the current time (you can even chose to take a seat on that).
Bail De Seine is basically a freight ferry certified for passenger usage.
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I've just booked onto the Thursday 15th overnight Portsmouth-Caen. Happy with a seat for £5 rather than the £79 cabin on the Le Havre crossing. Is anyone else planning to ride down to Ramouillet, or has done so in the past and can offer route suggestions?
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I've just booked onto the Thursday 15th overnight Portsmouth-Caen. Happy with a seat for £5 rather than the £79 cabin on the Le Havre crossing. Is anyone else planning to ride down to Ramouillet, or has done so in the past and can offer route suggestions?
I'm tempted to ride down, looks like could get AUK 2 points in the process; I'm contemplating options for return, I fancy riding up to Honfleur for a night stop on the Saturday and then an easy day along the coast on the way back to Ouistream for the Sunday ferry, but my total mood and condition may only allow for the TER option...
For getting down looks like it could be a mid-afternoon train out of Waterloo unless I'm willing to shell out megabucks for the sleeper (I'm not)
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I've just booked onto the Thursday 15th overnight Portsmouth-Caen. Happy with a seat for £5 rather than the £79 cabin on the Le Havre crossing. Is anyone else planning to ride down to Ramouillet, or has done so in the past and can offer route suggestions?
The cabins are often for up to four people. So if you fill it up it's not that much more and you get a decent nights sleep rather than starting PBP sleep deprived.
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The crossing is short and you lose an hour.
So I've decided to TER to Paris and book a hotel near the start.
And relax as much as possible.
That ferry is going to be crammed with PBPers.. :-)
I'll be taking breakfast in le Phare café at Oustreme before the route vert to Cean.
Cheers
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I've just booked onto the Thursday 15th overnight Portsmouth-Caen. Happy with a seat for £5 rather than the £79 cabin on the Le Havre crossing. Is anyone else planning to ride down to Ramouillet, or has done so in the past and can offer route suggestions?
The cabins are often for up to four people. So if you fill it up it's not that much more and you get a decent nights sleep rather than starting PBP sleep deprived.
I've taken overnight ferries before and have slept just fine in the lounges, plus I've got a couple of nights to get really good sleep before PBP, so not worried about being sleep deprived
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You're lucky I tried sleeping in seat and on floor of ferry last PBP. It was bloody awful. For the sake of an extra £30 to cover cabin both ways it was a no brainier this time.
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I've just booked onto the Thursday 15th overnight Portsmouth-Caen. Happy with a seat for £5 rather than the £79 cabin on the Le Havre crossing. Is anyone else planning to ride down to Ramouillet, or has done so in the past and can offer route suggestions?
All being well I'll be riding to Ramouillet from that ferry. I've got a rough, direct route planned that I will fine tune nearer the time. Although, having not cycled in France before, I'll happily tag along with others with better knowledge of the area.
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D roads with a following one or two digit number are great, nice and quiet, little traffic that is well behaved. Try and avoid long sections of D roads that have three following numerical digits. They can be quite busy and traffic not as well behaved (often holiday traffic). Restaurants / bars / places to stop for food / drink can be scarce in rural France so try and plan out where you will potentially stop along the way.
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So there appears to be a few of us on the Thursday night ferry?
Are most planning on taking the train most or all the way to Paris?
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Anyone on the Wednesday ferry, team audax club Portsmouth. Plus guest will be ( 10 of us) enjoying a gentle two day ride down :thumbsup:
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Anyone on the Wednesday ferry, team audax club Portsmouth. Plus guest will be ( 10 of us) enjoying a gentle two day ride down :thumbsup:
With hindsight that would have been a better idea.
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So there appears to be a few of us on the Thursday night ferry?
Are most planning on taking the train most or all the way to Paris?
No idea what the majority will be doing but I'll be riding. It's only just over 200k after all and my I aim is to treat the whole thing as a cycling holiday.
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Planning to ride down, collecting 2 AUK points on the way seems to make sense, returning over a couple of days afterwards with train options if I'm totally f-----.
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I'm on the Thursday night ferry, then trundling down to Evreux where I have booked a B&B. Slow ride Saturday to Rambouillet for the bike check and then hanging around until 19.45 Sunday (Q slot). Currently pondering bike choice: the newly built-up Holdsworth s/s or the tried and tested Van Nic. Heart says Holdsworth, head says Van Nic...my knees won't forgive me if I go s/s!
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So there appears to be a few of us on the Thursday night ferry?
Are most planning on taking the train most or all the way to Paris?
I am on the Thursday ferry and will be catching the train to Evreux the riding about 80km to Romboulet where I have a room booked fot the Friday and Saturday nights.
The trains appear to radiat out from Paris.
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Anyone on the Wednesday ferry, team audax club Portsmouth. Plus guest will be ( 10 of us) enjoying a gentle two day ride down :thumbsup:
The usual Merc boys (sans Mr Hopper :-[ ) will be on the crossing. Are you meeting up at a pub to ride to the ferry? Will be riding down on the Wednesday from Oxford. Making a a tour of it this year, so can meet up with you guys before the pub at the docks.
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We will be meeting at the fox and hounds denmead from 8pm ready for the short ride (5 or so miles to the ferry port. Come join us.
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Like quite a few others I'm on the Thursday night ferry, just realised the rush hour SWT bike restriction means arriving very early or uncomfortably close to departing.
Anyone else planning on losing a few hours in Portsmouth?
I see above the Wednesday leavers are meeting in a pub.
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I will be arriving in Portsmouth at about 8:30pm. Don't know the place at all. Name a pub and I will see if it is practical.
BB
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I'll be in Portsmouth at 6pm..
Never managed to find a nice place to rest before a ferry.. suggestions welcome🙂
Note that bicycles are not allowed in the ferry terminal.
Security is a pita on this.
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After hijacking Phil W's post I realize I should have posted separately.
I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
There is a direct Newcastle to ?Reading train that avoids going into London. You can then change and head down to Portsmouth avoiding the metropolis.
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Arriving some point mid-afternoon erm... 1630 ish
Plenty of time to waste
Just got the e-mail from Brittany ferries
Check In by 2200
Boarding 30-60 mins before departure (2245)
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After hijacking Phil W's post I realize I should have posted separately.
I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
There is a direct Newcastle to ?Reading train that avoids going into London. You can then change and head down to Portsmouth avoiding the metropolis.
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That's just the North, not the Frozen North.
Looks like the options were
Dundee/Leuchars->Newcastle->Reading->Southampton or Guildford ->Portsmouth
Or Dundee/Leuchars->London faff->Portsmouth
Although since the sleeper costs the same from Dundee/Leuchars as Aberdeen, I'm on a train north in 3hrs time.
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I will be arriving about 18:30 and so a suggestion of somewhere to eat and drink would be good.
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After hijacking Phil W's post I realize I should have posted separately.
I decided that the Portsmouth to Caen ferry suited me better as coming from the frozen north I've no way of avoiding that London place.
There is a direct Newcastle to ?Reading train that avoids going into London. You can then change and head down to Portsmouth avoiding the metropolis.
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That's just the North, not the Frozen North.
Looks like the options were
Dundee/Leuchars->Newcastle->Reading->Southampton or Guildford ->Portsmouth
Or Dundee/Leuchars->London faff->Portsmouth
Although since the sleeper costs the same from Dundee/Leuchars as Aberdeen, I'm on a train north in 3hrs time.
Ah one of the freefolk from beyond the wall.
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There appears to be a couple of pubs the other side of the motorway from the international ferry port.
The Admiral Drake appears to be a pub, and The Sovereign a chain food pub
And also the Ship and Castle in the port area.
I'll try to remember to post in here what IroIroMono and I decide to do.
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Who's sailing tonight?
Wight - From 1200 UTC 14th to 1200UTC 15th
WIND
South or southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
SEA STATE
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
WEATHER
Rain or showers, thundery at first.
VISIBILITY
Good, occasionally poor.
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There appears to be a couple of pubs the other side of the motorway from the international ferry port.
The Admiral Drake appears to be a pub, and The Sovereign a chain food pub
And also the Ship and Castle in the port area.
I'll try to remember to post in here what IroIroMono and I decide to do.
Admiral drake looks good. Thursday is curry night. It looks to have a large outdoor area too.
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There appears to be a couple of pubs the other side of the motorway from the international ferry port.
The Admiral Drake appears to be a pub, and The Sovereign a chain food pub
And also the Ship and Castle in the port area.
I'll try to remember to post in here what IroIroMono and I decide to do.
Admiral drake looks good. Thursday is curry night. It looks to have a large outdoor area too.
Sounds good, will confirm tomorrow;
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I will be riding down from near Winchester after work. If I make good time I may well seek you guys out. :)
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Just had a quick dash to halfrauds so I can get some electrical tape, spare back light () and spades, my latest ball ache is a failed solder on a son coaxial connector... Iroromon has Dury rigged it with tape in a manner that seems to be holding, the cable that goed to my rear light set up is the back up for the front light.
I think I'm ready to ditch the coax in favour of spades and other ugly automotive methods but now is not the time for doing that!
Will head to the admiral drake from here
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Kitchen shut at 6, if anyone else is coming to meet will advise once we find somewhere.
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Round the corner at the hungry horse now where the kitchen is open
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