The Banker
I know what the best birthday present will be .. (frank).
How many cakes have we got to bring with us ? One a day ?

Frank, I haven't finalised my outbound travel yet but my plan is to go Dover /Calais early on 1st July stopping that night near Rouen, 2nd July night near La Rochelle then onto meet the rabble at their 3rd/4th July stop. Each leg is about 300 miles but on toll roads so shouldn't be too arduous, fingers crossed. As yet Smuts has expressed interest but nothing is confirmed so if you can join us please do, even if means adjustments to my plan.

LJ - like your style mate! Whatever it takes to get Frank over.........

Long John, cheers for that,what time were you thinking to get the train from dover sunday morning,2 night stop overs and then meet up with the gang later on the 3rd for one off the bankers birthdays.are we going to pre book the stop over's or wing it.guess we then have to book the vomit comet back, what time is that one.
we think a week is possible/ just over plus i will be here for sanders birthday on the 30th so i think we have the making off a plan.

Well ALRIGHT!

Yeah!
Go Frank, Go Frank, Go Frank!!!

Frank, I'll double check times and distances in the morning and post then.

Thanks Hedge, but Teabag kick-started it after our pow-wow at the Moon n Stars.

Frank/Smuts. How about.. 1/7/18, 10am Folkstone-Calais ( Eurotunnell £89 ). Calais-Alencon, 230 mls 3hrs 40. 2/7/18, Alencon-Bordeaux, 304 mls 4hrs 20. 3/7/18, Bordeaux-Logrono, 251 mls 4hrs. Perhaps we should pre-book a bed near Alencon but time should allow us to wing it near Bordeaux. What say you? I guess we should book the train soon. I have already booked myself on the vomit comet out of Cherbourg late pm on 10 July.

Apologies for the radio silence but my lovely family has decided to move our holiday a week later which means I will only know towards the end of the week which day I can join you guys on the trip. By the way, Phil and Frank, I've been looking at the Newhaven/Dieppe route as well...

Smuts, I've had a quick look at Newhaven-Dieppe versus the train. Newhaven and Folkstone are equal from home. The 09.00 ferry departure is same price as the train but 3hrs 30mins longer. Dieppe to Alencon is 1hr 30min quicker than from Calais. So a 2hr saving on the train. Plus, and this is the clincher for me..no sea sickness.

Thank you Long john, Hi Smuts Lets try and see if we can make this work then guys,look forward to hearing smuts dates and hope we can get a plan together.

If it makes it easier I'll go by train and then meet whoever wherever and on whatever date. I've booked accommodation from 3rd July so am aiming for then. The 4th is an option though. Hopefully things will fall into place come the end of this week.

Hey Frank - so what are your potential plans?
We're all really looking forward to seeing you at some point during the blatt.
No problem when you join in - I'm sure all the hotel's/B&Bs will have no issues dealing with any booking changes.
(The first hotel I have had to pre-pay, but I'll sort that!)

Really looking forward to seeing you again!

Look, I've never been able to understand how you lot get the routes we drive onto SatNav. All that Sygic and Tyre stuff is black magic to me. So I've got a new Tom Tom and this year I'd really like to be able to follow along on the SatNav instead of having to keep up with Stuart so I know where I'm going. ()

So wadda I do?