Event Bulgaria Fest - Task complete

[Talbot]

Hi Talbot. This welcoming committee then. Where exactly are you planning it?

Planning? What planning?

 

Er. I think this depends a lot on Dolly and Cats as to what they would prefer. I am planning on getting some sparkly plugs for them today and bringing them down, but I have no idea if they would prefer to meet at the Port, somewhere just outside it, or at their hotel for the night. (wherever that ends up being)

 

I've not been to the port for some time now, but IIRC you can pull in to a smallish carpark just adjacent to where cars are spat out of the ferry port and back onto normal roads. As you say, the guys may just want to put a couple of miles between them and the port before stopping anywhere.

 

Dollywobbler, Catsinthewelder.. what do you think?

 

Edit: Just looked on Goooglemaps and Gooooglestreetview and that carpark either never existed, or has gone. You get spat out almost instantly onto the M275 (Or you can turn right to go back to Portsmouth or the terminal building) and there really isn't anywhere to stop. It's slightly further north than the roundabout that takes you into the port.

 

Given the complete lack of anywhere you can legally even pull over near the exit from the port, I suspect somewhere slightly north of there will be the only option. That section of M275 doesn't even have a full-width hard-shoulder, so there literally is nowhere to stop.

[dollywobbler]

To be honest, we are feeling pretty drained at the moment. I think we will just want to get our heads down when we land. Dacia started perfectly this morning, so maybe we are finally getting somewhere...

[barefoot]

Want me to bring hookers & coke?

[dollywobbler]

Want me to bring hookers & coke?

We'd still just fall asleep...

[The Moog]

We'd still just fall asleep...

He didnt say he was going to share. 

[Eddie Honda]

I think we will just want to get our heads down when we land.

Boats are for sleeping. Nights are for driving.

[Yoss]

Studying Brittany Ferries and the Marine Traffic website it seems your boat is Etretat and looks like this.

It is already parked up in Le Havre waiting for you. I always thought they used these boats more intensively but it seems this thing only does one return trip a day. Oddly it takes eight hours from Portsmouth to Le Havre but only five and a half on the way back.

 

 

EDIT. Actually, now I think about it the outward run is overnight so they probably just run it a bit slower so you arrive at a sensible time. A bit like a sleeper train. Otherwise you'd arrive about 5am and everything would be shut.

[castros_bro]

Studying Brittany Ferries and the Marine Traffic website it seems your boat is Etretat and looks like this.

20141213171732_etre3.jpg

It is already parked up in Le Havre waiting for you. I always thought they used these boats more intensively but it seems this thing only does one return trip a day. Oddly it takes eight hours from Portsmouth to Le Havre but only five and a half on the way back.

 

 

EDIT. Actually, now I think about it the outward run is overnight so they probably just run it a bit slower so you arrive at a sensible time. A bit like a sleeper train. Otherwise you'd arrive about 5am and everything would be shut.

 

Does Euro time being one hour ahead of UK (and Portugal) time not give the difference in travel timings?

[Yoss]

Yeah, accounted for that. The difference is even greater without it. Four and a half one way against nine the other.

[chaseracer]

Crikey.  Do they pull a couple of leads* and run it on two?

[Guest Hooli]

As it's downhill to frogshire I think they freewheel all the way.

[Wack]

In the late 70s I used to drive kettering-cambridge every day , every morning I'd overtake a water board mini van doing 40 and almost every evening he'd overtake me doing 60

 

must be something similar

[nigel bickle]

There is a small area just outside the docks that you can meet if needed. You're right you are virtually spat out onto the motorway, and you can't enter the port that way at all- security will ensure you don't cross the line.

 

But about 50 yards to the tight is a rough grass area, adjacent a tall unit, just wide enough for 2-3 cars. Just before the roundabout.

 

I often meet my frog mates there when it's their turn to do a delivery trip. Swop over & straight back into the docks to catch the same boat back!

[Yoss]

Wack, that's simple. In the evening he was on his way home. Perhaps it's the same with the boat. If it's a Pompey based crew they just want to go home so they floor it a bit.

[Yoss]

There is a small area just outside the docks that you can meet if needed. You're right you are virtually spat out onto the motorway, and you can't enter the port that way at all- security will ensure you don't cross the line.

But about 50 yards to the tight is a rough grass area, adjacent a tall unit, just wide enough for 2-3 cars. Just before the roundabout.

I often meet my frog mates there when it's their turn to do a delivery trip. Swop over & straight back into the docks to catch the same boat back!

Bet that doesn't look dodgy at all!

[wuvvum]

Crikey.  Do they pull a couple of leads* and run it on two?

Might not work with a diesel engine...

[Wack]

Bet that doesn't look dodgy at all!

 

 

I can hear the helicopter firing up now, Romanians with beards swapping stuff near the docks, call out SWAT

[busmansholiday]

I was wondering if any of Hampshire's boys in blue read this. If they do then DW and cats may get a special* welcome and an invitation to a free overnight bed.

[wuvvum]

I don't think driving a foreign-registered car in the UK is an arrestable offence - if it's even an offence at all.

[Yoss]

Sureley if they read this they'll give them an escort to wherever they want to go, no questions asked.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Fairly certain that making it an offence to drive a foreign-regd car in the UK, woukd be a breach of EU free movement rules. If you cross any border in any car something is going to be 'foreign' innit whether it's you, the car or both. Ignore the armchair lawyers and celebrate the joy of the single shite market!!!!

[cpjitservices]

Zebrugge to Hull is an easy crossing,casino, bar, entertainment on board,evening sailing, go to bed, wake up and you're in hull

 

P&O, looks to be about £160 one way on thursday , wednesday is £90 ,£98 for a cabin on top of that though that's an extra , they used to have a room full of reclining arm chairs full of farting truck drivers but I don't know if that experience is still available

 

Bruges is nice

Head this way as suggested Zebrugger to Hull Ferry

 

We will welcome you!

 

 

5 hour drive home to Wales though. Nice hotels nearby.

 

OH see your heading for Portsmouth... 

[dollywobbler]

We have made it to Le Havre. Trying not to overheat in the queue to get in, worrying about starting issues when it comes to loading and disembarking...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

We have made it to Le Havre. Trying not to overheat in the queue to get in, worrying about starting issues when it comes to loading and disembarking...

 

 

Chodspeed!

[dollywobbler]

Thanks. It's irritating but we can't turn the engine off while we queue, or it'll be a nightmare. Will turn off in the lanes, and will try and cool it down before we embark.

[cpjitservices]

Thanks. It's irritating but we can't turn the engine off while we queue, or it'll be a nightmare. Will turn off in the lanes, and will try and cool it down before we embark.

Good luck fellas.

[Eddie Honda]

worrying about starting issues when it comes to loading and disembarking...

Don't worry, if you can suffer the embarrassment of a tow-on.

[beko1987]

Try and queue infront of a truck and see if he'll push you on?

[panhard65]

Don't worry too much about it starting they will get you on and off one way or another. My 7 didn't want to start getting off the boat and they pushed me out of the way so they could unload. It then started as soon as he stopped pushing.

[catsinthewelder]

 

Just sat on board eating roast beef.