event Shitefest International 2025 aka Merdefest 9-10 August - France - List started

[Talbot]

Going direct to the suppliers websites has helped, I wasn't expecting the ferry bookers sites to be so much more expensive!

I'm now finding that Newhaven-Dieppe is actually cheaper than Dover-Calais.  Newhaven-Dieppe can be got for as low as £146 for the return.  Dover-Calais is well over £200.

I also hadn't appreciated how much more expensive towing a small trailer would make it.  The very smallest trailer increases the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing by £100.  For Dover-Calais it brings it up well over £300.

[lesapandre]

6 minutes ago, Talbot said:

Going direct to the suppliers websites has helped, I wasn't expecting the ferry bookers sites to be so much more expensive!

I'm now finding that Newhaven-Dieppe is actually cheaper than Dover-Calais.  Newhaven-Dieppe can be got for as low as £146 for the return.  Dover-Calais is well over £200.

I also hadn't appreciated how much more expensive towing a small trailer would make it.  The very smallest trailer increases the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing by £100.  For Dover-Calais it brings it up well over £300.

Wow - the Newhaven-Dieppe sounds cheap. Double-check you are paying to come back too - some of the sites can be a bit ambiguous with their options.

Yes towing adds ££'s.

[Talbot]

from Ferrysavers.  I'll have to check if it's any different on the DFDS website.

 

If I add a small trailer (my folding camper, which I really need to bring!)

 

The increase is £2 cheaper than I paid for the damn camper!

[lesapandre]

4 minutes ago, Talbot said:

from Ferrysavers.  I'll have to check if it's any different on the DFDS website.

Yes I would do that to make sure - £73 each way for a peak summer crossing is a bargain. 

[Talbot]

6 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Yes I would do that to make sure - £73 each way for a peak summer crossing is a bargain. 

Remarkably... exactly the same price on the DFDS site.

The trailer, however, has completely different pricing, but then the size limits on Ferrysavers and on DFDS site are quite different.

 

[lesapandre]

Yea that seems correct - it's a good offer. Low because you are crossing mid-week and coming back late. Bargain! 🎉

 

[Spottedlaurel]

I've previously done the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing (and vice versa) in the daytime and found it to be just a bit too long a crossing for my tastes, but if you've driven a fair way then at least you get a decent break.

My preference in recent years has been to do their night-time crossing with a cabin, giving an opportunity for a decent kip with toilet and shower in the room. Saves a hotel stopover and allows for an early start in France.

As it's the only ferry going from both ports then it's much less hectic than Dover/Calais or the tunnel.

[lesapandre]

Yea it's about 4+ hours as opposed to Dover-Calais which is at about 1.5. 

Yes - Dover can get very congested at times - best to use it mid-week and at night if possible. 

[horriblemercedes]

At the moment I'm planning to come in my Saab 95 diesel estate, so that'll be good for MPG and space. The air con is excellent too.

 

Is there any appetite for sorting out drive sharing? Just thinking that I've got plenty of space for several people and kit, or I would be happy to join another crew. It would save on fuel and ferry/tunnel costs.

[catsinthewelder]

I'm up for that, don't really trust any of my cars to make it there!

[mat_the_cat]

17 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

My preference in recent years has been to do their night-time crossing with a cabin, giving an opportunity for a decent kip with toilet and shower in the room. Saves a hotel stopover and allows for an early start in France.

IMO, a cabin upgrade is worth it, no matter the cost. I used to use the ferries every year (before we had a dog and switched to Eurotunnel), and sleeping in a shared lounge was miserable at best.

Uncomfortable 'reclining' (but not enough) seats, snoring, screaming babies and on one occasion I awoke to find the bloke sleeping next to me drooling all over my arm. Marginally more tolerable bringing a sleeping mat and grabbing a corner, but on a crowded crossing it's not going to be fun.

The only time we got lucky is exploring the ship and finding an empty, unlocked room (not a cabin). Got in there and managed to get our heads down uninterrupted for the whole crossing!

[Talbot]

20 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

My preference in recent years has been to do their night-time crossing with a cabin, giving an opportunity for a decent kip with toilet and shower in the room. Saves a hotel stopover and allows for an early start in France.

The other crossing that offers this benefit is Portsmouth - Ouistriham.  I've used that in the past, but it's quite a bit more expensive as it's quite a few more sea miles.  I think the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing is made "artificially" longer on the overnight crossings to make it worthwhile having a cabin and a sleep.  Presumably they just cruise over slower on the night crossings.

[Saabnut]

OK, a bit to hopefully help. Fastest and sometimes the most expensive is the tunnel, which is also the best for pets as they stay in the car for the 40 minute crossing. Cheapest is Newhaven-Dieppe (and if you are over 60 always phone the booking and tell them, you get an additional discount of I think 20%, crossing takes about 4 hours.  This route is subsidised by the French government, hence being the cheapest. Cheapest Dover crossing is of course the ferry (P&O, Irish Ferries etc) at about 1.5 hours. Most convenient is Portsmouth-Caen at 5 hours but also the most expensive. However.....

Travel time from Calais to Chez Saabnut is 5 hours by Autoroute/Peage (it is almost exactly 300 miles) or 6.5 to 7 hours via the scenic route which is lovely with lots of villages with cafes for breaks. Travel time from Caen via Peage is roughly 2 hours at about 130 miles but scenic route is about 3 to 4 hours. Peage tolls from Caen are around 20 Euro, from Calais between 50 and 60 Euros. Fuel on the motorways is more expensive but not as big a difference as the UK. Easy to drop off to a Supermarket to save a bit if required. Fuel is generally more expensive in France, supermarket prices last time I was there was about 1.76 Euro/litre for 95 unleaded and about 1.63 for diesel. LPG is much more widely available at around 0.94 Euro/litre.

Once there, beer and wine are cheap. Food is expensive. Supermarket food is much better quality than the equivalent here, and most places have markets weekly, more expensive again but excellent quality.  Ready meals and processed food in supermarkets etc are OK but very limited in range. If you want pies, you will have to bring them or make them yourself!

I will start a list soon for attendees to add their names to, and I will send address and contact details by PM. Any specific questions, ask away, I will do my best to answer.

 

[Shandylegs]

Have friends in Mayenne that I'm long overdue a catch-up with.

Would be the perfect excuse to bolt on a few extra days, so looking forward to further details.

[chaseracer]

On 01/05/2025 at 11:21, Talbot said:

from Ferrysavers.  I'll have to check if it's any different on the DFDS website.

 

If I add a small trailer (my folding camper, which I really need to bring!)

 

The increase is £2 cheaper than I paid for the damn camper!

Would you like to borrow Absurdo-tent?

[Talbot]

On 03/05/2025 at 08:37, Saabnut said:

Travel time

From Dieppe?  I'm guessing about 4hrs maybe?

And is it fairly easy to avoid the Rouen Crit'Air zone?  I've had to avoid it before, but was travelling more to the east of where you are.

[hairnet]

from dieppe along the coast to fecamp then south to tourville to courbepine to le mans

avoids the bit down to the autoroute and then west towards le havre 

you hit the autoroute further south and it goes nowhere near rouen ftw

still takes 4 hours and less €€€ on the autoroute going straight only saves half an hour

unless youre going to rouen for something swerve rouen

[Floatylight]

Contemplating this in the camper van with MrsFL, any others coming?

[Saabnut]

Currently at the Merdefest Location and it is 30 degrees and sunny. To cool down I have just been out for a very nice 3 course lunch with 0.5l of vin rouge and a cold beer to start for 20 Euros. Life is hell.

For those worrying about a Critaire sticker - don't. There is no automatic system for detection, it falls on the Gendarmes to enforce it and they really CBA. Most of my French friends, including those who commute to Paris have refused to get one, the feeling is it is going the way of the breathalysers. For those who want to know the area, it is 72340 and the nearest larger town is La Chatre sur le Loir. Google the "Hotel de France" there for more info, this place is about 5km from Merdefest.

This is the social area, including shade tree

This is the camping car area for those who want to sleep in their car

And for the tentists, this is the smooth and level camping area

In addition there is another 5.5 acres with river to explore.

A couple of people have indicated they will be attending for a few extra days which they are more than welcome to do and one bed of a few available has been booked but I will let them add their own name to the list. Dogs/wives/children etc are all very welcome.

Merdefest 25 Attendee List:

1. Saabnut (Surprise)

2. Horriblemercedes

3. Floatylight, Mrs Floatylight, Dog floatylight and maybe smollfloatylight

4. Sunny Jim plus Sunny Dog

5. LBF

6. Shandylegs

 

[horriblemercedes]

I'm in! All looks good for me for that weekend, but will have to make 100% sure with work.

[Floatylight]

We're in!

Floatylight, MrsFL, Jasper (DogFL) & maybe @Smoll Floatylight 

we'll probably stretch it for a few more days if that's ok @Saabnut

[Saabnut]

A couple of others have suggested they may do 7th to 11th and I expect to be there for the best part of a week either side of the weekend so extending is no problem!

Edit: French govt announced today that the LEZ areas are going to be abandoned so Critaire will probably be history by Merdefest and if not certainly will not be actively enforced.

[Shandylegs]

Really do fancy this for a change.

Just pondering if a first big bike trip would be in order, or if I do the sensible thing and take the car. 

Just priced Newhaven / Dieppe at £134 by car. Night ferry out on the evening of the 6th, returning on the evening of the 11th.

[Sunny Jim]

I hope to arrive on the evening of Thursday, 11th and depart on Monday, 15th if that's ok please? I shall be in the C15 with the dog and a mystery guest who can reveal himself if he wants to!

[Saabnut]

4 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

I hope to arrive on the evening of Thursday, 11th and depart on Monday, 15th if that's ok please? I shall be in the C15 with the dog and a mystery guest who can reveal himself if he wants to!

Which month?  Merdefest is 8-10 August which would give Thursday 7th to Monday 11th. Can probably accomodate other months though you would be limiting the dogs supply of treats as you will probably be the only one here!  Mystery guest has already been in touch by pm.

[Sunny Jim]

Brain fart on my part! You're correct @Saabnut, arrive Thursday 7th August and depart Monday 11th. Fortunately I've booked the right dates for the Tunnel.

[LightBulbFun]

6 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

and a mystery guest who can reveal himself if he wants to!

1 hour ago, Saabnut said:

Mystery guest has already been in touch by pm.

Yeah sorry to ruin the suspense/surprise, buts thats me, figured i'd mention it just to temper expectations accordingly! that its not Elvis, and that REV wont be making an appearance this time!

 

as much as I would love to do the trip myself in REV and take REV/an Invacar abroad for the first time, who knows how long, I figured because of the anxiety over the logistics of doing it all, the fact I have never been to France at all before etc, I figured ill take up @Sunny Jim's very kind offer of door-to-door pickup and drop off, which will let me "play along" and see what its all like, without actually having to worry about myself too much if that makes sense! and then hopefully next time, with more experience under my belt I can do it with REV, hopefully there is a next time! 

plus going in a C15, means plenty of space in the back for any French lightbulbs I might find! oh you bet if we find ourselves stopping in some quiet french village thats not changed since 1965, I am making a beeline for the local electrical store  

 

what is french for "all your old lightbulb are belong to me"?

[Sunny Jim]

I think that would be, "Toutes tes vieilles ampoules sont  m'appartiennent."

We might have some space for lightbulbs in the back however 

the dog's thinking, "Oi LBF, bulbs aren't soft and I like to lie on soft things!"

[dozeydustman]

I checked the work diary and the proposed weekend is fully booked. I’d have loved to bring the 205, I have even procured a set of LHD headlamps for it for such adventures (and yellow H4s).

I’ll see if I can get a swap.

[Shandylegs]

21 hours ago, Shandylegs said:

Really do fancy this for a change.

Just pondering if a first big bike trip would be in order, or if I do the sensible thing and take the car. 

Just priced Newhaven / Dieppe at £134 by car. Night ferry out on the evening of the 6th, returning on the evening of the 11th.

Sod it, count me in please.....