Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **  
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 12-6-2009 at 12:26 |
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Borth Massif France Excursion Summer 2009
OK, thought I would get this thread started as a planning forum to gauge where and when people are heading to for the summer break.
Need to co-ordinate a meeting point for the Pirate reunion with Andy and Cath et al.
Debs and myself are using Eurotunnel on the late night 10pm crossing on Friday 17th July. We return on the Thursday night 6th
August.
Although we had planned to do a trip through the Alps, we are now more keen to head down south first, perhaps to Leucate / Perpignan
area as I fancy a stop of in Carcassonne for a night or so ; before heading north westwards up to Arcachon or Lacanau or Hourtin.
Any views / opinions ?
Want to make the most of the beach time and meet up with all the travelling contingent.
Loxley
[Edited on 12-6-2009 by Loxley]
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mNeil
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| posted on 13-6-2009 at 11:59 |
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hi Mark. Ren and moi are going over dieppe 23july then heading straight south through the alps to the med south of perpignon there are
some huge beaches with kites on beach looking at google earth. i know that just over the spanish border starting at Roses is one huge
beach.
we will then cross to biscarauce, one of out fav haunts staying in the trees in the northerly of the 2 aires, just behind the beach and
only about 6E per night. slowly making our way then to plouharnel at quiberon before home on the last thurs in august and off to borth
for a few days. i have a file with all the GPS of places to stay on the west coast is you have a tomtom peeps. 
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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Kitefish
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Registered: 31-8-2004 Location: Shrewsbury Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 14-6-2009 at 09:51 |
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These are our cuurent plans.
We set sail from Dover to Boulogne on the morning of the 18th July and return 8th August.
From there we will be heading to Tours (about 1/2 way to Lacanau) where we will be visiting some Frenchie Rugby mates for a couple of
days. So plan to be heading down to Lacanau/Hourtin on the 22nd July.
Must admit I would like to go to Arachon/ Cap Ferret so that could be the place to meet up. We didn't really want to go as far south as
Perpignan but if that was the consensus may do. A lot will depend upon what Kath and Andy have planned. I had planned in my head that
once we all get together spend some time in one place we would be moving northwards up the coast, but Cath pointed out that K&A may
not want to head north so early in their trip (please indicate Andy).
Anyway won't be at the coast for the next few weeks got Glastonbury etc, but hopefully we will get together and share our plans. Must
post some pics of the Outer Hebs it was awesome.
I do know that K&A are currently on the south coast at Sete, liking it very much and planning to stay for a while.
Another interesting note from my long distant driving brother in law, he informs me that diesel is currently cheaper in the UK than
France and tells me to fill up before sailing. Maybe Andy or Mark can you confirm this, odd as it is usually the otherway round.
Catch you all laters going to catch some rays 
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shem
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| posted on 14-6-2009 at 11:35 |
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Im going but sooner, sailing on the 4th and returning the 14th. Ill be heading straight to Lacanau for a couple of days then straight
down to Hossegor for the rest of the trip, maybe a day in Lacanau on the way back up. Any one else over there then? Ill be surfing and
kiting, depending on conditions, hopefully both each day 
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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Spooker
A Force-of-Nature *** 
Member #: 932 Posts 624
Registered: 24-8-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: rattle dem bones
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 08:51 |
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Setting sail...
well not quite sure as I haven't booked yet!
Planning on going over probably 24/25 july for 2 weeks. I want to stop by the Normandy beaches, war graves and look round Mont Saint
Mitchell. Apart from that no real plans other than heading down the west coast and meeting up with some of you other guys - just gimme
a map reference and a date and I'll see you there!
You know INSTINCTively when you're living on the EDGE...
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Spooker
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 932 Posts 624
Registered: 24-8-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: rattle dem bones
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 09:11 |
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Like Kitefish - I didn't want to go TOO far down, would spend 1/2 my break driving. Lots of mention of the Bordeaux area - Arcachon,
cap ferret, Biscarrosse, Lacanau - maybe thats a happy medium.....
You know INSTINCTively when you're living on the EDGE...
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Spooker
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 932 Posts 624
Registered: 24-8-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: rattle dem bones
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 09:32 |
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Oh - and the French Govt's official website suggests Diesel prices are currently 85p - 95p per litre, though the autoroutes tend to be
the most expensive.
You know INSTINCTively when you're living on the EDGE...
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mNeil
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 12:24 |
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no where to park in cap ferret and takes an age to get to for very little; lacanau itself is swamped with people and the kite beach is
on the south car park, free water etc at the aires on the right jujst as you arrive at lacanau; fav spot is La Porge plage; less busy,
15 clicks south of Lacanau but stock up on stuff first unless you want to drive into la porge village.Bisc is one of our fav spots; as
i said earlier there are 2 aires there, the best one being the more northern of the 2; just keep turning right as you come to the
islands in Bisc. great cycle tracks there to all the inland lakes etc even i did 30k ride one day!! you can also bike to the Dune de
pilat from there. Forget Mimizan , south of Bisc; packed solid and they want to charge you E11 for staying on a car park like
sardines.
Distance on the motorways is nothing; do lacanau easily in one day going very steady; done calais to grenoble in one day at 65, french
motorways are a doddle, wine crap, food fantastic!
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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bucski
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Member #: 275 Posts 622
Registered: 8-7-2003 Member Is Offline Mood: i'm never in a mood
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 20:13 |
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Another thing Andy is that South of Lacanau the wind gets less, and if you head right down to Hossegor region don't get too much wind
at all, great for surfing down there tho.
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shem
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| posted on 15-6-2009 at 20:49 |
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Yip, surf mc tasty, I kinda figure I can kite surf here anytime, but am hoping for consistant surf unlike here,(although I did have a
great sesh today at the trap). Hossegor quite often gets a NW afternoon wind in the summer, and theres the lake as well, although Im
unsure as to any kite restrictions. Any body know?? Ill certanly be around lacanau area for a couple of days anyway, fingers xed for
waves
Like Neil said the roads are great, bordoux by car is about 5-6 hours from St malo, maybe a bit slower by van? Ive driven all the way
to biaritz in one blast b4 now, and it aint so bad.
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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mNeil
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| posted on 16-6-2009 at 08:38 |
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Spooks, Ren wanted to see the normandy beaches-cemetarys a couple of years ago. not my cup of tea really walking down lines and lines
of graves but you can wild park on the beach think its omaha as there are a couple of areas( take a look on google earth for omaha
beach france and follow the road along the beach northwards untill it turns inland at 90 you can see a couple of vans parked and if you
look at the photos you will see an old german bunker thats where we parked upfor the night) but no room to kite at high tide.Col found
a great beach but i think that was well north.
parking at bisc plage; look on google earth:
44*27'36.16"N 1*14'44.78"W and you can see the vans parked in the trees.
place worth seeing is la Rochelle and in august you get free parking and stop over at the university just by the marina, short wlk to
the centre google earth:
46*08'38.19"N 1*09'38.12"W you can see some vans parked up.NOTE I CANNOT FIND A DEGREE SIGN ON MY LAP TOP SO THE FIRST NUMBER/NUMBERS
SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE DEGREE AFTERWARDS not the *.
[Edited on 16/6/09 by mNeil]
[Edited on 16/6/09 by mNeil]
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 17-6-2009 at 08:07 |
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Looks like a variety of travel dates and plans then.
Had only considered heading far south for a touristy stop off at Carcassone, though the area around northern spain does look
interesting.
just a note for you tobacco smokers ( as in leaf not cig's ) the spanish government regulate the price and it is seriously cheap
compared to uk.
even at the airport duty free, 500g of Golden Virginia for €43 and Amber Leaf for €32
have to find where K&A are going to as they are the reason for the big trip over anyway as we wanted to meet up with them for 2 of
the weeks.
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Spooker
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 932 Posts 624
Registered: 24-8-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: rattle dem bones
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| posted on 17-6-2009 at 20:55 |
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Told K&A when we were all heading over there. They don't know where they will be then and suggested we check back in nearer the
time.
Oh the joys of drifting along day to day.....
You know INSTINCTively when you're living on the EDGE...
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Spooker
A Force-of-Nature ***
Member #: 932 Posts 624
Registered: 24-8-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: rattle dem bones
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| posted on 18-6-2009 at 08:56 |
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FERRY BOOKED!
Sailing on 18th with Fish, closely followed by Tony, Dan and their kids I think....
(They make a lovely couple)
Let the good times begin  
You know INSTINCTively when you're living on the EDGE...
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 18-6-2009 at 12:05 |
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We are planning to visit Troyes on the 18th which is a couple of hours south of Paris. Will aim then to meet up with the main convoy
later that day perhaps and do our travelling around on the homeward leg of the holiday.
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andy B
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 1118 Posts 209
Registered: 27-11-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: ah ripped again
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| posted on 21-6-2009 at 13:47 |
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hi peeps sorry we havent posted reguarly wifi a little up and down here. dont really mind were we meet up, come the end of the month
heading up to carcassonne, perpignan then over to bayonne and work our way up the coast, willing to go as far as st jean de mont not to
far if we want to head back down south.
as for fuel prices chris we have paid as much as 1.02e and as little as 92.2e but have seen it for 1.12e intermache and casino have
been the cheapest we have found.
still in sete water both sides been out this morning on my 9m fully lite. came back to kath in tears the bloke that had said it was
alrite to park where we were managed to reverse into the side back of our van. he left a hand size dent with a 10pence piece sized hole
in the alliminum. then tried to drive off not thinkin the rottwiller was still in the van. after alot of efing and blinding she got him
in the van and got all his particulars down.lol. oh well these things are sent to try us let the insurance sort it out when we get
home.
missing you all (a little any way ) will be great to see you all soon. love andy & kath xxxx
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shem
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| posted on 21-6-2009 at 14:54 |
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txt me your mobile no Andy, ill message you a few days b4 i get over there and see where ya are.
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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mNeil
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| posted on 21-6-2009 at 17:33 |
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oh nooooooooooooooo. get some tape on that hole toute suit Andy before the rain gets in!
i got fed up with st jean de mont as its always just chop and no waves because of the island that is just off shore; didnt go there
last year stayed down south bigger waves!!!!!!!!!before heading to quiberon area, even bigger waves last year!!!!!!!BUT COLD.
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 22-6-2009 at 12:13 |
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Well as for myself and Deb's we are wanting plenty of sun ! So will travelling as far south as needs to be to get that ! LOL
Anyway, looks like the Bordeaux beach area is common favourite and should be well placed for sun and wind.
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shem
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| posted on 22-6-2009 at 20:39 |
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what beaches around bordeaux?? My folks's house is just down the road from Royon, I sailed la palmer last time, really good
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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