Ribbing to Paris - Page 20

Channel Ribs · 11 April 2011, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Any budding weather forecasters want to give us a longe range before we book?

I just wrote this for the Alderney Journal...

Mid April’s weather looks set to be ruled by complex systems of low pressure, with the few weak high pressures that might bring still and clear air our way having to fight a losing battle against wet and windy conditions. So we might see some sunny spells, but enjoy them when you can as bands of rain seem likely to be a constant and steady theme.

The Met Office Atlantic chart for the 15th shows a nice high building, but it is going to be a few days before you can look at it with any great certainty.

Avocet · 11 April 2011, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

10 days to go!!

David, are you still in?

Yes: very much so and looking forward to it. I just need the weather window to make the channel crossing on 22 April (I'll worry about the return jouney nearer the time!). I'm perfectly happy to share a double or family room.

Mrs A is currently investigating the possibility of joining us for some of the cruise however (either at the start or part way through) I will let you know as soon as anything becomes definite (within the next 48hrs if that's OK) since she probably won't want to share!

David

martini · 11 April 2011, 13:18

A lot of hotels only have 1 or 2 rooms left, Honfleur is just about fully booked so sooner the better!

martini · 11 April 2011, 17:11

Having another look for hotels in Honfleur, I'm coming up with nothing for that particular night (sat 23rd), without going miles out of town, so looks like we might need to overnight in Le Havre. I was looking forward to Honfleur, but we're meant to be stopping there on the way home so no big deal.

Thing is, that means all we'll be doing on saturday is Alderney to Le Havre, around 2.5 hrs iirc, bit of a waste of a day. I can't remember how the tides work exactly, but maybe we go for a very early start ( sorry Sabrina!) and carry on up the Seine to Rouen?

Trouble is, although we'll save a day, the knock on effect is that instead of doing Honfleur to Rouen on Easter Sunday, we'll be Rouen to Poissy. Remembering all the locks are closed on Easter Sunday, we'd have to get through the Amfreville lock (upstream of Rouen) on Saturday (from Alderney) and Sunday we'll only be able to get as far as La Garrenne lock (40kms). Think I've just answered my own question there...

Erin · 11 April 2011, 18:07

I think you have...

martini · 11 April 2011, 18:30

What about just leaving Jersey on Saturday 23rd then? Have a quick lunch stop in Alderney instead of overnighting then onwards to Le Havre?

David, are you planning to meet us in Alderney? You mentioned crossing on the 22nd Friday, we'll either be in Jersey or Alderney on the 22nd.

Channel Ribs · 11 April 2011, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

David, are you planning to meet us in Alderney? You mentioned crossing on the 22nd Friday

I believe David is planning on crossing to Alderney on the Friday, you are all welcome to use our place for last minute prep and getting a decent feed before hitting the Nouvelle Cuisine

Avocet · 11 April 2011, 19:41

As Martin said. Worst case scenario with a poor weather window on the Friday, I could at a pinch go directly to Le Havre.

If we're all in Alderney on Friday night/Saturday morning, why not take a leisurely morning cruise to Honfleur, have lunch and spend the afternoon there before crossing over to Le Havre for the night? There currently seem to be plenty of available hotels in Le Havre so pre-booking can probably be dispensed with and we may find somewhere in Honfleur whilst we are there (as happened when I was last in St Vaast). It keeps the options open.

Erin · 11 April 2011, 21:35

I'm fairly flexible on this, but would perhaps prefer the Friday pm trip to Alderney and then departing for France on the Saturday at some point to suit. Seeing as it costs us nothing to overnight in Alderney and adds practically no additional milage overall. It's a good rendevouz point too.

martini · 11 April 2011, 21:50

Ok we'll go with that then. I like Dave's idea of popping in to Honf. and seeing what we can find re accom. Must be a few hotels that aren't on the net.

Just have to hope CR's weather forecast is wrong. Again.

willk · 11 April 2011, 22:11

Be aware that very few hotels show their entire inventory on the net. Smaller outfits tend to upload just a room or two for a given date. This is why you are seeing "just one room left" in certain cases. Get one of the tockitiv-Frenchi travellers to call and check...

Plus, there are always cancellations on the day. Again, take the list and use the phone.

Channel Ribs · 12 April 2011, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Just have to hope CR's weather forecast is wrong. Again.

lol

Wise words from Wilk too!

GJ0KYZ · 12 April 2011, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

It is with deep deep regret that we are stepping back from this one.

I described this trip as a one in a lifetime, it just seems it wont be in my lifetime!

I can't go either Martin; I just don't have enough money at the moment; the fuel and oil alone would probably have cost me over £2,000. However, as Martini and I were saying the other night, there's no reason why Paris can't become an annual trip or maybe one that we do every two years or so. The information the guys and gals bring back with them will be invaluable for future expeditions; I may well go next year with Mrs GJ0KYZ by which time I'll hopefully have some more dosh!

Erin · 12 April 2011, 22:40

And then there were three

. Great shame you have had to drop out GJ, I was certainly banking on your negotiation skills with the French for our ecluse epsiodes!

There seems to be a fairly wide ridge of high pressure lingering out in the Atlantic. Lets just hope it heads our way. I'm looking forward to 10 days off work.

Channel Ribs · 13 April 2011, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

I can't go either Martin; I just don't have enough money at the moment; the fuel and oil alone would probably have cost me over £2,000.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

However, as Martini and I were saying the other night, there's no reason why Paris can't become an annual trip or maybe one that we do every two years or so.

I though the big advantage to this year was the extra large Easter holiday?

It will be interesting to see what timescale ends up being practical, if it can be done comfortably in 6 days then it becomes more of an extended bank holiday weekend type thing. The anual Faberge run, Easter eggs - geddit?

Channel Ribs · 14 April 2011, 07:49

Windfinder are currently showing F5 ENE for the 21st, but the Met Office 5 day synoptic predicts a massive high pressure system moving in from the Atlantic.

My current prediction is for some wind and light showers early in the holiday, followed by glorious clear skies.

biffer · 14 April 2011, 08:59

2k for fuel and oil, that's a bitter pill, just sat here and worked out it would cost me about £400, that's leaving and returning to hamble

martini · 14 April 2011, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffer

2k for fuel and oil, that's a bitter pill, just sat here and worked out it would cost me about £400, that's leaving and returning to hamble

I'm looking at nearly 3K

martini · 14 April 2011, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Windfinder are currently showing F5 ENE for the 21st, but the Met Office 5 day synoptic predicts a massive high pressure system moving in from the Atlantic.

My current prediction is for some wind and light showers early in the holiday, followed by glorious clear skies.

I look forward to that, it's 9 degrees here at the mo, 5 days ago it was 23!

Channel Ribs · 14 April 2011, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

9 degrees here at the mo, 5 days ago it was 23!

10º mid-channel, whats that about