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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 7 Feb 2014
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Since it's 100 years since WW1, it might be worth visiting the front line.
Start in Ypres (Belgium ), continue to Verdun (France ), and cruise in the Vosges (also France). Go down to Swiss (stay of the highways if you don't want to buy a vignet), ride the Apls to France and cruidse back to Calais.

... and hope for sunny weather ...
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  #2  
Old 8 Feb 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WimDH View Post
Since it's 100 years since WW1, it might be worth visiting the front line.
The way the weather is at the moment (and into next month as well by the look of the forecast) it might be the most realistic WW1 experience in the trenches since 1918 , short of being shot at. How did the old phrase go - "up to my neck in muck and bullets"

Probably not a good idea to come back from "The Trench Experience" Home with trench foot.

I'm saving my WW1 commemoration effort until it's a bit warmer and giving thanks that I wasn't born a few generations earlier.
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  #3  
Old 8 Feb 2014
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Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
The way the weather is at the moment (and into next month as well by the look of the forecast) it might be the most realistic WW1 experience in the trenches since 1918 , short of being shot at. How did the old phrase go - "up to my neck in muck and bullets"

Probably not a good idea to come back from "The Trench Experience" Home with trench foot.

I'm saving my WW1 commemoration effort until it's a bit warmer and giving thanks that I wasn't born a few generations earlier.

You're right about the weather, but it will give you a lot of travel stories to tell the guys at te pub ;-)

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  #4  
Old 9 Feb 2014
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March is not the best time of the month to go in to Europe, if you are looking for good weather. As every one has said go south. It's not Einstein to work out the further south you go the better the weather is going to be. But then you are going to use up time in traveling. So to me it's get your hard azz on and bang out the mileage. Get your self down to the south of Spain. What are you doing camping or looking for cheap hotel's? If its hotel's have a look at one of the many travel company's on line. And book seven day through them. Just the hotel. Will get a lot better price than just turning up.
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  #5  
Old 20 Feb 2014
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If you are riding down it's gonna be a bit chilly in the North of France, as said might be better to get a ferry straight to Spain, but not sure on prices this time of year.
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  #6  
Old 22 Feb 2014
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Gary:

I think you would most certainly freeze your butt off if you planned to go riding anywhere in France in the middle of March. There's a small chance that you might get very lucky and encounter a few tolerably warm days if you were waaaaaay down south (along the Med), but the odds are not in your favour.

To enjoy a pleasant ride in mid-March (rather than a 'survival experience'), I think you would have to go pretty far south, either to the south end of Portugal or to the far southern end of Spain.

For what it's worth, I rode from Geneva to Montpelier in mid MAY last year, and it was damn cold... I encountered snow for the first 100 miles of riding in France, and the temperatures didn't get above 10° to 15° all the while I was in southern France. I gave up on touring southern France (my original plan) and beat a retreat down to southern Spain and Portugal... and that was in mid May, not mid March.

My advice to you is to either take a ferry to the south end of Portugal or Spain, or stay home and save the money for a summertime ride later on.

Michael
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  #7  
Old 2 Sep 2014
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I was having a great time dry and warm and enjoying belgium for 3 days.. Then had a 4 day cold which meant not leaving my very uncomfy b&b bed for 3 days. The journey home wasn't very fun and was rather difficult staying focused and alert.
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