Spent twenty minutes following vague signs for the route south before finding the peage access. Down the main drag after petrol; left, left, new road, peage half way round new roundabout over the hill.
Very cold fog, down to 50 mph for vision. gently on to Rouen. New roadworks, new road layout. NO roadsigns. Ended up on A13 heading for Paris instaed of Le Mans. Bugger. Realised when the sun emerged, illuminating my right shoulder and not my face. Going the wrong way. So turned right and went across country via Dreux towards Le Mans. No hurry, want to see places, saw lots of gorgeous villages. Wonderful architecture. About two hours behind, but like I said, no rush, just enjoy.
Got onto the right roads, off after Poitiers, looking for a 149. No signs. Lost another hour bimbling around trying to retrace to find right road. Very helpful petrol station attendant showed me the Nantes road, bingo. Then cross country on little more than single track roads to try to find mates house, no signs. Locals speak some sort of teleprinter speed French, so school French was not a lot of help. Eventually found the house about 21.00 hours, I was beginning to flag, thank goodness we got there before dark.
What a place. Two cars a day. So relaxed. Watch the plants grow. Vegetables that taste like food did here 20 years ago. The beef is superb. Gamay wine an absolute bargain. Property is still very reasonable. Make an effort with the locals and they love you. Sadly, the stay was all too short.
Left in the dark, in the rain at 06.00 hrs Friday.
Even slightly tinted visors + rain means no vision. So visor up, feels like sandblasting eyeballs at 40 mph. And the commuters start early there too, along with the trucks. The 40 minute journey to the motorway took about an hour and a half and was - well rather painful. My mate was fine, clear visor.
Fuel at Poitiers, onto the motorway, first light, heading north, 70 mph, visor down. New motorway between LeMans and Rouen. Over 100 miles, saw about fifty other vehicles. Note: NO petrol for most of the middle bit. Fast road. Through Rouen following Calais signs. Rain stopped.
Somewhere between Abbeville and Boulogne, went through a cloud of diesel mist, someones injector pipe must have blown off. Totally covered me, the visor and the bike. If it was the lady at the side of the road with an Audi, number plate 'HAT...', I'm sorry I didnt stop, I had a ferry to catch.
Fuel stops, peage, rain and Mars bar stop meant the journey of about 320 miles took eight hours. Lunch in Boulogne, very pleasant. Slow trip to ferryport. First on again. Boat full this time. Easy disembarkation, rush hour in Dover. A2 is sooo bad, my mate thought someone has messed with his bike on the boat. No, English roads at the European entry point are just awful.
Saw just four Gendarmes on the whole trip. None interested in us. Two speed cameras, one on the new cross gorge sky bridge near Boulogne, 90 kph section. No mobile units.
Friend told me that often in the villages, 30 kph, the gendarmes grab speeders, direct them to the Mayor (local king), sitting at a table at the side of the road, with a cash box in front of him. Easy money.
The French roads are wonderful; they got EC grants to make them good. We got grants to look after illegals. And the big sky! Not seen since I drove across the mid west in USA.
Bikers there all give a wave, with hand or foot. In the rural areas, people in the fields wave! In the villages, schoolkids shout and wave. Cars move aside. Even Brit car drivers seem more at ease with bikes there.
Back in England, cars edge out to the other side to hinder your progress.
The French life is immensely tempting. Unless you are addicted to Brit t.v.
Final note, checked around the bike when I got to the destination. Adjustable rear torque arm had undone, putting the diff at a very uncomfortable angle, just a few turns from release! That would have been exciting.
