We have a trip planned for September- crossing to Caen and home from Bilbao and planned camping (what we usually do). Obviously have some concern re ferries and Covid. Think campsites will be ok. My thoughts-1. take shorter ferry routes eg return Portsmouth Caen. 2.Channel Tunnel return (but a long not inspiring ride to the west coast of France although could be flexible and visit Vosges instead of the west coast. 3. Cancel all trips to Europe. Just wondering what others are doing this year and their thoughts.
Possible trip to Ypres via Channel Tunnel, I'd rather go via Hull Ferry as usual (based in York) but mates planning Tunnel to get there quicker.
Portsmouth Caen daytime can be glorious weather, when so I have plonked myself in a chair out in deck, outdoors is very much safer than indoors. Chunnel most people sit in their cars so again relatively ok. Planes and trains I’m not so sure about. Overnight ferry must take a cabin so job done. Under those conditions I would be happy to travel. I’m sure quite a lot of our European cousins might be a little nervous with Brits around!! One or two comments to be heard no doubts. Enjoy!
We are booked with Brittany Ferries for September and without going back to the emails, I thought there are no seat only tickets, all passengers must have a cabin. Had to go through a rigmarole to confirm sharing. Andy
we're off to the Harz in 3 weeks but we take the bikes in the back of a large van and just unload and hoon around there. also going to France in early Sept. one crossing via Harwich to the Hook on overnight boat the other via the tunnel. both trips were supposed to be earlier but bookings changes no problem
I took the Chunnel yesterday, ‚twas empty and easy, going again folkestone - Calais at 11am tomorrow..any probs will report back
Portsmouth - Le Havre booked for mid September, return end of the month, destination Corsica. Night crossing on the way out so have a cabin. By far prefer to roll off the ferry first thing with a day's riding ahead. Return crossing is late afternoon getting back to Pompy at 21:30. Have booked a cabin for that crossing too so can have a kip in relative peace. Daytime cabin is cheap and worth having IMHO, even when travelling solo. However, it's noted that they're not as cheap as they used to be... Won't be home until around midnight so a long day but some food in Honfluer before ferry and then shut-eye onboard will recharge the batteries. Corsica ferries are both overnight, so cabin for those. Cost for all 4 crossings is not dissimilar ferry return to Santander. Looking forward to a destination I haven't done before but also revisiting a few great locations in SE France. My travel insurance covers me for falling ill with coronavirus, both in terms of cancellation and also whilst away. However, will not cover me if governments close borders which is a bit of a worry. Ferry costs being the main concern. They will, in that situation, hopefully offer a deferred sailing to next year. Accommodation is camping in mainland France but an apartment in Corsica. Booking.com so cancellation is available up until a week before arrival.
@Bumpkin - Corsica is a magic place to ride a bike. My wife and I did a tour around Corsica four year ago, at this time of year as I wanted to ensure the passes in the Alps were open. The weather on Corsica was brilliant, maybe a bit too warm. When I go back (and I plan to), I'll go back in September. Enjoy!
Just all about possible risk factors re Covid on the ferries. Pinch point re very close human contact on stairways moving from car/ bike deck to other levels and return. Air flow on passenger decks. Not sure how much the latter impacted on Covid spread in cruise ships earlier this year. Balanced against advantage of access to great starting points in France and Spain. Channel tunnel feels pretty safe though your start of journey in Europe is Calais! Also aware some camp sites are not opening this year and presumably they will have reduced occupancy so will booking ahead be necessary and required? Difficult to find the answer to this. Normally we find campsite on the day of travel. Perhaps I am creating problems that are very very low risk but still we all have to make our own judgements.
Came over Portsmouth Caen last week with the bikes on a trailer. Cabin was compulsory so just kipped for a few hours and never bothered with any public areas. The chances of being on a boat with a covid person are very slim in my opinion. My house down here is very isolated and we can just stay here for 6 weeks without seeing anyone.
What were the precautions Bob? Staggered loading and unloading to ease flow through the vessel avoiding congestion? If I don't like what I see will head straight for the outer decks until things calm down, though admit that getting from the car deck to there will possibly create close contact. Same on disembarkation, if kicked out of the cabin will wait on deck rather than linger in a crowded stairwell. As you say will probably take snacks and a book and confine myself to the cabin. Rather than a breakfast on-board I usually prefer to find a café for a coffee and a croque monsieur once off the boat and away from the port town, just plot a detour into any small town along the route and there's invariably one open.
Precautions were all on notices but there seemed to be nothing different to what I am used to. The boat was only about half full. To be fair, I think that taking any risk into account, then riding my bike is a huge risk compared to catching covid on a ferry.
From what I’ve read the majority of cruise ship contamination’s were via the food service - cutlery, plates, trays & glasses take your own sandwiches & drink & wear a mask if your going to be in close contact with anyone there’s never any need to be like sardines on the stairways but there’s often a lot of hanging about waiting to disembark on some vessels - bikes off first would help but hard when you’re stuffed on the bottom level on pont aven - think we’ll wait till next spring
I was on tunnel last week you can’t leave your vehicle so it’s safe. ...not sure how bikers get on? I’m on the Portsmouth to Bilbao boat on Sunday I’ll use outside food outlet should be open until 9-30 ish I don’t go near other people on the boat generally anyway I’m usually tucked away with a pint and iPad
Did Chunnel again today folk->Calais , was full and had to wait hour n half to get on it due to earlier overbooking which was shit actually as I had 500km to do otherside - anyways still prefer that over any ferry mind
Me and a mate heading from rosslare to Cherbourg end of august. Back on 18th of September. My mate has a house in Spain so gonna use that as a base. Haven’t toured before so am looking forward to it. But worried about riding on wrong side of road . Yeah had to book a cabin
I've used what I call a WTF sticker. Bought a sheet of small bright fluro dots from a stationary store years ago for marking photographic kit to indentify my gear when leaving hire studios. Still have loads left. Place a bright orange sticker on right side of sat nav on outbound ferry/chunnel, right in my line of sight. Still never fails to grab my attention when I get on the bike causing a WTF moment to remind you. On the homeward crossing it gets replaced with a green one on the left that stays on for a few days. The back to UK sticker with my welcome home rain radar. Have a great tour, nothing quite like it, you'll have a great time and be loosely planning the next one on the ferry home.
I came over to France on the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry on 2nd June. There were only about 20 cars on it and a handful of lorries. Cabins were unavailable, but there was more than enough space to keep socially distanced. Face coverings were required. When I eventually return to the U.K. I’ll probably go via the same route.
