Typical, scheduled to sail out to Cherbourg Friday for a week of touring on DVT and the French throw their dummies out the pram as they do and petrol stations are running out of fuel due to the refinery strikes Grrrrrrr
Don't let a good news story get in the way of the truth. I was in our small town this morning and there was no more traffic at the local supermarket fuel pumps than there normally is. I would suggest that the BBC has found a few petrol stations near Paris that have shortages and filmed there, what would be the point in filming in the rest of France if there were no problems? Do people in the UK not fight for their rights and strike?
I'm off to Provence on Saturday and have just spoke with my sister-in-law who lives just outside Paris, they've been rationed to 20 ltrs per visit to forecourts with long queues. Her parents are driving up from South West France and have struggled to get fuel. A mate was on Facebook last night saying he was running on fumes and having to wait ages to get fuel on his way to Calais from Spain. So obviously its not just Paris thats short. That said the web is saying that Police have broken up the protests and tankers are getting out of some depots now. With regards to the BBC letting the truth get in the way of a story, its not been on the BBC as far as I've noticed, they are hardly likely to show anything that can put europe in a bad light are they, seeing as their position on Brexit has been made perfectly clear.
No idea how long it will last but I doubt that it will affect the more rural areas. If you tend to refuel on the motorways or in big towns then expect problems, but in the countryside there will be fuel. Visitors should refuel at the supermarkets anyway as there is a huge price difference between them and motorways or even "normal" petrol stations. The supermarket fuel stops have a much quicker turn over of fuel than anywhere else so not only cheaper but fresher too. I would expect that once the stories have made a big splash on the news channels, then any problems will dissipate quickly afterwards. Hard for me to see what is happening in Normandy as that is 500 miles north of here and I don't usually go to the cold north! Anyone down this way (near Perigueux, Dordogne) is welcome to my landline phone number in case they need assistance, just send me a PM for it.
I am over on the 19th so hoping to fuel up in the UK before we leave and then head North to Belgium en route to Norway thus negating the need to try and get fuel in France either on the way out or the way back a couple of weeks later
Just got this message from a mate who's just got home today (I think) from Spain but travelling through France on his bike. I would defiantly take cans mate! All the orange points on the map that your Mrs put up there is no fuel at all, We only managed the last 2 tanks by fluke! Nantes was the furthest one we fueled up, but run out just after us, out last fuel up they just shut it but we blagged them to have a couple litres each just to get us to the ferry port! Theres a warning on the RAC website as well re ensuring you have enough fuel to get to your destination.
I expect that it will all be over by next week. People do protest here in France but they are aware that it is not worth pissing off other citizens as that does your cause no good. As I said in an earlier post, the media will only show the worst, it would not make the news if they showed our local petrol station filling up cars. I'll bet that they hunted around for a station that had long queues and little fuel. My car is full of diesel because I filled up about a week ago. Not sure how much is in the Ducatis, but both BMWs are full and there is fuel in cans for the microlight in the hangar, so if it does get worse (and I don't expect it will) I have enough for me and will use it to help others if needed.
I had to go over to the other side of Perigueux today, in the car (30kms). On my way I passed about 12 petrol stations and two large supermarket petrol stations, there were no queues at any of them.
What basic human right? I 'deserve' more money so f*uck everyone else and hold them to ransom? welcome to 1973
Doesnt matter what its about. This is 2016, we are told the EU is all about democracy and negotiattion. Strikes are a thing of the past, and should stay there. If you don't like the conditions and pay, move jobs! Everyone has a choice. If its dangerous, there are EU and other laws to govern that. Just an excuse for lazy b'tards to get a few days off and make a fuss. And that includes the so-called caring junior doctors threatening the lives of us in the UK.
