If you had a few days in France....

[howyaboss]

what would you do?

I may be lucky enough to have a few days in France next week, getting in to Roscoff/Cherbourg and riding around for a few days, 3 max, before having to go home.

Big miles are not an issue for me, actually that's what I prefer.

Where would ye go and what would ye do?

Suggested routes, itiniary etc. would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Papa Lazarou]

Where are you?

[howyaboss]

Ireland.

Ferry goes from my hometown, Cork, straight to Roscoff. I'd be arriving on a Sunday morning at 7 am and would have 3 days of fun. Probably go home through the Chunnel and across Engerland to get home. I'd do this in one go.

[greench440]

Big miles? I'd head for the French Alps. Turn around when you get to Monte Carlo.

[Orson]

3 days   wow, that's a tight schedule.

Rather than burning the autoroute to get to southern France, I would prefer to relax and enjoy 3 leisurely days in Northern France. While the roads aren't as twisty, there are still nice parts in Brittany and Normandy.

The coastal headlands in the Finisterre region are scenic. Dinan, near St. Malo is a wonderfully preserved medeival town.

Normandy has plenty of D Day museums and le Mont St. Michel. Honfleur is a pretty seaport. South of Caen is a region called Suisse Normandie. The spousal unit will probably like the gardens at Claude Monet's home in Giverny.

Here is my trip report from Brittany & Normandy: France 2008

[FJR-UK]

Option 3.

Day 1. Lunch in Tours old town. Night in La Rochelle. Eat plateau du fruits de mer on the harbour.

Day 2. Lunch in Sarlat-la-Canéda. Eat foie gras. Ride through the Dordogne - nice roads. Night in Dijon. Buy some moutarde.

Day 3. Lunch in Metz. Choucroute Royale, if you have a big appetite. (You will, after that ride!) Night in the high town of Laon. This will leave you two hours short of the Chunnel, saddle sore, and still leave you with a pretty long ride home. You could stay in Bolougne or Calais, instead, but the old town of Laon is worth a visit.

[Papa Lazarou]

Another vote for Normandy.

[Mr.Black]

I'd leave 2 days early and go harass Corporal General Sister lazlo in GB.

[Papa Lazarou]

I'd leave 2 days early and go harass Corporal General Sister lazlo in GB.

Your bottom smells.

But, yes, the OP is welcome to use me as a start/ end point. The tunnel and ferries are close by.

[howyaboss]

Yes, Normandy's nice, as is the rest of Northern France, but I've done it a-plenty already. Besides, I really need to do lots and lots of miles.

Alps or Massiff Central is tempting. Would it be getting cold this time of the year in the Alps, I wonder.

FJR-UK, you're a man after my own heart. Food is always a priority and I'l be ferretting out the best fodder alright.

What I'm really looking for is fast sweeping roads to suit my Blackbird with a few mountains, good food and night life mixed in.

I'm not asking too much, am I?

[FJR-UK]

Three days and mountains? Hmmm. It's only 565 miles from Roscoff to Toulouse (Day 1). Day 2, ride the crest of the Pyrenees and back to Toulouse. Day 3, home and the red badge of courage.

Or, take a ferry from Belfast to Scotland.

[Gaw]

With only 3 days I’ll go to Normandie or Bretagne, you can ride a lot miles by road. If you decide Pyrennes you must ride a lot of miles by motorway (personally, I hate it) and in this month you could find snow in some pass…

[Papa Lazarou]

How about La Vendee?

http://www.angelabird.plus.com/intro.htm

[yotes65]

Here is my trip report from Brittany & Normandy: France 2008

Orson, I can never get tried of reading this ride report... when do you return to riding?

[Orson]

... when do you return to riding?

I'm beginning to wonder  

I was hoping for this year...now, I'm hoping by springtime I'll be patched up