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Christmas Drive Down 2019 - chit chat

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
+1 for A39. Haven't been via Lyon for around 20 years. Come off at Amberieu and cross-country to Chambery. As I get nearer to my dotage I've now taken to stopping overnight at the Ibis Budget at Amberieu - very basic but fine for me, and then 3 - 3.5 hours to Arc 1950 and an extra half day on the slopes. Generally quite empty although occasionally get caught behind a local doing 20 mph. Not this morning, though - I came up behind two cars in 50 miles. Also cheaper fuel stops than the autoroute.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
9 1/2 hours driving over 11 1/2 to get to our overnight stop. Picked up the girls from Grenoble about 10:30. Straight forward drive up to tignes apart from last bit from 1800 where decided to put on snow chains (thank god). Managed a couple of hours lapping free lifts before calling it a day. All in all pretty painless, which given weather conditions was pleasantly surprising.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Leaving at midday on the 20th, kids are both going to be ill that day but wife has to go into work until 12. Euro tunnel in the evening and then onto the Novotel in Reims Tinqueux. Early start on the 21st and then onto BSM aim to be there by mid afternoon. First day on the slopes is the Sunday. Grey VW T5 that will look lowered due to all the kids Christmas presents in the back.
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brovert wrote:
And we’re off. Left at 5 on the 8 ish euro tunnel hopefully pulling into our hotel just outside Grenoble sometime around 6 this evening. Anybody recommend a decent supermarche near Grenoble airport?


There was a supermarket just outside the airport entrance - but that was a couple of years ago now..
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Christmas getaway 2019: Where and when to avoid on roads and rail https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50807966
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Driving down to Tignes 27th December 2 car convoy. Taking kids for the first time ( 5 and 7) so hoping the weather and conditions are kind. Kids are kind of looking forward to it. Thank god for lessons at Hemel in the summer for the kids. White X3 with grey roof box. Stopping overnight in Macon.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Wrekingirl wrote:
@rainman, don't be deceived by the cunning marketing ploy of Premier Classe naming a hotel the opposite of what it actually is ! I will keep an eye out for you as we will probably be on the road at the same time.

What are people's favourite landmark on the way down? Mine is the sight of the "Big Chicken" on the junction near near Bourg en Bresse, because I know that means we are starting the last leg of the journey and the mountains will be appearing shortly.


The big chicken is Aire (service station) Poulet de Bresse - they serve a superb free range chicken (the last counter, so do not get tempted by the rest while cueing)
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
vegas007....probably see you on the road.

27th also, 7.20am tunnel 4 car convoy - also a White X3 but with 2 rooxboxes, stopping in Chambery overnight.
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we are travelling as a group of 5 families this time - 3 are driving down (independently, some with and some without overnight stop), 1 taking a ski train and 1 flying.

Will be tracking each other on google maps and actively chatting on whatsapp. Should be fun snowHead
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Looks like there's some weather moving in over the next week or so... Pack and practice those chains!

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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Richard_Sideways, do you practice fitting chains on normal tarmac and do you drive a short distance?
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Looks like there's some weather moving in over the next week or so... Pack and practice those chains!

I'm hoping the forecast is right (for Les Coches) with a calm Saturday daytime followed by a huge dump for the next 24 hours!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I drove to the park last weekend and practised fitting my chains on a muddy unpaved road.

Have to say RUD Centrax are incredibly easy to fit. Of course it was in daylight and no pressure, will see how it goes on a dark snowy night Toofy Grin
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Oleski wrote:
I drove to the park last weekend and practised fitting my chains on a muddy unpaved road.

Have to say RUD Centrax are incredibly easy to fit. Of course it was in daylight and no pressure, will see how it goes on a dark snowy night Toofy Grin

Those are similar to my spikes spiders and are a relative doddle to fit on the several occasions needed in the past!
No grovelling under wheel in filthy slush in the dark!
Safe journey
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Richard_Sideways, what website or app is that screenshot from?
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Just drove down started well getting on an earlier Tunnel train, straight forward drive, 12hours door to door as per usual.
Pretty unremarkable trip Very Happy Which is the best way!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
We had a great first part of our journey today. Booked on a 6:20pm crossing but managed to drive straight onto the 5:40pm. 3.15 hour drive from Calais to hotel Val Moret on quiet motorway. Now sharing a 1/2L caraf of house red with Mrs Ozboy and kids sound asleep. Hoping for early start to get ahead of the heavy rain.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
We drove down today, no issues except for some dense fog as we came towards Lac Leman from Vallorbe. We stayed overnight in Folkestone after a very late getaway from work. 9.50 train this morning, straight through to Reims, did some food shopping at the big E.Leclerc on the ring round, then headed down via Dijon, Dole, Poligny and Vallorbe.
Some disturbingly high temperatures on the car's external thermometer, 17.5 centigrade at one point in Switzerland, similar coming over the Jura. There still seems to be good snow cover at village level. No lifts open tomorrow so will be getting everything ready for the weekend. Merry Christmas everyone!!!
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Road closures on the A3 and M23 combined with appalling weather is giving us an ETA at the tunnel of 0820. But tricky when the tunnel we're booked on goes at 0820
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@BRi87, that's the Windy app (also windy.com).
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M20 round Aylesford was jammed this morning 7.30am) due to overrunning roadworks. Detour on the A20 worked well

Then at the Eurotunnel the lorries were backed up a blocked the lanes for cars. Took about 10 mins to clear.

Now on the 9.11 crossing and looking forward to the drive to Augsburg for our overnight stop
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Shocking conditions Colchester to Dartford Bridge. Accidents on A12 plus floods. Managed to detour via Maldon and A130/A13.

Tunnel also chaotic with lorries backed up the M20, some cars amongst them. Just stay in lane 2 until you clear the lorries. Managed to get on an earlier crossing so now waiting for 1108 to depart.

Next stop Reims area for (late) lunch.

Office party night before drive down not ideal. Coming round now!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
We are on the A42 heading to Ste Foy, in absolutely torrential rain, after a peaceful night at the Val Moret.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Jonpim wrote:
Ah, Alastair, we usually go A6 rather than A39.
Mostly habit. Agree A39 is usually quieter, but only 2 lanes: when lorries start passing each other then can really mess up progress.
So, why do you go your way: sell me the A39 over the A6 Smile


Purely in the interest of researching your question, I counted the number of Overtaking Lorry Holdups (OLHs) when returning to the UK yesterday. I recorded a total of 6 OLHs on the A39 of which I would classify 2 as insignificant (minor slowing of the car), 3 as moderate ("get on with it") and 1 as major where a significant queue formed. I noted that the satnav suggested I would add three minutes to the journey time by taking this route but as the distance is 5km further I suspect this was no more than an educated guess on the satnav's part. Apart from the 6 OLHs the road was nice and quiet - a pleasure to drive. And I saw the chicken.

I experienced far more OLHs on the road between Moutiers and Lyon and this presumably simply reflects the busier nature of the road.


Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Fri 20-12-19 17:30; edited 1 time in total
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The A6 is a nasty very busy road between the two major French urban conglomerations. And the A39 has the chicken.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
About to set off from the Peak District. Pik the kids up at the school gates and the Bad Gastein in one go hopefully.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Made it to Tignes Les Brev at 4pm this afternoon. Horrendous driving conditions through France this morning, having left Reims at 7am. Biggest scare was missing our 6:50 tunnel by 20 mins last night due to the M25, and then being told on arrival at The Chunnel that the next available slot was at 10:40! Thankfully, the woman at Cust Services told us to ignore that and get in the queue - made it on a 7:50 crossing and at the hotel for midnight. Chucking it down with rain here in Brev now, hopefully the freeze level drops later!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Despite horrendous queues on the M20, we made our 5.36 shuttle. For the first time ever drive straight from checkin onto the train! Next stop France, and the drive to Reims.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Been slow going round M25 but nothing catastrophic.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Made it to Toddington with any real delays. M25 next.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
We left Val Moret at 8 and took us about 5 hours to reach Chatel. Went cross-country off the A39 taking back roads through Jura and Mt D’Or. Wet and very windy all the way especially along the Burgundy stretch. Sounds like we dodged a bulletin by changing our crossing to yesterday evening instead of getting today 8:30am.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Left Fleet/Hampshire about 10:00 arrived at Reims about 17:00. Eurotunnel was ok although scary queue of lorries at M20, luckily I read their twitter which said drive past the queue and passengers access was busy but flowing. Took an earlier train. France motorway flowing normally. Tomorrow, Chamonix
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
We are now sitting in the apartment in arc1600 after a straightforward drive down. Well today was. Yesterday heavy traffic and rain meant over 4 hours to Ashford
After a night out in Ashford we set off at 6.45 this morning and got the 7.45 train. There was rain, strong headwind and heavy traffic all the way but we kept up a good pace all the way to chambery. The rush hour jam in the town was all the way back up the motorway to before the second tunnel. We lost about 45 minutes on that section alone
Any we arrived in 1600 at 8 pm about 13 hours after leaving Ashford. The headwind meant we only averaged 42 mpg all the way. Pretty poor.
The road up to the resort was perfectly clear and plenty of parking spaces.
Lots of people are now starting to arrive.
To all still travelling may I wish them Bon voyage


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 20-12-19 21:36; edited 3 times in total
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Channel tunnel. Seamless journey. Probably the best Christmas Friday in 10 years.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
In the apartment with a gass of wine and a few cheeses from the “zero gaspillage” fridge at Casino in Gray.

Weather lousy but otherwise straightforward journey down. Autoroute to Langres sud then cross country to Besancon (needed fuel, don’t like motorway prices and was fed up of motorway driving) which added 30 mins as per sat nav.

Arrived in Chatel at 22.30 having driven off the shuttle at 13.00 so 9.5 hours. Three stops and speed lower than usual due to the appalling weather but essentially plain sailing. Only excitement was black ice in Morgins village. Probably rain followed by lower temperature I think. No damage and only a minor slide.
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Did the first leg yesterday (Friday) from Buxton to Ashford Premier Inn.
Managed to get away from work very early in the day yesterday and beat the Friday mad traffic.
Caught up with Friends last night in Ashford.
Now it’s 5:15am and we are all checked-in and queuing at the tunnel for our 05:50am
Departure.
Hoping to be in Morzine for 17:30hrs to beat the heavy rain/snow that is forecast this evening.
The drive down is part of the holiday/adventure for me and yep, love seeing the Chicken.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
In the shuttle waiting for departure, M25 was empty , M20 a bit of traffic. Have been waved through from check in straight to departure
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Best wishes to all driving down today.
Most weather sites suggest not too bad today, but hairy tomorrow: the day we leave for UK Sad .
And this time (Alastair et al), we will definitely go with A39 Smile
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
It snowing now in les arcs and a quick look out the window shows it settling on the road already.
I'm glad I got here last night
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
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My daughter now south of Dijon on A39 having been diverted away from closed A6. Is this going to become the first Snowmageddon transfer day of the season,?
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