 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
We are on the 22.0? That is still here. Maybe the 22.20. Flexi plus so skipped a huge queue. Thoughts out to snowheads on the way but stuck in the queue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Yeah tunnel much more as expected for half term now. 21:20 departure...just boarded. Oh well, at least we’ll get there!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 were due on 2206. Still just sat in queue no sign of boarding so going to be at least an hour late I guess. Website says half hour delay for unforeseen reason due to capacity issue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Long queue at Dover but still looking OK for 2320 crossing as planned
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
TBH anything up to an hour delay is no biggie. I've had similar at Christmas before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Arrived at Dover, suspicious that the system didn't recognise the number plate. Then told that I had booked Calais-Dover this weekend and Dover-Calais next weekend!
What a tool!
Nice people at P&O swapped the booking and had us on the next boat. Quite a relief.
Next step 9hrs to Sainte Foy. Traffic permitting.
Safe trip everyone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Lemond, I have always found ferries been helpful, couple of years ago turned up at Dover, checked in, between check in and assembly area diesel turbo blew, smoke everywhere. DFDS swapped booking to next day with another car without any fuss or hassle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stopped for a nap near Troyes. Amazed how many cars driving south at this time
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Happy travels all. We are enroute to Tignes having crossed over Dover/Calais yesterday (friday) 6.40 am and stopped over Just beyond Lyon last night. Early start this morning to avoid the mountain congestion. Catching up on other Snowhead threads- reading tales of despairing families with cancelled flights due to Storm Dennis and ski lift operator strikes on the slopes. Looks for an interesting start to the holiday...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Docking at Caen. A bit of rock and roll in the channel but nothing too significant. Off on the road trip. Best wishes to those looking at flight delays
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I've been looking at the tyres of us Brits (bit on the sad side, granted). And I'm pretty sure the vast majority are on summer tyres have I got this law completely wrong or do people not know or care? I thought winter/all season snowflake 3pmsf were mandatory. You can see a winter tyre a mile off so I'm sure I'm not wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Sunrise any minute now and hitting the Lyon ring road. Not long until we see the mountains and it will all seem worthwhile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@James77, not mandatory in France, take a look at the Paris and Dutch cars most of them will be on summers as well
See zillions of other threads for more indo
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Any sign of disruption en route from the Gilet Jaune?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
We’re on summer tyres. Just arrived in Tignes, took a wrong turn and had to put the socks on to get us out of trouble on to ice free road. First use and very easy to use!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| James77 wrote: |
| I've been looking at the tyres of us Brits (bit on the sad side, granted). And I'm pretty sure the vast majority are on summer tyres have I got this law completely wrong or do people not know or care? I thought winter/all season snowflake 3pmsf were mandatory. You can see a winter tyre a mile off so I'm sure I'm not wrong. |
We are currently on the eurotunnel and you are correct. Loads of British cars on summer tyres.
There are brand new 80k suvs, range rovers etd in the carriages behind us. You would think that if they can afford a car like that that they could afford to buy some suitable tyres !
I have a very old 4wd audi estate with winter tyres. Never need chains even though I have some.
Most european cars seem better equipped.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Hooning (lightly) across the flatlands towards Troyes. Traffic looking OK at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@jw83113, many (most?) will be supplied with all season tyres. Winter tyres not necessary really.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I suspect that drivers are deliberately leaving summer tyres on in order to encourage unexpected dumps during their stay - using the 'leave the umbrella at home' principle.
At the moment, it will be difficult to find a resort car park above the current snow line... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Well this is fun reading how everyone is getting on. 
After a week with our 2 pre-schoolers last week this is useful research for the future. We just had to contend with Storm Ciara, landing in 48knot winds only to be stuck on the runway at Southampton as you cant attach stairs in over 40knot wind apparently.
Driving sounds like a great call this year.
Hoping the traffic stays light for everyone. And good skiing
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
6 miles of standing traffic nr Troyes, taking overland detour on D619
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drove straight through from the the 10:20pm train, via Dijon and Annecy, now past Albertville standing in traffic. No other British numberplates here, looks like we are ahead of the game!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Left Moutiers 8am this morning, small queue going through the tunnels and a quick shimmy through BSM round the back of the station and all good.
Now in Tignes, looks like the strike petered out about 10ish, main lifts out of VC seem to be operating with people on.
Safe travels everyone.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sat 15-02-20 10:55; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Does the Easter drive down have the same issues, or does it tend to be quieter?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usually much quieter
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Drive ok so far(touch wood) 20 mins delay a26 to A5 junction.
We overnighted in Reims and an 8am start. Hopefully not too bad into geneva
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Slow off ferry at Caen through immigration - french present for us brexiting..?
But pleased with choice of Le Mans-Tours route since. v quiet fast and coming towards Bourges to start heading east already.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We appear to have lost 80 mins on our sat nav etc despite only stopping for 30 mins so that would suggest everywhere south of Dijon isn't flowing that well. Don't imagine this fog is helping too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
I've been looking at the tyres of us Brits (bit on the sad side, granted). And I'm pretty sure the vast majority are on summer tyres have I got this law completely wrong or do people not know or care? I thought winter/all season snowflake 3pmsf were mandatory.
|
Winter tyres are certainly not mandatory in France. I do not think you can even get specialist summer tyres in the UK. I suspect they are all on standard tyres.
| Quote: |
Does the Easter drive down have the same issues, or does it tend to be quieter?
|
There tends to be much more Belgian traffic on the road, particularly overnight Good Friday. Judging by the number of bicycles and boats on trailors a lot of it is heading south to the med.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Another winter tyre thread? My new (less than 80k so that’s ok!) X5 is on summers as I’ve got fancy chains I can fit. Have driven on winters on only needed the once, when I needed chains as well. Thought better of asking wife to ok a new set of wheels and tyres on top of the car.
Right. 13.00 in Bourg and it’s been ok. Sattnav took us on a detour so we avoided Chambéry and got stuck on the run up to Moutiers. Fairly free from there. It doesn’t feel *that* bad so we’ve stopped in MacDonalds for a break. Only 14 miles to Val d’I. Amazed others made it before 9am.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I’m glad I’m on all season tyres coz it’s 15° in the sun of the valley in Samoens right now and there is not a flake of snow below 1100metres. This is nuts for February.
Anyway drive down was good overnight arrived in Samoens for brekky at 0900 but I’m super tired now. As we arrived I proclaimed I’m never doing the overnight straight through ever again......but I said that last time too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Made it, N90 was a nightmare and gendarmes not letting any one take the back roads
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
N90 is still painfully slow.
Speeds up slightly after Moutier but a 3 car smash at the entrance to the Saix tunnel slows everything down again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
A40 not very pleasant but we're getting there slowly. Sat nav is showing more traffic to Annemasse and then we should be ok to Les Contamines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Yep, confirm N90 solid from Albertville. Gendarmes wise to Waze workarounds. We are just approaching Moutiers. Just have to sit, enjoy the sun and scenery. Could be at home with Dirty Den....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Arlberg is complete gridlock this afternoon, it's taken over 2 hours from Feldkirch so far and we're still a way to go to the tunnel. Any idea is there a problem or is this normal? Completely stationary for 10 mins at a time, then edge forward 400m before coming to a standstill again
Found out when we got to the tunnel that they were running a "convoy" system - basically letting a batch of cars enter the tunnel every 10 mins and then holding the queue until (I guess) that batch were through the far end. Felt like it was limiting capacity to maybe 600-800 vehicles per hour. When half of Holland is trying to get through, causes some big tailbacks! Took 3 hr 15 from Bregenz to Landeck, I've done that in just over an hour at other times.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sat 15-02-20 21:33; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outside of SH, there is still very little information available on winter tyres to general public and they don’t seem to be marketed as much by Quick Fit etc
I never knew they existed before SH
Easter is far easier drive down, still busy on main routes but a lot keep heading south for the beach. Run to Albertville etc is fine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My son in law, in a coach from Hove to Zell am See, on a school trip, has just arrived after a 24 hour journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Hey all. Just sat here in the apartment smashing the Cote du Rhône in Val Dizzle.
The flexiplus meant we got a very early crossing at 16:20 - almost too early! Killed some time in Reims with dinner and then a quick pit stop nap near Lyon meant we arrived at 06:45. Breakfast in the boulangerie and then sorted the kids ski hire. Managed to be on the slopes by 9am. Very easy run for us; not to gloat, but it went well. Still think this is the way to go over flying, not least with storm Dennis.
Have a good week all! VERY spring like conditions here but snow good!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First queue of the day. Stuck in long line v slow moving downhill into the border crossing at vallorbe
Had enough now and just want to be there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
