 Poster: A snowHead
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| Oleski wrote: |
| M20 was ok, despite 50 mph limit, train delayed only by 15 minutes. Otherwise an uneventful trip. We are 1.5h hours away from Troyes where we stop for the night |
Good to hear. On our way to tunnel as we speak.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Layne wrote: |
| Oleski wrote: |
| M20 was ok, despite 50 mph limit, train delayed only by 15 minutes. Otherwise an uneventful trip. We are 1.5h hours away from Troyes where we stop for the night |
Good to hear. On our way to tunnel as we speak. |
Just driven past and no issues at J11a
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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?
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South from Calais in heavy rain
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| tangowaggon wrote: |
| NickYoung wrote: |
| tangowaggon wrote: |
| A long time away yet, but I'm driving out early April in my >2m high van so tolls are doubled and I'll be taking the non toll route. |
The vehicle classification changes at 3m not 2m. The toll "bipper" is the same as a car. |
Calais to Val Thorens
Toll guru says €97.40 for a car, €222.40 for my 2.2m high/3t van |
When I tried doing this on Toll Guru it was giving class 3 prices for a van and class 1 prices for a car with a caravan when both should be class 2, for some reason it’s not showing the correct prices.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Does anyone know what's the difference between gazole and diesel? Internet is full of contradictory into, some say it's the same thing, others don't
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As far as I’m aware, Gazole is diesel. Always used it when in France and not had an issue yet… or have I been lucky?
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So why do they have both options at the petrol stations? I've just been feeling up and chose diesel just to be safe
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Gazole at stations is just diesel you will find B7 and B10
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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.
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Massive queue at A432 peage. We dodged it by taking a39/a42
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Well can I join in? Not driving as such but my buss has just routed through annecy 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bowling along the A40 towards Sallanches in the sun. No hold ups since the M25 yesterday. Lot easier than same journey last year at the same time.
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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.
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it's winter!
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Anyone heading for La Plagne/Val Despair/Tignes/ La Rosiere/Ste Foy/ Super U/ Bourg St Maurice/ Les Arcs the N90 is currently flowing well past Aime and if coming up to La Plagne there is black Tarmac all the way to Plagne Villages (couldn't see the road to Bellecote) and the sun is shining BUT the clouds are gathering ready to deliver tonights and tomorrows substantial dump of snow. Temperature in Montalbert 1400 is currently a balmy -2c it was -6c this morning and bl00dy cold skiing! The snowmakers have been running all day - perhaps they dont believe the forecast natural snowfall....
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You know it makes sense.
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No traffic problems but we - and lots of others - needed chains (on summer tyres on a van) past Notre Dame de Bellecombe. The photo above is a French driver - some cars coming down were chained as well. We were losing traction, snow on road in shady spots. Not steep, either. Winter tyres would have been ok. It was a mercifully easy transfer day. Bright, excellent Vis, snow on the trees. Picture postcard arrival.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| NickYoung wrote: |
From Emovis - "The toll tag lane equipment automatically detects the vehicle class based on its height and weight as you pass through. This ensures that you are charged the correct toll rate for the vehicle you are using, whether it is a Class 1 or Class 2 vehicle."
So same tag, but different billing. |
Absolutely correct - I've used the same tag with motorcycle, solo car and car towing caravan, always charged according to the rate applicable to the vehicle concerned. Occasionally pondered upon how the automated system establishes what type of vehicle it's charging...
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Dougie wrote: |
| As far as I’m aware, Gazole is diesel. Always used it when in France and not had an issue yet… or have I been lucky? |
I've always believed the terms to be interchangeable - I've always used whatever is available, typically from supermarket filling stations.
By choice (if there is one) I tend to use B7 in that my understanding is bio-diesel is more susceptible to water absorption (so 7% is preferred to 10% bio) but I may be totally misinformed.
Either way, I try to remember to throw in some Redex injector cleaner at each refill which seems to keep things running sweeter.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Driving home for Christmas!  Very windy already near Dijon and have a roofbox so feeling it more. Red shipping forecast for the channel!
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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?
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| Mick_Br wrote: |
| Dougie wrote: |
| As far as I’m aware, Gazole is diesel. Always used it when in France and not had an issue yet… or have I been lucky? |
I've always believed the terms to be interchangeable - I've always used whatever is available, typically from supermarket filling stations.
By choice (if there is one) I tend to use B7 in that my understanding is bio-diesel is more susceptible to water absorption (so 7% is preferred to 10% bio) but I may be totally misinformed.
Either way, I try to remember to throw in some Redex injector cleaner at each refill which seems to keep things running sweeter. |
That’s really interesting. I never gave it a second thought, presuming it was merely a translation. And I’ll look into this injector cleaner as well. Thanks for this.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Is one a "super" diesel? My previous cars were very ordinary and I always used the cheapest.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Is one a "super" diesel? My previous cars were very ordinary and I always used the cheapest. |
Most, maybe all, the major oil companies market a "super" diesel / gazole under whatever trademarked label - eg BP's "ultimate diesel", etc - which supposedly contains all manner of additives to make it burn cleaner, lubricate stuff, not foul the particulate filter, etc., etc. Whether the claimed benefits are worth the extra cost is open to debate.
The B7 designation references "standard" quality diesel / gazole comprising 7% bio diesel (palm oil, rapeseed oil and the like) which will be fine in the majority of mass produced vehicles. I might be confusing this with the problem of higher ethanol petrol - "standard" marked E5 and the higher concentration marked E10
B10 comprises 10% bio diesel and might not be suitable for some vehicles - I'm not absolutely sure but I think it's due to some fuel system seals being susceptible to degradation if given frequent exposure to the higher concentration of bio diesel. I'd check with the vehicle manufacturer guidance before using B10 on a regular basis.
Another possible issue with the higher concentration of bio diesel may be the potential for it to more readily absorb water which can lead (in the longer term) to corrosion and the development of "diesel bug" - maybe more a marine environment issue than for road use.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Car all prepped and packed. Glad I practised the snow chains - totally forgot how to install them. Leaving at 3:30am tomorrow for an 7:30am tunnnel crossing. Hopefully from Calais it will be a lesuirly drive to Beaune for an overnight stop. Up early Saturday morning and hopefully arriving in L2A early afternoon.
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After the heavy snow last week we spend an hour last night digging the car out. There was over half a metre covering it. The plan was to do this before any thaw/refreeze made it really hard work. Hopefully this will make the packup and departure tomorrow night much easier. The roads to Les Arcs are currently clear and no snow is forecast for at least a couple days.
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@johnE, did you take the shovel with you? Thought about buying one but I'm hopeful that the chalet we are renting should have one lying around.
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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.
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Leaving North Wales tommorow afternoon and driving straight through to Val T. 10 strong crew.
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@Boarderfarce, yes. We learnt our lesson a few years ago. It seems a serious dig out once in every 3 years. We use a small aluminium shovel intended for mountaineering. It is good for shifting that ice ridge left by snow ploughs where plastic ones fail. But they do take more time shifting massive amounts of snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Long delays at Le Shuttle sadly. Still, heading skiing so it’s not all bad
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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.
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Has anyone taken the ferry rather than the tunnel this season and are there similar delays/queues? Hearing a lot about it this year and wonder if the ferry is a better option?!
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Looking out of the apartment window I see lots of people arriving and leaving. We’ll leave this evening and spend a few days with a friend near Grenoble.
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You know it makes sense.
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For anyone using Le Shuttle, they are down to one tunnel as a train broke down mid way through. Everyone seemed. Wry cheery and were about to hit France. Chambéry tonight, slopes in la plagne at lunch tomorrow
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Yes it’s delayed….. a PITA
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Poster: A snowHead
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Was supposed to 8.18….. just got on train for 10.32 departure….. apparently
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes it’s delayed….. a PITA
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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?
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We're in the queue before check-in and have been stationary for half an hour. No lorries coming in now, the M20 queue is 2km to the booths on gmaps 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just left …… 2 hour Friday not ideal ahead of driving straight to resort but hey ho.
Apparently a Eurostar broke down and stuck in the tunnel causing the issues. Been removed but knock on effect still a long way from being cleared
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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1.5 hours check In delays and 3 hours for trains……
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sorry to hear a few of you have been delayed by the tunnel. We crossed at 6am. It was busy but all running well. I feel slightly better about our 4am alarm now!
Just stopped for lunch past Troyes. Roads are busy but running well. Beautiful sunshine helps!
Chambery tonight then Les Arcs tomorrow morning.
Have a safe journey everyone!
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Still v long delays at tunnel.... we have flexiplus but still estimate we'll cross 4 hours later than planned.
Any suggestions for hotel chains where we can book v late? Doubt we'll make our pre planned stop near Chambery now unfortunately.
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| swoafs wrote: |
Still v long delays at tunnel.... we have flexiplus but still estimate we'll cross 4 hours later than planned.
Any suggestions for hotel chains where we can book v late? Doubt we'll make our pre planned stop near Chambery now unfortunately. |
Depends on how far you want to drive and how many of you there are but &B Hotels at Troyes Barbery still have availability for this evening - they are basic rooms but functional and you can self check in if you have a late arrival.
https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/search
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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.
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| swoafs wrote: |
Still v long delays at tunnel.... we have flexiplus but still estimate we'll cross 4 hours later than planned.
Any suggestions for hotel chains where we can book v late? Doubt we'll make our pre planned stop near Chambery now unfortunately. |
B&B Hotels typically. They usually also include cancellation up to 7pm of day of arrival (if you book flexible)
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We're just about to board. 4 hours late.
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FAQ
