Ian Blurton Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Hi everyone,my sanity is maybe for others to question ! However through circumstances I am to travel from Boulogne to Mussidan (Dordogne) this Easter Monday. I have two pictures floating in my head. Firstly one with open roads, empty because most of France is spending quality time with their loved ones at home and secondly a gridlocked motorway for all 500+ miles I will be travelling because that is allegedly what happens on bank holidays.Has anyone any experience of such journeys on an Easter Monday? If so I would be pleased to hear about it. Secondly any suggestions for making this journey as stress free as possible, I'm all ears.ThanksIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Well you could get a beeper that automatically clocks up your motorway tolls and lets you go through the telepeage lane at the toll booths!You would have time to apply for one on their website and to receive it before your trip I should think. Mine came in less than a week after I applied.In theory you can sign up for one on the spot at the SANEF office just outside Boulogne (at the Hercquelingues (sp?) peage. But being Easter Monday, perhaps the office will be closed.I think a search in the Motoring forum would give you more detail.Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 http://www.bisonfute.equipement.gouv.fr/ Has forecasts for traffic congestion. Bonne Courage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 Oh hell, I'm doing exactly the same journey (between Mussidan and Dover) but in reverse. I'd never given it a thought. Thanks for the website.Ian, I'll wave at you somewhere around Tours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tresco Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 If it were me and the times fit, I would take a break, then do as much driving as I could between 12 and 4. After that, you're facing trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 That sounds like good advice, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Is Good Friday likely to have similar problems? Leaving Boulogne mid-day, heading for the Auvergne via Paris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 No, only the usual traffic.BE careful though, anywhere too close toParis on a Friday afternoon is fraught with the likelihood of hold ups.Good Friday is only recognised in rare areas of France, for nearly all regions, it is a normal working day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Not surprised but as well to be warned. Thanks Miki. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 Afterthought.By what time on a Friday pm should traffic be starting to tail off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted April 1, 2006 Share Posted April 1, 2006 In my experience, remembering that I now avoid Paris like the plagueand have done for a few years since moving up to Brittany, aftersuffering the Peripherique's worst bouchons, I would say after 20h00 orso. I hope someone will have an update on the times for the actualroute you were planning on taking.There are known routes to avoid the worst of the Peripherique and avoiding the well known bouchon areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert isaac Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 Don't even dream of going near Paris at any time. You can now take the motorway to Rouen, then pick up the new A28, takes you to Le Mans, then south to Tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Thanks Robert. Had just made a decision to take similar route (with the help of the Michelin online route finder but ignoring the suggested route when Boulogne was my starting point.)Interesting that all these services (including Mappy and Multimap) suggest the quickest route from Boulogne is via Paris. Really depends on when you hit the peripherique. Several times I have skipped round it without any problems or delays at all. On others it has been grid-lock.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Zoff Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Just returned to UK.Took Rouen route down but wished I had stuck with Paris. May have just been unlucky with holiday traffic on Rouen bypass and around Dreux but I reckon it cost me at least extra 2 hours, even allowing for possible gridlock in Paris. Definitely our slowest trip down so far.Journey down - Boulogne to Allier (Rouen route) over 8 1/4 hours in car (i.e. ignoring stops)Journey back (via Paris) 5 1/2 hours in car.Of course, if we had ended up motionless on Peripherique for 3 hours, I might have reached different conclusion.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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