tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644918126688721788.post837298124201571293..comments2024-03-28T07:13:10.797+00:00Comments on TONE DEAF: Way to goRoderick Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644918126688721788.post-61216028414031917462017-07-24T07:22:58.222+01:002017-07-24T07:22:58.222+01:00Avus: So skirting Paris is nothing. It wouldn'...Avus: So skirting Paris is nothing. It wouldn't be if we were aiming for Bordeaux or Lyons, but I invite you to check where Orléans is relative to Paris, and Orléans is where we pick up the motorway that takes us directly to the Massif Central and thence to Béziers.<br /><br />We've had almost a decade's experience in trying to resolve this conundrum. Skirting (reliably) on the east adds about fifty or sixty miles to the day's run; skirting unreliably to the east (ie, using the motorways that penetrate the eastern suburbs of Paris) and you share late Friday afternoon with a million Parisians. Skirting reliably on the west takes you through Rouen which at first sight seems crazily distant. It is the approved diversion but was screwed up for two years when one of Rouen's bridges was destroyed by a burning lorry. At present we are flirting with dual-carriageways closer to Paris; Rambouillet is the target and a satnav is absolutely vital.<br /><br />Ironically on the return it is possible to drive straight through Paris.<br /><br />Do you consider Cologne to be in northern Germany? During the last two Decembers we've done Christmas markets there. Here the bottleneck is Brussels and Google Maps shows roads throbbing with red (ie, heavy traffic). Fortunately, it's easy enough to pass by to the south.<br /><br />This Christmas we shall definitely be doing northern Germany since we're aiming for Hamburg. This will requite a different day/night strategy but our present smartphone/satnav combination should help, especially since roaming charges in mainland Europe have conveniently been dropped this very month. Besides, making use of modern technology is more adult and, let's face it, more fun than depending on blind faith.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6644918126688721788.post-59245331997485585362017-07-23T08:30:48.741+01:002017-07-23T08:30:48.741+01:00I wish you a happy holiday, RR. Skirting London an...I wish you a happy holiday, RR. Skirting London and Paris is nothing to beating the snarl up that is Amsterdam, but getting to northern Germany is not on your agenda!Avushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512540148378201058noreply@blogger.com