from Calais to....

[mckahuna]

the first bank holiday in May I will be in Calais on saturday (noon). will have until monday afternoon to tour northern france. should I go east or west? coast or country? I've covered the coast down to Caen by car a couple of years ago and was not too impressed. any ideas?

[Johnny]

I have blasted both ways and it is all fairly dull. You are only a 3 hour blast from the Ardennes in South East Belgium

[northworthy]

Northern France is very dull coastal north east or south west from Calais. Blast down to the Ardenne as Johnny says.

-ooo0ooo-

Or bear east south east and head to the Mosel Valley region Luxembourg/German border region. Start in Diekirch (L) on the N19 towards Echternach. The road winds down the Sauer River which forms the border of L & D and turns into the N1D. Lovely deep valley road that will eventually swing south and into the Moselle/Mosel valley at Grevenmacher on the N10 Luxembourg. Across the river is Germany.

Here you have a choice of following the Moselle south through the rest of L on their N10 to the L / F border town of Schengen, or turn north and follow the now german "Mosel" into D and onwards to Trier on their B53 to Zell. At Zell the road changes number to the B49 and will take you all the way to Koblenz if you wish or have time.

This is a really good long weekend ride through glorious river valley scenery and through the wine growing banks of that famous river. Enjoy.

Getting There Fast
Take the toll motorway out of Calais A26/E17 to the St. Quentin Exit. Then take the N29/E44 to Guise and La Capelle. There take the N43/E44 to Hirson / Sedan / Longuyon. There take the N18 to Longwy F / L border. Then the N5 to Luxembourg Ring Road - go north and exit at the turn off for Mersch / Ettelbrück on the N7/E421. Turn off at Ett and its 5kms to Diekirch.

Have Fun

[Johnny]

I shall be there in June..counting the days

[northworthy]

Originally Posted by Johnny

I shall be there in June..counting the days

Where exactly pray tell me?? And I'll come and annoy you on a YELLOW ST4s

[andyrh]

Champagne

Reims area, which is in the Ardennes, which I did on my 900SS back in 2006.

Other than that you have to head south.

[stevel]

memory of that area is a fairly featureless industrial / agricultural landscape and nothing much to mention, but....take a look at some of the WW1 or WW2 memorials and sites, if that's your bag it's truly memorable, evn if not, there are some termendous bits of history that you won't forget in a hurry. Some of the Normandy area is lovely too

[jim shea]

Road to Deauville and Honfleur in Normandy not that good, but worth it when you get there and there are some nice roads in land of there..