It's waaaay ahead but plans are afoot for the 9th HoECC Overseas Tour in 2020 - we have 7 or 8 signed up so far of a maximum of 12 possible.
Details are provisional but probable:
Date : Overnight ferry Portsmouth-St Malo Monday 15 June 2020, overnight ferry St Malo - Portsmouth arriving Friday 26 June 2020 - as cycle passengers, leaving cars parked at Portsmouth.
Locations: 3 x 3 night stops - somewhere N of La Rochelle, somewhere near Pornic, somewhere N of St Nazaire - that would give some variety for day-rides (6) + transit rides between locations + a couple of interesting optional sites/tours in St Nazaire (e.g. the U-boat pens and "les Chantiers" - that's the massive shipyard where they build the big cruise ships)
Transport: In 2019 for the Loire Valley we hired a van to transport the bikes, luggage and couple of the people - the remainder travelling by train - that worked. The other possibility is the bike van with 3 people + a 9 seater people carrier.
Rides: Day rides (sans luggage!) 40-60 miles depending on possible sights/places of interest. Normally a mid-morning coffee with a boulangerie raid for a picnic lunch - then beer stop mid-afternoon. Subject to locations there may be transit rides (or part-transit rides) from place to place.
Accommodation: Shared twin rooms or option for single. Normally demi-pension.
Money: We have the "brown purse" which is pre-loaded with an estimated, equal amount from everyone (it's actually graduated to a Euro cashcard + a modest amount in cash) - all communal expenses (drinks, coffees, wine with dinner, entry fees etc) are met from the brown purse. Pay for the hotel and any personal expenses yourself. The brown purse accounting keeps track and adjusts at the end of the trip.
Cost: When the numbers and more details are clear I can make an estimate (the group fares on the ferry and sharing vehicle hire etc impact)
I will need to be making the ferry bookings by mid/late October to assure cabins and hotels will need to be confirmed early in January. That means a deposit payable in October for the ferry and some minimal expenses - the balance of the ferry payable in April - the final balance to cover vehicle hire (and/or train fares) and loading the brown purse at the end of May.
So - if you have a flicker of interest or have any questions give me a shout.
Rob
