Author Topic: Anyone been/going to France with the Petrol crisis? (Read 6278 times)

Buzz · « **on:** 24 May 2016, 12:12:39 pm »

I'm taking the bike down to watch the Tour de France in Mid July...getting very nervous if there's no petrol to be had.

Anyone doing the same or just come back?

markie_wales · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 May 2016, 12:21:23 pm »

It'll be sorted by then. Either the Gov will go in hard and forcefully remove them, compromise, they will lose what remaining public support they have, or they will want to go on their own summer Le Holi-bobs

Same as happened in the UK, what 10 - 15 years ago?

cheers

Markie

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 May 2016, 12:33:39 pm »

BigMac was there last week and had some fun getting home on Friday.

I am meant to be driving out there on Friday night and my son driving out on Sunday. I am getting very nervous. Its not just the fact I would be semi housebound by the lack of easily available fuel, its the prospect of the supermarkets running out of food and beer.
I don't really care if I get stuck over there for an extra few days or a week but my youngest will need to get back to school.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 May 2016, 12:36:00 pm »

If you look at this link, people are updating it with the details of garages that have/have not got fuel
http://www.ouest-france.fr/economie/emploi/loi-travail/penurie-le-point-sur-la-distribution-de-carburant-carte-interactive-4244784

Worryingly, the local one to my house is limiting purchases to €5 !!!!
Not too bad you think, but its a 8 mile trip each way to get to it so that's €2.50 gone just to get it.

Frosties · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 May 2016, 01:32:48 pm »

BB - can you not just drive out and then straight back in. Do that 10 times and you'll have a full tank

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 May 2016, 01:38:22 pm »

I'm headed for France on Friday $:\$

Got a hotel booked, but not far from the Belgian border, and can alter the route down to go through Belgium instead, so hopefully won't be affected by it apart from the route change - which is back to what I originally had planned anyway.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 May 2016, 01:54:34 pm »

Frosties - probably but that would waste a whole day with all the queuing.
I am hoping that, if I keep the speed down, I will arrive at the house with about half a tank to spare. More if I can fill up in the autoroute on the way down. That will keep me going for a while but may need to top the tank up every couple of days to ensure I can get home to the UK again.

Work laptop being packed before I go just in case I need to stay though

Just need to sit in the local bar all day to use their free wifi.

crickleymal · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 May 2016, 01:55:00 pm »

What petrol crisis?

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 May 2016, 02:45:44 pm »

Quote from: crickleymal on 24 May 2016, 01:55:00 pm

What petrol crisis?

This one:

http://www.thelocal.fr/20160524/fuel-crisis-one-fifth-of-french-petrol-stations-run-low

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 May 2016, 02:52:28 pm »

and here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36366912

mtread · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 May 2016, 09:17:33 pm »

Just come back through France today from Germany. It's getting quite difficult. We used the Peage which was OK but with queues. Mate used the N roads and tried 10 stations before filling up. Good tip to keep near the Belgian or other borders. As said it will be sorted soon, otherwise the teargas and batons will be out!

unfazed · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 May 2016, 11:10:47 pm »

Quote from: Hedgetrimmer on 24 May 2016, 01:38:22 pm

I'm headed for France on Friday $:\$

Got a hotel booked, but not far from the Belgian border, and can alter the route down to go through Belgium instead, so hopefully won't be affected by it apart from the route change - which is back to what I originally had planned anyway.

You sure picked a good time to try a trip to France

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 May 2016, 01:53:20 am »

Quote from: unfazed on 25 May 2016, 11:10:47 pm

Quote from: Hedgetrimmer on 24 May 2016, 01:38:22 pm
I'm headed for France on Friday $:\$

Got a hotel booked, but not far from the Belgian border, and can alter the route down to go through Belgium instead, so hopefully won't be affected by it apart from the route change - which is back to what I originally had planned anyway.

You sure picked a good time to try a trip to France

Yup

Well, it's not a problem for me and midden. We're entirely flexible on it, and our main first destination is Belgium anyway, it's just we have a hotel booked in Charleville-Meziere (cos it was cheap!

), which is near the Belgian border. Should be able to work around it.

unfazed · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 May 2016, 08:59:01 am »

Have a great time Nick and don't forget to post a few pictures.

Most important bit ride on the right pass on the left

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 May 2016, 09:03:21 am »

Mayenne is a bit far from the border with other countries so wont work for me.
I am still planning to go though even though the power station staff are joining the strikes.

bri h · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 May 2016, 09:58:29 am »

have a good trip Nick. stay away from the bocage mate there are a lot of hedges there.

locksmith · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 May 2016, 10:16:25 am »

Looks like its getting worse with the media getting stuck in now! Just as long queues at our gas stations around the ports !

Dont think I'd go at the moment, why complicate life?

On the one hand I admire the French for actually getting off their arses and standing up for what they believe in but on the other hand they do go over the top and fuck everybody off.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 May 2016, 10:47:44 am »

The autoroutes seem to be mainly OK for fuel at the moment. Will know more tonight though when I travel on them.
Fuel up in Ashford before the tunnel and I will have more than enough to get where I am going non-stop but will top up where I can so I can (possibly) get home again next week.

Bretty · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 May 2016, 06:25:35 pm »

I've been touring France most of this week. Every other garage is fine, some have a 3or4 car queue, some limit you to just 20ltrs. I've been from Roscoff to Marseille across into Italy. No dramas! I carry 2x1ltr emergency bottles and have only used them twice and didn't really need to, I just don't like waiting to run out. Garages in busy places (not much of France but in the busy towns or rush hour auto routes) seem to be the worst, garages in the middle of nowhere are generally shut.

I met some poor bloke on a buell on Tuesday reckoned he had ran out twice on the motorway, he'd just been given a litre by the police to get him to the services we were at.. but they had no fuel.

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 May 2016, 12:21:28 am »

Got fuel ok at the garage just off the Euroshuttle exit. Here in Charleville Meziere, have been told one garage takes card payment, another cash only, but both have fuel. We got here a bit late to check that, but will see in the morning. We've decided to play it safe and apart from this hotel booking, stay away from France - close enough to Belgium here for it not to be a problem, or so it seems thus far.

darrsi · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 May 2016, 06:40:53 am »

This post is winding me up.
They have some of the best looking women, some of the best countryside, some of the best booze, way better weather than us, yet they're continually fecking whinging and striking?

Fazerider · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 May 2016, 10:36:15 am »

Going off-topic, I have to say that's a great photo Bretty.

As for garages restricting fuel sales to a maximum of 20 litres, it always seems counter-productive as it provokes panic-buying... if they did the opposite, minimum sale €20 say, you'd lose most of the idiots queuing to squeeze another 4 litres into their 50 litre tanks.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 May 2016, 04:11:39 pm »

All the autoroute stations between Calais and Argentan were OK last night. No limits on what you could buy.
Speaking to the locals today, one local garage is dry, another had no petrol and a third had all fuels and no limits. This is on the border of Loire and Normandy so right in the heart of the areas that are meant to have no fuel.

oddfazerbod · « **Reply #23 on:** 30 May 2016, 07:38:39 pm »

Hi have just come back from Bergerac staying at my mother in laws in a small village called
champagne et fontaine all the local super markets off main roads IE back villages where not rationing fuel. no big fuel drums allowed. 5 litre fuel tins ok but speaking to my father in law the strike is starting to have the desired affect as people are starting to get a bit worried what will happen in the next few weeks .british news seems very quit on any broadcasts over strikes odd that as for getting fuel you should be ok on a bike take a can for emergences if you can.
oddfazerbod