Proposed pre-reconnoitre route for LR`10

Making camp between the illegals?
I don't dare

cadarn wrote:

Making camp between the illegals?
I don't dare

If you pay extra, you can get a private cage...

Quote :

I'm wondering about thursday night at Sangatte?

I thought maybe the hotel we stopped in last year and then head east Friday morning. but same idea basically !

MMM, you'd better make sure you make it to Maastricht, It's really one of hour best cities to go out. very nice old towncenter with lot of bars

"How long does it take to get from Calais to Maastricht - Lenny speed ? Just wondering if we need to set out Thursday evening instead of Friday morning !"

I gather you're talking about this coming Thursday so at least you'll having a sporting chance of making it in time for Friday 10th September!

"you'd better make sure you make it to Maastricht, It's really one of our best cities to go out. very nice old towncenter with lot of bars"

You certainly have my attention, Kieran & James are already halfway there! Anything like Amsterdam?

Tom at Lenny speed it won't be going anywhere as we speak. Engine/ gearbox still need reattaching to each other. Tomorrow nights job - needs an extra pair of hands to help and all hands have been busy today ! Nothing like leaving it to the last minute eh !

Best I pop over then? You know what they say, "I friend in need ... is a pain in the arse!!!!"

I suppose if either Lenny or Flo are not going to be ready, I could always get the train back.

Now the silver RR's had a bit of TLC (Tender Loving Care - translation for the Dutchies!) it's working fine. Towed Dean's RR 70 miles from Ross-on-Wye to Welshpool no problem, even went the scenic route on B roads rather than the boring Ross-Leominster-Craven Arms-Welshpool A road. Great on the hills, an easy non-dramatic 50 mph on the flat, at times had to keep lifting off as it creeped towards 60 mph - naughty boy!

Tom Mc wrote:

"you'd better make sure you make it to Maastricht, It's really one of our best cities to go out. very nice old towncenter with lot of bars"

You certainly have my attention, Kieran & James are already halfway there! Anything like Amsterdam?

Not really like Amsterdam; people are more relaxed. Not as much red light distrct, just as much weed.

I'll be finding out for myself on the recee in June, could prove interesting.

'Will i try to find you a guide?

Well it can't hurt that's for sure; local knowledge is good! I need to find …

1. A camp site large enough for all of us.

2. Somewhere we can hold Scrutineering during Friday daytime.

3. Somewhere we can all get together on the Friday evening for a meal and a get-together.

4. A decent venue that I can use for Registration on Saturday morning, plus can accommodate all of our vehicles in a car park or open area for the start on Saturday.

5. An easy route heading South out of town, so the location of all the above is very important.

6. I also need to establish a relationship with the local authorities such as the Police to make certain I won’t be upsetting anyone.

7. I must find out where the local independent Land Rover / 4x4 / off-road garage is situated and go and introduce myself. The reasons are obvious!

8. Meeting up with the local off-road club would also be beneficial. Not only could they join us on Friday night for the pre-event party, but they will also be great contacts for any last-minute problems with the teams or their vehicles. Something always happens!!!

Of course, all this could be done by myself like I did in Calais previously, but as I say, local knowledge would be very good. Do you know of any English-speaking off-roaders in the area who could help?







... or are you just talking about finding me a guide for the Red Light district?

Indeed I ment a guide to see you through town
But we are working on the rest of your demands.
I wil copy this message to a friend of Henk.

Local 4x4: www.4x4limburg.nl
Dealer: www.de-uiver.nl (Laro)
garage: http://www.4x4servicevalkenburg.nl/ (all 4x4)

For scruteneering, what you'd like?
The same campsite as for the night, or a nice local bar? Probalby the same for dinner?
Registration; I am thinking off a trucker's place, would that be something?
Or rather something in the city?

cadarn wrote:

For scruteneering, what you'd like?
The same campsite as for the night, or a nice local bar? Probalby the same for dinner?
Registration; I am thinking off a trucker's place, would that be something?
Or rather something in the city?

Scruteneering: That sounds perfect.

Registration: This could be the same place as scrutineering, as long as there is a parking area big enough for the teams + spectators. A truck stop is a good idea, but ideally it needs to be near as possible to the camping - but not essential.

Independent 4x4 dealer: This guy is really into off-roading, he's even prepared vehicles for the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia - including a Suzuki SJ of what I can see, Rickyd will be well pleased. I must call in to meet them in June!

Thanks Jaap.

We could try to contact this guy. I know close by there is a campsite/hotel that's into Landrovers. Your starting place would be Valkenburg then. I can tell you it's one of the best places to be in the summer in Holland. Exist only out of hotels restaurants and bars. And one of the few official casino"s Altough we better try to miss that one

Definitely. The area looks really nice, real old Holland. Looking at Google maps, what's that big dome type building just to the west of Valkenburg? sports centre?

probably the welness ventre.
However if you look better you'll find an old castle(more ruin).
Its the only castle on a mountain ever build in Holland. real medieval
It's the Valkenburcht: Falconcasttle explains the townsname

Strewth, 4x4's and culture!

Those of you who were on the "Dutch Jolly" will know that I popped down to have a little reconnoitre of this year’s start line last Monday. My guide and chauffeur was Jaap, one half of our Dutch hosts from the Landy Prikkers team who entered Landy Rally 2009, who suggested a town located due East of my planned starting point of Maastricht.

His suggestion was Valkenburg, or rather Valkenburg aan de Geul to be precise as there is another Valkenburg elsewhere in Holland.

Well, what a pleasant surprise. It turned out to be a stylish tourist town comprising tons of bars, reasonably-priced food because of the competition provided by the many restaurants, a labyrinth of tunnels and caves under the hills – yes HILLS!!! – 16km of tunnels apparently for those who will be arriving pre-event, a campsite that is within walking distance of the bars for most folk (a steep hill – damn things – will make it impossible for some crews so we can drop them off early evening and collectively they can take book themselves a cab for the 3 minute ride back), plus easy access on the roads south via a route boasting loads of castles and lovely countryside. All in all an extremely different and interesting start.

Incidentally. I looked Valkenburg aan de Geul up on Wikipedia, I had to laugh:-

"The present aim of Valkenburg is to move from mass-tourism for which it was famous during the seventies and eighties (with camping sites full of youths building their own constructions of beer crates) towards the attraction of the more elaborated tourist, who exhibits a more quiet and relaxed behaviour."

That’s Kieran & James ruled out then!!!

Good call Jaap! Maastricht would have been okay, but Valkenburg aan de Geul will be fantastic.

Tom
Did you check out whether there are any decent hotels ?

Dirty Weekenders need somewhere to stop ! Especially as Derek is allergic to tents ! Or is it internet and take your pick ?

Good point. Didn't physically check out hotels as it happens, but we saw a couple of 3-star hotels right in the town centre (I even mentioned to Jaap that was handy as some would probably need a hotel) and being a tourist trap there must be loads more from 2-star upwards. Hotels definitely won't be a problem!

Yep, internet is the way to go.

So, it just gets better and better. Seems I won't be alone on the recee after all, far from it.

The intention now is to meet up with Wayne (Event Manager LR`10) somewhere in Northern France, then move on to Dusseldorf Airport where we'll be collecting Lee - better know as Captain Chaos to many Landy Ralliers (he's also the Deputy Event Manager LR`10) - then on to the start line in Valkenburg, Holland.

From here we'll be driving the entire 3,000 route creating "the best Road Book to date!" Well, that's the plan anyway. No seriously, the style and content of this year's Road Book will be completely different from previous years, this being brought about mainly by the input from the Dutch lads. With more Continental interest than ever before, the time has come to cut out my waffle (informative as it may be) and simplify the Road Book so everyone can follow it more easily. That said, compiling one is not as straightforward as one thinks ... eh Jaap?

It is the official's intention to make it VERY simple and easy this year - time will tell if we actually achieve our aims. With three Officials on the reconnoitre at least we stand a fighting chance.

Can we have the correct road numbers in France please ? Might just save divorces between Navigator and Driver !

Hi Tom,

If you have a spare evening left, you're more than welcome to stay overnight in Pernis. To have a nice chat and drink.
By the way, roadbook was oke, only one tiny mistake in Nieuwpoort. You maybe have to be used to the type. Distances however were too rough. New chance next year. Will try to get some lessons.

Not saying it was bad Jaap, it was certainly clearer than mine, but now you know that "You can't please all the people all the time". Who said that?

Thanks for the offer though. It would be lovely to "have a nice chat and drink", but we'll be governed by time as usual and I'm not sure we will be able to go via Penis. Still to finalise plans, so I will let you know nearer the time.

As for the "correct road numbers" Sylvia, do us a favour and write to the French Road Numbering Department and ask the idiots there to stop 'making it up as they go along' (that's my way of doing things), they are big enough and ugly enough to know better ... plus have the cash to implement a professional plan!

Yep, I too have had my fill of two or more road numbers on traffic direction signs, another number on maps, another on SatNavs, and yet another on roadside milestones. It sure is a nightmare.

Tom

you've got no chance even some of the roads have two or three numbers on the sign post and usually not the number you are looking for !

When do you set off for the recce ? I think we may be waving to each other on the Channel either that or you'll be joining Tim and his crew on the Help 4 heroes rally !!