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Posted

Technically I'm one but I'm also sure we didn't disrespect Belgian neutrality in 71.

 

Point.

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Posted

 

Got a reply from Canadian Battlefield Tours. See below:

 

Hello Allan,

 

Thanks for the enquiry. The cost of a 3 day tour, which includes 4 guests is 2,250.00. for 8 guests, cost is 3,600.00.

Hope this helps in your decision making.

 

Cheers,

 

Gary

 

Based on these prices, Im thinking that self-guided would be a better option and give us more flexibility.

 

It could be a good price if it includes lodgings, transport, and meals.

 

 

Unfortunately, that price covers ground transportation and the guide only.

Posted

Right now this is the confirmed list from this thread. Allan would you mind adding the itinerary and attendees to the initial post?

 

Ken Estes
Allan Wotherspoon
Leo Niehorster
Sunday
Markus Becker
I'm fine with self guided tours, I even found a nifty little android app for the Somme and points north that has opening hours, basic facilities notes and gps coordinates for the major points of interest.
Posted

St Julien Memorial, Menin Gate, Sanctuary Wood Museum, Canadian Hill 62 Memorial, Flanders Fields Museum and the Canadian Passchendale Memorial are all within a 20 min drive of Ypres.

 

The Wellington Quarry, Vimy Ridge Memorial and the Beaumont Hamel Memorial are about 1.5 hours drive away, but the first 2 are within 20 mins of each other with Beaumont Hamel being 45 mins away.

 

This site has a suggested itinerary for a self driving tour of the Somme battlefields: http://www.somme-battlefields.com/

Posted

I've had a look at the Somme Battlefields itinerary and I've come up with an A list and a B list. There is a lot on the list but many of the stops look to be fairly short (worth less than 30 mins).

 

A list:

 

Péronne Historial, Museum of the Great War - Peronne
South African Museum and Memorial of Longueval - Longueval
The Pozières British Cemetery and Memorial & The Tank Memorial - Pozieres
Thiepval: Memorial, Visitor Centre & Museum - Thiepval
Newfoundland Memorial - Beaumont Hamel
Lochnagar Crater - La Boisselle
Somme 1916 Museum - Albert
The Franco-Australian Museum - Villers-Bretonneux

 

B List:

 

“Souvenir Français” Chapel of Remembrance - Rancourt
Little Train of the Upper Somme - Froissy

Posted (edited)

Looking at your planning so far, you intend to cover WW1 in Flanders, moving then down to Normandy to cover WW2 sites. What about the important WW2 sites in the Pas de Calais (or are you saving those for a subsequent I & i?!)

Edited by Dave Clark
Posted (edited)

My focus for the trip was WW1 and a swing by the tank museum, the Normandy stuff fell under the well it's kind of on the way heading. That said I have no trouble with generating an extended wish list of sites to see and then picking and choosing from them as time and proximity allow. That is actually my preferred method of sightseeing, so I'm comfortable with making each day's schedule up the night before in the bar. We can even split up into groups if people want see other things. So long as we can meet up at the end of the day and share a beverage or three I think it will work out fine. Also, we have to keep in mind that no schedule survives contact with a group of Tanknetters intact. We are as a rule a very friendly and intelligent group of people but while we can each define the words making up the phrases "quick stop", "hurry up", or "museum closing" they do not seem to hold any meaning for us as a group.

Edited by Harold Jones
Posted

My focus for the trip was WW1 and a swing by the tank museum, the Normandy stuff fell under the well it's kind of on the way heading. That said I have no trouble with generating an extended wish list of sites to see and then picking and choosing from them as time and proximity allow. That is actually my preferred method of sightseeing, so I'm comfortable with making each day's schedule up the night before in the bar. We can even split up into groups if people want see other things. So long as we can meet up at the end of the day and share a beverage or three I think it will work out fine. Also, we have to keep in mind that no schedule survives contact with a group of Tanknetters intact. We are as a rule a very friendly and intelligent group of people but while we can each define the words making up the phrases "quick stop", "hurry up", or "museum closing" they do not seem to hold any meaning for us as a group.

 

Yup. That;'s us...

Posted

Looking at your planning so far, you intend to cover WW1 in Flanders, moving then down to Normandy to cover WW2 sites. What about the important WW2 sites in the Pas de Calais (or are you saving those for a subsequent I & i?!)

 

You thinking of joining us Dave?

Posted

I last visited any of these sites back in 1997-2000, so I'd love to join you all.

Posted

I could provide a car iff we don't expect to use it actually in Paris - that's insane. However, it's the same BMW I had at the Bovington I&I so won't take 4 with 2 weeks luggage unless people are really good at packing light.

 

Not to mention it's euro 4 diesel, somight be banned in Paris anyway?

Posted

We wont need a car in Paris, but we will need one (or 2) for the rest of the trip.

I agree that attempting to drive in Paris is insanity.

Posted

Is Paris a good base for the WW1 phase? How long to get out and back each day?

Posted

Funny you should mention that. In an offline discussion Allen, Sunday and I came to the conclusion that it is not if we plan on doing mostly Flanders. I think unless there are major objections the tweaked schedule is going to be

 

Paris 13-17th with the trip to Samaur on the 16th, it's around 3 hours each way but seems to be a better fit on a Saturday. On the morning of the 17th proceed to Ypres and spend two nights there and then on to Caen/Normandy returning to Paris on the 23rd.

Posted

Harold, if we are doing Samur on the 16th, I wonder if we should add an extra day in Ypres or do we want 3 full days for Normandy and the naval museum at Cherbourg?

Posted

But the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg has an SSBN that is open to the public. They even let Americans on board!

 

Its a 90 min drive from Caen and we could combine it with a visit to one of the US beaches (Utah?) or Bayeux to see the tapestries.

Posted

I think we can make Cherbourg visit an optional trip for those who are interested in the sub. People aren't can stick around Caen or go off to some other destination

Posted (edited)

Sounds like mapitus to me. The 90 min drive Caen-Cherbourg remains fantasy, particularly if you count movement inside the cities, the construction usually going on those roads and so forth. Stopping at Utah would amount to a day itself if you wanted to do more than stand in the sand. The museum physically located on the beach is quite interesting in itself. There are also significant coastal defense sites [photo added], including the 8-inch battery that sank a USN DD [photo added].

 

 

csNZMo.jpg

 

5Osmth.jpg

Edited by Ken Estes
Posted

The submarine isnt on my must do list. If we can fit it in great. If not Im fine with that too.

Posted

 

Paris 13-17th with the trip to Samaur on the 16th, it's around 3 hours each way but seems to be a better fit on a Saturday. On the morning of the 17th proceed to Ypres and spend two nights there and then on to Caen/Normandy returning to Paris on the 23rd.

Six hours on the road in one day.

 

How about Paris first, then go to Samaur. Stay over night and drive to Normandy the next morning? From there its onwards to Ypres.

Posted

6 hours one day isn't terrible. Don't want that much every day but once or twice in a week isn't a big deal. I also don't want to play the hotel change game every day. Getting a herd of tank netters moving is enough of a challenge without adding more than a few hotel changes. Also, for me the WW1 sites have priority so if I have to chop anything out of the schedule it is coming off the Normandy end.

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