sunday Posted March 24, 2018 Posted March 24, 2018 Technically I'm one but I'm also sure we didn't disrespect Belgian neutrality in 71. Point.
Allan W Posted March 24, 2018 Author Posted March 24, 2018 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.
Harold Jones Posted March 24, 2018 Posted March 24, 2018 Right now this is the confirmed list from this thread. Allan would you mind adding the itinerary and attendees to the initial post? Ken EstesAllan WotherspoonLeo NiehorsterSundayMarkus 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.
Allan W Posted March 25, 2018 Author Posted March 25, 2018 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/
Allan W Posted March 26, 2018 Author Posted March 26, 2018 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 - PeronneSouth African Museum and Memorial of Longueval - LonguevalThe Pozières British Cemetery and Memorial & The Tank Memorial - PozieresThiepval: Memorial, Visitor Centre & Museum - ThiepvalNewfoundland Memorial - Beaumont HamelLochnagar Crater - La BoisselleSomme 1916 Museum - AlbertThe Franco-Australian Museum - Villers-Bretonneux B List: “Souvenir Français” Chapel of Remembrance - RancourtLittle Train of the Upper Somme - Froissy
Dave Clark Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 (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 March 26, 2018 by Dave Clark
Harold Jones Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 (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 March 26, 2018 by Harold Jones
Allan W Posted March 27, 2018 Author Posted March 27, 2018 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...
Allan W Posted March 27, 2018 Author Posted March 27, 2018 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?
Allan W Posted March 27, 2018 Author Posted March 27, 2018 My only "must see" on this trip is Vimy. Everything else is negotiable...
DB Posted April 1, 2018 Posted April 1, 2018 I last visited any of these sites back in 1997-2000, so I'd love to join you all.
Allan W Posted April 1, 2018 Author Posted April 1, 2018 You are welcome to join us. The more the merrier!
DB Posted April 3, 2018 Posted April 3, 2018 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?
Allan W Posted April 3, 2018 Author Posted April 3, 2018 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.
DB Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 Is Paris a good base for the WW1 phase? How long to get out and back each day?
Harold Jones Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 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.
Allan W Posted April 6, 2018 Author Posted April 6, 2018 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?
Ken Estes Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) Cherbourg is quite a distance from the other routes. In central Paris, one finds the main French Navy Museum. [link added] https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187147-d4545362-Reviews-Musee_National_de_la_Marine-Paris_Ile_de_France.html Edited April 7, 2018 by Ken Estes
Allan W Posted April 6, 2018 Author Posted April 6, 2018 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.
Harold Jones Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 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
Ken Estes Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 (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]. Edited April 7, 2018 by Ken Estes
Allan W Posted April 6, 2018 Author Posted April 6, 2018 The submarine isnt on my must do list. If we can fit it in great. If not Im fine with that too.
Markus Becker Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 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.
Harold Jones Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 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.
Marek Tucan Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 Okay, so now I know...So unfortunately I have to sign off as I will be just after leaving France or in the middle of moving.
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