Zydeco Joe Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Is anybody over in France and if so how if any is the lorry drivers strike effecting your journey. I am setting off in a couple of days time heading for Spain so any info would be nice. Starting from Calais going via Abbeville, Rouen, Le Mans and south via the Somport tunnel into Spain. Have read about some minor fuel problems but not much else. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicepix Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Where I am in North Charente / Haute Vienne area there are no fuel shortages and no problems regards journey times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 It is possible keep a weather eye on the fuel-shortage situation in France using this French website. https://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/ The data are kept reasonably up-to-date and currently show 159 service-stations with no fuel and 375 with fuel in short supply or with certain types of fuel unavailable. There are many more service-stations (presumably without fuel shortages) than those marked on the website’s map, but the map should give a fair idea where the problems lie at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 You'll need to be flexible. The biggest problem will be if the fuel delivery drivers strike, as that will rapidly strangle road transport. I haven't seen any suggestion that they are exempt. You'll need to avoid filling on busy main roads and motorways, and especially on the major international trunk routes to-from the channel ports, Spain, Italy, and Germany/the low countries. How far can you get on a tank-full? 400 Miles? Calculate back from the Spanish border and look for a reliable fill in that area, with enough margin to get you to a filling station once over the border. Many will immediately rush to filling stations to top up, so make sure you leave the UK brimmed to minimise the number of fills en-route. 1 should just do you, so one more for luck. For example, if you were to refuel somewhere like Bessines-sur-Gartempe (about 20 miles north of Limoges on the A20), where there is an Intermarche. You will be at the end of your range, off major routes, and about half way down with another 350 or so miles to the border. Follow the nearest straight line route, avoiding as far as possible hilly areas (to minimise fuel consumption), and fill up anywhere (within reason) you see available fuel once you have crossed the Loire (which should be about the half empty stage), filling again if not at Bessines, then in, or south of, that area, possibly down to Agen. But, once down to half a tank refuel wherever you can, and avoid travelling on in hope until near empty. Once under half full start looking for supermarkets or roadside filling stations as you go. You may, of course find some will limit how much you can have, so grab that and move on. You'll just need to keep your eyes open of supermarkets etc and on the news to see whether particular routes are being prioritised for distribution or by the strikers. It's all you can do under the circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydeco Joe Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 Thanks all for info and advice. Tend not to go too low on the fuel tank and on this trip I think it will be a must to fill back up at around the half full mark. Will try and post while in France any problems as we know many of us travel down to Spain for the winter. Funny how things change with the price of fuel as for the past few years we have crossed with a part empty tank but not now . Usually start from home (Cannock) mainly full tank and get to Dover about half a tank left so on last trip mid August 2019 we filled back up in Dover so will do that again. Years ago was the same and that was back before the Euro, remember the French Franc at about 8 or so to the pound.... back across from Calais with bone empty tank looks like will do same in 2020 happy days. Hope Brexit gets chucked out but will it !!!!!. Happy traveling and merry Christmas to all except Doris and farage . :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weldted Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 We are near Chalus Haute-Vienne, no problems yesterday in Limoges and our local garage is fine, as is the Super U at Aixe Sur Vienne.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicepix Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 When travelling south on the N20 we usually pull off the route nationale at Grisolles north of Toulouse and head into Ondes for a break. There are several low priced fuel stations, supermarkets and restaurants in that area on the D17 around Ondes and Grenade. We stop at the side of the river between Ondes and Grenade, near to the bridge for a sandwich and to walk the dog. You can walk along the river to stretch your legs. The cheapest fuel is usually at the supermarket in Grenade. From there a tank full will easily get you into Spain. You can check locations and price of fuel in France on this government site: https://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydeco Joe Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 So far no problems with the strikes fuel or other things. We are now on a aire on our own close to Rockfort not too far from the Somport tunnel into Spain. Filled up with fuel in Dover at £1.259 per Lt and filled up in France at Euro 1.42 at a Total garage in Chambray Les Tours as this was a good price have seen prices from just under this but average a little higher more like 1.44 Lt. No problems with the strikers have only spotted a few things not like the Yellow Vest ones last December. Not seen many other British vans apart from at Dover. We were delayed by about a hour and 10 mins by strike action overnight Thursday/Friday the 11th /12th December. Hope this helps fellow motorhomes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkyrunner Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Fuel in France went from 1.40 ltr at Super or similar to 1.65ltr on toll roads, Spain was 1.259 on tolls and 1.16ltr in most towns recently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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