[tomtom]

Eh? I thought Sarkozy was a deeply ironic tea pot warmer...

[Jaspersharpe]

I'm talking about the ferocity and widespread nature of the strikes in opposition to what is really just a very minor change to the pension system. Imagine if they had our lot doing what they are about to do!?

[SA Chris]

Heaven forbid the French government haven't proposed something radical like a 7 1/2 hour working day. Or beret tax

[Jaspersharpe]

Heaven forbid the French government haven't proposed something radical like a 7 1/2 hour working week. Or beret tax

Fixed. 

[dave]

I'm talking about the ferocity and widespread nature of the strikes in opposition to what is really just a very minor change to the pension system. Imagine if they had our lot doing what they are about to do!?

 

You forget that striking is france's second national sport, after smoking.

[erm, sam]

Is everybody still going? Just got a text from a flake friend who is cancelling the trip!!!! Is it really THAT bad?

[Serpico]

We're still going (on Saturday) I believe. Fill up in Dover and drive economically is the plan (plus a spare fuel can).

[old cheese]

My plan exactly Serpico. The 2 litre engine will be purring along at about 3000RPM and a spare few litres of unleaded tucked behind the boys child seat.
Glad i have a petrol engine as it seems Diesel harder to find

[Rabies]

Expect to see a convoy of cars stuffed with pads and jerry cans travelling at 40mph between Calais and Fontainebleau then!! Hopefully the little French man will have it all under control by the time I leave on friday night.

[SA Chris]

Hopefully be an easy drive - no cars on the road! Fill that tank to the brim, and only go to areas close to where you are staying while you are there.

[erm, sam]

Panic over, they are going. Phew.

[Serpico]

We're still going (on Saturday) I believe. Fill up in Dover and drive economically is the plan (plus a spare fuel can).

Just checked and the ferry (Norfuck Lines) don't allow the carriage of fuel cans - full or empty, so might have to rely on luck and careful driving...

[SA Chris]

Just look for a nice big Norbert Dentressangle lorry, and slipstream it all the way from Calais to the Peripherique. Really works.

[erm, sam]

Just checked and the ferry (Norfuck Lines) don't allow the carriage of fuel cans - full or empty, so might have to rely on luck and careful driving...

could always hide an empty one and maybe fill it up in France when you do come across a full garage...

[dave]

Just checked and the ferry (Norfuck Lines) don't allow the carriage of fuel cans - full or empty, so might have to rely on luck and careful driving...

could always hide an empty one and maybe fill it up in France when you do come across a full garage...

Luckily i've never known norfuckline or any ferry operator check the contents of any car, so just remember to peel off your "i'm carrying 40ltrs of BP's finest in a plastic jerrycan" bumpersticker. Unless of course they get savvy and realise all brits will be doing the same.

The only place you likely to get searched, based on past experience, is by our own cumstains and excersise guys in dunkirk, who'll be looking for 50000 cigarillos and sudanese refugees in your boot.

[Sloper]

That's the truth.

[BenF]

Luckily i've never known norfuckline or any ferry operator check the contents of any car, so just remember to peel off your "i'm carrying 40ltrs of BP's finest in a plastic jerrycan" bumpersticker. Unless of course they get savvy and realise all brits will be doing the same.

I had my car searched for flammable items in Dover once (think I was about to board a SeaFrance boat).  Only the once mind.

[dave]

TO be fair, I recon all those nylon footy shirts and black wigs would be quite a fire hazard.

[neil h]

ok the latest from last night

There is one report from Malesherbes dates this evening at 21.19 which says:
"The Intermarche received a delivery of fuel this afternoon. All three fuels were still available at 19.00, but with a €28 limit. Had to queue for one and a half hours and there were still a lot of cars behind me. Don't know whether there will be any left tomorrow. The other pumps in Malesherbes (Carrefour market [what was Champion], Elan and Total were all empty this evening".
 
Another report mentions that there was diesel at BP in Fontainebleau at 21.30 this evening.

[erm, sam]

Thanks for the updates Neil.

Might be worth keeping an eye on www.carbu.fr
France 24 is saying the site has an interactive list of effected
Petrol stations.

This site shows all the stations in Malsheberes as full, so I guess it isn't much use to find fuel.

Where are your reports of which stations having fuel coming from? Mates who happen to be passing, or the local radio or what?

Some people I know in the south of France who said that the stations in the middle of toll roads tend to have fuel left perhaps, where as the ones in the middle of towns have obviously been rinsed. Any likely hood of this being true your think?

Feels like heading down is bordering on the foolish, but got to be done...

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

This site shows all the stations in Malsheberes as full, so I guess it isn't much use to find fuel.

The link on the site shows which ones are empty,

Map of stations out of fuel
CARBEO.COM informs stations closed or out of fuel

Still not much use in finding fuel unless you know where all the petrol stations are or have a map to cross reference it against.

[bobkatebob]

Regarding the service station between the Font and Ury turn offs on the A6 which is on toll road, when I drove passed on Monday at about 5:30pm it had no fuel. I will be going passed again on Thursday night, will let you know then.

The thing is for 1.50€ I bet Parisiens don't mind going on a toll if they know they can get fuel. On Monday night I didn't see any stations open in southern Paris, but that might be because I went passed all the ones on main roads.

[erm, sam]

Gulp

[dave]

Nick's using the cinq-zero to break the blockades

[erm, sam]

Oh no, for the first time in my life I find myself with mixed feelings about coppers breaking strikes. Right to strike vs THE FONT TRIP.....