[Ferrito]

Ello,
Looking to go Font towards end of October/early November. I've never been before, but have been told by work to take a holiday. Small hitch is that I need to make it as cheap as possible, as I am quite poor. Any recommendations for cheap ways to do it? Looking to be out there about a week.... What about wet weather things to do? Feed me your knowledge!

Cheers

Toby

[Jim]

have you a car?
do you intend driving there?
If so get 4 other people in it, drive to dover and get norfolk line ferry for about £45 to dunkirk, then drive to F1 in nemours or moret sur long, check in to a room with only 3 of you in sight. once in room sneak others in through window etc... making sure they don't clock you've got more than 3 in one room.
Crush the blocs then go home

[Nibile]

van?

[neil h]

hitch then camp, its half term loads of people will be out, cheap as chips 

[Stef]

You have several areas that have a tap in the parking lots, like Elephant or Sabot.
About what to do when rainy, it depends how long you stay, but there are really several options on "proper" tourism. Check www.tourisme77.net they have all sort of info.

[Ferrito]

coolio. No transport of my own, so would be public transport/hitching it up... Camping is an option then?

[Jaspersharpe]

Sure is. Although as Jim says a Formule 1 can work out cheaper.

[Kingy]

I'm with Jim on this one. The stonkingly good 'all you can eat' breakfast of Formula 1 should be sufficient to propel you up the most heinous of rock climbs.

[Jaspersharpe]

If he's relying on public transport/hitching though then the chance of lifts is gonna be way better from the campsite?

[slackline]

Lifts won't even be essential if staying at La Musardiere since theres plenty of areas within easy walking distance, although your further from the shops so getting food could be a bit more problematic, but last time I stayed there there was a van of some description most evenings selling roast chicken one evening, pizzas another etc.

[SA Chris]

I think Jasper's point though was that if he stays at F1, then he is a bit too far to walk and less likely to get lifts?

[Jaspersharpe]

Excisely.

[slackline]

I think Jasper's point though was that if he stays at F1, then he is a bit too far to walk and less likely to get lifts?

Aye, I was agreeing (I thought  )

[SA Chris]

The we are all agreed then (apart from Jim and Kingy).

[Jim]

I would of thought getting lifts from the F1 in moret fairly easily. There are always quite a lot of climbers staying there, plus its walking distance to supermarket and quality pizza shop.
Other benafits include good hot showers, electricity, proper beds (for 3), clean toilets and warmth.
A no brainer IMHO

[Johnny Brown]

Follow Ferret's lead and live in a cave at Cuvier rempart for 3 months. Like a tramp but stronger, livin the dream alright.

[Paul B]

I would of thought getting lifts from the F1 in moret fairly easily. There are always quite a lot of climbers staying there, plus its walking distance to supermarket and quality pizza shop.
Other benafits include good hot showers, electricity, proper beds (for 3), clean toilets and warmth.
A no brainer IMHO

and cheaper than La Mus with their weird pricing strategy.

[richdraws]

Tried 4 to a room in the F1 and ended up hating the other 3 people and loathing myself a fair bit too. It was horribly uncomfortable. Didnt even get much action out of smoggie.

[Jim]

why? we've done it many times. 1 upstairs, 2 on double bed and 1 one the floor on mats.
As for action I normally share the double bed with dense 

[neil h]

I heard a tale of a bunch of some university lot having 16 in a room at the f1 


works out about 10p per night per person,

[Nibile]

just one question: when going "à la cheap" starts to hinder your climbing because of lack of sleep, or humidity, or foos, is it still worth?

[Ferrito]

Yopu seem to misinterpret me nibile, for I AM A MAN! (and it gives me a good excuse....) Thanks all, any more advice? More importantly, anyone going to Font end of October and want to share petrol money....?

[Jaspersharpe]

just one question: when going "à la cheap" starts to hinder your climbing because of lack of sleep, or humidity, or foos, is it still worth?

I've never found a lack of music by Dave Grohl a hindrance to my climbing ability although in answer to the others I'd say no, it's not worth it at all. Nice comfy gite every time.

[Stef]

Formule 1 is for sure the cheapest option, but then you can't expect more than 10p of service per person...especially when 16 in a tiny room. that can be only some teenagers trying a bit of show off for their first trip. and without a car, you are defenetly away from any climbing area, even if hitch hikking can be a solution, but never garanted.
La Musardiere is truly expensive for a camp site, but so ideally located to a couple of major climbing sites.
Some Gites offers also ideal location towards the boulders. Then it has to be shared with mates budget wise.

[a dense loner]

completely agree with jasper and nibs. it's worth roughing it in font if you're on your first trip or you're 10 years old. i also think it would be hard to get a hitch from a formula 1, there are a few climbers there but being ferried around by people you don't know day after day is another matter. the cave that JB speaks of is all well and good but i don't think he's seen anybody emerge from that cave and climb day after day, they don't look or sound like they're enjoying the process. plus i would not set foot in la musardiere out of principal of not being bill gates

[Johnny Brown]

the cave that JB speaks of is all well and good but i don't think he's seen anybody emerge from that cave and climb day after day, they don't look or sound like they're enjoying the process.

Just because a man looks like a tramp does not neccesarily mean he isn't enjoying himself. Your bones may be too old now to cope with the great outdoors, but can't you remember back, half a lifetime ago, to your marine days when a cave would have been luxury and Carrefour a poor alternative to going 'mano-a-mano' with a wild boar?

[Somebody's Fool]

I don't think Lee has roughed it since that fateful night in Monaco with the Enigma, an industrial sized can of ravioli and a horse trough. Utterly understandable in my eyes.

Also, if you pack a Jim, which Lee is wont to do, he sorts accommodation out for you and you don't really have to pay him back.

[a dense loner]

all good points

should really start on the not paying jim back scene

[neil h]

all good points

should really start on the not paying jim back scene

speaking of cheap, i need a cheap spark in january?????????????????????????

[i.munro]

An alternative is (if you can book it) the Hotel Etap near the station in Avon/Fontainebleau.
Not as cheap as F1 but you have easy access to shops, bars etc & the town itself or the train to Paris in the event of rain + you have a TV.

Many (admittedly smaller) areas within easy walking distance, Rocher canon or petit Bois are one stop on the train. In summer the shuttle bus will take you most of the way to Franchard or a it's walkable in about an hour but it's a good walk.

[Nibile]

just one question: when going "à la cheap" starts to hinder your climbing because of lack of sleep, or humidity, or foos, is it still worth?

I've never found a lack of music by Dave Grohl a hindrance to my climbing ability although in answer to the others I'd say no, it's not worth it at all. Nice comfy gite every time.

me no capire inglish.
damn damn english!!!

[chriss]

to kick this debate off again, I'm off to font in a van for some 'a la cheap' style action what car parks are best for avoiding the damn french police?  I'm thinking isatis, elephant, Ive done buthiers & bas cuvier before, but I'm not in to dogging so looking to avoid bum action this trip. out for a week any help would be great.

[neil h]

isatis, cuisiniere and rocher guichot car parks are the best.

be warned the rain is about to hit us, the sky is darkening as i speak and its is due to stay

[ds]

be warned the rain is about to hit us, the sky is darkening as i speak and its is due to stay

Nooo!  Ill be over with you on sat Neil, tell me this isnt true!

[neil h]

its tru alright, sorry, i am heading for spain friday night

[lagerstarfish]

to kick this debate off again, I'm off to font in a van for some 'a la cheap' style action what car parks are best for avoiding the damn french police?  I'm thinking isatis, elephant, Ive done buthiers & bas cuvier before, but I'm not in to dogging so looking to avoid bum action this trip. out for a week any help would be great.

You are allowed (well in 2007 you were) to stay overnight in the carpark on your left as you leave Bourron-Marlotte (sp) on the road to Font. There is a sign saying so and usually several vans.

[neil h]

to kick this debate off again, I'm off to font in a van for some 'a la cheap' style action what car parks are best for avoiding the damn french police?  I'm thinking isatis, elephant, Ive done buthiers & bas cuvier before, but I'm not in to dogging so looking to avoid bum action this trip. out for a week any help would be great.

You are allowed (well in 2007 you were) to stay overnight in the carpark on your left as you leave Bourron-Marlotte (sp) on the road to Font. There is a sign saying so and usually several vans.

yes you are aload to stay there. Its a pretty good bive spot, set up nicely, close to the shops as well

[Stef]

if you don't sleep at the same place every night, the police shall not really bother you. as you however need to visit different areas, do some shopping, etc, it won't make any trouble.
For the rain, the forecast here always sucks. they only drop a coin and drink pastis, not reliable at all. so keep faith in the dry whether.
I need to climb also this week end...

[chriss]

whats the weather like mid october time, is it as random as the uk? also can any one sugest a good/ cheap gite for 8, as this trip has sprialed beyond my control so will be cheaper than F1. ta

[neil h]

i have a gite for 5 mid october if thats any good

[chriss]

cheeky bastard, emailed you the other day you said you were full till November! will get some numbers & might give you another shout, but looks like 8 people, shame as i stayed with you earlier this year (white van & bikes) & thought it was a fuckin ace gite & good value to boot. do i get a discount for that shameless plug? 

[Stef]

An accomodation for 5 cannot have 8 poeple !
Sorry I had to answer as i have to protect my collegues !!! ahaha !!!!

[neil h]

cheeky bastard, emailed you the other day you said you were full till November! will get some numbers & might give you another shout, but looks like 8 people, shame as i stayed with you earlier this year (white van & bikes) & thought it was a fuckin ace gite & good value to boot. do i get a discount for that shameless plug? 

yes i rememeb. But yes i just had a cancalation, two guys booked the same group but for two different weeks, so the same gite you stayed is free, but we have renovated since you were last here.....its plush now, maybe too good for you 

anyway im off to the picos in a couple of hours, be back in 10 days if you are interested in it