Smarttimes 2012 - Normandy Meet

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Happily Richard
I think I need to start making a list

[Evilution]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Even I'm considering going to this one! I'll have to do something garish to ruin my car because if you have a nice subtly modded car nobody notices it.

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Tell me 'bout it:wag:

[OrangeDave]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Put us down as a possible, we'll be camping (hardcore)

God, Richard... you're hard!

[fat_rick]

Sounds like a plan at this early stage. Barrel would be lovely .

[davros7760]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Cut the roof off, paint it orange and stick big wheels on it -that'll work

Smarttimes will run from a thursday to a sunday so logically UK attendees (not sunning themselves in Normandy) would appear to have 2 choices

1. Catch a ferry after work on wednesday and arrive late at their hotels.

2. Catch an early ferry thursday and arrive mid way through Day 1

From personal experience of working in south Belgium/Luxembourg the quickest AND cheapest way of getting there will be from Calais for the vast majority of Brits.

For example
Harwich - Hook of Holland 23/8/2012 9am crossing 6.45hrs
Hook of Holland - Harwich 26/8/2012 10pm 9.45hrs £193 return

Taking Verviers as a theorectical destination you will still have a 2hr drive through Holland/Belgium

Folkestone - calais 23/8 06:50am 35mins (eurotunnel)
Calais - Folkestone 26/8 20:00pm

DirectFerries are quoting £96 return and you have a maximum journey of 4 hours on the other side

I know its early but its worth people working out the feasibility of their various options

[Miss Polkadot]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Ok, so come on, explain about the barrel...tell me what I've missed, as I see it's been claimed by FR ...anyone have pics? :photo:

[davros7760]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Miami got offered an old distillery vat for a very reasonable price, so he put it on its side and painstakingly converted it into a bedroom.

The best way to describe it is like a gypsy caravan without wheels!

I'm sure a photo will appear shortly

[Miss Polkadot]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Even I'm considering going to this one! I'll have to do something garish to ruin my car because if you have a nice subtly modded car nobody notices it.

You could make it look like Thomas the Tank engine...
...an appropriate choice with your connections


Thanks for that info davros, it is always useful when someone has already been there and done it :thanx:

The barrel boudoir sounds amazing...does one drift off in a boozy haze?

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Right then, Just for you Julie
the barrel is an old Bordeaux wine barrel of 6700l capacity. I bought it dirt cheap off a friend and had it delivered to my place and put on a concrete raft
then my son and I built the roof, cut in a door, added a window at the back and a floor big enough for 2 singles or a double air matress
I have not slept in it but son has and Rick has and they both think it is OK
oh yes, it also has solar powered lights and steps to the door. I have a couple of plans for the future as regards decking etc.

Rick may well have some piccies

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)



Hope this gives you some idea

[fat_rick]

There are two pics of the outside and one of the inside (with double air bed in place) at https://picasaweb.google.com/1160805...915/France2011

[SATAN 59]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

[Miss Polkadot]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

That...is just brilliant

Only someone with a British sense of humour could have seen the potential in that barrel it is just excellent

[putzie]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

i take it you have saved a space for sparky ? ian