While riding to France we (first time, my sin) decided to use toll roads just to get there (we aimed for Bretagne).
Of course we left at worst possible weekend - 30 July. So, toll roads been crowded like hell, with queues all the way and traffic jams.
Naturally, we been slowly filtering through. I mean -not agressively, really slowly, as bikes been loaded with luggage and we did not want to get too tired. Did good 30 km of filtering on 3 toll roads.
So, what's all that about. I was absolutely amazed to see reaction of car drivers. 3 clear categories:
1. French, German, Dutch, etc. numberplates - car shifting to make bigger gap for us to go through, people clearly understand that we can't just sit in traffic jam for hours, it's not same with sitting in car.
2. RARE friendly drivers in cars with UK plates (can count on one hand - about 5 people) - very friendly, opened window and waving like "you can go mate, I'll move out for you a bit" - I guess, motorcyclists.
3. Agressive people, lot of them women at wheel - ALL with UK numberplates. Terrible and aggressive reaction: they actually move to close gap, to stop us filtering, shouting at us behind safely closed windows in aircondtioned cars or making "I don't see anything" look while slowly moving towards passing bike trying to press you against some van while french driver of this van keep on trying to move further and further to let you go and actually shouting at agressive drivers.
What amazed me - why??? Why all cars with UK numberplates for Gawd sake! I've been to UK many times and I liked people there, they all seemed reasonable, friendly and independent.
But here is mistery: there was no single car from other country behaving like that...
I apologize for bringing it up here, again - this is not that I am dissapointed in UK people, you all so great bunch, and I always found friends and help on sites in UK, and: it actually was first time I saw something like that, that did not happened year ago at all(when we went to Haute Alps and south)! I just want to understand - is it some kind of campaign against motorcyclists, or is it specific type of people who goes to Bretagne? Somebody with principle of taking your own rules everywhere? I am seriously worried, as I have planned to drive in UK next year and now I am truly scared...
Is it something specific I just don't know?
