London to Bruges for a weekend: realistic?

[jimster]

My g/f is doing an internship in Brussels for a month. She wants to visit Bruges for the weekend late in July.

Bruges is nice but I've spent too long there. However, it might be fun to ride there and I'd really enjoy the adventure.

So: my plan is to leave work in central London at about 6pm on Friday night, go down to Ramsgate and over to Oostende (via the ferry) and come back on Sunday (also via the ferry). Is this realistic?

I still need to fit a GPS on the bike, buy leathers and sort out a breakdown policy, but am otherwise good to go (I think).

Mr Google says it's 2 hours from my place to Ramsgate (75 miles) and 30 minutes from Ostende to Bruges.

Does this sound feasible / like a good idea? Is there anything to be aware of?
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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[TheDonUK]

Folkstone - Calais can be as cheap as 11 pound each way
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[gooner]

Bruges is, like most of the French and Belgian channel coast, easily do-able in a weekend.

You might want to consider the ferry rather than Eurotunnel as the crossing isn't really that much longer when you take loading etc into account and the ferry gives you a better chance to (a) stretch your legs and (b) get something to eat - you'll be hungry when you get there otherwise and a weekend isn't long enough to recover from hunger - trust me I've been there!

Sat nav isn't really necessary as the signs are good once you've found the right road and the roads are easy to ride.

Remember to get a bit of tape on your headlight - you'll be riding on the "wrong" side of the road in the dark in unfamiliar territory - you don't want to upset the oncoming drivers by blinding them.

Enjoy.
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[R6jonny]

Its never 2 hours to ramsgate... either way that is easily do able for a weekend..
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[sebastianw]

Dover - Dunkerke is easy, short drive to Bruges, then get lost on teh ring road for a couple of days and ride back

[northernmonke...]

Do the ferries even still run from ramsgate? I'd go dover - calais mate, cheaper and only about 20 mins ride from ostende anyway.

Watch out for the french coppers, the are knobheads when it comes to speeding. I heard of one case where the rider was about 5-10mph over the top, 700 euro fine and banned instantly for 2 weeks!

[That_Hornet]

Very easy, i did Valencia in a long weekend.

French roads are awesome. All flat not much change in road surface, no working, if there is there is no change in the speed limit.

Toll roads make the journeys much less stressful, all be it far more expensive.

[strag]

A load of us went to Bruge on the bikes for a day, went via the tunnel though.
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[Grazoid]

Tunnel will be quicker and has the advantage if you get held up you can take another train....

Good bar in the service station just outside the terminal in Calais - up onto the E16 and in Bruges in about an hour and a half /two hours from leaving Calais.