RE: PH does the Alps
Discussion
I try to pack in 3 journeys like this a year between May and October and have thought about getting a Caterham and trailering it LOADS of times, really good to read what the reality would be like, I`ve also thought about renting a garage near Geneva or Lyon airports to save the boring drive back and forth! £71k for the combi / combo wouldn`t be for me!
don logan said:
I try to pack in 3 journeys like this a year between May and October and have thought about getting a Caterham and trailering it LOADS of times, really good to read what the reality would be like, I`ve also thought about renting a garage near Geneva or Lyon airports to save the boring drive back and forth! £71k for the combi / combo wouldn`t be for me!
When I did the trip in summer 2010, I stayed in Folkestone, got an early Chunnel and drove to Chamonix in the Caterham. Then spent a couple of days hill-walking/mountain biking etc before doing the Tour-de-Mont-Blanc described in the article. Then some more days rock-climbing etc before a long drive home (avoiding motorways/peage until Reims but driving all the way back to Bath). It's really not that bad driving long distances in a Caterham.If I was trying to drive the 7 every day out there it might become tiresome. Normally when I've toured in the 7 I like to spend at least a couple of nights in many places rather than just drive everyday.
ewenm said:
When I did the trip in summer 2010, I stayed in Folkestone, got an early Chunnel and drove to Chamonix in the Caterham. Then spent a couple of days hill-walking/mountain biking etc before doing the Tour-de-Mont-Blanc described in the article. Then some more days rock-climbing etc before a long drive home (avoiding motorways/peage until Reims). It's really not that bad driving long distances in a Caterham.
If I was trying to drive the 7 every day out there it might become tiresome. Normally when I've toured in the 7 I like to spend at least a couple of nights in many places rather than just drive everyday.
Another problem for me is that on some of these journeys I`ve spent a couple of weeks away and clothes become an issue, believe it or not I even considered sending luggage by Fed Ex to the hotel we stay at the longest, seems mental to do that though!If I was trying to drive the 7 every day out there it might become tiresome. Normally when I've toured in the 7 I like to spend at least a couple of nights in many places rather than just drive everyday.
don logan said:
Another problem for me is that on some of these journeys I`ve spent a couple of weeks away and clothes become an issue, believe it or not I even considered sending luggage by Fed Ex to the hotel we stay at the longest, seems mental to do that though!
We drove across the USA in a 7 (along with 40+ others) over the course of 3.5 weeks and 4000 miles. We replaced the spare wheel with a roll-on suitcase (for most of her stuff), filled the boot and strapped canoe bags to the outside segments of the rollbar 
Tools went behind the seats/in the boot. The tour was planned with hotels that had laundry facilities we could use 
ewenm said:
don logan said:
Another problem for me is that on some of these journeys I`ve spent a couple of weeks away and clothes become an issue, believe it or not I even considered sending luggage by Fed Ex to the hotel we stay at the longest, seems mental to do that though!
We drove across the USA in a 7 (along with 40+ others) over the course of 3.5 weeks and 4000 miles. We replaced the spare wheel with a roll-on suitcase (for most of her stuff), filled the boot and strapped canoe bags to the outside segments of the rollbar Tools went behind the seats/in the boot.A awesome trip, but have you not just swapped uncomfortable for boring on the drive over in the van?
I went last year to the Swiss Alps (and the Stelvio) and drove all the way with the wife and two kids with all our luggage from Cheshire
Admittedly my car does have a roof, but you wouldn't call it refined or comfortable 
And I did get to go out on my own when I got there!
Fairly Scenic by Suggs, on Flickr
I went last year to the Swiss Alps (and the Stelvio) and drove all the way with the wife and two kids with all our luggage from Cheshire
Admittedly my car does have a roof, but you wouldn't call it refined or comfortable And I did get to go out on my own when I got there!Fairly Scenic by Suggs, on Flickr
gary71 said:
A awesome trip, but have you not just swapped uncomfortable for boring on the drive over in the van?
I went last year to the Swiss Alps (and the Stelvio) and drove all the way with the wife and two kids with all our luggage from Cheshire Admittedly my car does have a roof, but you wouldn't call it refined or comfortable And I did get to go out on my own when I got there!
Fairly Scenic by Suggs, on Flickr
Jesus this is unbearable, I was struggling with the weather as it is, now I want to fill up and go, this is torture!I went last year to the Swiss Alps (and the Stelvio) and drove all the way with the wife and two kids with all our luggage from Cheshire
Admittedly my car does have a roof, but you wouldn't call it refined or comfortable And I did get to go out on my own when I got there!Fairly Scenic by Suggs, on Flickr
Where is the glacier in your pics?
gary71 said:
It's on the Susten Pass. The greatest road in the Alps (Out of those I have driven)
Thanks for that! (if you havn`t already done so you must try Forclaz and Lauteret, both are VERY flowing and VERY quick in places, neither are very high so not exciting in an "adventure" way) )Remembers me of last years italian/euro trip. We passed the alps on the twisties in our Ibiza Cupra, not a caterham but there were a rest of the vacation (a lot of twistie roads though). Is there any way you cant have fun on the alp roads? Just pick a random twisty road on the map and go, they all have post card backdrop and are huge ammounts of fun
Great to hear the other stories and thanks for the pics Watchman - quite a convoy there! I'll have to man up and drive the Caterham there solo next time though, in mitigation, I had other stuff to be doing out there too necessitating the van!
The Forclaz stretch over the Swiss border is brilliant - totally deserted, very open, fast and well surfaced - but I take on board the advice to try the St Bernards the other way round. Next time maybe!
Keep 'em coming!
The Forclaz stretch over the Swiss border is brilliant - totally deserted, very open, fast and well surfaced - but I take on board the advice to try the St Bernards the other way round. Next time maybe!
Keep 'em coming!
Great article!!
Myself and fellow ph'er TokenJock are trying to talk ourselves in to 300 mile drive up motorway to the Highlands later this year, to experience the great roads there. With 80mph equating to approx 5k revs though, could be a bit noisy
Photo from recent blat :-
Myself and fellow ph'er TokenJock are trying to talk ourselves in to 300 mile drive up motorway to the Highlands later this year, to experience the great roads there. With 80mph equating to approx 5k revs though, could be a bit noisy
Photo from recent blat :-
Edited by TangoGTR on Tuesday 17th July 17:53
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