The alps and more in the XK
Discussion
Stromness to Newcastle
Tuesday 19th
1100 Ferry on one of the hottest days of the year. Lovely crossing. Stopped off in Inverness for shopping and then headed down to Kinross. Fish and chips from the village and used our fold up chairs for the first time. Very very hot in the room so went a walk and found a lovely pub called the Grouse and Claret. Wine was had with nibbles then a hot sleepless night for me.
Wednesday 20th
Up and away to Newcastle. Oh my it rained and thunder and lightning. Slow going through Edinburgh but arrived to a glorious afternoon in Newcastle. Boarded in good time and in to the cabin with nice double bed. Went to the sky bar and had a couple of beers and listened to the live music. Whisky purchased before buffet meal with a carafe of wine. More live music up in the navigators bar, time to turn in....
Ijmuiden to Mandersheid
Thursday 21st
Sunlight streaming in the cabin so up and checked out the morning. Breakfast at 0800 and sat outside on the deck watching windmills and shipping. 35 minutes to get off..
Various stops.. One in Belgium for petrol at 1.33 and arrived Manderscheid at 1600. Lovely bed and breakfast and nice room.
After recommendation from Andy and Debbie, we went to the restaurant at the roundabout and had a lovely Jaeger Schnitzel with mushrooms and chips.
Manderscheid to Oppenau
Friday 22nd
Up for breakfast at 0800. Nice continental breakfast and said our goodbyes and away by 0900.
Lovely run to Oppenau via Baden-Baden. Mix of motorways and country driving. Stopped at Baden-Baden for a beer and Black Forest Gateau.
Arrived at the hotel at 1600 and checked in to a lovely room.
Drinks and away for a stroll before getting ready for tea.
Had a lovely meal of trout fillets and venison. Huge thunderstorm too.
Oppenau to Fussen
Saturday 23rd
Nice breakfast and away at 0930. Light rain then cleared. Stopped at Lake Konstanz for salad and beer then onward to Fussen.
Further stop for coffee and cake. Carried on through torrential rain and zero vis. Arrived Fussen at 1730. Trout and Burgemeister schnitzel and carafe of wine. Bed...
Fussen to St. Anton am Arlberg
Sunday 24th
Up for breakfast at 0730 and away to the Neuschwanstein Castle. Got parked up and off to the ticket office. Bit of a queue but got the tickets and away up to the castle in good time. Excellent photos and tour.
Set off for St Anton at 1200 and took 3 hours due to traffic delay.
Checked in to a lovely room in Hotel Montana (highly recommended). Parked up below a newish hotel with parking for the hotel and had a beer. Back to room and sorted the cases then Kathleen went a window shop and I went to clean the cat.
Nice meal in the hotel. A stroll afterwards and then off to bed.
Monday 25th
Up at 0800 and had a nice breakfast. Got ready for hiking after organising the boot and set off up the cable car. Took the second one up to 2330 metres.
Walked along the hike but some bits too much for Kathleen so headed back. Took the cable car back down after beer schnapps and hot chocolate. Walked down from the top of the first car and then went to Wonder Wander Weg.
Lovely place, had a drink there and more schnapps before heading back to Base and buying souvenirs and wine.
Out to Maximilians for tea. Ribs for Kathleen and tatties and cabbage for me. I had calamari starters, best ever! Stroll along the strip and then bed.
St. Anton to San Carlo (Italy)
Tuesday 26th
Up and had breakfast then away at 0930 for Italy. Only 100 miles but it took six hours. Took in a lot of passes and scenery. Went up to Stelvio to get the Tee shirt. Rain started and got to the hotel dry but soon started again. Nice room and view excellent. Had a snooze then went down the road to the nearest hotel for a meal. Lovely 3 courses and wine and water for only 36 euro.
To be continued..........
Tuesday 19th
1100 Ferry on one of the hottest days of the year. Lovely crossing. Stopped off in Inverness for shopping and then headed down to Kinross. Fish and chips from the village and used our fold up chairs for the first time. Very very hot in the room so went a walk and found a lovely pub called the Grouse and Claret. Wine was had with nibbles then a hot sleepless night for me.
Wednesday 20th
Up and away to Newcastle. Oh my it rained and thunder and lightning. Slow going through Edinburgh but arrived to a glorious afternoon in Newcastle. Boarded in good time and in to the cabin with nice double bed. Went to the sky bar and had a couple of beers and listened to the live music. Whisky purchased before buffet meal with a carafe of wine. More live music up in the navigators bar, time to turn in....
Ijmuiden to Mandersheid
Thursday 21st
Sunlight streaming in the cabin so up and checked out the morning. Breakfast at 0800 and sat outside on the deck watching windmills and shipping. 35 minutes to get off..
Various stops.. One in Belgium for petrol at 1.33 and arrived Manderscheid at 1600. Lovely bed and breakfast and nice room.
After recommendation from Andy and Debbie, we went to the restaurant at the roundabout and had a lovely Jaeger Schnitzel with mushrooms and chips.
Manderscheid to Oppenau
Friday 22nd
Up for breakfast at 0800. Nice continental breakfast and said our goodbyes and away by 0900.
Lovely run to Oppenau via Baden-Baden. Mix of motorways and country driving. Stopped at Baden-Baden for a beer and Black Forest Gateau.
Arrived at the hotel at 1600 and checked in to a lovely room.
Drinks and away for a stroll before getting ready for tea.
Had a lovely meal of trout fillets and venison. Huge thunderstorm too.
Oppenau to Fussen
Saturday 23rd
Nice breakfast and away at 0930. Light rain then cleared. Stopped at Lake Konstanz for salad and beer then onward to Fussen.
Further stop for coffee and cake. Carried on through torrential rain and zero vis. Arrived Fussen at 1730. Trout and Burgemeister schnitzel and carafe of wine. Bed...
Fussen to St. Anton am Arlberg
Sunday 24th
Up for breakfast at 0730 and away to the Neuschwanstein Castle. Got parked up and off to the ticket office. Bit of a queue but got the tickets and away up to the castle in good time. Excellent photos and tour.
Set off for St Anton at 1200 and took 3 hours due to traffic delay.
Checked in to a lovely room in Hotel Montana (highly recommended). Parked up below a newish hotel with parking for the hotel and had a beer. Back to room and sorted the cases then Kathleen went a window shop and I went to clean the cat.
Nice meal in the hotel. A stroll afterwards and then off to bed.
Monday 25th
Up at 0800 and had a nice breakfast. Got ready for hiking after organising the boot and set off up the cable car. Took the second one up to 2330 metres.
Walked along the hike but some bits too much for Kathleen so headed back. Took the cable car back down after beer schnapps and hot chocolate. Walked down from the top of the first car and then went to Wonder Wander Weg.
Lovely place, had a drink there and more schnapps before heading back to Base and buying souvenirs and wine.
Out to Maximilians for tea. Ribs for Kathleen and tatties and cabbage for me. I had calamari starters, best ever! Stroll along the strip and then bed.
St. Anton to San Carlo (Italy)
Tuesday 26th
Up and had breakfast then away at 0930 for Italy. Only 100 miles but it took six hours. Took in a lot of passes and scenery. Went up to Stelvio to get the Tee shirt. Rain started and got to the hotel dry but soon started again. Nice room and view excellent. Had a snooze then went down the road to the nearest hotel for a meal. Lovely 3 courses and wine and water for only 36 euro.
To be continued..........
Edited by CarbonXKR on Friday 26th August 21:03
San Carlo to Sedrun
A day of mountain passes - Foscagno, Forcola, Bernina, Julier https://goo.gl/maps/LjFrLUmBJin
Wednesday 27th
Nice morning. Met an Indian family at breakfast asking us about the Stelvio pass. Turns out he is a consultant surgeon at Wick hospital. Set off at 0915 and had a nice slow run through the passes.
Stopped off at a place just 25 miles from Sedrun. Lovely lake and hot.
Arrived Sedrun and checked in. Nice room and location. Out for tea at the hotel next door and had a great meal. Only downside was the expensive house white wine at 45 chf.
Sedrun to Chamonix
More passes ... https://goo.gl/maps/ZHGsvU88VAt
Thursday 28th
Nice breakfast. Noticed the heat shield above the back box had come loose so got it fixed for 25chf at a local garage. Set off for Oberalp pass.
Lovely day. Carried on and did the Furka pass then straight Roads on through Switzerland.
Stopped to stretch the legs for 5 minutes then the engine wouldn’t start. Had to call breakdown assistance and hour and a half later guy came and jumps started us and said we need a new battery. Set off for Jaguar garage 10 MLS away. No battery. Said go to Lausanne 50 miles away and no battery!! Out of time but a nice guy called Ion said he knew a good breakdown centre follow me. We got lucky and they had one fitted in an hour.
Lake Geneva - our detour for the battery.....
Carried on to Chamonix and arrived at 2100.
Chamonix to Gap
https://goo.gl/maps/9THwscLJ3xJ2
Friday 29th
Up to a lovely view of Mt Blanc.
Breakfast and away for Gap. Got on to some twisting Roads very quickly and this was the case for the next two hours..
We stopped and took stock after a look at the map and decided to take the motorway to speed things up. Lovely scenery all the way and arrived Gap at 1600. Nice hotel and got a pass for the underground parking. Went for a beer and people watch. Lovely meal and bed at 2300. Aircon in room so nice sleep.
To be continued.......
A day of mountain passes - Foscagno, Forcola, Bernina, Julier https://goo.gl/maps/LjFrLUmBJin
Wednesday 27th
Nice morning. Met an Indian family at breakfast asking us about the Stelvio pass. Turns out he is a consultant surgeon at Wick hospital. Set off at 0915 and had a nice slow run through the passes.
Stopped off at a place just 25 miles from Sedrun. Lovely lake and hot.
Arrived Sedrun and checked in. Nice room and location. Out for tea at the hotel next door and had a great meal. Only downside was the expensive house white wine at 45 chf.
Sedrun to Chamonix
More passes ... https://goo.gl/maps/ZHGsvU88VAt
Thursday 28th
Nice breakfast. Noticed the heat shield above the back box had come loose so got it fixed for 25chf at a local garage. Set off for Oberalp pass.
Lovely day. Carried on and did the Furka pass then straight Roads on through Switzerland.
Stopped to stretch the legs for 5 minutes then the engine wouldn’t start. Had to call breakdown assistance and hour and a half later guy came and jumps started us and said we need a new battery. Set off for Jaguar garage 10 MLS away. No battery. Said go to Lausanne 50 miles away and no battery!! Out of time but a nice guy called Ion said he knew a good breakdown centre follow me. We got lucky and they had one fitted in an hour.
Lake Geneva - our detour for the battery.....
Carried on to Chamonix and arrived at 2100.
Chamonix to Gap
https://goo.gl/maps/9THwscLJ3xJ2
Friday 29th
Up to a lovely view of Mt Blanc.
Breakfast and away for Gap. Got on to some twisting Roads very quickly and this was the case for the next two hours..
We stopped and took stock after a look at the map and decided to take the motorway to speed things up. Lovely scenery all the way and arrived Gap at 1600. Nice hotel and got a pass for the underground parking. Went for a beer and people watch. Lovely meal and bed at 2300. Aircon in room so nice sleep.
To be continued.......
Gap to Andorra
Saturday 30th
Away by 0900 after a good breakfast. All going well and soon on the motorway.
Took our lunch stop at 1230 after making good progress and that was the last of the speedy drive. Traffic jams for the next 4 hours until we cleared Perpignan and hot hot hot.
Got off the motorway on to an N road to Andorra and things speeded up. We stopped at Villefranche de Conflent for a beer and finally arrived Andorra at 1830.
Grand welcome and had a huge feed. Zzzzz
Sunday 31st
Beautiful morning. Had a lovely breakfast and went to the top of the hill to a viewpoint.
Set off for the shops in Andorra and bought 4 good whiskies for 87 euros. Stopped off at a small restaurant for a beer then back to Base.
Off for a nice hike and just got back in time before the rain started. Soon cleared up. Tea of lamb chops and trout before bed.
Monday 1st
Another glorious morning. Set off for Bilbao after breakfast . Drove through Vielha and across the Pyrenees to the French side.
Good progress on the motorways and was making good time with only 4 kms to go we took a wrong turn and was lost on the motorway network. Punched in the address on the phone (google maps) and managed better with that. Arrived at 1700 and parked in the underground parking. Got upgraded to a Suite for free and went a stroll in to Bilbao.
Nice lanes and restaurants. Had Paella in one and a bottle of white.
Tuesday 2nd
Up early and packed the car before breakfast. Set off for the port no problem 25 minutes and parked up.
On board by 0900 and away on time. Sunned out on deck glorious day. Had a sandwich at lunchtime then went for a snooze. Tea at 1900 was lovely. Bed by 2230.
Wednesday 3rd
Up and had croissants and juice for breakfast then ready to disembark. Not a bad morning. Good run up to Carlisle, rain for the last hour.
Thursday 4th
Final run north for the trip. Stopped off in Aviemore for coffee and Inverness at 1330. Not a good dry run as it rained on and off. Scrabster by 1745 and away on time. Home in Stromness by 2100 ....... where next??
Saturday 30th
Away by 0900 after a good breakfast. All going well and soon on the motorway.
Took our lunch stop at 1230 after making good progress and that was the last of the speedy drive. Traffic jams for the next 4 hours until we cleared Perpignan and hot hot hot.
Got off the motorway on to an N road to Andorra and things speeded up. We stopped at Villefranche de Conflent for a beer and finally arrived Andorra at 1830.
Grand welcome and had a huge feed. Zzzzz
Sunday 31st
Beautiful morning. Had a lovely breakfast and went to the top of the hill to a viewpoint.
Set off for the shops in Andorra and bought 4 good whiskies for 87 euros. Stopped off at a small restaurant for a beer then back to Base.
Off for a nice hike and just got back in time before the rain started. Soon cleared up. Tea of lamb chops and trout before bed.
Monday 1st
Another glorious morning. Set off for Bilbao after breakfast . Drove through Vielha and across the Pyrenees to the French side.
Good progress on the motorways and was making good time with only 4 kms to go we took a wrong turn and was lost on the motorway network. Punched in the address on the phone (google maps) and managed better with that. Arrived at 1700 and parked in the underground parking. Got upgraded to a Suite for free and went a stroll in to Bilbao.
Nice lanes and restaurants. Had Paella in one and a bottle of white.
Tuesday 2nd
Up early and packed the car before breakfast. Set off for the port no problem 25 minutes and parked up.
On board by 0900 and away on time. Sunned out on deck glorious day. Had a sandwich at lunchtime then went for a snooze. Tea at 1900 was lovely. Bed by 2230.
Wednesday 3rd
Up and had croissants and juice for breakfast then ready to disembark. Not a bad morning. Good run up to Carlisle, rain for the last hour.
Thursday 4th
Final run north for the trip. Stopped off in Aviemore for coffee and Inverness at 1330. Not a good dry run as it rained on and off. Scrabster by 1745 and away on time. Home in Stromness by 2100 ....... where next??
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