European road trip. Where to go?

[Pesty]

I have two weeks off in August . I'm not using my car enough so fancy a European road trip.

Perhaps around 5 days. Stelvio pass? I seem to recall top gear finding a good road in Switzerland too.

Anybody got any routes? I love Austria, Switzerland Italy etc but what is doable in 5 days?

Best trip I ever had was on the motorbike in Northern Spain. Think that's probably too far for 5 days. Plus it was a lot of French motorway on the way down.

[Pesty]

Troubleatmill said:

Inspiration here: http://www.bestbikingroads.com

Thanks I'll take a look at that.

iva cosworth said:

I've been to Italy this year in 5 days there and back for the Mille Miglia but it doesn't leave

much free time as 2 of those days is required for the journey and that's using the boring and tolled

motorways.

You could go to Turin and visit the national motor museum as it's in the North of the country but

can't help much else.

That is my worry. Taking so long to get there. Could stretch another few days but would like to keep it to 5 or so.

Maybe route Napoleon?

[Pesty]

I'll take a look. I'd really like to get to some mountains

I'm liking thus guys route.

I'm thinking
Drive to N first day visit hoffbrauhous

get to E roughly this route not really bothered about CR so then make way back.

[Pesty]

heebeegeetee said:

Annecy is a comfortable 8 hour drive from Calais. From there, East, West and South, you have some of the very best roads Europe can offer.

Many of them will not be well known, many won't have the cachet of a Stelvio perhaps. Buy they won't have the tourists either, and pretty much anywhere else in Europe will have more people and more congestion.

Yeah I came north through annancy from Northern Spain on the bike. Got to think of the mrs too. But I'll look at the maps.

Hooli said:

Looks a good route, I take it your going to spend all your time driving though?

Hmm yeah I'm thinking I may have to extend a few days.

iva cosworth said:

Sorry to rattle on the same theme but that route has excellent car museums in Stuttgart,Merc and

Porsche and BMW in Munich,all well worth a visit.

Been to the Porsche 3 times,last year with free entry.

Good ideas. Would definitely like to see the Porsche museum.

[Pesty]

Ok. I think I'll need to break this up a bit more than I thought as it won't just be me.

470 miles from Calais to Stuttgart. + doncaster to Calais.
Somehow fit a route that covers Como ,Davis,zernes, stelvio..then up through Austria.

Right time to do some serious thinking. I've just ordered a paper atlas can't get on with internet maps.

[Pesty]

im thinking

1 maybe two days to Stutgart
stutgart to Davos

Davos to stelvio pass then Innsbruck and back home or more direct north

[Pesty]

so it is doable in 5 days then

[Pesty]

Grahamr123 said:

I've done a similar trip last year. Would recommend the Stelvio pass to Davos, and then on wards to the Fluela pass which is a little bit on from Davos.

Compulsory photo album: http://imgur.com/a/meqQd

Excellent. Love those mountains.

Fluela pass and stelvio is the route I've put on the map a few posts up. So far that's the only definite part of the route I'd like to take.

What program did you use to get the map with locations and times on?

[Pesty]

Klausen pass looks awesome.

So far we are good to go. Mrs is on board ( sort of she likes beeches) but she says it's a good idea.

[Pesty]

Tip for people with 22 year old cars don't leave maintenance to the last minute before a trip ( well not completely my fault i had planned to do it but was delivered wrong parts).
Was planning on going tomorrow. all sorted. breakdown cover organised trip route set. packed.


Replaced knackered fan bearing yesterday, today changed gear box oil, all ok ready to go notice 22 year old soft brake line looks rusty ( mech said when it was serviced they needed replacing) I actually ordered replacements they came last week when i was off but goodridge sent wrong ones. figured they would wait.

Poked fitting a bit today when undreneath to see extent of rust and it just crumbled away im not risking stelvio on brakes that look like they will disintegrate and leak any minute

have to do it next year.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 25th August 22:25

[Pesty]

ball to it. still going but taking the bus

[Pesty]

Well not the car I would have chosen but 50mpg is better than 15 and I don't have a headache and back ache.

A little disappointed I saw nothing exotic on any of the passes

Just about to go to the porsche museum.

[Pesty]

Thanks.

It didn't while yes it was disappointing to be honest it was for the best. for one I would have had to do all the driving as she wont drive it. plus fuel and i wasn't joking about the headaches. next time will take the Porsche but go for longer.

not what I would have chosen but pretty perfect for a euro trip.