Tuscany to Blighty in a day?
Discussion
I'd say unlikely.
I did near Lucca to Calais in 19 1/2 hours just 2 weeks ago,with minimal sleep,just me in the car.
Left village near Lucca which is further north than Cortona at 8pm Saturday arrived Calais docks
at 3.25pm Sunday,plenty of stops for toilet,fuel,food and some rest.
Route i took was Mont Blanc tunnel,i had a return ticket which saves 60% on buying 2 tickets and then
just followed Autoroute all the way,Dijon,Reims etc....
"Maps" shows 14 hours for quickest route,so probably more possible with 2 in car.
I don't know what age you are but i can't do these silly long distances as easily as "maps" suggests.
I did near Lucca to Calais in 19 1/2 hours just 2 weeks ago,with minimal sleep,just me in the car.
Left village near Lucca which is further north than Cortona at 8pm Saturday arrived Calais docks
at 3.25pm Sunday,plenty of stops for toilet,fuel,food and some rest.
Route i took was Mont Blanc tunnel,i had a return ticket which saves 60% on buying 2 tickets and then
just followed Autoroute all the way,Dijon,Reims etc....
"Maps" shows 14 hours for quickest route,so probably more possible with 2 in car.
I don't know what age you are but i can't do these silly long distances as easily as "maps" suggests.
Edited by iva cosworth on Friday 30th May 22:41
If you want to maximise the speed potential and minimize the chances of getting nicked it's best to do most of the route from the Italian border with Switzerland to Calais overnight.In which case it shouldn't be a problem to get to the Simplon by the evening in time for that.Then you don't need to go anywhere near Geneva you just run to Vevey then head for Basel.Then use the German autobahn to Kehl and cross the Rhine to the A4 to Reims.
I did Brindisi to London in 2 and a bit days (probably 2 and a half).
This was in approx. 1991, driving a 1982 Alfasud Sprint. My wife was with me, but at the time she didn't drive.
The first day was taken up with just one motorway, which went up the spine of Italy. Overnighted in Piacenza, and then 2nd overnight in Belgium in a place called Dinant. Had a really nice lunch on day 1 in a motorway service station - linen tablecloths, waiter service and a wine list.
2nd day we did 6 countries in one day, and in those days you chose very carefully which country you picked to re-fuel. The queues at petrol stations near the border were huge.
Wouldn't call it fun exactly, but we'd been on holiday for a month and needed to get home.
Also did Bilbao to Cheltenham in 24 hours. Me and my Dad sharing the driving, in a 1982 1.1 Fiesta. Looking back on this one, it was quite silly - we were both on our last legs on the UK part of the journey.
This was in approx. 1991, driving a 1982 Alfasud Sprint. My wife was with me, but at the time she didn't drive.
The first day was taken up with just one motorway, which went up the spine of Italy. Overnighted in Piacenza, and then 2nd overnight in Belgium in a place called Dinant. Had a really nice lunch on day 1 in a motorway service station - linen tablecloths, waiter service and a wine list.
2nd day we did 6 countries in one day, and in those days you chose very carefully which country you picked to re-fuel. The queues at petrol stations near the border were huge.
Wouldn't call it fun exactly, but we'd been on holiday for a month and needed to get home.
Also did Bilbao to Cheltenham in 24 hours. Me and my Dad sharing the driving, in a 1982 1.1 Fiesta. Looking back on this one, it was quite silly - we were both on our last legs on the UK part of the journey.
Lucca to Lichfield in two days via Burgandy region in France . First day took us to the Burgundy district to pick up a fair bit of wine, and other items from a tiny village and stopped overnight. Second day onto Calais and onto a ferry over to Dover and then onto London round the M25 up the M40 then home in Lichfield( at the time).
Second day was a long drag and I would not chose to repeat that drive. Personally I would rather take three or four days off the toll roads in France stopping in the superb accommodation which most districts have once away from the hubbub of the main roads. I dislike the French autoroutes.
This drive settled for me that jet travel is not only the cheapest form of transport over such distances it is also the best. Much as I love driving the reality of the grind across such distances and the cost with tolls and ferry charges is just prohibitive. I did enjoy it, I was glad to be involved, but I would not wish to do that drive again. Certainly not in the tight timeframe we had it was just too wearing. I honestly think that the costs of such travel is now prohibitive against the low cost airlines approach. We dd move several cwt of gear but the journey did remind me of the benefits of air travel.
Second day was a long drag and I would not chose to repeat that drive. Personally I would rather take three or four days off the toll roads in France stopping in the superb accommodation which most districts have once away from the hubbub of the main roads. I dislike the French autoroutes.
This drive settled for me that jet travel is not only the cheapest form of transport over such distances it is also the best. Much as I love driving the reality of the grind across such distances and the cost with tolls and ferry charges is just prohibitive. I did enjoy it, I was glad to be involved, but I would not wish to do that drive again. Certainly not in the tight timeframe we had it was just too wearing. I honestly think that the costs of such travel is now prohibitive against the low cost airlines approach. We dd move several cwt of gear but the journey did remind me of the benefits of air travel.
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