Mazda Rotary Club

General => Rotary and General Chit-Chat => Topic started by: CrissyUK on August 27, 2014, 09:29:47 PM

Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on August 27, 2014, 09:29:47 PM
Hi All,

Arnie_O and I will be setting off for a repeat of my previous epic road trip back in 2009, only this time taking in all the scenic routes through France, Italy and Germany with plenty of stops along the way.

The plan is to drive down the Route Napoleon from Paris via Grenoble to the French Riviera (where there will be an impromptu Rotary Meet) then all along the Italian Riviera and if I don\'t get arrested and extraordinarily renditioned for :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing people off over there some 20 years ago (they still remember) we will then spend a few days stealing figs from my parents\' neighbours.

Assuming we won\'t be too fat for the N/A RX-8 we will be tackling the Stelvio Pass (sick bags: check) and finally, after all this practice up and down mountain roads we will be heading over to the Ring which at that point should be a doddle to drive for Aston. Apparently he is not letting me go round even if I have been there before and didn\'t get lost!

So, why am I telling ya\' all this?

Because it would be awesome to meet some of you continental rotary peeps along the way  :-)  This is what happened (http://mazdarotaryclub.com/wiki/doku.php?id=rotary-revs:issue28) last time I drove to Italy...

Dates:

France: 5-8th September
Italy: 9-12th September
Germany: 12-14th September

Stay tuned for more updates, pics, selfies, videos, etc.  :WaveBye
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: exiled-viking on August 27, 2014, 10:11:45 PM
that would be a trip like like to be on sounds awesome :Thumbsup!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: rote8 on August 28, 2014, 03:28:23 PM
Hope you both have a good trip, sounds stunning.:WaveBye:WaveBye Trust Aston to be getting in some practice around the Ring in preparation for next years possible trip.:(
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on August 28, 2014, 03:50:20 PM
He will be practicing for the practice round the ring on this at first:

(http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w321/GTConvert/new/DSC00259.jpg)

and around this later (if they got the forecast of heavy snow wrong):

(http://cdn0.sentres.com/photos/3696/large/prato-allo-stelvio---passo-dello-stelvio---muestair--bici-da-corsa.jpg)

The Ring is going to be easy to navigate by comparison as it\'s a one way system and usually buses travel in the same direction as you...  :D

Group trip next year?
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: clive on August 28, 2014, 07:36:28 PM
Now I know why Aston wants some brakes on his car:rollin-------enjoy
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: Casey on August 28, 2014, 09:13:05 PM
Hoping Gwyn and I will meet up with you both at Monte Carlo, as it seems you will be arriving there on the same day as Gwyn & I are in the port off our P&O "Azura" Med cruise. It would be great to get some pics of us all (and the car) outside the Casino and Hotel de Paris :)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: Arnie_O on August 30, 2014, 10:37:56 AM
Yes Clive I hope you now understand my urgency for renewed stopping power.
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 05, 2014, 08:01:03 AM
Well, the epic trip is off to a good start. DFDS Seaways have been brilliant in handling the check-in and we discovered the reason for so many illegals entering the UK: customs people can\'t be bothered to check documents.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwxnRFNIIAAtsPm.jpg:large)

Despite extensive servicing and tuning efforts by Mr. Tadpole the car seems to be ok (no implosions or explosions) and made it onto the boat. Now the race with Malcolm to Monaco begins! Can anyone have his cruise ship arrested so we get there first?

:3gears-rh
Title: The epic trip
Post by: Mr Froggy on September 05, 2014, 09:21:45 AM
Glad you got off with a good start. Hope you have a great trip
Post plenty of pics.
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: Casey on September 06, 2014, 08:11:30 AM
We are bang on schedule for the Top Gear style race to Monte Carlo! Just berthing at Ajaccio, Corsica, as I type this. Then Citavivecchia and Monte Carlo :wiggle

Weather on the cruise here from Southampton has been amazing. Never seen the Atlantic and Med so calm. Temps of 25+ all the way....

See u guys soon!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: clive on September 06, 2014, 01:27:51 PM
Quote from: Casey;882583We are bang on schedule for the Top Gear style race to Monte
I\'ll take a wild guess that your journey is just that little more relaxed :Giggle

Have fun out there
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: Arnie_O on September 08, 2014, 07:47:06 PM
We had more fun and while I must say we only just made it in time to spot Malcolm in his yacht. I will take the moral high round and claim the victory as it took us less time to get here.
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: re japi on September 09, 2014, 04:43:05 AM
lol Have a good time there! :)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 10, 2014, 08:20:27 PM
A little late with the updates but here it goes...

Day 2 of our epic road trip saw us taking in the sights in Paris. We stayed at a hotel in an area that looked a bit like Walthamstow so we had to take extra measures to ensure the car would stay safe...

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/1948223_10204898765128406_7935600651114178064_n.jpg?oh=aaec7d9472d4a4492602178e8da9f471&oe=54A3C174)

With that bit sorted we hopped on a train and then le metro and got to the Champs Elysees, soon after we spotted this:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10647109_10204899005414413_3102163003115688169_n.jpg?oh=c440c6df4d49a1860b38c494199c7a85&oe=54CF2DA2&__gda__=1420007415_59c569a8a0cd4fefb52df54b48d74820)

...and most interestingly this:

(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q81/p180x540/10620674_10204899233940126_3361093411601216824_n.jpg?oh=d315c633ff6620e9dde644818406302a&oe=54881779)

The walk up to L\' Arc de Triomphe was great: among the various expensive shops were the ateliers of a number of car marques including Mercedes and Renault. Neither of them had any F1 cars inside, however Renault had a Formula E car in the shop window and an elegant bar/restaurant outside where Aston enjoyed a bottle of Ve... ahem Vittel and other fine things.

It was good being tourists for a day and forget about driving... until the following day that is...
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 10, 2014, 08:52:09 PM
Day 3 was the boring drive down to Grenoble which saw us spend several hours driving sensibly on the French motorways as well as this:

Video NSFW (https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204911961858316)

We then bumped into this:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10593060_10204911906976944_4572669892857826421_n.jpg?oh=b0f49abfb7b5b365ae8c16cf23a0c33c&oe=549734A6&__gda__=1418500882_42fe4dbdc88cd75a51fed8e28b9fec9c)

And then the epic balls up happened: Video definitely NSFW (https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204928768238465) :-D luckily it was too early for the police so we got away with it!!

The long drive to Grenoble was rather uneventful but the roads were notably empty unlike the M25 or the M1:

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p526x395/10342403_10153138614078508_3717504831235099329_n.jpg?oh=485a15d492fd566dcc6a05ea4000f624&oe=54980CF8)

...until we got to  this:

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q86/p526x395/10659261_10153139096063508_3556405853543307454_n.jpg?oh=0a5016ded0383b6ddeaaa0b035531ad7&oe=549FEE81)

Which led us to this:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10615470_10153139202133508_8078746440884433479_n.jpg?oh=7f95c8bccc3014260bdd258e7eadd53e&oe=54870827&__gda__=1419730754_f6c87069ee5e040477a7ffa45de129d2)

Where we finally found this:

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/10698491_10204907477706215_4894303848803996418_n.jpg?oh=5a8b2b70c8525232e7ac5a4137e849eb&oe=549B641D)

It was then time for some dinner at a local popular French restaurant situated close to the local Bastille where Aston enjoyed some herbal beer and vegetarian food much to my amusement while I picked all the "man food" from the menu. With the car securely parked right in front of an angel we enjoyed a rest before our big day!

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/10599381_10153140968808508_6656100336595066864_n.jpg?oh=a73034b2a8a8042ab1d9cb4361e72162&oe=549E9487)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 10, 2014, 09:52:14 PM
Day 4 - Route Napoleon

We left Grenoble early and headed towards the Med via the historical route that Napoleon took on his way to Waterloo. Although very modern in places it has retained strong elements of epicness in places. It\'s generally well maintained and fairly easy to drive most of the way with the occasional stretch that I can only describe as terrifying because of the lack of proper barriers despite gi-enormous drops.

Thankfully Aston hooned sensibly and only raced everything from lorries to bikes to mountain goats to leaves 90% of the way, the rest of the time we were sat at traffic lights. ;-)

We have plenty of video evidence of just how awesome this road is but hardly any internet so YouTube links will go up next week. In the meantime here are some pictures I took while on the straights:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10672243_10153141245803508_1163443336713692632_n.jpg?oh=dbca37a257e3ca42370fb861d1ced054&oe=548FC527&__gda__=1418988179_96686f6132b95fe8200c63d06aba5d7c)

Hooning past the locals...

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q86/p526x395/10438128_10153141296613508_3961953677795204177_n.jpg?oh=beb14ec8d1a3585c41b1a1b0f4f3f234&oe=5497CFA9&__gda__=1419726639_d5e4de47603ea515c196bb0c0e80c746)

McPee-tstop...

(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/996144_10204912860600784_309849387862357289_n.jpg?oh=ec01378bceb66b01210c12cc9809b19c&oe=549E577D)

Medieval village at Sisterion

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/q82/p526x395/997039_10153142285988508_5059414996573264312_n.jpg?oh=39c38deb192efd3e40fa8e21b8acc0f0&oe=54969988&__gda__=1419998622_2890ffa0e0d471e77dc64d8ddc48bb6c)

Open, empty road. Let\'s do more hooning.

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q86/p526x395/10628581_10153142287158508_7811885158735131803_n.jpg?oh=0f2556659f8ffa2cef299d5be7bcb915&oe=549CD65C)

Rest area at high altitude with no barriers, just trees.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/q83/p526x395/1620656_10153142288793508_4306697787929860584_n.jpg?oh=58c07753c3f563dab413fd40756bc8a7&oe=5482AC26&__gda__=1418761880_b374aed6aa89967747f4261113a60c49)

...until we finally gatecrashed the Yacht Club to wave at Malcolm on board his ship from the quai. We were unconsolable for about 5 minutes, then realized we were here:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/10363871_10204914599404253_6401877072230276963_n.jpg?oh=9177ca0487b2c39958b7d616c83a28cd&oe=549B650A&__gda__=1419563507_7e37835bfdb19cff1762e1e0ef69c643)

If you look closely you can see Malcolm still waving a red blanket from a window towards the back, two decks from the top:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x395/10701991_10153142272348508_2299218448650058488_n.jpg?oh=9d8b8a9774fa6c922da31e8ad6798ee7&oe=548DCE88&__gda__=1419174195_0e8840697fd5af8dd83107645a646516)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: rote8 on September 11, 2014, 09:25:37 PM
Looking good, :wave all that space on the roads reminds me of the M25. :D That doesn\'t look like a blanket but a pair of red underpants being waved. :evillaugh

Tell Aston that Clayton came good and did the business, also let him know there will be an e-mail to ER waiting for him when you get home.

Enjoy the rest of the trip :3gears-rh and keep the pictures coming.
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 13, 2014, 10:38:21 PM
Day 5 - Monaco to Italy

We woke up in Monaco to another lovely day and despite tired feet from walking a lap of the F1 circuit the night before we set off for more sightseeing... of the F1 circuit of course!

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10635994_10153143593398508_3341718582350574164_n.jpg?oh=3cafbe6a000b11a909773bdd9f9b107d&oe=54CF3376)

Just a few hundred metres from our hotel we spotted this:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10653884_10153143759823508_3351321877448357269_n.jpg?oh=b99eb2d98d6231a097f37fb5bca33bff&oe=54CC4418&__gda__=1422546958_4cf18f6458ea39a07fa1abcc3d29aed9)

Then photographed this:

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10599167_10204919310002015_720266984124409880_n.jpg?oh=2b693fb93c722622c39396abda53d1ae&oe=549EA298)

And had another drink ON the actual F1 circuit near a famous corner (hint: left bottom-ish corner):

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s552x414/10660137_10153143811543508_1946732631234234248_n.jpg?oh=d58fdd5a402b58f76bde0f16f0a52a1f&oe=549B6C44)

You can actually see it better here:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p240x240/10428680_10204920739917762_3727851854557712444_n.jpg?oh=ab4ead356ec88aae1fcff54eccfd91a7&oe=5499707C&__gda__=1418170730_d1b2fd681936836583a94ab0bc13a800)

It was then time for Aston to retrieve the car from the absolutely shockingly horrifying underground car parks in Monaco that caused much scrapage on the way down. Here he is emerging from the "bowels of Hell":

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p180x540/10678630_10153143964608508_6376240436500979353_n.jpg?oh=9446f7604e2d564b22f8fceae67f5747&oe=548C525C)

Sadly it was time to leave France and head over to Italy taking the scenic route. Here we have reached the France-Italy border (and no, that\'s not a UFO, it\'s a chip in the windscreen):

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/l/t1.0-9/q84/s552x414/10646988_10153144081418508_2161175382840165747_n.jpg?oh=7ae1eee8166b83f79fb40a94359a0eff&oe=54948D2F)

As we carried on driving down the Via Aurelia (originally built by the Romans around 109BC) behind the yellow Piaggio pick-up truck we came across this (Imperia, where they make pasta machines):

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s552x414/10702239_10153144208508508_689930014756697607_n.jpg?oh=3f1f6dcc5bd76631831d36c3fe5b31c0&oe=54C9DEE3)

From then on the road was mostly like this (apologies for the blurring, phone was struggling with low lighting at dusk):

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q84/s552x414/10653749_10153145926753508_3348385157955723335_n.jpg?oh=710edab157dd5b8f6d647156dee776ec&oe=5483728A)

After a lot of hooning on the Autostrada dei Trafori (tunnels!) we finally arrived at my parents\' home for a couple of days rest:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q85/p417x417/1601062_10204923536947686_8307646234401639272_n.jpg?oh=c33e5928ff581b2999684074f036df6d&oe=548E36EC&__gda__=1422459675_93942121fde4fe7634f8a13bc900c00b)

:-)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 13, 2014, 10:48:28 PM
Days 6 - 7

After driving over 2500 Km in a few days it was lovely to wake up to a familiar view:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q86/s552x414/10171210_10153145971688508_728626014614665489_n.jpg?oh=4d8fc38180a441d0ca00291a1b70ca1e&oe=5496885B)

We didn\'t actually do much rotary related while over there apart from eating like pigs and taking a few pictures of Aston\'s car in scenic places:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10690176_10204937500616769_2691971553731583387_n.jpg?oh=eb1b722db6e2532ca64b862ada02a966&oe=5497B2C7)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/q83/s552x414/10366124_10153149670753508_3323642334521023733_n.jpg?oh=61759897699f55d2dab81b3a5ac0edba&oe=54880BD3&__gda__=1422455377_99c68a8ed5d7de5dbc5539e9c215b1ce)

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10676115_10204941273031077_7397512389062623788_n.jpg?oh=e03b9a8791fdd39b40563fe734ef3f87&oe=549E692F)

Of course we had to pay a visit (get lost) to the "Tron motorway":

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10606064_10204940804739370_3911041448427348834_n.jpg?oh=21215bbddc17f9383852e82890096203&oe=549550C6)

Soon after that pictures was taken we were stopped by the local police who pretended to check our documents while asking about the car. So I thought it was only fair that they told us where the nearest Pizzeria was.

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s552x414/10626560_10153149582993508_1269375130393386305_n.jpg?oh=556ce84c0eee77d44784901ede37c8c5&oe=54CC8292)

One more sleep and then it was time to head for Switzerland. Achtung!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 13, 2014, 11:10:18 PM
Day 8 - San Bernardino Pass, CH

Our original plan was to get to Germany via the Stelvio Pass however it was snowing up there and decided that, since we are champions at travelling light (not!), it wasn\'t a good idea to even attempt it in sub freezing temperatures. So we decided to take the slightly shorter route via the San Bernardino pass in Switzerland.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q83/s552x414/10636201_10153151245033508_5886767666911668361_n.jpg?oh=093e0409c8f833fa229d12ef60e6951f&oe=54CCBC7E&__gda__=1418241973_0b0a6a1bcbef6a736acd9a3e5924bcec)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q83/s851x315/10622722_10153154188088508_7978750849611046848_n.jpg?oh=8982ae08f9d98a9cf6b2ab55c07fb156&oe=54C9AFF9&__gda__=1422693938_a1f9c0b961765345007d63d014dba30b)

As we were approaching the road to the pass we came across unusual obstacles:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q83/s552x414/10649613_10153151557038508_278157658837505130_n.jpg?oh=456fafb3ddcf6bc52c71dab44c3f0738&oe=548CFECF&__gda__=1418133466_c3a1c0b62bcde579e19aecbaea9a114b)

Finally, we started the climb up towards the pass and what do we come across? A set of traffic lights and no tarmac through the first few twisties with flimsy barriers:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q82/s851x315/10417729_10153154197898508_2175615023086617508_n.jpg?oh=cdb9418ef5156e9c06838bc749847bd3&oe=54CCEADA&__gda__=1418855004_3fe3fb7f6dcb5f4c035f48d73ca0a1a1)

After much hoonage (Aston) and screaming in terror (me) we reached the Pass but as it started to rain we didn\'t stop to take pictures. We did that a little bit earlier where the views were stunning:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10649782_10204944028859971_2981650458162509444_n.jpg?oh=829cb017ec72f7bde1997655d12cd3a8&oe=549BA04F&__gda__=1418258164_bc506a4cf75874aa1f4ad3c826378989)

The descent from the top of the Pass was absolutely terrifying for me as a passenger as there are no barriers and it\'s hairpin after hairpin with massive gradients and what looked like dubious road surfaces which are actually made out of high grip tarmac. Still, not fun when you are not in control of the car and your other half tries to drift and then denies it.  :reallymad

After some more hoonage around Switzerland we decided to stop at a random cafe\' at the side of the road that had this in their back garden:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/q83/p417x417/10698504_10204944014339608_1809640233336580972_n.jpg?oh=b4f2774c8a943cd65ab24db387cbb3fa&oe=548DBD21&__gda__=1418777886_b37109eff68638fcb028fac2272c5ac0)

Mucho drop:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p261x260/10603519_10204944036420160_8283485241685466101_n.jpg?oh=834f415398f1a055391dc7c4eba2232b&oe=5490EDF0)

After this point we made the most of the remaining maps on the TomTom and headed straight for Lake Constance through Heidiland, with a quick hoon into Lichtenstein where we saw the only other RX-8 of our trip so far and then... just as it turned dark and super wet the maps stopped and 3 don\'t have a deal with the German telecoms so no Google maps either. Somehow with just a paper map (who else remembers those?) we managed to reach our destination where thanks to a foot in mouth moment the receptionist gave us a suite instead of a room. At the end of a rather enjoyable but also stressful day we really needed this:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10620653_10204944057020675_4083084522435202253_n.jpg?oh=33fbcee521a081a8fb5dd7d836151a68&oe=549ADE29&__gda__=1422846928_3d552a87001122f6eb644d9ba3064e0a)

:cheers
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 13, 2014, 11:34:47 PM
Day 9 - Friedrichshafen to Nurburgring

We woke up this morning on the shore of Lake Constance - weather was essentially crap but we still managed to take a few pictures:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10665083_10153153340273508_3444553615104901961_n.jpg?oh=d7dd74b29038df78ad5d56d3334979af&oe=54CDF28D&__gda__=1419105179_124bcd873953a22b3cd4bf97f3992256)

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10628465_10153153338428508_6897718110732254398_n.jpg?oh=6cf476441ca88787db0d9e2ff7c5430a&oe=5486B67B)

They even had a church with a road sign stuck to it!  :p

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10703501_10153153338773508_202136971877307371_n.jpg?oh=99f1c01f55ba9469d95994e86d6ccde1&oe=5488B503)

As we left Bavaria for our final destination on the Continent we found the autobahns but also more rain:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/q86/s851x315/10672260_10153154255638508_399752140483600765_n.jpg?oh=815cc7f6ba3a42c8c40a234e2e4c8d62&oe=549AB325&__gda__=1419154101_466d3d1d5d628e795cf48e41e878cb4d)

Eventually the surface dried up, speed limit disappeared and there was no racing involved past the HockenheimRing:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q85/s851x315/10641251_10153154270963508_448032228782250771_n.jpg?oh=760815b91c6e980797de4913ffe3ccf8&oe=54881CC5)

I think Aston eventually managed to reach 142mph in 4th gear with an Audi up his bumper itching to go past. The RX8 was so smooth and firmly planted on the road that I fell asleep despite the constant beeping. Amazingly the fuel consumption was really good even if we did 400Km at 9000 revs.

If you wonder what the German countryside looks like at that speed here it is:

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s851x315/10583825_10153154268913508_6521669645875673465_n.jpg?oh=f9e8d59b4a6061e3a3fb953320ea22f3&oe=548F3EE3)

As we arrived at our hotel in Nurburg (another suite) we couldn\'t help but wonder "how did they know"?

(https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q84/p417x417/1505434_10204949904846867_3279311830951306047_n.jpg?oh=77e96ebaf653161cd2bd721a679b60a4&oe=54CBC394)

Little stroll before dinner to stretch our legs and take a couple of pictures of this:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/s600x600/10406374_10204949927687438_2902486228204084800_n.jpg?oh=9fdf089eb4e5a2bd5bd2135767b89b4a&oe=549D3D4F)

and this:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10610761_10204949928047447_6627091708368753654_n.jpg?oh=e0b01cef2a098b42d6dc73294c237395&oe=549748B5)

And then this, which we also saw in Monaco near Rascasse:

(https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/1535479_10204949938567710_1390505571672313908_n.jpg?oh=e3b6063657c8edcf61f3595274ec49e1&oe=548D5AE5)

Tomorrow morning, weather permitting, we will attempt a couple of laps of the Nurburgring provided the grizzly bear in the room doesn\'t eat Aston first... oh hang on, it\'s actually Aston snoring... oh well looks like I will have to survive one more terrifying experience as a passenger.

:WaveBye
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: boosted on September 16, 2014, 12:34:37 AM
Hoping for a vid of the \'ring with rotary sound track!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: CrissyUK on September 16, 2014, 07:51:38 AM
Vid in due course, clear lap with hardly any traffic.  ;-)
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: boosted on September 16, 2014, 02:16:23 PM
Sweet!  Never done the ring on the bucket list though!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: boosted on September 17, 2014, 05:19:58 PM
Still waiting on the vid! got a lonely nightshift to fill!
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: Arnie_O on September 17, 2014, 07:02:48 PM
It\'s still on the GoPro but no room on the Ipad to transfer and edit
Title: Another Epic Road Trip: Paris - Route Napoleon - Riviera - Stelvio - Nurburgring
Post by: boosted on October 26, 2014, 09:28:20 AM
:drivingwhere\'s this video of the ring!!!!please!