2016 Euro Alpine Roadtrip Write Up (Pics and Vids) Even More Pics Added!!!!!

[mjn77]

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2016 Euro Roadtrip (Pics and Vids)

Day 1 - Leaving home.

An early start as we leave the house at 5am, so catch the the 7.36am Eurotunnel train. After a slight delay at checkin, we're on our way.....well, i am!



The GF got directed to the Terminal, eventhough we were booked on the same train and checked in one after the other!

So i parked up at the services straight after the Eurotunnel exit and waited for the GF, about 30 mins.



The drive to the hotel wasn't that pleasant. A sunny day soon turned into a miserable day with rain and fog soon moving in, as we drove close to Mittlach in Eastern France.







But the fog was very patchy.



Finally arriving here









Then it was time for food and beer after a long drive



Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 13 hours / 558 miles

[mjn77]

Day 2 - The German Alpine Road

An early start, complete with breakfast and a quick hello to the cat, sees us on the road at 9.30am.





Our destination today?



But before we start the German Alpine Road, we have the little matter of the Rhine Falls











Then a quick ferry trip across Lake Bodonsee from Konstanz to Lindau





We parked up in Lindau were we saw this lovely old Mercedes





Wasn't long before we reached the hotel and had food.







Arriving at the hotel, we discovered that owners spoke zero English, so it was Google Translate to the rescue. Still managed to order beer though



The view from the hotel balcony?



A lot of trees!!

Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 10 hours / 280 miles

[mjn77]

Day 3 - More German Alpine Road.....and the start of car problems

To start today we had quite possibly the best breakfast ever in a hotel! Bearing in mind, it was just the two of us staying there....we ate as much as we could!



Today's destination?



After feasting we set off and were soon munching up the miles
















Once again having to avoid animals on the road (a reoccurring theme)





Until..............



Not only that, the GF was complaining of a "weird" noise when turning right. So we quickly located a BMW Dealer in Bad Tolz



And resolved both issues. Mine was simple



And we discovered the GF had managed to badly scuff one of her front tyres on a hairpin, lol, oops. So after the unscheduled pitstop, we motored on.











Wasn't long before we arrived at the next hotel



Complete with pristine 70's decor!



Still, nice view on the walk to the pub



More food. And obviously, more beer



Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 8.45 hours / 180 miles

[mjn77]

Day 4 - Bye Bye German Alpine Road, Hello Austria!

Woohoo, Austria. Never been to Austria before, and wasn't sure what to expect, but it was our next destination.



But before Austria, we had a few miles of Germany to finish off first.













Needing to top up food supplies, we found a local Austrian supermarket....poshest i've ever been in!





Then.....our first proper mountain pass!! Solk Pass











Then, the Turracherhohe Pass





Then, the Nockhalm Pass







And finally, our hotel.



And the balcony view.



More food.



More beer




Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 9.45 hours / 271 miles

[mjn77]

Day 5 - Houston, we have a problem!

A lovely sunny day, and it appears my car attracted some local talent



The suspects......







Anyway, today's destination?



Via......firstly, the Grossglockner Pass. Any boy was this place busy, never seen a mountain pass so busy. At the base of the pass, is a little town where we stopped for a short break.



Then it was time to start the climb.









At the top













Disaster struck at the top. The GF's car decided to throw an error light for low oil pressure. So we sat around at the top of the Grossglockner for hours sorting out breakdown company. Breakdown company phoned at 11.16am, tow truck arrived at 2.30pm!



The GF went with her car to the dealer, and i carried on.



On to Monte Zoncolan









Then Passo Falzarego



And finally, Passo Valparola



The hotel



The pizza



By this time it was 8pm, and the GF still hadn't arrived at the hotel. We'd kept in contact and i knew what was going on, but she was supposed to be leaving the dealer by 6pm in a taxi. Long story short, i had to drive back to Austria to collect her at the border, where she had been given a lift, via the tow company owner. Didn't arrive back at hotel until 10.20pm!!!

Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 9.45 hours / 338 miles, add in the extra trip back to Austria, and the figures are 12 hours / 438 miles.

[mjn77]

Day 6 - Only one car

With the GF's car out of action, we're down to one car, which halved the fuel costs, but put a downer on the rest of the trip really. Anyway, our hotel for tonight.



My memory is a little hazy about today, but i think the first pass of the day was the Jaufenpass / Passo Giovo, which was seriously foggy. Yet it was mesmorising watching the fog roll up the side of the mountain above the road.











The Jaufenpass led straight into the Timmelsjoch Pass, which was miserable as hell, probably due to all the building work going on there.









More animals in the road!



Onwards to the Fluela Pass









Albula Pass







Hotel



And hotel = food and beer!!





Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 8.5 hours / 289 miles

[mjn77]

Day 7 - The Italian Job

Today saw us only drive 3 passes in total, the Spluga Pass, San Bernardino and Colle del Nivolet. The Colle del Nivolet was an hours drive from base to peak alone.

Destination for tonight?



Hydro Electric Damn on approach to the Spluga Pass









More damn animals in the road!



Spluga Pass and border patrol





Ooooo, am i in Italy or Switzerland?



Hmmmmm, those safety barriers look erm....







And more damn (geddit?) animals (beavers) in the road



San Bernardino Pass









Quick break in this Swiss/Italian town







The beginning.....

This pass is well known due to the original Italian Job film and the infamous ending. In real life it is a dead end, not a road out of Italy.









The top!!

And parking spot for the night.











The accommodation















The path





The view









And even more beer!!



Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 9 hours / 240 miles

[mjn77]

Day 8 - Home

Home was 750 miles away over the Alps! A super early start saw us leave the refuge at 7.50am.





Heading for the Great St. Bernard Pass.....via food.







At the peak



Collecting a few bugs on the windscreen



Final stats for the journey (but i forgot to reset the trip until 50 miles / 51 mins into the journey, so add 50 miles and 51 mins to the figures)



Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/etc) - 15 hours / 751 miles

[mjn77]

Thanks for reading / looking

All photos are geotagged, so you can obtain their exact location and if you want any more of a particular place, let me know and i'll see what i have.

Videos to follow as well.

[Vitacura]

Amazing journey, thank you for sharing! Sorry to hear about the car troubles.

[mjn77]

We left it in Austria.

The damage to the GF's 120i.....

[StatenEye]

Awesome pics. I totally read the title thinking you made the trip to go to a Euro (cup) 2016 for a match or two ha.

[angelr]

Thanks for sharing!

For a fella that subsists on pizza and beer you stay remarkably svelte

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by angelr

Thanks for sharing!

For a fella that subsists on pizza and beer you stay remarkably svelte

That'll be the 6 hours of Kickboxing a week i do

[angelr]

Originally Posted by mjn77

That'll be the 6 hours of Kickboxing a week i do

That'll do it

[Route 16]

Awesome trip and lucky you have a girl that appreciates traveling and DRIVING.

[Dackelone]

Such a GREAT adventure you guys had. I really enjoyed riding along with you. Sorry to hear about your GF's car woes. I never tire of driving the Alps and these high passes.


PS: Where are the videos ?

[mjn77]

Videos when i upload them

This weekend hopefully.

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Sorry to hear about your GF's car woes.

Teach her for buying a 120i.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mjn77;20224869I think its cool that she

Teach her for buying a 120i.

I think its cool that she had the balls to drive her own car all the way on this tour along side you & your car. I still find it hard to fathom that both of you drove essentially solo on this tour of the Alps. You guys are die hards thru and thru!


PS: Got any more pics of your tour? I can't get enough!!!

[mjn77]

Lol, yeah, i have more photos.

Let me get my little 'un tucked up in bed and i'll sort them.

[mjn77]

More photos for Dackelone

Day 1