Arbon on the Bodensee, very pretty. And just to make you all jealous, the ring is where Andrea and I work. Ohhh life's tough Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow, that is a pretty place. Wolfgang, We are not hoping on a higher average speed. We just go with the flow. We have lots of time. Marc, Mark and Kevan, Quattro ditto that! Simon, Andrea, We trust on your opinion. As long as you guys book us into a good hotel and show us a good place to eat we are fine.
Simon has just been employed by the Bodensee Tourism Board as general manager of marketing activities What I meant is that Arbon is boring for those who expect a lively, nigh-life-packed tourist resort on the lake. It's NOT. It's a residential area where (swiss) people eat at 6PM and go to sleep at 8PM. When I want to have fun, I go to S. Gallen or to Konstanz in Germany, much more life! Other than that, the historical part of Arbon is very pretty and it has a very ancient history: it used to be the site of a massive Roman fort - and part of the Roman walls are still visible as they are included in the structure of the Römerhof Hotel!! Simon, the Frohsinn also has good parking just behind the hotel, the cars would be parked just behind the rooms. Also, we could dine on the terrace while overlooking our F-cars in the sunset! How cool is that! Wolfgang, on Sunday we will have to meet at 9AM READY TO GO. If we want to have a nice tour (Julierpass, St. Moritz, Lecco, Milan, A7 "nurburgring" Autobahn to Genova) and be in time for U'Giancu we can't waste any time. If we leave late we'll have to drive the S. Bernardino and boring highway all the way to Milan.
Thanks, sounds perfect! We will arrive at 08:00a.m. for breakfast (together with all the participants) in the hotel in Arbon!
Marc, Ton, Kevan Update on plan is to travel on the 8.28 tunnel arriving in Calais at 10.03 am local time, Ton, I'd guess we will be in the Liege area around 12.30pm, might take anotehr look at the route as Wolfgang is now meeting us for Breakfast on Sunday, I'll come back with my ideas and we can check with local knowledge Marc, I'm not sure if you are aware but Kevan and I, and our respective other halves are staying in Italy for another week after the tour so our return isn't until 22nd July
Mark, I still believe that the fastest route for you is from Calais to Metz. If you drive via Liege it will be at least 100km more. We could meet at any point between Metz and Basel. I will probably drive Liege, Luxembourg, Metz.
Ton The Sat Nav shows Reims, Luxembourg etc but I think via Liege is only 60kms more and avoids the peage/radar on French motorways! I'll spend some time over the next day or two to look at the options
When I was living in UK, to go back to Italy my best way was through Reims, Chalons en Champagne, Vitry le Francois, Saint Dizier, Toul, Nancy, Luneville, Saint Die des voges, Colmar, Basel, Luzern, S. Gotthard etcetera. I know that that means a lot of secondary roads in France, but they are pretty large and without too much traffic. Ciao Eugenio
Mark, This is what my routeplanner comes up with! We could choose to meet near Metz and cross the border near Strassbourg and drive the rest through Germany. Or you could choose to drive via Liege (second picture). That is the easiest option for me of course. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The second one over STUTTGART is much better and faster to drive. More "autobahn", no speed limit, beautiful surrounding and the 40km extra realy worth it to drive the second route, IMO.
Ok! Thanks! But I understand that there is a lot of roadworks going on between Cologne and Stuttgart. And it is also the holiday season. Do you still think that it will be faster to drive over Germany?
Yeah, you might be right on this. During the summer time the flying dutchmen are all over europe with their caravans Serious, from Cologne till Karlsruhe it could be a bit stressfull; but after Karlsruhe the fun starts. A real highlight is the A81 from Stuttgart to the Bodensee - no speed limit, curvey, wonderful surrounding, new asphalt with great grip All depends on the day & time you are driving.
I'm still thinking Liege, Trier, Kaiserslautern, Stuttgart, Arbon, this avoids the Koln Motorway and French tolls and let's us meet up with Ton. The Liege-Trier motorway has always been empty when I've driven it even no Dutch caravans and we get to do the A81 937 kms I will be doing this route in 5 weeks time again on my way to Austria for a week's more skiing Ton off topic but I will be at a Trackday at Spa on 10th April if you would like to meet up
Mark, It is all fine with me. We will adjust to your schedule. The route via Liege is the easiest way for me to meet up with you guys. I am looking forward to meeting you guys there. off topic: You have email!
I knew you were there for a weekend, didn't realise it was longer, but in any case I have tentative plans to meet up with Alex and Mario (came to Scotland last year) in Switzerland on the weekend of the 15th on the way home.
I will go with the flow, and just try to keep up with the V12 boys!! I always prefer to go a longer way round to avoid traffic though - and if an extra few kms means more stunning surroundings vs boring motorways then that is my preference.
