Europe trip in Terrano

[AlexD333]

So me and the missus are planning a trip to Europe, ferry to France and yeah, you get the rest.

If you are on a pc as opposed to a tablet you will be able to view this rough route.

We want to avoid all toll roads as we did last time, the result is some fantastic scenic routes and small villages :thumb2

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Northolt+UB5+6QQ,+UK/Bruges,+Belgium/Black+Forest,+Hausach,+Germany/Harry%27s+Home+Dornbirn,+Klostergasse+8,+6850+Dorn birn,+Austria/Innsbruck,+Austria/Trento,+Italy/Genoa,+Italy/Lyon,+France/Autun,+France/Northolt/@47.5945345,-3.995354,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m64!4m63!1m5!1m1!1s0x48766d3ee7c8f7 1b:0xe86ec59c4c49ff52!2m2!1d-0.3965408!2d51.5386364!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c350d0c11e420 d:0x1aa2f35ac8834df7!2m2!1d3.2246995!2d51.209348!1 m5!1m1!1s0x4790cddef618d06d:0x2d22029a879d6bae!2m2 !1d8.15!2d48.3!1m5!1m1!1s0x479b6b4ce679785b:0xcd19 8a2f942901f6!2m2!1d9.740691!2d47.415541!1m5!1m1!1s 0x479d6ecfe1f8ca73:0x9d201c7d281d9b0d!2m2!1d11.404 1024!2d47.2692124!1m5!1m1!1s0x478277944aff3d01:0x3 07098715907ec0!2m2!1d11.1175392!2d46.0512004!1m5!1 m1!1s0x12d34152dcd49aad:0x236a84f11881620a!2m2!1d8 .946256!2d44.4056499!1m5!1m1!1s0x47f4ea516ae88797: 0x408ab2ae4bb21f0!2m2!1d4.835659!2d45.764043!1m5!1 m1!1s0x47f2390a75f91555:0x409ce34b30ef430!2m2!1d4. 301565!2d46.950914!1m5!1m1!1s0x487612b35737235d:0x 6ff7fbfe499a46b4!2m2!1d-0.373103!2d51.546615!2m1!2b1!3e0

Whilst we are on the travel subject we want to stop at my favourite hotel in Austria (Harry's home in Dornbirn)

In the mean time we will be camping and occasional hotel/motel where needed.

Still checking all possibilities for tent, I would love a pop up tent but nothing big enough, I want something 180cm high or taller, but also easy to assemble.

Any ideas? I was sold on the other one until I saw a video, takes ages to assemble :o could be tricky after 8 hours driving in the dark...

I welcome all tent suggestions, caravan (and Pete's motorhome) out of the question :augie

[AlexD333]

For those of you that cant see it here is. Screenshot :thumb2

[perelaar]

with a small detour (E40 after Brussels instead of E411) you could stay for the night in our place - halfway Brussels and Liège :). Let me know if need any information about Belgium.

Bruges is nice, but very touristic. Very nice off road playground in Andenne, close to Namur (on E411), if you are so inclined. And one of the nicest clay shooting terrains in Belgium!

Once you are in Italy, you are passing close to Brescia. Very nice sparkling wine there, Franciacorta region. Not cheap, but in my opinion better than most champagne.

A word of caution though: be very careful with speed in Belgium, and definitively in Germany and France!

[elty001]

Quite a few of these on the market now from various manufacturers
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kelty-Mach-6-Airpitch-Inflatable-6-Man-Tent-Inc-Free-Footprint-Footpump-/281589631590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item41900cca66
or this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gelert-Unisex-OMEGA-Air-4-Tent-High-Quality-Outdoors-Camping-Accessory-Brand-New/171660007888?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D29952%26meid%3Dcb8dcb600eee480d93bc680f4640 a639%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D2815 89631590&rt=nc

[JCH]

Be very careful with your speed, and remember that every village,town or city has a maximum speed limit of 50 km/hr.Also number of villages are reducing to 30 km/hr, so be very careful.Where we live inThe Vendee most villages have already added signs to say in parts of the village the speed limit is 30.
Remember the Ploce Nationale and the Gendarmerie can give out on the spot fines of up to 350 €' and if you do not have the cash on you, will take your keys and actually drive you to a hole in the wall.
Enjoy but be careful
Jon

[perelaar]

Same in Belgium (although most likely you'll be in a traffic jam on the highway, so no speeding fines possible).
Do watch out for average speed checks in France, Belgium and Germany: average speed is calculated over a certain distance (can be several miles or more!).

[jims-terrano]

Since my visit to the battlefields last summer I've fanced driving down that way until I read all these comments about speed cameras and fines. May be it's easier to let a coach driver take the hit instead.

[Sweety]

As for tents I like the Coleman ones & it takes us an hours to get fully set up but that inc putting up 3 windbreaks so the dog can't just wonder off, setting up the kitchen unit, bed up, electric hook up connected etc & the kettle on:lol They are now doing tents with blow up frames so you don't have to faff about with tent poles but the best advice I can give is to go to a large camping place who have tents set up on display & go in each tent & spend a little time inside it to get a feel of the space inside & work out where you would store things. Also check the hydro head rating (what the water proofing will handle) a tent with a sown in ground sheet will be warmer but more importantly will a great deal drier. Once you have found a tent you like you can then search different stores & online for the best price

[jonela]

Since my visit to the battlefields last summer I've fanced driving down that way until I read all these comments about speed cameras and fines. May be it's easier to let a coach driver take the hit instead.
Don't be put off by tale you hear Jim, it' not that bad.
I'v lived here for thirteen years and in that time I'v never had a ticket for anything. I'v only been stopped and had my papers checked three times.and if you have UK plates far from being picked on you usually get past over especially if you look like a tourist.
Lots of places in France like Brittany rely heavily on tourism,so the last thing they want is to put people off by victimizing them
As long as you are sensible it's great driving here.I can travel to the next town 20 min away at rush hours on the duel carriage way and I may see 10 other cars.:thumb2

[AlexD333]

Thanks to everyone who has input and tent info will go a long way, tent noobie here, I want something that is a one piece tent no extra floor malarkey, I want one super bedroom and one nice living area for sure.

Me and the missus will also look at the E40 :thumb2

Don't think there is too much chance of speeding in the old battle bus :lol

Excited about the whole trip and the chance to use a nice tent.

I want it to be a good one so the missus enjoys the idea of a nice tent. (More future man cave stuff for me :lol)

[AlexD333]

Quite a few of these on the market now from various manufacturers
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kelty-Mach-6-Airpitch-Inflatable-6-Man-Tent-Inc-Free-Footprint-Footpump-/281589631590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item41900cca66
or this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gelert-Unisex-OMEGA-Air-4-Tent-High-Quality-Outdoors-Camping-Accessory-Brand-New/171660007888?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D29952%26meid%3Dcb8dcb600eee480d93bc680f4640 a639%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D2815 89631590&rt=nc


Oh rly? :naughty:naughty:naughty

Now your talking my language. I could run it off the 12v on terrano :augie

[jims-terrano]

May be if the Skoda turns up I may follow in your foot steps or at least as far as Belgium and France:rolleyes:

[johnb5177]

I have got agree with Jonela, I have been here 7 years; stopped twice for the dreaded `Controls`, no problem, all the paperwork in place, no alcohol, no speeding.....that's what speed limits and speedometers are for..........:nenau ......so no worries with cameras etc.

Enjoy the trip, see some magnificent countryside, and meet some interesting people..........:thumb2

[rustic]

Alex, thanks for the map, we had thought about driving down to the south of France this year..to see the Milleau Viaduct, as my wife likes bridges.
We were looking for a toll free road too, for our road trip, so we could follow yours to Lyon and go from there.:thumb2
That is one big trip you are planning...:thumb2
We had considered a possible alternative of flying, but not a good news day today re aeroplanes.
If you are going in your Terrano, I would check the speedo vs GPS as the bigger wheels could get you a ticket or three :doh

[don simon]

As you've got the roofbars done, you could look at something like this for the tent http://www.direct4x4.co.uk/awning-tent-with-pullout-awning-included. It's a similar set up to mine, the tent is a one piece unit that hangs off the awning frame. i have an extra awning piece so that the tent has an awning. You get access into the truck from the tent too. Top bit of kit for the money.

[perelaar]

Top tip for speeding tickets: don't drive faster than most other people :)

There was a big faff here in Belgium about having to redo your driving exam after being caught (for major traffic law abuses) multiple times in the course of 3 years. Went along with it until I realised that in 18 years of driving I never ever got fined for one of those...
Talking about >15mph over allowed speed in built up areas, drunk driving, etc.

[jonela]

When in France don't drive like the French, THEY'RE ALL MAD !
They drive like it's a participation sport,and they're indestructible :doh

[perelaar]

But French cars are indestructible - once all the loose parts have fallen off, they keep going :)

[AlexD333]

But my terrano would win this one :sly

I have to say from a bikers point of view, the people, scenery, roads and drivers were some of the best we experienced last time!

[Ogri]

Looks like fun.

If you can possibly fit it in, the road from Koblenz following the Mosel river down to Trier is a stunning route.

As for tents, check out Khyam (www.khyam.co.uk) they're incredibly easy to pitch and strike but not sure if they have built-in ground sheets or not these days? Click on the "Quick Erect" section.

[macabethiel]

So me and the missus are planning a trip to Europe, ferry to France and yeah, you get the rest.

If you are on a pc as opposed to a tablet you will be able to view this rough route.

We want to avoid all toll roads as we did last time, the result is some fantastic scenic routes and small villages :thumb2

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Northolt+UB5+6QQ,+UK/Bruges,+Belgium/Black+Forest,+Hausach,+Germany/Harry%27s+Home+Dornbirn,+Klostergasse+8,+6850+Dorn birn,+Austria/Innsbruck,+Austria/Trento,+Italy/Genoa,+Italy/Lyon,+France/Autun,+France/Northolt/@47.5945345,-3.995354,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m64!4m63!1m5!1m1!1s0x48766d3ee7c8f7 1b:0xe86ec59c4c49ff52!2m2!1d-0.3965408!2d51.5386364!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c350d0c11e420 d:0x1aa2f35ac8834df7!2m2!1d3.2246995!2d51.209348!1 m5!1m1!1s0x4790cddef618d06d:0x2d22029a879d6bae!2m2 !1d8.15!2d48.3!1m5!1m1!1s0x479b6b4ce679785b:0xcd19 8a2f942901f6!2m2!1d9.740691!2d47.415541!1m5!1m1!1s 0x479d6ecfe1f8ca73:0x9d201c7d281d9b0d!2m2!1d11.404 1024!2d47.2692124!1m5!1m1!1s0x478277944aff3d01:0x3 07098715907ec0!2m2!1d11.1175392!2d46.0512004!1m5!1 m1!1s0x12d34152dcd49aad:0x236a84f11881620a!2m2!1d8 .946256!2d44.4056499!1m5!1m1!1s0x47f4ea516ae88797: 0x408ab2ae4bb21f0!2m2!1d4.835659!2d45.764043!1m5!1 m1!1s0x47f2390a75f91555:0x409ce34b30ef430!2m2!1d4. 301565!2d46.950914!1m5!1m1!1s0x487612b35737235d:0x 6ff7fbfe499a46b4!2m2!1d-0.373103!2d51.546615!2m1!2b1!3e0

Whilst we are on the travel subject we want to stop at my favourite hotel in Austria (Harry's home in Dornbirn)

In the mean time we will be camping and occasional hotel/motel where needed.

Still checking all possibilities for tent, I would love a pop up tent but nothing big enough, I want something 180cm high or taller, but also easy to assemble.

Any ideas? I was sold on the other one until I saw a video, takes ages to assemble :o could be tricky after 8 hours driving in the dark...

I welcome all tent suggestions, caravan (and Pete's motorhome) out of the question :augie

My home town is Klagenfurt went there last year for a final visit to see my Cousin Heidi.
Its a beatiful country but I am a little biased - just expensive !!

[johnb5177]

When in France don't drive like the French, THEY'RE ALL MAD !
They drive like it's a participation sport,and they're indestructible :doh

Considering hospital food here is quite expensive, it is amazing how many people are trying to test it..............maniacs...........but very good to motorcyclists...........strange anomaly that........:nenau