Italian Lakes - Day 10 - Pont a Mousson - Calais

An early start this morning as it is a long drive to Calais with two stops on the way.

All the cars packed up for the last time before starting todays journey, everyone with the roof down on their car - for those who could, even though it was a little chilly - through country roads and villages to Butte de Montsec.  This is a an American War Memorial, the highest point in the area and can be see from miles around.  There are many WW1 cemeteries etc. in this area.

It was quite eerie  driving to this monument as from some distance away it was the only place that the sun was shining on.

Everyone was quite quiet and thoughtful here, and there were no other visitors this early on a Saturday morning.

Before leaving this was the last opportunity for a group photo of people together with their cars.

Need to get this photo from Martin.




Back in car convoy we continued on country roads before joining the motorway, with a service station stop for fuel and also to grab a sandwich to eat later as there was no scheduled lunch stop today.

A clear journey on the french toll roads to the outskirts of Riems, where we left the motorway for Gueux.  Here there is an old race circuit that used the public roads.  The circuit was used from 1926 to 1972 and all the old race buildings still line the road.

We drove the actual old race circuit in convoy before parking up "Le Mans" style in front of the buildings.

Mark got permission for us to walk through the underpass and into the old grandstand to take more photos

 Views in both directionss of the long strait.












Mark explained that you could go for a "blast" along the strait, but after a few cars doing this, the local police then do a "drive past" this is the signal to stop, and return to correct speed limits. If you don't take notice of the warning they then take action.







Needless to say, when you at an old race track, then it just has to be done !!!

What a superb place for the last stop of the holiday, and this is where we sat on the grass, eating our sandwiches watching the cars "playing".




Reluctantly we had to get back on to the motorway and head for Calais.  Our last services stop was 15 miles from Calais, were Mark & Alison collected all the radios and sat navs, and people said their good byes.  Thats it as far as the group tour, we were now on our own again :(  however we still stayed in convey to the Le Shuttle terminal at Calais.  We were free to get on an earlier train if offered the option as we were booked on the 16.36.  No chance, there was a 90 minute delay - thats all you need.  Time for a coffee in the terminal and to exchange phone numbers with a few people, and watch for our letter "W" to be called.  As soon as "W" came up on the board we went to the car , and to the embarkation point as soon as we could.  Several of us were there, but others were behind.  loaded onto the 17.20 train, but only two of our party on that train, the rest were on another train, as we found out by texts.

Driving back on the correct side of the road, I think we were the first home at just after 6pm.

318 miles today to Calais
84 miles Folkestone to home

A total of 2085 miles for the holiday.

What a fantastic holiday - want to do another one NOW !!!

Made some great friends, and the leadership and organisation of Mark & Alison was superb - thank you.

Italian Lakes - Day 9 - Mulhouse to Pont a Mousson

A late start this morning, and once everyone had manovered out of the underground car park, it was only a couple of miles to the Cite de l'Automobile - Schlumpf Museum which did not open till 10am. All parked together in the car park, and again our collection of cars caused attention with other visitors.

This is one of the biggest motor museums in the world with over 520 cars, and the largest collection of Bugatti's in the world.  We had till 12 noon in the museum.  The collection of cars was amazing  from the very old to the very latest.

 

 By the end of our time here I must admit that although it was an amazing collection, I was a bit "Car'd out".

Time to get back on the road, very different scenery now as out of the mountains, we ascended the Ballon d'Alsace, which is a small pass to the highest pint in the area with long sweeping curves and only a couple of hairpins.

Our lunch stop was this restaurant at the top of the pass.  Very different - no menu, just one option, and no vegetarian option. Thankfully Marion spoke fluent french as they did not speak any english, and could understand and translate what they were saying to us.  When the food arrived, it was a three meat stew with potatoes and carrots - typical rural french food, and very tasty.

It was now a gentle drive along the Mosselle valley to Pont a Mousson for our last night of the holiday.  Our hotel tonight is an old Abbey - Abbaye des Premontres on the banks of the Mosselle.

This was the view of the courtyard from our room.

Whilst waiting for the others we went to the church in this abbey and heard some singing.  Thought it was either tapped music or practice for a wedding as there were also tables and decorations there.  To our surprise it was Sarah and Marion  - everyone just stood on silence - it was amazing.

For our last evening dinner we walked across the river in to the old town to a small local family run restaurant, serving local style food.

Another great evening with lots of laughs and banter.

Back at the Abbey, Sarah and Marion agreed to sing some more songs for us, before turning in for the night.

150 Miles driven today
1683 miles to date.

Italian Lakes - Day 8 - Vairano to Muhouse

Left a few minutes late this morning, but what a lovely view looking over the lake at breakfast.

Today is going to be another "Driving" day with 3 mountain passes to negotiate.

Down the zig zag road from the hotel to the shore of the lake, then back along the lake through the villages.  The look on peoples faces as 12 cars drive past them in convoy is a picture.  It was then out on to the Swiss motorway, but their motorways have great views, and

stopping at the last services for fuel before turning off to ascend the San Gotthard Pass. This was the new pass, the old pass is still usable, but a lot of it is cobbles.

Yes you guessed a spirited drive but on much wider roads and as you would imagine in the Swiss Alps - fantastic scenery.

Had some good fun following John & Diane in the Porsche GT3 .

Over the top of the pass and continued down and then up the Furka Pass. This pass was made famous by the James Bond film "Goldfinger".  Over the top of this pass, and stopped in the car park next to the Belvedere Hotel - also in the film - for a coffee break and photos. You can walk up to the Rhone Glacier from here, but we did not have time.

 
Watching the clouds rolling down the mountain, it looked like some of the next part of the journey was going to be in cloud.  More fun driving, toned down a bit when we were in the cloud as the roads were damp, and then continued up the Grimsel Pass.

Over the top of this pass was in cloud and when we arrived at our lunch stop at the Grimsel Hospiz it was very cloudy.  This place is just above a dam, and as we were all parking the clouds began to clear, and continued clearing while we were having lunch, but is was more windy and very cold and some wished they had not worn shorts today.

Going down the pass and into  the valley there are series of dams and lakes.

Once at the bottom of the pass the scenery changes to lush green valley pastures with villages of typical Swiss chalet style houses, and now touring style driving .










We the rejoined the motorway near Lucerne, and continued round Basle before crossing the boarder into France and to our hotel for the evening in the centre of Mulhouse.

Tonight a group of us together with Mark & Alison had dinner in a little french restaurant that Mark & Alison knew.  Great local food.

215 miles driven today
1533 total to date.

Italian Lakes - Day 7 - Tremezzo to Vairano

What a warm sunny beautiful morning, having breakfast on the veranda with the lake and mountains in the background, and not due to leave until 08.45.

Today was going to be  a leisurely drive along the shores of the lakes.  Unfortunately we did not leave until 11.00 am as there had been an incident in the car park over night with one of the cars being damaged by one of the hotel staff. All sorted and paperwork completed, we started off. Just gentle driving round Lake Como admiring the scenery.

Then heading west across county arriving at the southern shore of Lake Maggiore.  Stopped at a little village - with a large car park - on the shores of the lake for lunch.
We were due to stop at Verbania for lunch and a wonder around, but due to this morning it was not to be.
After a fuel stop ready for tomorrow we continued round the shores of the lake and crossing the Swiss border.

On the way saw a very peculiar rainbow against the mountains. 

Continuing to Locarno, and then along the eastern shore before a steep zig zag climb up to our hotel overlooking the lake.

A lovely afternoon and time for a swim in the outdoor heated pool, which included some of the men acting like kids in the pool !!!

Dinner was in the hotel tonight, live music, and a type of BBQ were you are given a platter of mixed meat and you cook it at the table.  Well the meat selection was interesting - Rabbit, turkey, ostrich, beef, pork, horse, donkey & bacon - seems they eat everything in Switzerland. 

Another great evening with lots of laughs and chatter.

110 miles today

1318 miles in total