After discussing with another 3, our destination next year is to be lake como. We are starting out from Calais and have given ourselves 3 days to get there. What I ask of you, is that the best routes to get there... Roads etc?? Preferably via lake geneva. We are getting the train back and putting the bikes on to holland, having a night in Amsterdam and then the ferry to hull next day from Rotterdam. A total of 8 days. So guys, recommended route to como? We've already done the gotthard and stelvio, but wouldn't mind the gotthard again. Cheers.
he he, it's the bug, I want to do another one this year, alas funds do not permit it, roll on next year!
Simple mate.... Day 1 calais Nurburgring via Belgium (There is a mcn route that is meant to be good on YouTube) Day 2 couple laps, then head to cocham, follow the river then pick up the 41 I think (I'll check my maps) through the wine region which is amazing, on to Baden Baden, do the b500 all the way to Freiburg - a big day but prob the best I've done on a bike. Day 3 down to lake konstance for breakfast head across then south through austria and in to italy. You'll prob need a day off after those though mate as that's three epic days!!
Difficult one with 3 days and going via Lake Geneva, as that would give you 3 options (2 of which are realistic): 1. Blast down to Geneva, through Mont Blanc tunnel and along the autostrada to Milano and up to Como (fastest but dullest) 2. Geneva, then cut across the southern part of Switzerland and drop into the top of Como 3. Geneva, then carry on down into the French Haute-Alpes to Briancon (or further to Barcelonette) and then cut across the hills into Italy that way The last one would be a push in 3 days. The roads only get interesting at Dijon so there'll be a lot of mile-crunching to do before the good stuff starts. Personally if it were me, I'd cut across to Colmar and into the Black Forest then drop down through Switzerland over the cols and passes. You'll get to the better roads quicker, have more of them, and can do it in 3 days (provided you hoon it down to Colmar!) Coupla handy sites, if you've not seen them before: Alpine Biker Roads - GMaps List of Alpine Cols and whether they're open currently
Jimbo's route is very good. Did the same a couple of years ago although at a slightly more-leisurely pace: Italy 2010 - Day 1 - Calais - Nurburgring Italy 2010 - Day 2 - Nurburgring - Baden-Baden Italy 2010 - Day 3 - Baden-Baden - Davos Italy 2010 - Day 4 - Davos - Stelvio - Lake Garda Some cracking roads. You could switch back from Davos towards Lake Como rather than do Stelvio again.
When you book your ferry back from Rotterdam to Hull try and get the Friday or Saturday overnight 'party boat'.
cheers guys, already done the Stelvio this year, so not important. We did the run to verona in 2 days from calais, and was tiring...but very good. North france is dull as ditchwater, so want to avoid. Jimbo, that sounds great mate! I'll have a look tonight at those routes! Not too fussed if we miss the ring to be honest, prefer scenery and brill roads, like last time. We have 3 days to chill at Como, another chill overnight on the train before we get to Amsterdam and party, and another chill on the ferry from Rotterdam, so big miles aint a prob. We did 615miles in one day last time, and other 415- 500 miles other days, and was fooked lol.
That's the beauty of the ring mate, it's worth a look and the roads and scenery are as good as anywhere!!! It's a special place and by the nature of the place with biker friendly hotels and distance from calais it makes a perfect stop for day 1 Like you I hate northern france so I think this is a good way of avoiding. Trust me, day 2 we done this year and it was as good as the napoleon. I'll check my maps (we mark them up the routes we done) and I'll plot it on google maps for ya.
It's a great site, and really easy to use. Just grab the .gpx files from your satnav, upload to EveryTrail, and it plots your route, speed and elevation in one handy map, like so: Italy 2010 - Motorcycling trip | EveryTrail and then you can add pictures and video if you like too. Makes for a great journal of your trip for about 10 minutes' work.
That is near on identical to my trip this year, but we done the napoleon and came round coast to Italy via monaco... Was awesome.
Yeah have done RN and the Riviera on a couple of other trips. Absolutely love the roads round there although some of the mountain passes are hard work when 2-up with luggage and 25-30°c! Last time we stayed near the Gorges-du-Verdon for a couple of nights so had chance to get some good riding done without luggage. The BEST day's riding I've ever done was this route in 30°c sun: https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...IekyA&oq=moustiers&mra=ls&via=1,4,5,7&t=m&z=9 Need to plan a Euro trip for next year now..! Might do Mugello for the MotoGP?
I could gladly load the bikes In a van and spend the week down there... Although I do like the sense of adventure getting up and heading for a new location each day. My bro in law has just passed and wants to do this, we've been massive Rossi fans and talked about this for years, with his two year extension I think we will do it in 2014 as he wants to go down to see the family also which is by amalfi but think that will be a two week trip... So need to build up some credits for that. As for next year, jury still out but want to decide on it soon....
So many options - i've done a route to Baden Baden from the Hull ferry in a day, then next day into Andermatt in Switzerland - Andermatt great base for doing passes, then into Italy. Swiss Franc a killer at the moment though. I find after 2 nights on the move its good to have 2 / 3 days in one place, then move on - lets you sort stuff, un-wind etc. Euro at €1.25 is a huge help now - I use a pre-load card from FairFX Travel Money Cards - Best Currency Exchange Rates for Holiday Money Trips are addictive - its the ease / freedom and generally good weather. Town called Castellane in Southern France a cracking base for a few nights - loads of amazing roads right on doorstep, and you can go down via Alps from Geneva to get there taking in some great passes - so many options. As mentioned you can then scoot into Italy past Monacco if you head down there. 4 a good number to tour with - easy for room bookings etc.
Ok, rough guide of trip... Fri travel over to Calais, stay over Sat, Calais to Nuremberg, stay over Sunday, lap or 2 of the ring, then travel to Baden Baden, stay over Monday,Baden to lucerne, stay over Tues, Lucerne, over the gotthard and into como. Stay over 2 nights until thurs thurs, travel to Allesandria for overnight train to Amsterdam Friday, chill getting monged and spend night in Amsterdam. Sat, ride to Rotterdam, ferry to hull overnight on the party boat. Arrive hull on sun, then home for a bolloking off wives.
Jimbo, if you can sort those routes mate that you suggested, I would be very grateful! Cheers me dears!
Great itinerary. I'll be very interested in your review of the Den Bosch train as have been considering doing that for the past few years. Such a shame the overnight French motorail from Calais to the Riviera was cut, although given the reviews of that it wasn't a surprise when it went. The AutoSlaap gets rave reviews though, so should be a decent option.
Also interested in train - the killer on these trips is time to get back, the overnight trains solve that. I think you will be surprised how soon you get into Germany - friends who live just outside Bonn used to do it in about 4 / 5 hours in a mondeo to/ from calais. - I'd be tempted to do the ring on the Sat afternoon, then head south towards baden baden, gives you an extra day so spend in the mountains of the Alps. I would NOT stay in Calais - its a dump, loads of people trying to rob you to get to England, its just not safe. I would head for about an hour East or South East on the motorway.
