Swiss Alps roadtrip

[Lynsey]

As we set out on our roadtrip to the Alps, the satnav advised us it was 1029 miles (+20 nautical miles) to our destination. The Nova knew very little about the challenges it was about to face, the amazing mountain passes it was about to endure or the breathtaking views it was about to set it's headlights upon.

Time Place Miles done km left to destination



9.25pm Left Bristol 0m 1656km

10.47am (local time) Arrived in France 22*c!! 245m 1166km

11.24am Arrived in Belgium 276m 1116km

1.55pm Arrived in Netherlands 443m 860km

2.10pm Arrived in Germany 462m 831km

9.00pm Arrived in Austria 872m 240km

11.00pm Arrived in Italy 984m 70km

11.30am Arrived in Switzerland 1005m 37km

12.05am Arrived back in Italy 1015m 21km

12.27am Arrived at the hotel in Bormio 1029m 0km

The tacho clocked up the miles rather uneventfully, except for a manifold bolt deciding it'd rather live the rest of it's days out on a Belgian motorway. The weather was perfect, the company was second to none and the Burger King was a million times better than in the UK!

After 26 hours in the car, the trip took an interesting turn. We were all tired and completely unprepared for the cruel trick the satnav had decided to play on us. The screen was showing a child-like scribble. We were in for an arduous trip up the notorious Umbrail Pass in the dead of night. There was no moonlight, no light pollution, no noise, just us and a few cows. After travelling through what seemed like a million U bends, we finally reached the Swiss/ Italian border crossing. Great! Except that we were four and a half hours late. It closed at 8.00pm. Dougie pleaded with the man to let us through, if we had to go back down Umbrail and round the mountain, we'd have never got to our hotel. I don't know exactly what he offered, but the crazy Italian dude finally agreed to let us through. Finally, the bright lights of Bormio were in sight.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were both absolutely shattered, so much to take in! Stepping out onto the balcony brought the filmstrip of flickering images in my head to a steady stop, as the breathtaking sights of the peaceful villiage and surrounding mountains consumed my mind.

That's enough of my waffling, I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0047.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0051.jpg

Same view in the morning

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0053.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0092.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0113.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0124.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_01392.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0139.jpg

[Lynsey]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0154.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0159.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0164.jpg

Friendly cows!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0182.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0190.jpg

Obligatory photos at the top of Passo De Stelvio!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0216.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0221.jpg

Amazing blue water...

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0354.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0356.jpg

Sticking 'em on

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0360.jpg

[Lynsey]

More blue water

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0406.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0416.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0421.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0447.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0449.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0485.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0502.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0507.jpg

Wish you were here?

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0520.jpg

[Lynsey]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0525.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0527.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0531.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0534.jpg

Wet cement!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0544.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0552.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0569.jpg

And another beautiful view to finish the day

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0585.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0591.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0597.jpg

[craig green]

Awesome!

You have managed to do exactly what I have been wanting to do for years.

Great pics too. Did I read on FB the nova did 40mpg over trip or something?

[Lynsey]

I would recommend it to anyone. Just make sure you had as good company as I did :thumb:

We went to VAG-Opel Treffen on the way home, which was great, although we were both nursing horrendous hangovers from the night before! Look out for the show report, I'll write it up as soon as I get a spare hour or two ;)

We finally got home on Sunday evening with a total tally of 2170 miles!

[Lynsey]

Dougie collected all the fuel receipts and workied it out, it did 51mpg! Fifty-one! WTF? lol And we're talking a lot of hill climbing in that. Well, Alp climbing. Some stretches barely allowed us to get out of 2nd gear!

I just put on a small selection of photos, there are so many! The best ones are the ones Dougie took :thumb:

All I have to say about the trip is, "Sehr gut ja"!!

LMFAO That was for you Dougie, when you get home I might even do the 'Sehr Gut Ja' dance ;) lol xx

[amz]

That looks absolutely stunning. Would be amazing to see.

your nova's looking good

[Nova_Tek]

You gettin +repped Lynz fo' sho'. Some stunning photos there, some lovely and perfect driving roads too.

51mpg! Must be a 1.2. The blue paint certainly matched the scenery.

:thumb:

[EDIT] Must spread the love first :(

[sparkie1401]

some very very quality snaps you got Lynz, well done, no wonder you enjoyed it so much

[Lynsey]

Amz- Thanks, it needs lowering more (the coilovers hit the wheels :() and looks much better with the centre cas on, but they always fall off!

Nova Tek- Not bad for a 20SEH eh? :)

Sparkie- Thanks :) most of the other photos were taken whilst we were moving, as I'm sure you can gather, we didn't take much time out!

[amz]

Is yours a 20seh, thats whats going in mine in a couple of weeks.

[Nova_Tek]

Nova Tek- Not bad for a 20SEH eh? :)

Gotta love the 20SEH, but you were probably driving it steady and at consistant speeds. IIRC at 56mph (90Km/h) the SEH does approx 42 - 46mph in a Cav (from what I can remmeber reading my dads Cav manual). Still brilliant mpg figures for an old engine.

SEH FTW :thumb:

[Spudly]

Awesome pics lynz, seen them on fb already but the write up makes em ten times better, the scenery is just epic, looked like it was a good one, id love to do something like that myself, damn i need a passport lol

[Lynsey]

Passport schmassport. Just jump in the back of a lorry :) They didn't check ours on the way out, only on the way back in :thumb: so you can go, but just can't come back to this ****e country.

[Spudly]

No drawbacks there then:thumb:

[Nova_Tek]

^^ lol

[L14MNP]

Looks incredible Lynz!
Those views...words fail me :thumb:

Glad you had a good time, car looks awesome in those settings too!
The cows FTW. :)

[Lynsey]

Cheers ;)

The cows were amazing, especially the one in the photo. She was a doll. I now want a pet cow :p

[amz]

Me and my bf once went to a zoo or an animal park and now he is wanting a pet wart-hog :roll:

Back on topic, your car looks awsome in the last few pics

[Spudly]

She was a doll. I now want a pet cow :p



Theres loads on the pastures near me, ill get you two if you like and ill swap em for your nova :d

[Lynsey]

TBH, I'm after one of the Highland variety ;) Hell yeah...

[L33 LEG]

that looks like the best roadtrip ever. amazing write up and pics. i REALLY want to do this now :(

[Ben]

Same as Craig said something i have wanted to do and threatened to do a few times! The pictures are awesome! Think will get it planned for next spring.

[MattBrown]

Looks awesome lynz!

You recon a humble 1.0 would make it?

Im feeling a christmas trip coming along:p

[craig green]

Same as Craig said something i have wanted to do and threatened to do a few times! The pictures are awesome! Think will get it planned for next spring.

I need a reliable (read 8v) car before I head off.




You recon a humble 1.0 would make it?



Course it would, slowly. Lynz said they took it easy anyway.

[Ben]

I need a reliable (read 8v) car before I head off.

I need something other than a TDCi mondeo!

[Nova_Tek]

Looks awesome lynz!

You recon a humble 1.0 would make it?

Im feeling a christmas trip coming along:p

As long as the engine doesn't sound like its dying and is in good working order there should be no reason for it not to make it there, seriously.

[ben doodar]

some awesome pics there lynz, think youve inspired alot of people there to follow your lead. im soooo jealous, im going have to think about doing that trip some time. + whats happend to keeping your face off this site? i thought you were like the stig??

[bmw156]

looks wicked lynz, and what an epic trip

[Lynsey]

Well in this instance, I thought a few people photos would work well :thumb: lol

We are going to do something similar in the Cav GSi next year, I cannot wait! This time, Dougie paid for everything because I didn't have a job. Next year, it's my treat (and I do not think the 3.0V6 will be doing 51mpg!!) Beats sitting around a pool all day. It is a possibility for anyone (except Spudders lol). Just make sure you're insured and DO buy Euro breakdown cover (unless you'd rather dump your car there if it breaks). I think Dougie is doing a Roadtrip Guide in TV soon :thumb:

If you fancy a taster, I'd recommend attending the VAG-Opel show. It's only about 100 miles from Calais and promises to consist of some of the most crazy roadcars you'll ever see! The Euro guys really bite into things and don't let go, resulting in some excellent (although sometimes far-fetched) motors. They definately have bigger balls than the Brits.

This was well smart, I could definately see Burgo driving it about :thumb:

FFS Photobucket is being :gay: I'll add it later.

[GRUNT 16V]

wow those pics look amazing ( the ones without dougie in them that is ! lol) looks like a fantastic place to visit !!!!!! and rip the roads up but im in need of a car ,but cant afford one at the mo .

[Lynsey]

You have a good 11 months to get one :thumb:

[Riggy]

as spudders said, seen the pics on facebook , but the reports makes a difference lol , really need to do it myself haha

[mayhem]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/lynz_sr/Roadtrip/DSC_0591.jpg


i love this pic!!

btw, how did you find oure dutch roads? pretty good for slammed cars isnt it :D

[gunny]

Trip looks amazing lynz as does the car, got to love the views in the alps, breath taking even as pics.

Something i think i'll be looking into doing.

[djshaggeh]

the Burger King was a million times better than in the UK!

**** the views, wheres this burger king at?!

Only kidding. Looks amazing out there, I need to get saving! Excellent read too.

[Tim-SR]

quality pictures there lynz! your car looks nice aswell :)

arent those roads where the clarkson hammond and may took there three super cars to find a nice road?

[Ben]

btw, how did you find oure dutch roads? pretty good for slammed cars isnt it :D

What i want to know is why are dutch roads so good and the belgian ones so god damn bad!

[mayhem]

iirc the dont have roadtax in belgium. and here the spend millions on roads every year.

[Novaboi_1991]

quality pictures there lynz! your car looks nice aswell :)

arent those roads where the clarkson hammond and may took there three super cars to find a nice road?

i believe it is.

great write up lynz. those views are amazing, and tbh your nova doesnt look slightly out of place. the colour and theme of it just suits the scenary perfect. +rep.

[Southie]

Now this is something I would loooove to do. It looks really peaceful apart from a 2.0 nova rasping around lol

Some cracking shots though, just makes me want to do it even more. Is this the really twisty road where your sat on the wall the one they went on in Top Gear?

Rep coming your way ;)

[gunny]

Im sure it is the road Top Gear went on

[Ste L]

Im sure it is the road Top Gear went on


yes correct stelvio pass

[Benn]

Fantastic pictures!

[Lynsey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelvio_Pass

As Ste said, that's Stelvio Pass. It was awesome. There is much more road than is visible on the photo.

Thanks for all the comments :thumb: It's an amazing trip, completely worth doing. There is an amazing view around every corner, and boy are there a lot of corners!?

Joop- yeah, your roads are kick ass :)

Also, I didn't get **** ache once from the Rasta GTE seats. Not even after 27 hours ;) most sporty old Vauxhall seats seam to possess that characteristic though, even my beloved ma used to enjoy the comfiness of the GSi seats I had in my first lil China Griffin :thumb:

[novaload1992]

that road looks like driving heaven :d

[sparkie1401]

Amz- Thanks, it needs lowering more (the coilovers hit the wheels :() and looks much better with the centre cas on, but they always fall off!

Nova Tek- Not bad for a 20SEH eh? :)

Sparkie- Thanks :) most of the other photos were taken whilst we were moving, as I'm sure you can gather, we didn't take much time out!

i often take pictures when im driving the bus around europe, the amount of wonderful things i see when the sun is just coming up is amazing, sandinavia is great for piccys

mind you i dont think ill be taking the bus on one of those windy mountain passes, will have all the glasses on the floorlol

[Southie]

mind you i dont think ill be taking the bus on one of those windy mountain passes, will have all the glasses on the floorlol
Is this why they brought out bendy buses lol

[sparkie1401]

Is this why they brought out bendy buses lol

hahalol maybe

although i ****ed up last year in north spain and took a great big bus thrrough the mountain, Whoooooooooooppppsss!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

and believe me when i say it only just fit and i was pleased it was 4 30 am

[Pete]

there some amazing pics, would love to do that one day !!!

[DAFTJOHN]

Wow, that looks ace and well done to the Nova for doing it :)

[Rysee]

This is awesome, would love to do it

Any idea what you spent all in all, if I'm not being cheeky asking?

[CP]

Great Pics:thumb:

How expensive did you find Switzerland to stay in?

[Lynsey]

Rysee- Unsure TBH, like I said, Dougie paid!

CP- Switzerland was quite expensive, we were only there for one night though.

It was well worth it!

[Steve]

yeah.. just slightly envious!! lol looked amazing though, I think its everyones dream to do a roadtrip like that, is it going to be featured in TV?

[french riggy]

Looks like you had an amazing trip :)