The GRZoo Alps road trip 2023 thread
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Silver Fox
Totally Hooked
- May 7, 2022
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I look forward to reading about this - have a great time all!
- Dec 2, 2021
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Friday saw the long trudge down to Baden Baden at the top of the Black Forest, mostly motorway miles, with the odd spattering of derestricted autobahn for good measure. Managed to hit the Vmax limiter with the car still pulling really strongly. We also discovered that going through an 80kph speed trap at 82 gets you flashed 
There’s a really nice, satisfying feeling watching a half dozen identical cars snaking around traffic in complete formation.
Baden Baden is beautiful, from what little we saw of it. Tomorrow sees the start of what we came for, epic roads.
There’s a really nice, satisfying feeling watching a half dozen identical cars snaking around traffic in complete formation.
Baden Baden is beautiful, from what little we saw of it. Tomorrow sees the start of what we came for, epic roads.
- Dec 2, 2021
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220 miles done today, and the roads have excelled (despite some rather draconian speed limits. 50kph on the B500 Hochschwarzwaldstraße? Really???)
The scenery started out stunning and has ended up being truly jaw dropping.
We’ve encountered probably every single Harley Davidson in continental Europe heading up to the top of one single mountain pass, and seen most likely every single road registered Porsche in Switzerland.
This place never disappoints.
The scenery started out stunning and has ended up being truly jaw dropping.
We’ve encountered probably every single Harley Davidson in continental Europe heading up to the top of one single mountain pass, and seen most likely every single road registered Porsche in Switzerland.
This place never disappoints.
Silver Fox
Totally Hooked
- May 7, 2022
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I would much rather read about this grand tour, than watch The Grand Tour.
- Dec 2, 2021
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I’ve woken up to worse views from my hotel balcony!
Today sees the most spectacular day of the trip, certainly in terms of scenery and roads, as we head off to do the Klaussen, Susten, Grimsel, Furka, Gotthard and Nufenen passes. More mountains and twisties than any of our other days, and by some margin. Expect many photos with tonight’s update.
Today sees the most spectacular day of the trip, certainly in terms of scenery and roads, as we head off to do the Klaussen, Susten, Grimsel, Furka, Gotthard and Nufenen passes. More mountains and twisties than any of our other days, and by some margin. Expect many photos with tonight’s update.
Spirited
Totally Hooked
- Jan 23, 2022
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Yes, and recently it felt more like a car show rather than a thrilling route.
So many capable cars (M2s, Porsches, etc) and motorcycles, but all of them driven so slowly that you couldn't even hear any engine/exhaust sound.
The emphasis was on cruising, convertibles with the top down and that kind of thing.
Silver Fox
Totally Hooked
- May 7, 2022
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I Love This Thread.
@Sticky , you should make it one of those threads that are prioritised at the top of the forum. I can't for the life of me remember what those threads are called, Sticky.
Fantastic scenery you have there. Just beautiful.
A small request - as it's me and these things are clearly important - some pictures of how you all manage to store your attire for your excellent road trip adventure would be lovely. After all, one expects you are all dressing up for dinner, right?
@Sticky , you should make it one of those threads that are prioritised at the top of the forum. I can't for the life of me remember what those threads are called, Sticky.
Fantastic scenery you have there. Just beautiful.
A small request - as it's me and these things are clearly important - some pictures of how you all manage to store your attire for your excellent road trip adventure would be lovely. After all, one expects you are all dressing up for dinner, right?
- Dec 2, 2021
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- Thread starter
- #15
Klaussenpass
Custom made foam inserts trimmed perfectly to stop shit sliding about. Just waiting for the passenger’s luggageI Love This Thread.
@Sticky , you should make it one of those threads that are prioritised at the top of the forum. I can't for the life of me remember what those threads are called, Sticky.
Fantastic scenery you have there. Just beautiful.
A small request - as it's me and these things are clearly important - some pictures of how you all manage to store your attire for your excellent road trip adventure would be lovely. After all, one expects you are all dressing up for dinner, right?
Silver Fox
Totally Hooked
- May 7, 2022
- 3,626
- 8,351
Now THAT is impressive.
- Dec 2, 2021
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- #18
Monday 19th
Today began with a leisurely potter along a valley bottom to get us to the start of the decent stuff.
The Simplon pass was it's typical self at this time of year, too many trucks and far too many road works to be enjoyable, but it lead us to the craziest piece of tarmac any of us have ever driven. The 25km of SS631 from Malesco to Lake Maggiore was almost worth making the trip on it's own. Starting out innocuously enough, this snake of tarmac quickly becomes a single-track mass of twisty nirvana, with armco to your right and a cliff face to the left for something like 8-9 miles. This would make for a perfect WRC tarmac stage, and obviously the cars dealt with everything that was thrown at them. Blind bends everywhere meant lots of leaning on the pathetic horn in a poor attempt to make our presence known to any potential oncoming vehicles. Thankfully these were non existent on this particular stretch, as there was absolutely no way to get two vehicles side-by-side on much of it. When it did finally open up to what you could almost joking call two lanes, the odd local we came upon kindly moved aside to let the fun commence.
If you're ever in this area, in anything, GR or otherwise, take a detour and drive this insane stretch. You will not regret the experience.
Following a lunch stop on the lake, we headed off towards the San Bernadino. Always a fantastic blast once the little villages have been despatched. A quick stop at the top for a coffe and a souvenir for Mrs Sticky, then on to our hotel via more amazing roads, being joined by our Swiss friend Pascalle, who decided to make it two days in a row with the noisy Brits. The final pic of her car was sent to us on her way home.
More photos to come once everything starts to settle down, but days are fairly hectic right now.
Tomorrow... the Stelvio! (Among others)
Today began with a leisurely potter along a valley bottom to get us to the start of the decent stuff.
The Simplon pass was it's typical self at this time of year, too many trucks and far too many road works to be enjoyable, but it lead us to the craziest piece of tarmac any of us have ever driven. The 25km of SS631 from Malesco to Lake Maggiore was almost worth making the trip on it's own. Starting out innocuously enough, this snake of tarmac quickly becomes a single-track mass of twisty nirvana, with armco to your right and a cliff face to the left for something like 8-9 miles. This would make for a perfect WRC tarmac stage, and obviously the cars dealt with everything that was thrown at them. Blind bends everywhere meant lots of leaning on the pathetic horn in a poor attempt to make our presence known to any potential oncoming vehicles. Thankfully these were non existent on this particular stretch, as there was absolutely no way to get two vehicles side-by-side on much of it. When it did finally open up to what you could almost joking call two lanes, the odd local we came upon kindly moved aside to let the fun commence.
If you're ever in this area, in anything, GR or otherwise, take a detour and drive this insane stretch. You will not regret the experience.
Following a lunch stop on the lake, we headed off towards the San Bernadino. Always a fantastic blast once the little villages have been despatched. A quick stop at the top for a coffe and a souvenir for Mrs Sticky, then on to our hotel via more amazing roads, being joined by our Swiss friend Pascalle, who decided to make it two days in a row with the noisy Brits. The final pic of her car was sent to us on her way home.
More photos to come once everything starts to settle down, but days are fairly hectic right now.
Tomorrow... the Stelvio! (Among others)
