I usually take the Z to the continent a couple of times a year, however I haven't done what I call a 'long' road trip since AndrewG and I went down to Monaco a few years ago; our route was via 'Route Napoleon' and back through Italy over the Great St Bernard Pass, through Switzerland and back home.

 

Both Joel and Andrew are out of action this year due to other commitments, however I'm desperate to take my Z on a long jaunt. Next year will be a much bigger one with Andrew and hopefully Joel, however I've almost finished booking up the trip for this September.

 

Sadly, the section through Route Napoleon was a washout in 2017, so didn't see any of the views I'd have hoped, but I really want to do it again, in hopefully better weather! About the only time I'll take exception to driving my Z anywhere near a wet road is if I'm caught out in it in Europe - I don't exactly have much of a choice!

 

So, leg one (which is actually 3 legs)!

 

 

Taking Brittany Ferries' morning sailing from Portsmouth to Caen, on arrival in Caen, I'll head down to Le Mans to see a friend of mine before heading on south to Massey near Bourges. Overnight stop there before heading down to Valance (avoiding Lyon) enroute to the start of Route Napoleon which is just south of Dignes le Bains.

 

Route Napoleon is spectacular (when you can see it)!

 

 

Half way along Route Napoleon is the beautiful Medieval town of Sisteron, a great place to stop for lunch!

 

 

After coming off Route Napoleon (around 2hrs of driving), you drop down into Grasse and then just north of Antibes track east along the coast starting in Antibes and working your way through Beaulieu-Sur-Mer and Villefranche-Sur-Mer, amongst others, the areas for many of the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels scenes. Keep going east and you'll come to Nice and then into Monaco. When Andrew and I were in Monaco last there was an event being held there and sadly Casino Square was effectively closed off. Might treat myself to a meal there in one of the over-priced sea front restaurants (hopefully might see some interesting people as it'll be the 'summer break' after the Italian GP and many F1 drivers have homes there) before continuing east toward Sanremo and to another night's stop in Santo Stefano. Following day will be very relaxing taking the spectacular Autostrade all the way to Genoa through mountains and coastline. Not too sure how the traffic is being routed through and around Genoa as, if you remember, part of the Autostrade close to where we were in our Zs a few years ago, about a month after collapsed. I'm sure I'll pick my way through there and get to Portofino, a very exclusive and very pretty town just east of Genoa.

 

 

Heading back to Genoa mid afternoon to catch the overnight GNV Ferry from Genoa to Barcelona which is around 4pm. It's a little more than overnight, it's a 17hr passage, but it doubles as a hotel and gets me into Barcelona at around lunchtime the following day. Sailing across the Mediterranean isn't something I've done since sailing around the world on containership before I even bought my Z! Some interesting routes out of Genoa too as the port also has ferry links to many of the islands (Corsica and Sardinia) but also has crossings to north Africa (Tunis)

 

 

 

The route out of Barcelona towards the Cantabria region takes you through Zaragoza which is in a semi-arid almost desert-region of eastern Spain in fact there are only 2 desert regions in Europe (both tiny) and both are in Spain I believe the other is somewhere north of Almeria.

 

Anyway, as you continue north west you come to the Cantabria region which is 'Green Spain' country. Some of the roads just south of Santander are beautiful. Fresh water mountain lakes, it's a very clean and crisp landscape.

 

 

 

Final leg is then the 24hr crossing with Brittany Ferries from Santander back to Plymouth. Pont Aven serves this route, a pretty large ferry with restaurants, casino, bars, cinemas, shopping etc etc. The route is really nice if the weather is good as quite often, dolphins will follow the ship and you'll get good views of them over both bow and stern of the ship.

Looks absolutely epic Si. Hope all goes well mate and look forward to any updates.

we are doing most of that in reverse on the bikes this week, apart from the med ferry.

sailed down to Santander, across the bottom of the Pyrenees through Vitoria-Gasteuz, Jaca, up to Andorra and via Millau, Saumur and Le Mans back to Caen. The N260 is a brilliant bit of road.

we are doing most of that in reverse on the bikes this week, apart from the med ferry.

sailed down to Santander, across the bottom of the Pyrenees through Vitoria-Gasteuz, Jaca, up to Andorra and via Millau, Saumur and Le Mans back to Caen. The N260 is a brilliant bit of road.

 

Check which ferry you’re on. If you’re on the regular route with Pont Aven then she’s currently stuck in Brest with steering gear issues and won’t be back in service until June 6th. If you’re on the Economie sailings on Baie du Seine, that’s running fine.

Wow, what an adventure Simon. I look forward to a time when I’m able to take on tours like that, I’m very envious, and can’t wait to read up and follow your up to date tour guide here. :wink:

Excellent itinerary Si...…:thumbup:

Wow, I am jealous. That sounds amazing! We need to plan a big rally one year and get loads of Zeds to go. Please post up many pictures to make me more jealous!

Check which ferry you’re on. If you’re on the regular route with Pont Aven then she’s currently stuck in Brest with steering gear issues and won’t be back in service until June 6th. If you’re on the Economie sailings on Baie du Seine, that’s running fine.

 

on our way back tonight, our party was split across 2 crossings and we all missed that one, so no worries.

 

was thinking how good this trip would have been in the zed, and would love to do a club trip

We used to do a club trip every year, not happened for a while, i would love to go on one again

Bleedin' 'eck.. that's some trip you have planned bud, brave man taking a Z that far, but good on ya!

Bleedin' 'eck.. that's some trip you have planned bud, brave man taking a Z that far, but good on ya!

 

2017’s Euro road trip was a good few hundred miles longer.

incredible, you have completely changed your usual itinerary

Looks like a goodun Simon [emoji106]

Last bit now booked. This is the long ferry crossing from Genoa in Italy to Barcelona. Thought I'd get myself a suite on the ship. Looks like that costs more than taking the car! :lol:

 

Nice 5 star hotel with underground carpark in Zaragoza (Spain) - looking forward to heading into Cantabria. :)

 

Edited July 12, 20196 yr by Funkysi

Epic journey Simon!

Safe journey as you go.

Makes my wanted trip to Bordeaux seem minuscule ?

A road trip in the Z on the continent is a road trip in a Z on the continent Art and a drive to Bordeaux shouldn't be sniffed at! Thank you though, it's a bit different than the original plan which was going to take me to Croatia and Slovenia, but didn't quite have enough time to do that one any justice, that would need to be a 10 dayer really just so that I could visit both the Lamborghini and Ferrari museums and spend extra time on Italy's Adriatic coast. I've been to the US twice this year and have a boat trip from Denmark to Iceland planned toward the end of the year, so running out of holiday time fast!

 

A1 300zx? Show-off! [emoji13]

Haha!

 

Assume it's 'automobile 1' as in 1st car on ticket.

Less than a week to go! Current forecast suggests nothing but dry, warm, sunny weather along the entire route. I'm glad I didn't go this week as one of the ferries traversing the Med was hit by storms so violent, it toppled lorries over on the vehicle decks. Spain had some rotten weather last week, but it's looking good currently.

 

I'm taking a Go-Pro with me, so should have some interesting footage.

Edited September 12, 20196 yr by Funkysi
Embarrassing grammar.

Have a great time! I expect lots of pictures and video to make me jealous!

Great itinerary you have there Si. Looking forward to the updates.

Beautiful crossing out of Portsmouth yesterday. Stunning weather and the ferry was deserted. Mid-week crossings out of season are the best time to sail. No kids and hardly any people.

 

 

Saw friends near LeMans and then drove down to an area near Bourges to stay at a nice little chambre d'hote.

 

 

Now to Provence and the start of Route Napoleon! That'll be for tomorrow and should prove for some great photo opportunities!

Watching your every move Simon!

Do you have a GB sticker and headlight converters Si?

Hope you have a great time..... I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures...

Do you have a GB sticker and headlight converters Si?

Hope you have a great time..... I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures...

 

I have a period-correct Brittany Ferries GB sticker. I have headlight adaptors in the glovebox if I need them - not doing any night driving.

Made it down to Provence. Found a new amazing road - A51 out of Grenoble heading south is just stunning and the D road as you come off and head to Sisteron is just spectacular. Virtually nothing on the roads. Smooth, big curves and empty.