Write Up France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland

[duckhunt]

Hi all, thought I'd share some pics and video of an amazing road trip we've been on. Pretty last minute but everything worked out fantastic.
Gave a big service to the z3 beforehand, All oils, filters, discs and pads, wishbones, powerflex bushes, wheels and tyes all new.
The car has been an absolute joy and faultless the entire time.
Mix of long motorway miles, french back roads and mountain passes.
I found it so much nicer to drive on the continent than here in the UK, and we are both missing it already.

We drove down to visit her dad in the dordogne for a few days, and our stops afterwards were:
-Cabris (mountain top village about an hour from Monaco)
-Monaco (not as expensive as I had feared!) Plently of exotica spotted in abundance
-Milan (After the mountain roads were closed we went skiing for a few hours on the way)
-Dijon (Via dinner at Montreaux on lake Geneva)

Covered about 2,300 miles, car was faultless and the views were surreal, especially around the alps region.


Here is a rough map of our trip:

Some Photos:

Arrival in the Dordogne:

Faster than your average UK cyclist:

Road closed with no prior warning, no wonder there was no traffic!

Entering Switzerland:

Had to drive through one of the busiest pedestrianised areas in Milan for the hotel, then watched out the window as the valet took the car away *gulp* excellent hotel though.

Grand Prix preparations well under way in Monaco. We decided its a cross between St Ives and Central London

Going up the ski lift, the road turns to piste after about a km.

Cathedral in Milan which is truly the most extravagant piece of architecture I've ever seen:

Lake Geneva:

And videos, which I think convey the driving best, although just doesn't do it justice how amazing it is:

Driving towards Italy and the Ski resort of Isola

Coming back down the mountain after the previous road was closed, it just started to get interesting!

Out of the tunnel into switzerland:

Crazy Main road from Monaco to Milan:

Any questions or recommendations fire away.

I'm planning on returning to the area one summer so you can get right up to the top of the mountains. It was truly spectacular and the roads were absolutely amazing, and for miles and miles not just little sections.

Thanks for looking.
Sam

 

[Antm72]

What a trip and some beautiful scenery thanks for sharing

 

[simonlincs]

Amazing trip, very inspired to do a mini run around northern France, not sure I would want to tackle Paris in a car

 

[Grumps]

Wow! Not envious at all . Looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure @billz and @MAURICE THE MARTIAN will be along as they do these trips most years.

 

[Nodzed]

Great write-up and looked a fantastic trip

Grand Prix preparations well under way in Monaco. We decided its a cross between St Ives and Central London

Love that analogy

 

[billz]

Looks like you had an amazing time. We have done the Alps and Pyrenees for around the last 5 years and we never get fed up of doing it. The scenery seems to just gobsmack you every time you go. 3 of us with the wives are going in July, but we are doing the Mossel Valley 3 days(Germany) The Rhine and black Forest then pass through Switzerland to Austria for 4 days before going to Italy for 3 days and Switzerland for 2 days.
When we went with Mozza in 2015 we had a road closed and had to divert which took us on to the Col Du Galibier that is one mean road. But we would not of took it if the original road was not closed

 

[billz]

It now makes me want to do it sooner now rather than later

 

[duckhunt]

Looks like you had an amazing time. We have done the Alps and Pyrenees for around the last 5 years and we never get fed up of doing it. The scenery seems to just gobsmack you every time you go. 3 of us with the wives are going in July, but we are doing the Mossel Valley 3 days(Germany) The Rhine and black Forest then pass through Switzerland to Austria for 4 days before going to Italy for 3 days and Switzerland for 2 days.
When we went with Mozza in 2015 we had a road closed and had to divert which took us on to the Col Du Galibier that is one mean road. But we would not of took it if the original road was not closed

Sounds amazing. Yea couldn't believe the scenery. We will go for longer next time, I'll look up that route!

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

That looked fantastic. I can't wait for June to come around.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

Fantastic pics we love it all round that area never get tired of driving the passes.roll on june and july .
M

 

[mwpe]

Great pictures and Videos, lovely straight six exhaust sound as well. Roll on June.

 

[andyglym]

Great write-up and pics. You can't beat a good tunnel for some noise

 

[zedwheels]

Thanks for the tour, enjoyed that. Little taster for the three amigos come July.

 

[billz]

Our route in July

 

[Low Rider]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
An enjoyable read. Your Zed has a lovely exhaust note.

 

[Mint]

Great write up. We've also done a few trips covering France, Italy & Andorra. Not all the same trip though

 

[Dino D]

That's straight pipe sounds like a TVR!
Is that from the cat back - no resonator just straight single pipe?

 

[Shelly]

What a amazing road trip
Your photos are lovely
Looks like you had a great time
Thanks for sharing

 

[katkwak]

wow that was beautiful i could hear the song from the Italian job love to do that

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgJuVOrXv68

 

[DavidM]

Great trip - by the read - pics and car are outstanding - thank you!