Well, moving on from the previous thread about the International MR2 Meet. There general consensus is that people are "up for it" but there seems to be a secular thought of keeping it "Brutal" - which is fine with me.
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The Initial Plan
Choose a route, suggest a route, change an existing route!
Here's Route 1 - This is my suggestion ... please feel free to comment
Newcastle to Kristiansand (Ferry)
Depart Geordieland, westwards to Norway! See if we can spot some Fjords among the Toyota's. Pick up Shorty - if he's coming with us! (16 hours Ferry trip. £125-£150).
Stanvanger to Kristiansand
Travel around the south coast of Norway, coastal views. Sure thing for some quality pictures. Our first stop over.
Kristiansand to Fredrikstad
Head south along the coast for some sighseeing in the glorious Fjord lands
Fredrikstad to Gothenberg
Head into Sweden for a bit of eye candy for the lads! ;)
Gothenburg to Copenhagen (via Angelholm)
Head down from Sweden to Denmark, the home land of Danish bacon. I'm sure we'll get a bacon butty or two to eat on the way to the Koenigsegg garage (if we can get a visit?).
Angelholm to Malmo
Stop over a party in Sweden!
Malmo to Copenhagen
From Sweden into Denmark and across straight away into Jutland...
Copenhagen to Nyborg
Into Jutland, seeing some of the sights that Denmark has. The scenary crossing the water ways.
Nyborg to Hamburg
Leave Denmark and head into the land of efficiency. Be sure to bring some David Hasselhoff (MSherry will supply). The second largest city in Germany and Europe's largest port should give some visual delights as well as a good couple of bars :)
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This is a suitable point for people to either break off or join the convoy. Hamburg to Calais is a 6 1/2 hour drive around Bremen, Essen, Duisberg heading just north of Dusseldorf and into Holland passing south of Eindhoven through Antwerp, Gent, into Belgium through Brugge past Dunkerque and then finally at Calais.
For those joining, it's the reverse, don't you know!
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Hamburg to Berlin
A nice drive from western Germany to eastern Germany, seeing some history, the old Berlin Wall and The Iron Curtain. The very point where East met West. however, that's gone now, thanks to reunification! (2 1/2 hours).
Berlin to Dusseldorf
Back into the western side of Germany with a 4 3/4 drive across autobahns, which are mostly derestricted in this area - but sensible heads on!
Dusseldorf to Cologne
To the Toyota Team Europe facility where they build the Toyota F1 cars. (with their performance this year, Woodsy might get a job - and he might get a V8, as their ones are only 2.4 ltr lol) - hopefully we can arrange a trip around the site or failing that we'll explore the history of this lovely town. The Nurb'ring is also here, and it would be rude not to enjoy this place. All cars on track for a convoy around the 'ring?
Cologne to Stuttgart
More in the Fatherland and maybe do a drive past the Porsche Factory?
Stuttgart to Stelvio Pass
One of the best roads in the Alpine region. Settle down in Italy for Peroni and a Pizza
Stelvio Pass to Berne
Across to Switzerland for a look at the Alps from the other side looking for a Toblerone and a cuckoo clock and hope we don't get converted to Calvanism
Berne to Chamonix
Further west to the foot of Mont Blanc on the French/Swiss border
Chamonix to Turin
Back into Italy heading south
Turin to Nice
Stopping down for the night on the Cote d'Azure
Nice to Monaco
As above but heading to the land of the rich and beautiful, where we'll blend in like long time locals :) and of course, driving through the tunnel, whilst Lamborghini spotting.
Monaco to Milau
On to the suspension bridge - Millau Viaduct, the new amazing suspension bridge
Milau to the Motor Museum in Loheac
A whopping 8 hour trip. Any suggestions for a stop over midway?
Total for Day: 8hrs
Motor Museum to St Malo
Final trip for the ferry home.
or
Motor Museum to Calais
Final leg back to the port for the trip back to Blighty.
Anyways, all conjecture at the moment, but I'd love to do this around next summer. Beats "normal" holidays :) - we could even get MR2Only to come with us :D
Routes 2 and 3 are also available to download now, as well as Route 1. Please download and vote!
The rest of the routes are similar but contain some subtle changes. My personal route of choice is route number 1 (obviously!).
If anyone is interested, I've broken down Route 1 into each individual trip. PM me and I'll email each link over to you :)
Please feel free to add your own routes, or say which cities you would like to visit as well as those you don't want to?
Chamonix Mont Blanc, Milau, Monaco and Stelvio Pass are the ones I would like.
Update:
Leave: End of July
Return: Early August
Duration: ~ 2 weeks
Cost: £1500 - £2000
Attendees:
1. Johnny G
2. MSherry
3. Paul and Becky
4. Nik
5. Lyn and Owen
6. OlberJ
7. Podge and Lynn
8. Shorty (meeting us on the flipside!)