Tweet
I'm back home soon and will be driving around a few countries in Europe from the 7th November, I thought id make a post about it. Il add pics and video as the preparation and trip unfolds.
Cant do too much now as I'm out of the UK until Wednesday but have a mancave full of mods and accessories awaiting my arrival
.
Having visited both Dublin and Barcelona so far this tax year, I thought my next stint in the UK should involve a bit more driving than scootering. Being a frequent visitor to France I thought id combine both and add in a wee trip around a few other European countries. Il be spending the first week in France on my own (without my trusted hounds Booth and Bauer, unfortunately) before being joined by the current Mrs SFG. Then its off to Bruges, Luxembourg, Cologne and finally Amsterdam before back to France and home. This isn't the first time ive driven around the continent but the first time since I have had the car significantly modded, it is only the second time ive been joined by a two as opposed to four legged passengers.
The Plan
So my first week will be in a converted barn about 35 miles South of Calais, it is remote, I like remote in France. Although my French isn't as good as my Dari it is good enough to order coffee, buy wine, cheese and bread and make sexy chit chat whilst out running. Once I pick up the current Mrs SFG from the Eurostar terminal and assuming I'm not beating off migrants, we will head straight to Bruges, after an overnight sample of what it has to offer we will move onto Luxembourg, again another overnight then off to Cologne. Two nights in Western Germany and after absorbing the gothic atmosphere we are off to Amsterdam for another two nights before an early morning sprint down the coast to Calais.
Prep
Our backgrounds dictate who does what during this phase, no pink or blue jobs (is that sexist?), rather she looks after G1 (Administration) and G4 (Logistics) whilst I take care of G2 (Intelligence) and G3 (Operations), She sorts booking the hotels, Ferry, Train etc whilst I plan the routes, prep the car and do some background on the locations we intend to visit. I have all the kit required to drive legally in France already so that will sit within the spacesaver tyre. Also our insurance covers us for breakdown cover etc on the continent.
The Car
So relatively recently, ive had the car walnut blasted, the HPFP replaced (with the latest variant), a Milltech exhaust and cat installed and a Sachs racing clutch plus a few cosmetic touch ups. New wheels and tyres (225/18") will be on for the trip to cover my drilled and grooved disks plus the most cost effective investment , an SP Tuning remap, oh a new boot liner and mats (which I'm just about to order) plus Osram Ultimates for the main and dipped lights plus brighter side lights.
UPDATE
1 - So all cross channel transport is now booked and we have managed to find a hotel in Amsterdam that doesn't have a shared bathroom, the cheek of it, I'm an en suite kind of chap. Its about 2 km outside the centre but the tram is close by and direct into town. I love Holland, been many many times and my dad has some very good Dutch friends in the Arnhem area.
2 - Hotel in Amsterdam booked now, been busy since getting back to the UK, offered a job i couldn't take and a house i did. Looking to book an apartment in Cologne today leaving just Luxembourg and Bruggs to sort out. The new wheels are on and il be changing the oil tomorrow morning so looking at putting in a car + Mods update Thursday.
3 - All hotels booked
Cant do too much now as I'm out of the UK until Wednesday but have a mancave full of mods and accessories awaiting my arrival
. Having visited both Dublin and Barcelona so far this tax year, I thought my next stint in the UK should involve a bit more driving than scootering. Being a frequent visitor to France I thought id combine both and add in a wee trip around a few other European countries. Il be spending the first week in France on my own (without my trusted hounds Booth and Bauer, unfortunately) before being joined by the current Mrs SFG. Then its off to Bruges, Luxembourg, Cologne and finally Amsterdam before back to France and home. This isn't the first time ive driven around the continent but the first time since I have had the car significantly modded, it is only the second time ive been joined by a two as opposed to four legged passengers
.The Plan
So my first week will be in a converted barn about 35 miles South of Calais, it is remote, I like remote in France. Although my French isn't as good as my Dari it is good enough to order coffee, buy wine, cheese and bread and make sexy chit chat whilst out running. Once I pick up the current Mrs SFG from the Eurostar terminal and assuming I'm not beating off migrants, we will head straight to Bruges, after an overnight sample of what it has to offer we will move onto Luxembourg, again another overnight then off to Cologne. Two nights in Western Germany and after absorbing the gothic atmosphere we are off to Amsterdam for another two nights before an early morning sprint down the coast to Calais.
Prep
Our backgrounds dictate who does what during this phase, no pink or blue jobs (is that sexist?), rather she looks after G1 (Administration) and G4 (Logistics) whilst I take care of G2 (Intelligence) and G3 (Operations), She sorts booking the hotels, Ferry, Train etc whilst I plan the routes, prep the car and do some background on the locations we intend to visit. I have all the kit required to drive legally in France already so that will sit within the spacesaver tyre. Also our insurance covers us for breakdown cover etc on the continent.
The Car
So relatively recently, ive had the car walnut blasted, the HPFP replaced (with the latest variant), a Milltech exhaust and cat installed and a Sachs racing clutch plus a few cosmetic touch ups. New wheels and tyres (225/18") will be on for the trip to cover my drilled and grooved disks plus the most cost effective investment , an SP Tuning remap, oh a new boot liner and mats (which I'm just about to order) plus Osram Ultimates for the main and dipped lights plus brighter side lights.
UPDATE
1 - So all cross channel transport is now booked and we have managed to find a hotel in Amsterdam that doesn't have a shared bathroom, the cheek of it, I'm an en suite kind of chap. Its about 2 km outside the centre but the tram is close by and direct into town. I love Holland, been many many times and my dad has some very good Dutch friends in the Arnhem area.
2 - Hotel in Amsterdam booked now, been busy since getting back to the UK, offered a job i couldn't take and a house i did. Looking to book an apartment in Cologne today leaving just Luxembourg and Bruggs to sort out. The new wheels are on and il be changing the oil tomorrow morning so looking at putting in a car + Mods update Thursday.
3 - All hotels booked
Comment