The ‘Grand Tour’ was conceived last year just after we bought the camper and much of the planning was done early on. It seems unreal that it is now less than two weeks before the big adventure. Much work has been done on the camper, particularly to do with the brakes and the upgrading of the front discs to heavy duty cryogenically-treated discs and heavy duty pads. I can well remember way back in 1982 coming down from the Petit St. Bernard pass into Italy with the brakes on our Nissan Bluebird almost smoking! Don’t fancy that in a big motorhome!
There is much more that could be written about the trip but due to reasons outlined in the last post I’ll stick to the itinerary and will, hopefully, write more about it when we get back. Here it is then - The Grand Tour - which starts on Friday 4th September 2009.
Day 1 - From Stafford down to Surbiton where our son Sean lives. He’ll be working that day so we pick up his stuff from his flat before picking him up at Sevenoaks railway station. Then it’s on to the Channel Tunnel for the crossing paid for by Tesco vouchers. Once in Calais it’s about an hour’s drive for a late arrival at the aire at Hondschoote.
Day 2 - Drive to Bruges and spend the day there before driving back into France to an aire at Bavay.
Day 3 - Across into Luxembourg for a lunch time trip on the chairlift at Vianden. A quick nip into Germany and then back into France to stay at the aire at Thann near the Swiss border.
Day 4 - Across Switzerland stopping at Stein am Rhein and Romanshorn and into Austria for a stop at the Stellplatz at Schwaz just past Innsbruck.
Day 5 - Over the Brenner Pass into Italy for a look and Bolzano and then across The Great Dolomite Road to Misurina. Take the lift up to Cinque Torri on the way.
Day 6 - From Misurina down to Punta Sabbioni where we will camp for the next few days to visit Venice. Should arrive about lunch time and will spend the afternoon in Venice.
Days 7 to 9 - Venice. Lots of exploration on the vaporetto’s to the the islands of Burano and Murano and, of course, Venice itself. No driving for three whole days!
Day 10 - Right across Italy to the Aosta valley to a sosta at Cervinia close to The Matterhorn. Stop on the way at Sirmione.
Day 11 - Early morning look at The Matterhorn before reaching Courmeyer and then through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Chamonix.
Days 12 and 13 - Around Chamonix - various walks planned and trips on the lifts, including the Aig du Midi and, possibly, the cabin lift to Helbronner. Hopefully lots of photographs to be had.
Day 14 - In Chamonix until about 4pm and then up to an aire at La Mercatine midway between Chamonix and Paris.
Day 15 - Travelling to Disneyland Paris to stay overnight in the car park! It’s quite recognised as an overnight stay for motorhomes with the usual facilities.
Day 16 - No driving - just a day of fun in Disneyland. You are never too old!
Day 17 - The going home day. Disneyland to Eurotunnel. Folkstone to Surbiton, Surbiton to Stafford. A long day but with plenty of breaks.
All in all, that seems like a pretty good Grand Tour. There has been plenty of planning and a lot more could be written but that will do for now. I can’t be bothered to blog about the holiday while we’re away but, hopefully, I’ll keep a journal on the laptop and will write more here when we get back.
Tags: afternoon in venice, Austria, brenner pass, Chamonix, channel tunnel, Dolomite Road, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Paris, stellplatz, Switzerland, tesco vouchers, The camper, vaporetto, Venice
August 25th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Oh Punta Sabbioni!!! I’ve been there Les- we stayed at a Keycamp site just outside- think it was called Punta Sabbioni too. Is that where you’re camping?? We loved it- one of the best sites we visited as it was so easy to travel around the area, and go to Venice, which we did on two days out of the fortnight. The site itself was busy and lively, which my kids- then just teens and almost teen,- loved. Beautiful area- enjoy Venice.
Och I’m all jealous now!!!!!!
August 25th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Same place, different campsite - we will be at Camping Miramare which we hope will be quiet! Plan is to get the first vaporetto of the day into Venice (or the islands), come back to the campsite around midday for a siesta and then go back into Venice for the evening light.
It had better be good (all of it) - we have spent a fortune getting the van through the MOT (apparently the brakes didn’t work!)
August 25th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
yes, well, Les - you can hardly stint on the brakes, can you!! Miramare looks lovely- will you be taking any “little sized dogs” along??- and the plan to come back for a siesta a good one. It was VERY hot,when we went(early July) and it’s tiring walking around hot cities! hope you enjoy all the Grand Tour, Les- keep us all posted.