2018 Euro Alpine Trip Blog

mjn77 · 07-16-2018, 04:22 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Well, it's that time again when we head for the mountains. In a little over 100 hours we'll be heading for the Eurotunnel and eventually down into Croatia, via Liechtenstein, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovenia.

Highlights for this year's trip include;
Hahntennjoch
Nockalmstrasse
Radstadter
Silvrettrastrasse
Furka Pass
Adriatic Highway
Vrsic Pass

I'll be posting updates, pictures and videos here, with a proper full write up as usual when i get back home.

----------

Full writeup

Introduction

So......2018. The 4th proper, out and out road trip. Each year the route and iteneriary change, with tweaks to driving miles per day, countries visited, passes driven, hotels stayed at and activities on the rest days. As usual, no road trip is without incident (well, it seems in my case anyway!) and you'll read more about them in the following write up. 2018 also saw us embark on the longest road trip yet, at 9 days and most miles driven at nearly 2800. My Croatian friend has been banging on in my ear about how beautiful Croatia is and how amazing the food and drink is for many years now. So last year i said to her, "ok ok, i'll go on the next road trip." Fast forward to 2018 and here we are. And she wasn't wrong!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading

2018 Euro Alpine Road Trip

Day 1 - Lets leave this crappy weather behind......hold on, the UK is in the worst heatwave since 1976!

Usually when people go away for a summer break it is for the good weather, but here in the UK, we've had weeks and weeks of hot summer (28° or higher) so i was actually looking forward to some cool mountain air. Even leaving the house at 5am for the Eurotunnel the air was hot and sticky. As a side note, those of you reading the UK news would have read about the Eurotunnel delays caused by the hot weather. Looks like we got lucky departing when we did as there were no delays for us.

After the brief train journey, the sat-nav route was loaded and Liectechstein was our final destination for the day. I've never been to Liectechstein before, so was another country to cross off the list. I will say this though, it's bloody expensive! You can think of Liectechstein of an extension of Switzerland in terms of costs, rules/laws and infrastructure.

A little something to help with the long drive ahead.

And a milestone.

As usual, we go via Luxembourg for the cheap diesel (0.98p/litre) but we got stuck in traffic in Belgium for what seems like hours.....well actually, it was. Lost two hours in Belgian roadworks which meant that at 14:00 we were still only 100 miles from Calais, and 500 miles still to drive! Refuelling in Luxembourg at 15:46, meant we had a long final drive to the hotel.

We arrived at the hotel at 21:45, a full 15 mins before checkin closed. Nothing like cutting it fine.

Total mileage of the day?

Only one thing to do after a long drive......food and beer!

What to choose?

The hotel

Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/Eurotunnel/etc) - 17 hours / 705 miles

Continued: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4#post23534064

-----

Here is my 2014 write up;

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1287645

And my 2016 blog

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1273685

2016 write up;

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1280933

And my 2017 blog

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404608

2017 write up;

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1410030

rcracin · 07-16-2018, 06:12 AM

Nice, enjoy!

I'll patiently wait for pics and updates.

Jackntulee · 07-16-2018, 06:12 AM

Nice, thanks

mjn77 · 07-19-2018, 08:03 AM

5 vignettes added to windscreen!

Camera and mic all set up.

mjn77 · 07-20-2018, 04:34 PM

Car all prepped and packed. Alarm set for 4am!

mjn77 · 07-21-2018, 02:22 AM

Eurotunnel as busy as ever and no time for a greasy burger for breakfast! Guess i’ll have to French it....

And on the train....

mjn77 · 07-21-2018, 02:30 AM

And a little something to get me to Liechtenstein....180mg caffeine!

mjn77 · 07-21-2018, 03:16 PM

Liechtenstein......

Missed a speed limit change from 60kph to 50kph and got caught by probably the only speed camera in the country!

Oh well, time for beer!

mjn77 · 07-22-2018, 01:41 AM

A good breakfast before we tackle some mountain passes......

mjn77 · 07-22-2018, 07:11 AM

First proper pass of the day.....

mjn77 · 07-22-2018, 12:03 PM

Bit foggy en route to the Flexenpass....

mjn77 · 07-22-2018, 12:37 PM

And for anybody tackling the Hahntennjoch this year; the north side has been resurfaced but the south has not

mjn77 · 07-23-2018, 03:44 AM

Top of the Timmelsjoch looking pretty quiet today....

mjn77 · 07-23-2018, 01:37 PM

After missing out on the Sella pass for the last two years, finally completed it!

mjn77 · 07-24-2018, 01:59 AM

Day 4 sees us drop into some new countries; Slovenia and Croatia. Our route takes us through the National Park and to the island of Krk in Croatia.

The view from our hotel room today;

Dackelone · 07-24-2018, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

After missing out on the Sella pass for the last two years, finally completed it!

How did you like(or would rate) Sella Pass ?

mjn77 · 07-24-2018, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

How did you like(or would rate) Sella Pass ?

Very busy.

Dackelone · 07-24-2018, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

Very busy.

Yeah... with these passes you need to drive them either very early in the day or late in the evening, say 19:00 or later, but before dark sets in.

At least car's are not banned on Wednesdays in Sella, like last two years.

mjn77 · 07-24-2018, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yeah... with these passes you need to drive them either very early in the day or late in the evening, say 19:00 or later, but before dark sets in.

At least car's are not banned on Wednesdays in Sella, like last two years.

I did Furka / Gotthard / Susten loop last year at about 6pm.......we had the roads to ourselves

and stopped for Rosti and beer.

Brake_Late · 07-24-2018, 10:26 AM

Perfect !

Nothing · 07-24-2018, 10:44 AM

Very nice! Enjoy the trip!

Dr.Deep · 07-24-2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

I did Furka / Gotthard / Susten loop last year at about 6pm.......we had the roads to ourselves

and stopped for Rosti and beer.

Nice trip! Have fun and enjoy my home roads Furka, Grimsel, Susten...I live near there, takes me about 40min from home to the top of Grimsel. One of these passes is often my quick weekend ride, or all 3

Maybe I'll see you somewhere around

07-16-2018, 04:22 AM	#1
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Well, it's that time again when we head for the mountains. In a little over 100 hours we'll be heading for the Eurotunnel and eventually down into Croatia, via Liechtenstein, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Slovenia. Highlights for this year's trip include; Hahntennjoch Nockalmstrasse Radstadter Silvrettrastrasse Furka Pass Adriatic Highway Vrsic Pass I'll be posting updates, pictures and videos here, with a proper full write up as usual when i get back home. ---------- Full writeup Introduction So......2018. The 4th proper, out and out road trip. Each year the route and iteneriary change, with tweaks to driving miles per day, countries visited, passes driven, hotels stayed at and activities on the rest days. As usual, no road trip is without incident (well, it seems in my case anyway!) and you'll read more about them in the following write up. 2018 also saw us embark on the longest road trip yet, at 9 days and most miles driven at nearly 2800. My Croatian friend has been banging on in my ear about how beautiful Croatia is and how amazing the food and drink is for many years now. So last year i said to her, "ok ok, i'll go on the next road trip." Fast forward to 2018 and here we are. And she wasn't wrong! Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading 2018 Euro Alpine Road Trip Day 1 - Lets leave this crappy weather behind......hold on, the UK is in the worst heatwave since 1976! Usually when people go away for a summer break it is for the good weather, but here in the UK, we've had weeks and weeks of hot summer (28° or higher) so i was actually looking forward to some cool mountain air. Even leaving the house at 5am for the Eurotunnel the air was hot and sticky. As a side note, those of you reading the UK news would have read about the Eurotunnel delays caused by the hot weather. Looks like we got lucky departing when we did as there were no delays for us. After the brief train journey, the sat-nav route was loaded and Liectechstein was our final destination for the day. I've never been to Liectechstein before, so was another country to cross off the list. I will say this though, it's bloody expensive! You can think of Liectechstein of an extension of Switzerland in terms of costs, rules/laws and infrastructure. A little something to help with the long drive ahead. And a milestone. As usual, we go via Luxembourg for the cheap diesel (0.98p/litre) but we got stuck in traffic in Belgium for what seems like hours.....well actually, it was. Lost two hours in Belgian roadworks which meant that at 14:00 we were still only 100 miles from Calais, and 500 miles still to drive! Refuelling in Luxembourg at 15:46, meant we had a long final drive to the hotel. We arrived at the hotel at 21:45, a full 15 mins before checkin closed. Nothing like cutting it fine. Total mileage of the day? Only one thing to do after a long drive......food and beer! What to choose? The hotel Total driving time (including stops/fuel ups/Eurotunnel/etc) - 17 hours / 705 miles Continued: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4#post23534064 ----- Here is my 2014 write up; http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1287645 And my 2016 blog http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1273685 2016 write up; http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1280933 And my 2017 blog https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404608 2017 write up; http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1410030 __________________ // E90 M3 LCI DCT in Jerez Black with Fox Red Leather // Alcantara Trim // ST XTA Coilovers // 1.75 Exhaust Mod // Euro Alpine Road Trips 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022
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07-16-2018, 06:12 AM	#2
rcracin Major 1217 Rep 1,275 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (3)	Nice, enjoy! I'll patiently wait for pics and updates.
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07-16-2018, 06:12 AM	#3
Jackntulee Banned 6 Rep 26 Posts Drives: E90 series Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Nice, thanks
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07-19-2018, 08:03 AM	#4
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	5 vignettes added to windscreen! Camera and mic all set up. __________________ // E90 M3 LCI DCT in Jerez Black with Fox Red Leather // Alcantara Trim // ST XTA Coilovers // 1.75 Exhaust Mod // Euro Alpine Road Trips 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022
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07-20-2018, 04:34 PM	#5
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Car all prepped and packed. Alarm set for 4am!
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07-21-2018, 02:22 AM	#6
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Eurotunnel as busy as ever and no time for a greasy burger for breakfast! Guess i’ll have to French it.... And on the train....
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07-21-2018, 02:30 AM	#7
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	And a little something to get me to Liechtenstein....180mg caffeine!
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07-21-2018, 03:16 PM	#8
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Liechtenstein...... Missed a speed limit change from 60kph to 50kph and got caught by probably the only speed camera in the country! Oh well, time for beer!
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07-22-2018, 01:41 AM	#9
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	A good breakfast before we tackle some mountain passes......
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07-22-2018, 07:11 AM	#10
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	First proper pass of the day.....
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07-22-2018, 12:03 PM	#11
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Bit foggy en route to the Flexenpass....
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07-22-2018, 12:37 PM	#12
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	And for anybody tackling the Hahntennjoch this year; the north side has been resurfaced but the south has not
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07-23-2018, 03:44 AM	#13
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Top of the Timmelsjoch looking pretty quiet today....
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07-23-2018, 01:37 PM	#14
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	After missing out on the Sella pass for the last two years, finally completed it!
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07-24-2018, 01:59 AM	#15
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1062 Rep 1,946 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Day 4 sees us drop into some new countries; Slovenia and Croatia. Our route takes us through the National Park and to the island of Krk in Croatia. The view from our hotel room today; Last edited by mjn77; 07-24-2018 at 02:16 AM..
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07-24-2018, 10:26 AM	#20
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07-24-2018, 10:44 AM	#21
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