Around a month ago, I set off on a thursday night heading to Italy for my sisters wedding. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858133782/" title="IMG_1713 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5858133782_b6ca31030b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1713"></a>
The ferry was booked for 12 midnight from Dover to Dunkirk, which took about 2 1/2 hours. 12 hours of boring French toll roads later we made it to Grenoble.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857584711/" title="IMG_1716 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5857584711_70c9ee5184_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1716"></a>
Not a bad stop off point really, decent night life and a good view from the hotel.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857587181/" title="IMG_1717 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/5857587181_f8b7dc23ab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1717"></a>
Next day it was a good drive through part of the french alps and the route napoleon
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857597145/" title="IMG_1731 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/5857597145_8a3a01139e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1731"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858162584/" title="IMG_1739 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/5858162584_5b3bfa99df_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1739"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857617997/" title="IMG_1754 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/5857617997_b5299f2f31_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1754"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857615685/" title="IMG_1742 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5857615685_88e346d36c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1742"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857995238/" title="IMG_1756 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/5857995238_36e89de8a4_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1756"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857985244/" title="IMG_1746 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5857985244_2d1078a2dc_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1746"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857450515/" title="IMG_1759 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5857450515_2c87f1bf2c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1759"></a>
Saturday night's hotel was in a nice place called Grasse and, again, there was a crackin view.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858013104/" title="IMG_1771 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/5858013104_157950484a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1771"></a>
Then early the next mornin was a drive along the coast to Monaco for the grand prix.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857462985/" title="IMG_1785 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5319/5857462985_7a8beaf41e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1785"></a>
I did make the mistake of buyin the cheapest possible tickets so the view of the track wasn't great.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858034890/" title="IMG_1835 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/5858034890_80bf1e30fb_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1835"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858030680/" title="IMG_1802 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/5858030680_3dd7a87e54_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1802"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858028852/" title="IMG_1801 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/5858028852_e41b1426fa_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1801"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858018316/" title="IMG_1789 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5238/5858018316_f5db6c81e8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1789"></a>
Although the view of the harbour & the city kind of made up for it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858032908/" title="IMG_1811 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5858032908_ddfdf3411a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1811"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857473479/" title="IMG_1798 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5116/5857473479_e068356c69_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1798"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857485191/" title="IMG_1839 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/5857485191_cd98a2790a_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1839"></a>
After a quick wander round the bars and a gorp at the women & cars it was about a 5 or 6 hour drive to Casole d'elsa in Tuscany.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857497295/" title="IMG_1864 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5232/5857497295_d3d12fc0e4_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1864"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857508383/" title="IMG_1898 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5317/5857508383_4824b32914_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1898"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858057816/" title="IMG_1894 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/5858057816_db90510433_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1894"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857499259/" title="IMG_1871 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5857499259_d13f3bd66a_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1871"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858053180/" title="IMG_1876 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5038/5858053180_8ecc2d7600_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1876"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858055586/" title="IMG_1879 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5858055586_348baac95e_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1879"></a>
Wedding was brilliant and the roads around the village were some of the best I've ever seen. After a few days in Italy, and a visit to Siena & Florence, it was a steady drive back through Switzerland & France.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857488765/" title="IMG_1842 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/5857488765_d3cf8982b2_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1842"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858047688/" title="IMG_1854 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5151/5858047688_db65677f26_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1854"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857515155/" title="IMG_1909 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5240/5857515155_3b14c2681b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1909"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857533499/" title="IMG_1942 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5195/5857533499_868f90bae2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1942"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857531117/" title="IMG_1941 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5079/5857531117_3017cb95db_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1941"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858089226/" title="IMG_1966 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/5858089226_545697a5f2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1966"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858092148/" title="IMG_1970 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/5858092148_0b037a35b6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1970"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858098414/" title="IMG_1974 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/5858098414_a1cce8a42f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1974"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857548751/" title="IMG_1977 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/5857548751_aec0a90755_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1977"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857551823/" title="IMG_1982 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5857551823_01542857c2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1982"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857555079/" title="IMG_1986 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/5857555079_401375b070_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1986"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858112006/" title="IMG_1990 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/5858112006_9ae7d7dbab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1990"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857561741/" title="IMG_1991 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5857561741_2a7d9ee619_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1991"></a>
One of the best holidays I've ever had without a doubt, certainly going to do the same sort of thing next summer hopefully, although this time on a zx12r or somethin similar - clio sports were not designed for cruising on motorways at 90 all day. Keepin at about 65 most of the time though meant over the 2800 miles the clio got just under 40mpg which was not bad considerin the exhaust was blowin through the join between the cat & the exhaust for about 2000 miles of the trip. Next trip - Nurburgring.
Thanks for lookin, Andrew.
The ferry was booked for 12 midnight from Dover to Dunkirk, which took about 2 1/2 hours. 12 hours of boring French toll roads later we made it to Grenoble.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857584711/" title="IMG_1716 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5857584711_70c9ee5184_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1716"></a>
Not a bad stop off point really, decent night life and a good view from the hotel.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857587181/" title="IMG_1717 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/5857587181_f8b7dc23ab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1717"></a>
Next day it was a good drive through part of the french alps and the route napoleon
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857597145/" title="IMG_1731 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/5857597145_8a3a01139e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1731"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858162584/" title="IMG_1739 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/5858162584_5b3bfa99df_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1739"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857617997/" title="IMG_1754 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/5857617997_b5299f2f31_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1754"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857615685/" title="IMG_1742 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5857615685_88e346d36c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1742"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857995238/" title="IMG_1756 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/5857995238_36e89de8a4_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1756"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857985244/" title="IMG_1746 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5064/5857985244_2d1078a2dc_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1746"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857450515/" title="IMG_1759 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5857450515_2c87f1bf2c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1759"></a>
Saturday night's hotel was in a nice place called Grasse and, again, there was a crackin view.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858013104/" title="IMG_1771 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/5858013104_157950484a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1771"></a>
Then early the next mornin was a drive along the coast to Monaco for the grand prix.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857462985/" title="IMG_1785 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5319/5857462985_7a8beaf41e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1785"></a>
I did make the mistake of buyin the cheapest possible tickets so the view of the track wasn't great.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858034890/" title="IMG_1835 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/5858034890_80bf1e30fb_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1835"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858030680/" title="IMG_1802 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/5858030680_3dd7a87e54_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1802"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858028852/" title="IMG_1801 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/5858028852_e41b1426fa_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1801"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858018316/" title="IMG_1789 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5238/5858018316_f5db6c81e8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1789"></a>
Although the view of the harbour & the city kind of made up for it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858032908/" title="IMG_1811 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5858032908_ddfdf3411a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1811"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857473479/" title="IMG_1798 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5116/5857473479_e068356c69_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1798"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857485191/" title="IMG_1839 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/5857485191_cd98a2790a_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1839"></a>
After a quick wander round the bars and a gorp at the women & cars it was about a 5 or 6 hour drive to Casole d'elsa in Tuscany.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857497295/" title="IMG_1864 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5232/5857497295_d3d12fc0e4_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1864"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857508383/" title="IMG_1898 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5317/5857508383_4824b32914_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1898"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858057816/" title="IMG_1894 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/5858057816_db90510433_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1894"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857499259/" title="IMG_1871 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5857499259_d13f3bd66a_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1871"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858053180/" title="IMG_1876 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5038/5858053180_8ecc2d7600_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1876"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858055586/" title="IMG_1879 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5858055586_348baac95e_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1879"></a>
Wedding was brilliant and the roads around the village were some of the best I've ever seen. After a few days in Italy, and a visit to Siena & Florence, it was a steady drive back through Switzerland & France.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857488765/" title="IMG_1842 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/5857488765_d3cf8982b2_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1842"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858047688/" title="IMG_1854 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5151/5858047688_db65677f26_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1854"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857515155/" title="IMG_1909 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5240/5857515155_3b14c2681b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1909"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857533499/" title="IMG_1942 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5195/5857533499_868f90bae2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1942"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857531117/" title="IMG_1941 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5079/5857531117_3017cb95db_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_1941"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858089226/" title="IMG_1966 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/5858089226_545697a5f2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1966"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858092148/" title="IMG_1970 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/5858092148_0b037a35b6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1970"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858098414/" title="IMG_1974 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/5858098414_a1cce8a42f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1974"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857548751/" title="IMG_1977 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2641/5857548751_aec0a90755_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1977"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857551823/" title="IMG_1982 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5857551823_01542857c2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1982"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857555079/" title="IMG_1986 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/5857555079_401375b070_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1986"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5858112006/" title="IMG_1990 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/5858112006_9ae7d7dbab_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1990"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64341018@N04/5857561741/" title="IMG_1991 by alwayshutch, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5857561741_2a7d9ee619_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_1991"></a>
One of the best holidays I've ever had without a doubt, certainly going to do the same sort of thing next summer hopefully, although this time on a zx12r or somethin similar - clio sports were not designed for cruising on motorways at 90 all day. Keepin at about 65 most of the time though meant over the 2800 miles the clio got just under 40mpg which was not bad considerin the exhaust was blowin through the join between the cat & the exhaust for about 2000 miles of the trip. Next trip - Nurburgring.
Thanks for lookin, Andrew.
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