RT20 - Parte Quarta

Planning continues.

Recently there was "discussion" on a biking Facebook page about planning a trip to France. 

The original poster was merely asking whether it was wiser to plan ahead for a visit in August 2020. 

Once the observer had discounted all the "I wouldn't go to France" posts, then the "just go" posts it seemed from the sensible brigade, planning was a little over 75% of the responses.

I tend to over plan. Especially in peak holiday/vacation periods. I have "been there done it" when it comes to parking up and trying hotel or B&B's to get a room for the night. It becomes the driving force to the afternoon. Gotta get to Xxxxx to get a room!

The worst was arriving in Seville, it was mid-afternoon. The temperature was over 40°C. We tried several hotels and received the "no room at the inn" signs. It was mid-August.  We were hot and fed up. We ended up in a four star hotel that had air-conditioning and a cold shower.  At a very large drain on my wallet.

But back to the Road Trip!

So once we traverse Switzerland I wanted to avoid turning left into France. Instead we head northish still. Across the Rhine and into Germany.

Other blogs and website posts seen to be showing Swiss fuel to be more expensive than neighbouring countries. This is contrary to what I experienced the last time. Fuel much cheaper and loads of gas guzzlers from the US everywhere. That it is cheaper than UK and neighbours is borne out by http://www.fuel-prices-europe.info/index.php?sort=5.   At the time of writing a litre of diesel (applies to the Insignia) is 1.54CHF.  The exchange rate (also from the web) today makes that a few hundredths less than £1.20 a litre. My local stations in Kent are £1.299 a litre....

So given that the Insignia ranges about 600 miles to a tank at home where I drive 5 miles to the station in the morning and 5 miles back in the evening,  we may see that extend when on long cruise-control runs on the highways. Not the best use of a diesel commuting to and from the station.

So what looks to be Day 11 will see us heading up through Switzerland on the non-toll routes.  MyRouteApp shows this so far as Plan A.

Across Switzerland - Plan A

This takes us across the area that should have some interesting roads.  No doubt I'll watch enviously as we are passed by motorcycles enjoying the twisties. Grrrrr in advance!

Plan A towards Andermatt

The route should take us over the Gotthard pass rather than through the tunnel.  I prefer passes to tunnels and it will be another one to chalk off. But!

Before Andermatt is the left turn onto the road to the Furka and Grimsel passes.  I have not done either before......  Mmmmmmm.

Plan B - via Furka and Grimsel

Although moving from Plan A to Plan B in the Alps allows us to "bag" the extra passes, it also adds time to the trip for the day. It actually only adds about 20 miles but the MyRouteApp has extended the travelling time to just under 8 hours.  Of course we will want to stop to look at the views and of course take loads of pictures to bore people with in this blog and anywhere where we can tie them down....

Plan B

So I think the overnight stop at the end of the day needs to move nearer to 4 and that the Day 12 plan needs revising.