Suggestions for 1st Trip

[leftofcentre]

We decided no to go . . .

Well folks we decided to heed your advice and leave The Alps for another year.

Instead we went and spent the Jubilee weekend in North Devon.
And what a fantastic weekend was had . . .

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[t'other dave]

Great stuff, Glad you had the weather to by all accounts its been a bit rum in Euroland weather wise, Now you can plan that multi week Euro blast.

 

[Johnnymac]

I'm a few months late on this one, but last year I did Nice to York in two days on an F800GS (with standard seat).
First day was Nice to Dijon, via Route Napoleon, plenty of photo stops until Grenoble, then a motoway thrash to Dijon. 423 miles clocked.
Next day left Dijon hotel at 07.30, and was in Calais by 13.15, with one fuel stop. 350 miles of boring motorways. Across on the ferry and back up to York by about 20.00, via M25, Dartford Tunnel, M11 on a Friday afternoon. 623 miles, my highest ever daily mileage.
I wouldn't do it again like that. Hours and hours and hours and hours of motorway. Horrible.
If I take a bike to the mediterranean again, I'll put it on the train one way. When you add up the fuel costs, motorway tolls, tyre wear, food, overnight stop etc, it's probably cheaper on the train!! And you get an extra day at the other end.
That is all.
ps..seat was fine, don't know what all the moaning is about!

 

[nickcgundogs]

Last week I did a similar trip that you were planning, I live near salisbury, I left home in time to catch the 7 am hydrofoil from Poole to Cherbourg, got off ferry at 10 am French time and set off for Dijon, Thursday Dijon to Chambray via some twisty including the run up the Col de Grand Columbier (First time use for the Tour de France this year)
From Chambray through Pinerolo via Frejus tunnel (Boo) then Sestries (I had to be in Raccanogi at 2 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday did what I mainly did the trip for.
Monday had a great route planned, I had a room booked at Sallanches and went over the Col de Mont Cernis (Great ride) the plan was then do Col de I'Iseran through Val desire and then Chamonix and then depending on time where I wanted to go ending up at my hotel.
Best made plans the col deI'iseran was closed due to avalanche risk (I did go and check just to make sure but it looks as if it will be some time to open) my alternative was national roads through Albertville, wish I had more time as on that route there was to the left the Col de Galabier (Closed) Col de Telegraphe col de Croix Fer and from past I know they go towards the Alp Duez which is a climb I am wanting to do some time, my route left me little time to play.
Tuesday from Sallanches to Orleans, Wednesday Orleans to Cherbourg in time to catch the 17 00 Cherbourg Portsmouth ferry.
Enjoyed the trip but it could have been better 1668 miles oh and on a 1200 RT

 

[Rasher]

Trading down from the Alps to Devon, a bit like part exchanging your Buggatti Veyron for a 1983 Mini Metro, but glad you had a good time

Having said that four days of motorway for one day in the Alps is doing a deal with the Devil and he would probably of given you perfect sunshine on the motorway there and then threw a deluge at you the minute the mountains came into view.

Save up some dosh / holiday time and go with 8-10 days and you could do a fantastic job of seeing some of the Alps, I would head for either somewhere close to Chamonix / Martigny to run around Mont Blanc and nearby passes, or over to Andermatt, maybe three nights in each if you have 10 days.

Or if you don't mind moving on almost every day then run down RDGA and back up Route Naploeon and the Vercors.

You can also cross the Vosges on the way to / from the Alps and cover off a few off the most famous passes there on your travels, or cut through the Black Forest and tick the B500 off your list.

Only day one off getting to and from the Alps is awful, assuming you spend this predominantly on Motorway day two can include some nice roads.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Here's a route base upon Chamonix as a destination with a bit of Vosges, Black Forest and Swiss passes thrown into the mix. All done over a week with 2 nights in Chamonix.

Not from Calais but may provide some inspiration to get to the Alps

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=241645&highlight=bust