FridgeFreezer Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 A bit of spur-of-the-moment pub talk on Wednesday night led to the suggestion of doing a pie-based road-trip round Europe this weekend, however discussing the plan with TSD today he pointed out that it's possible to get from Africa (top of Morocco) to blighty in ~25 hours, which became an infinitely cooler idea and hence the current "plan". So, the ferry leaves Portsmouth in 3 hours, arrives in Le Havre at 0800, and then we're just going to see how far we can get before we have to turn round and come home for work on Monday. Any forumers in the vicinity keep you eyes peeled for a gold freelander TD4 with LR4x4 sticker on the back & 3 tired blokes in it. Approximate route: http://maps.google.c...&mra=ls&t=m&z=5 It's 1365 miles to Ceuta, we've got a full tank of diesel, half a pack of pop tarts, it's dark and we don't have any sunglasses... Hit it (We should be backl at Portsmouth docks ~2130hrs on Sunday, cripes!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 110 Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 You will have time to have (only just) lunch or supper in Morocco and turn back ! Cool challenge but all that driving (not in a v12 aston) for just a meal, maybe a night? I'd rather take a cattle flight there in that time frame. Good luck ! edit: hope you factor in traffic too, hope you make it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Good luck Mr Freezer Sounds like a good weekends adventure awaits you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zardos Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Like it, the first instruction is head North Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 keep taking those pills........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Keep us posted , if the tagine turns into a tappas , no worries , just take plenty of pics cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 I suppose when you fall asleep at your desk on Monday, that'll be my fault then! I've done it as far as the ferry at Algeciras, one way, in a 200tdi Disco, in 25 hours, including stopping for a short kip, and another stop to rewire the headlights! So we reckoned in a Freebie they should be able to set foot in Africa before turning around. Good luck! Have Fun! (I might wander down and wave to the ferry as it goes past in a couple of hours!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Oh sheer madness..... Now this I my idea of a forum trip.... Wonder if we can try and get this sort of challenge to become the norm on here ? Maybe some easier ones to start.... Cross Saturday morning, evening meal in Venice, Budapest, Rome or Monaco on Saturday evening and home on Sunday? Neil (Need to arrange a mortgage if we use the V8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 was top gear you inspiration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well, he didn't wave - git! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well, he didn't wave - git! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 My experience's of waving FF off at a ferry terminal usually involve the phrase" drive-by booking in " , with the ramp going up in 43 seconds Tis an adventure at the weekend hehe cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco2hse Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 The downside of living in the South Pacific Yeah pics pics pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Last time dave and fridge followed me to sliven in Bulgaria in under 3 days so this is upping the anti a little mind it was -20 degrees at one point and we did stay for a week. If he had given a little notice some of us would of joined him. Dave are you sure he made the ferry as I've witnessed his version of making it on time! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I love the warning on Google Maps. This route has a ferry - okay, we can work with that. This route has tolls - again, workable and to be expected. This route crosses through France - noooooo! In all seriousness, this idea sounds dangerous and highly pointless...I love it! Give us a trip report when you get back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I'm sure this will be one of those "it sounded like a good idea at the time" memories Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 wonder where the intrepid travellers are now ? about time we had an update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 i bet the freelander didn't make it off the ferry..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSD Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 wonder where the intrepid travellers are now ? about time we had an update. Message from Fridge @ 20:44 "Well having done some maths on the ferry and realised we only have 36 hours on the continent, plans have been modified and we're now having tea in Andorra before crossing off a visit to spain and heading back. Red Bull on standby " (If he gives me more than 24 hours notice next time, there will be online tracking available, as we have done for previous escapades!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Teresa has just said shouldn't he be a blond she in a blue jump suit driving a blue Dakar. Oh god I may of started something here....... Hat, coat, exit stage left..... Mike (oh dear she's on a roll now: Her; question how many countries can you drive through in a weekend. Me; don't say things your not willing to commit to. Her; we've got a spare weekend in December!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I recon the answer to her question does rather depend on where you are starting Mike..... Any more news on our travellers ? Back in blighty yet? Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I drove to south coast of Spain in less than 24 hrs on my own, so with multiple drivers in shifts this is very doable. I took the channel tunnel so there was hardly any time lost crossing the channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Well as per Top Gear we were ambitious... but a bit carp Once I'm over the monster(energy) hangover I'll be more coherent The idea of "We should do a road-trip" had been kicking about for a while, the plan to do one this weekend came about after a mate's birthday celebration got postponed at the last minute, so all 3 of us were at a loose end simultaneously. The discussion in the pub on Wednesday night distilled into the idea of having a pie in as many European countries as possible in a weekend (and will probably be done in future episodes), but the lure of getting to frickin' Africa was too much. Unfortunately the ferry timings gave us ~35 hours whereas TSD's example was 25 hours one-way, so falling a bit short for the round-trip even with high levels of stupidity/optimism. Since we were out for fun rather than having a race ticket booked or somesuch, we modified the plan; initially to "how far down can you get by the mid-point (midnight Saturday)", but then to go to a country none of us had been to; Andorra. The aim on the way down was to arrive in the best time possible, which would then dictate how much free time we had on the way back for sight-seeing. Aside from an irritatingly slow section of D-road after Tours, we sacrificed scenery for speed and stuck to the (mostly toll) motorways. Anyway - we got to Andorra at about 9pm (or maybe 10pm?) local time, after crawling up a winding mountain road through cloud/fog which reduced visibility to almost nothing. We had a cracking meal at one of the few local restaurants we could find that was open, got back in the car and drove back down the mountain and out via Spain Having a few hours in hand we detoured slightly to visit Carcassonne which was awesome, even if we were wandering round at 3am like rubbish burglars. Back in daylight we also detoured to go through Le Mans, although thanks to the various A/E/D/N numbers for the same stretch of road we didn't have time to locate & drive up the Mulsanne straight. Then it was the dash to the ferry and home in time for tea & medals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 sounds a great drive, maybe a bit longer planning for the next mad cap idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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