Jim 1 Posted April 9, 2011 Much interest in the Corrado out where you are? Really interesting stuff :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 9, 2011 Funny thing is, loads of people stare at it in France and Germany, but once in Slovenia and Croatia, no-one looks twice at it. Maybe an old commy thing? Today was a great driving day. I was beginning to tire of motorway pounding when suddenly the motorway ended and 80miles of A and B-roads started! Corrado was in her element, just great at soaking up bumps and staying stuck to the tarmac. Ended up taking the attitude of 'drive like the locals', and stuck behind one dude in a Merc who 'seemed' to know his stuff. Old Maw wasn't bothered about the spirited driving either! Tommorrow will be 167miles of the same. Been told by the local police I can buy insurance at the border, so just need to cross fingers. Dubrovnik is stunning. Was fasciniating to see pictures of the shelling that took place back in the 90's. You would never know the country had only relatively recently been at war. From empty M-way to this! Soon passed the truck and tagged along with on old S-class most of the way. Stunning! Just outside Dubrovnik Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) After being a bit worried about this part of the trip, so far everything has gone really well. Loads of LPG in Bosnia, only 52p a litre. Got a Green Card at the Border for only E35. Drive to Sarajevo was great, simply stunning scenery. Sarajevo is some place, and some amount of history behind it, esp the 1992-95 war. Evidence of the bombardment is still very miuch apparant, with many buildins showing the scars of war. Drove down Snipers Alley and can see why it got the name. Very exposed to all sorts of sniper fire and rocket attacks. Anyway, I'll stop! Final piece of interesting info - you've not got a car if you've not got a VW apparantly! Loads of them here, esp Mk1's and 2's. There used to be a factory here until it was bombed during the war. The Germans never reinvested. Witnessed the demise of a T2 van and Mk2. Mk2 smacked into a Fiat at the lights. The van smacked into the Mk2. Also saw an A3 go into the back of a new Passat. Whoops. Me outside the famous Holiday Inn where reporters were based during the war. Building that had been badly hit by shells. Notice how the holes have simply been patched! The bridge where Arch Franz Ferdinand was shot, thus starting World War One. View from high above Sarajevo Approaching Sarajevo Edited April 11, 2011 by jamiehamy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whitedog 0 Posted April 11, 2011 This is a fantastic thread, a proper enjoyable read. I did 2 tours of bosnia when i was in the army a few years back, seeing these pictures is a proper flashback......snipers alley is something else aint it..... Keep up the good work and keep enjoying yourself.....more pics too.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robrado974 1 Posted April 11, 2011 great thread , really good read . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 11, 2011 After a 5hur drive, arrived in Split, in Croatia, starting the trip homwwards. The scenery in Bosnia is simply stunning. The lakes and mountains are so impressive. Stopped in a place called Mostar in southern Bosnia. This town was reduced almost to rubble in 1993. The old town, which is now a UNESCO site, was obliterated, including an ancient bridge over the river. There was a video showing it being destroyed by shells or rockets. Really quite moving and shocking and really bring nearer the reality of what happened, which until now, for me, had only ever been on TV. The amount of Mk1 and Mk2 Golf's in Bosnia is unreal! Every other car is an old Golf, some in amaing condition, others in yellow with a trailer! Split is lovely, the second biggest city in Croatia. Very nice with a lovely old town. Tommorrow tramping up to Trieste before moving on to Venice. The motorway that runs up Croatia is very new and virtually empty. Can sit at 80mph for hours with no traffic. This bridge was completely destroyed along withg most of the buildings surrounding it. Split from a hill! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wy906 0 Posted April 12, 2011 I watched a TV programme about that town / bridge a couple of years ago! Could be a travel programme; might even be ‘Coach Trip’ on C4! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Made the journey across three countries from Split in Croatia, thought Slovenia into Trieste in Italy. Whilst there is not a huge amount in Trieste, the architecture from the Austro-Hungarian empire is quite something. Got diverted over a mountain as a tunnel was closed. On the road we came across an accident where a Merc B class had it's side literally shaved off by an army tank transporter. Fortunately it didn't look like there were any physical injuries. Nasty tho. Small issue with the car - the headlight switch gave up the ghost. Was a bit problematic going though the 30 miles of Slovenia as lights are mandatory all the time, but avoided the police. Took the switch apart in the hotel room and found one of the plastic arms has snapped, and it looks like heat. I've managed to rig it so it's on all the time and operate by plugging the switch in when I need the lights. Will do until I get home! Shame I'm past Bosnia as any amount of roadside garages would have had Mk2 switches! The motorway towards Rijeka near Trieste. Superb quality roads out here, smooth and quiet. I'm dreading UK motorways where the Rado seems so noisy, but it's actually just the tarmac. One of the many buildings in Trieste Sorry about my dirty windscreen. This was one of the roads in Bosnia. Deep in valleys with lakes on one side and mountains on all others. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 1 Posted April 12, 2011 The roads look sensational! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted April 12, 2011 wow! what an amazing trip, sad, but I remember tv war reports and noticing all the mk2's! didn't know they had made them there though. btw, if you were getting tyre wear on just one wheel then it would be camber and not tracking, tracking would do both wheels Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 13, 2011 I think I know why the tyre is getting chewed - the rear drivers side sits ab out 1 finger lower than the passengers, which will probably knock the geometry out - looks like the spring cushion has collapsed. I'm hoping I'll make it home before it becomes illegal otherwise i'll switch it to the back. Arrived Venice today. I'd visited with my sister when i was 14 and it's not really changed much. lol. They tried to charge us £1.40 each to take a pee! I'd expect more than a scabby loo for that. Tight Scot that I am, jumped on a train at the station and relieved myself. £1.40 less to 'Let's con the tourist Venice'. Despite being mad with tourists, me included of course, it's quite something to look at. Bit smelly at times tho. Lake Como tomorrow, then likely heading to Luxembourg. Headlight bodge is working fine :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 14, 2011 (edited) Well, after an eventful drive, we've arrived in Como. Italian roads are manic. Motorways are really busy, with endless streams of HGVs on inside lane. Everyone doing 80mph thankfully, but quite a few jams. Also experienced some complete madness leaving a toll booth. About 12 toll booths going into two lanes. The inevitable happened and a Dacia Sandero got it's side resculpted by a lorry. Whoops! Lake Como is really lovely. Beautiful lake surrounded by green carpeted mountains! Took a boat up the lake and saw the James Bund Houses - Villa Balbianello and Villa la Gaeta. They both featured in Casino Royale. The ferries are interesting, one was a hydrofoil, and the other was a boring catameran, but I reckon it was jet powered as the acceleration, speed and smoothness were brilliant. A cool thing about Como town is that it has a water runway and airport thing at the waters front! There is a lane marked a good mile down the lake for the seaplanes to take off, saw some Cessna's and Beavers when passing. To get to the hangar, they just 'drive' up out the water and across the road. Random! (Sorry if my definition of cool is a bit sad!) Heading up to Luxembourg tomorrow before heading across the Channel on Saturday afternoon. >Literally about 10seconds later a crumpy/scrapey noise followed as the Dacia got mauled by a lorry. I was pretty worried it would happen to me, but drove like a local with the mindset that my car was worth less than everyone elses :) Edited April 14, 2011 by jamiehamy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 15, 2011 Can't post any pics as the internet connection is wonky. Ah well. After a 400mile drive, we arrived in Luxembourg. Came through Switzerland and the St Gotttard tunnel - all 17km of it! Roads were fairly clear and once we hit France I opened her up a bit and we cruised along brilliantly at 90mph most of the way. That's the thing I love about the Corrado. When you want to get somewhere in a hurry, you can really shift along nicely. No gas stations in Switzerland, which is disappointing given how they like to think they are eco-friendly ( I've worked there twice so got the chat about doing washing at night etc..I know, not that it makes a difference, but tell that to the Swiss!). Luxembourg is an interesting place to visit. The heart of the EU. They have been quite clever here. The amount of money that has been invested here into EU buildings and functions is incredible. 4000 pupils go to the international school. There says a lot about how many people work for the EU in Luxembourg. The whole economy seems to be built on the EU and banks. And they are not ashamed to show it off - whilst impressive, it's also sickening. I can never make my mind up about Europe. One one hand, I like the common currency, not having to worry about crossing borders, car insurance etc... but at the same time, I hate the money it swallows. Money that at the end of the day comes from tax. And that fact we get laws forced on us we don't want. Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox, but has made me think. One thing that was very clear here - Britain and English don't seem to fit on the Luxembourg agenda. They always mention France and Germany and their languages, but never any mention of English. Will upload pics when I can get a good connection! Ferry tmrw afternoon, Some stats in absence of Pics Driving time - 68hours 34mins. Miles - 3536miles Average Speed - 52mph. Days on the Road - 14days Got 240miles to ferry, then 500miles home. Then back to work on Monday :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 18, 2011 Well, that's me back home safely and sadly already in work! Final leg was up through Belguim to Dunkirk and over to Dover, before staying the night near Oxford. Had a nice cruise back up the road yesterday. Had a great trip and saw a lot of places I'd never otherwise have seen. Highlight had to be Sarajevo. So full of history and some liovely sights, in spite of everything. All in I did 4320miles at an average of 53mph. Gas consumption was 25mpg most of the way, dropping in the UK. I suspect it's to do with more Butane on the continent.Saved about £350 on fuel costs by having the gas. Car was great. Despite some very long drives, I was never uncomfortable and just loved driving it. My mum commented that she's glad we never took her e-class as it 'would have toppled over if you'd driven it like your car'. I reassured her that wouldn't happen, but she was adament that she knows her car, and my car sticks to the road like glue! The roads on the Continent are far superior, with the exception of Germany and Belgium. I hated driving on German autobahns - always busy and full of Autobahnsturmers at 120mph+ all the time. I'm more than happy sitting at 80-90, esp when I know I can't afford for anything to break. The Corrado is a great touring car, but UK roads spoil it due to how noisy they are. My standard suspension was superb, so much more comfortable than last year on lowereds. I will post some final pics up when I get a chance, with some decent ones from my proper camera - so far has only been my phone. Pics soon! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easypops 8 Posted April 18, 2011 Well done mate...........looking forward to seeing the pics :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
too hot 0 Posted April 18, 2011 Excellent trip mate well done.Glad to see the Corrado did you proud,says a lot for an 18 year old car managing a road trip like that:salute::salute: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coullstar 0 Posted April 19, 2011 Love the Italian bit, I did just as you and took the approach "do as the locals do". Lovelly part of the world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 20, 2011 These were taken using my actual camera. The quality has been reduced by PB, will need to upgrade or something to improve. They are actually crystal clear. Evening in Zadar Sunset over Dubrovnik Mr White? The name's Bond, James Bond...This one is not in the tourist bumf, Villa la Gaeta. Oh James...one of the other villa's, Villa del Balbianello. High above Sarajevo. Note the Holiday Inn on the left. the road to the airport ran from left to right (or vv!), towards the airport. You can see why it would be so exposed to sniper and rocket fire. Dubvovnik Old Town. Sorry about the cable car pylon! The cable car was destroyed in the 90's during the war, were several very moving pictures in the station. They used the cable car station as a stronghold to fire on Dubrovnik, which was heavily damaged during the war. You would not know to look at it now, although the newness of the roofs is a giveaway. I think it was like 75% of roofs were destroyed. Half of a 968! This was so good! I reckon it must have ben cut by laser, as the cuts are so clean. Adriatic at night Dunkirk - evacuation beaches Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rsgntx 0 Posted April 25, 2011 read through your road trip!! very nice, great thread! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voo51 0 Posted April 25, 2011 Wow,I would love to do something like this, its quite inspirational and an epic journey for your C. Well done to you both (you and your Corrado). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted April 30, 2011 On a whim last night I decided to buy some new wheels. I love the Ultra's, very light and strong, but just fancied a change. Got some 16's from a 4Motion and rather like them. They do however really make the car look high and in need of some lowering, but not going back down that route. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
