Kent to Corrieggio (Modena)

[coasty]

Hi all

I'm in need of some help, i'm planning a trip for mid september to visit a friend in Corrieggio. A bit of background is that an old school friend of mine lives there and although I have seen him regularly in this country and in the alps while on kayaking trips I have never been to his home in Italy. It looks like there are now up to four of us going and we have a week.
I was looking at catching an early chunnel on the saturday and catching a late one back on the following saturday. Simple enough for a straight run but potentially very dull.

I was looking at three days riding down trying to take in some interesting roads once past Dijon area, any suggestions for a route/waypoints to get down in the shortest but most interesing way would be much appreciated.

One possibility I was considering was most of the Route de Grande Alp for the return run, would this be possible from Corrieggio to Calais in four days and to still have some enjoyment from it? Is there anywhere in particular worth visiting on the Riviera before heading inland.

We are all experienced bikers but have little touring experience so the whole experience including planning is a potentially a bit of a challenge.

We intend camping as much as possible, ideally on proper campsites, initially I thought wild camping would great but i think I have seen sense on that one now. So any suggestions for campsites on route would be much appreciated.

 

[stolzy]

Firstly, WTF is Dijon doing on your route? You can start having fun a long time before that.

Route planning software designed for high-speed cruising cars will route you on the autoroutes, but it makes absolutely no sense at all on a bike. Miserable, soul destroying hours for no benefit at all. It'll put you in bad mood right from the get-go.

There are excellent options which will put a smile on your face a couple of hours after getting off the channel tunnel.

Since Wapping is pissing off to France tomorrow and leaving you in your hour of need, I will step up to the plate and suggest some alternatives.

Not tonite though, one has had a small tincture.

 

[stolzy]

I do the northern two-thirds of this route often. Assuming you're arriving in Calais my preference would be autoroute to just after Reims and then take the N4 to St Dizier, N67 Chaumont, Langres, N19 Besancon (but plenty of corners to be cut if you fancy some smaller roads).

After Besancon its the N57 to Pontarlier, but make sure you turn off on the D67 via Ornans beautiful quick winding road along the gorge of the Loue. After Pontarlier N57/D6 to Yverdon.

AFter that I don't know all the roads, but I would take a cross-country route to Montreaux via Moudon thence Martigny, Aosta and the autostrada to your destination.

This route is about the same distance as the Google-maps recommended autoroute/autobahn/autostrada route. It'll take a little longer, but you'll be having fun all the way

 

[coasty]

Thanks for the speedy advice, looks like an interesting route. I have been trying to have a look at it on google maps putting in waypoints. Are there any better mapping tools than google on the web so the route can be played about with. Once I have put the basic waypoints into google I can't seem to add other points into the middle of the route, only on the end. I can drag the boxes etc before the route is save but once saved in my maps it doesn't seem to make much sense, I prob just need to spend more time on it.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Assuming you're arriving in Calais...

For all his faults, even Wapping wouldn't try to get the Channel Tunnel to arrive in France somewhere other than Calais!

But I've ridden most of that route a few times, and I agree it is a million times more interesting than the autoroute to Dijon. Better roads, see more of France, save on tolls... Ornans is just lovely, I have a photo looking down the valley in my downstairs toilet!

I'd only use the autoroute if time was at a premium, but with three days to get to Modena, you're not going to have to much time to play with.

Personally, I'd also use the autoroute if the weather looked like being solid rain all day. But then I'm a wuss.

 

[coasty]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl...d=207551780198398430810.0004a355efdbb9a1f3aa1

A rough version of the route above.

I was looking at 3 days; long day 1 to get to Besacon area approx 331miles from Calais, day 2 to Aosta area 181miles, day 3 219miles to Corriegio.

Is this realistic, especially day 2 to get some enjoyment from it as well.

Is it worth going via Chamonix Mont Blanc or across via Osieres and Coll di gran San Bernada (i think) towards Aosta. ?

















rough

 

[stolzy]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl...d=207551780198398430810.0004a355efdbb9a1f3aa1

A rough version of the route above.

I was looking at 3 days; long day 1 to get to Besacon area approx 331miles from Calais, day 2 to Aosta area 181miles, day 3 219miles to Corriegio.

Is this realistic, especially day 2 to get some enjoyment from it as well.

Is it worth going via Chamonix Mont Blanc or across via Osieres and Coll di gran San Bernada (i think) towards Aosta. ?

Sounds like a plan - I do Calais to Besancon several times a year and its an easy day's ride. Don't rush, drink in the scenery. The other timings sound sensible Besac to Aosta may be only 181 miles, but its mountainous, twisty and excellent fun. Aosta is a bit of a dump to be honest - lots of modern hotels and some good restaurants. Better to stay here, up in the mountains before you get to Aosta, rooms not pricey and a good not expensive restaurant.

If you want to stop before then, the Hotel/Restaurant Catogne in La Douay, just before Orsieres would be my choice (where you should choose their steaks cooked on vine trimmings). Cheapish rooms (for Switzerland).

Don't even consider using the Mont Blanc tunnel. Its expensive, dreadfully boring on a bike. 12 km breathing lorry exhausts when some of the best roads in the world are all around you.

Can't really advise you for the Italian section - its a bit off my regular stamping ground.

[Edit]

I've had an idea - we have a small hotel close to our place (just north of Besancon), if you fancy it I could book it for you and we could organise a barbie with some of my local motard friends.

Make a little 'event'.

Depending on work, I might even be able to ride part of the stretch from Besac onwards with you.

Just an idea.

 

[coasty]

Sounds like a plan potentially, thanks for the offer dates are 17th -25th September. Ideally we are looking to camp and save a few pennies, or even bunkhouse style accomodation would be ideal. What is the weather normally like that time of year in Europe, is there an issue with the high passes or is that later still?

 

[Wapping]

For all his faults, even Wapping wouldn't try to get the Channel Tunnel to arrive in France somewhere other than Calais!

But I've ridden most of that route a few times, and I agree it is a million times more interesting than the autoroute to Dijon. Better roads, see more of France, save on tolls... Ornans is just lovely, I have a photo looking down the valley in my downstairs toilet!

I'd only use the autoroute if time was at a premium, but with three days to get to Modena, you're not going to have to much time to play with.

Personally, I'd also use the autoroute if the weather looked like being solid rain all day. But then I'm a wuss.

It's all true ...... and good advice

====

Between Robin and Stolzy you have your answers Coasty.

There are several threads giving some good advice on how to get down to roughly Dijon (half way down eastern France) and from there down to near enough where you want to be going. Half an hour with a map will see you sorted out; that's for sure.

 

[Wapping]

Sounds like a plan potentially, thanks for the offer dates are 17th -25th September. Ideally we are looking to camp and save a few pennies, or even bunkhouse style accomodation would be ideal. What is the weather normally like that time of year in Europe, is there an issue with the high passes or is that later still?

What would you tell a Frenchman the weather is like in England in September?

It will be near enough the same answer in France / Italy. In short, not bad unless you are very unlucky (or very lucky).

It may well be getting nippy on the highest passes.... but in can be nippy in July, too. You probably won't be going over the very highest / narrowest ones, will you? So, you will be fine.

Take your waterproofs and sun glasses. You may well need either or neither or maybe both together..... You'll find out, for sure.

PS Saving pennies? Seems pointless once you have subtracted fuel, worn tires. Faffing about with tents takes time and energy.... bunkhouses, do you know any?........ Find a cheap hotel (very easy), sit back, enjoy a beer and craic with your mate.....

 

[coasty]

Its great to see a route taking shape and getting some way points from those with some local knowledge is a huge help. I am waiting on the arrival of the Motorcycle Journeys in the Alps book to hopefully tailor the route a bit more.

PS Saving pennies? Seems pointless once you have subtracted fuel, worn tires. Faffing about with tents takes time and energy.... bunkhouses, do you know any?........ Find a cheap hotel (very easy), sit back, enjoy a beer and craic with your mate.....

The issue with the above is we all live within our means or try to and my means and those i'm traveling with requires a budget e.g what we would save on hotels would go a long way towards paying for the fuel etc so camping it is although I will research a few hotels as back up (it was hard enough getting a pass for the time for this trip let alone the cost )

With regards to the Frenchman. "changeable is prob about the best description" so basically if we go prepared for British weather we'll be fine ;-)