Having had a better look at the map and where Rovinj is, I think we should plan on adding an extra day at least onto our return journey.
What I sort of have in mind is this:
Outward leg
Day one Calais to Clervaux in Luxembourg - 240 miles - Better still to Vianden, which adds an hour perhaps but is worth it the next day.
Day two Ckervaux to Schenkenzell in Germany - 260 miles (a bit less if we start from Vianden)
Day three Schenkenzell to Ruhpolding in Germany - 270 miles
Half day four Ruhpolding to Malta - 130 miles
I have ridden these roads before, so I know it works. There are (not excessive) bits of motorway in the routes, but only to take out some parts that would otherwise go down pretty ordinary roads just for the sake of it.
I think I am near enough set on this and will start to see if I can get us some hotel rooms reserved, at least in pencil.
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Return leg
Day one Rovinj to Arabba in Italy - 230 miles (I think the first third of this at least should be on the motorway, just to get going).
Day two Arabba to Zams in Austria - 170 miles (It takes longer than you might think, as the Dolomites ain't straight)
Day three Zams to Colmar in France - 250 miles
Day four Colmar to Reims - 220 miles
Day five Reims to Calais - 200 miles
It's a longer run on the way back than I had in mind but it brings in the Dolomites and parts of the Vosges. I could shorten the Reims to Calais bit quite a lot, as we could just burn straight up the motorway.
I will have a look to see if I can work something else, sticking with the Dolomite idea but swinging around to come back through the Black Forest and / or working on something different from Colmar.
What is bugging my mind a bit is the north side of the Bodensee, which can become a bit of a grind for two hours. Usually I just close my eyes and get on with it.
Any way, it's all possible and we don't have to decide today.
Richard
What I sort of have in mind is this:
Outward leg
Day one Calais to Clervaux in Luxembourg - 240 miles - Better still to Vianden, which adds an hour perhaps but is worth it the next day.
Day two Ckervaux to Schenkenzell in Germany - 260 miles (a bit less if we start from Vianden)
Day three Schenkenzell to Ruhpolding in Germany - 270 miles
Half day four Ruhpolding to Malta - 130 miles
I have ridden these roads before, so I know it works. There are (not excessive) bits of motorway in the routes, but only to take out some parts that would otherwise go down pretty ordinary roads just for the sake of it.
I think I am near enough set on this and will start to see if I can get us some hotel rooms reserved, at least in pencil.
-----
Return leg
Day one Rovinj to Arabba in Italy - 230 miles (I think the first third of this at least should be on the motorway, just to get going).
Day two Arabba to Zams in Austria - 170 miles (It takes longer than you might think, as the Dolomites ain't straight)
Day three Zams to Colmar in France - 250 miles
Day four Colmar to Reims - 220 miles
Day five Reims to Calais - 200 miles
It's a longer run on the way back than I had in mind but it brings in the Dolomites and parts of the Vosges. I could shorten the Reims to Calais bit quite a lot, as we could just burn straight up the motorway.
I will have a look to see if I can work something else, sticking with the Dolomite idea but swinging around to come back through the Black Forest and / or working on something different from Colmar.
What is bugging my mind a bit is the north side of the Bodensee, which can become a bit of a grind for two hours. Usually I just close my eyes and get on with it.
Any way, it's all possible and we don't have to decide today.
Richard
.
I went to BA once and loved it. 
