A long weekend...

[Ben-san]

...in the Alps!

Strange I know, but I've just been to the Alps too. Thanks to a plan Marcellus hatched months ago, I took some friends up to the region over the long weekend - so here are some pics and a story to share with you all. :)

I'm sat here, reeling from the amazing experience that was the weekend. Thanks to six amazing people who were so up for it, we managed just shy of 3000 kilometers without a hitch. Well, except me of course, who hadn't clocked on that forgotten a wallet until pressing the numbers into the Eurotunnel gate. 'Doh' of the highest order.

The guys were very generous, both in dole and doling out pure mockery, but I knew I wouldn't have felt comfortable had I gone the entire weekend on their funds. For the sake of four hours spent going back home to get it. So by the end of Friday, I had done enough miles to go to Reims twice! So off to London I went while the team pressed on towards our first stopoff in Le Tinqueux. They kindly dulled the thought of hunger with a few drinks - but by the time I got there, the only place we could get some food was what seemed like the epicentre of Reims chav activity - McDees.

We woke up on the next day, some having suffered the reverberating sounds of engines roaring around the racetrack ruins in the middle of the night - spurring us only to go and check it out ourselves. Thankfully, the weather picked up and we got lots of pictures and videos. We spent a good hour there, living the dream as we tested the acoustics of the grandstand one by one.

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On we went, smiles all round and all warmed up for the schlep towards Lake Geneva to meet our friends Riaz and Jade - who were coming from Stuttgart having picked up their new toy. Honestly, the moment we hit Switzerland, the roads turned from good to great. As we snaked down our first mountain road, Nyon and Lausagne came into view - and we knew right away that the journey ahead was going to be amazing.

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We caused quite a stir as we cruised our way through Geneva, roaring through the city traffic as we made a break for the French border once more. Our second twisty experience came as we climbed up the mountain to Les Carroz d'Araches, and amazed as we were, Marcellus said over our lovely meal: "That's nothing. You wait till tomorrow!"

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Sunday began without a cloud in the sky in the peaceful village - until we broke the silence with the rumble of our machinery, announcing to the entire area that we were about to take on the Alps spiritedly. And away we went, aiming not so straight but true for Switzerland. Up and over Mont Blanc to the Grand St Benard Pass. Words can't describe its beauty. Exploring our limits of grip and handling, we climbed the ancient the roads where Napoleon once marched his troops across the border.

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After a rest in the sunshine on the Italian side, we came to pass some of the best roads yet. With clear vision for miles down the valley, I stormed ahead to clear the road, catching a glimpse of our cars in my mirrors using every bit of tarmac like racing drivers on their day off.

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Sometime later, we got somewhat lost in and around the city of Aosta - losing an hour and a half before making up for it in TUNNELS. One after the other, I giggled for miles on end watching flames from the Andy's overrun spitting either side of the Dax - and at Italians gripping their steering wheels as we roared through towards the Petit St Bernard Pass.

Marcellus, thank you for everything you did for us. This whole trip would have quite literally been lost without you. Do reiterate our gratitude to Sophie too if you see her again.

Everyone who came made the trip what it was - thanks to their enthusiasm and good company. Would I do it again? I think so!

[Dan H]

Not jealous - much :D

Looks awesome, glad you had a good time.

But what sort of idiot would forget their wallet? :D

[reckless st]

one that was so organised for everyone else he overlooked himself ????:leaving:
but even bens slight detour for lunch on the way home made for a nice little run on quiet lanes

[ph1l5]

OMG those pics look fantastic. and Im not jelous one bit :-(
Great report and good to hear you all made it back safe.

[Marcellus]

my favourite photos from the weekend;

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/marcellus-stoc/Mont%20Blanc%20Tunnell%20run/DSC_0262.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/marcellus-stoc/Mont%20Blanc%20Tunnell%20run/DSC_0265.jpg

the rest are here;

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/marcellus-stoc/Mont%20Blanc%20Tunnell%20run/

[reckless st]

this was a coolshot taken in geneva sat in traffic

[Butters]

Wow, wow, wow and wow!!!

Ben it looks like you and the others had a fantastic time out there. What a great trip!

I was actually only down the road in Annecy for the weekend at a wedding. We could have hooked up and I would have shown off my Fiat Panda hire car. What a gutless wonder.

Awesome pics!

James. :)

[Ben-san]

this was a coolshot taken in geneva sat in traffic

Oh cool - I hadn't seen that opportunity... I think I was too busy babbling on about how that fountain should be used for some sort of corporal punishment!

Wow, wow, wow and wow!!!

Ben it looks like you and the others had a fantastic time out there. What a great trip!

I was actually only down the road in Annecy for the weekend at a wedding. We could have hooked up and I would have shown off my Fiat Panda hire car. What a gutless wonder.

James. :)

We did indeed. Actually, I had Annecy planned in as a detour on the way home but alas, it would have been very silly to do so. We started at 10am and still missed our chunnel at 7:50pm!

[Marcellus]

We started at 10am and still missed our chunnel at 7:50pm!

How did you manage that??

[Ben-san]

How did you manage that??

Not entirely sure... but traffic was pretty poor. We stopped for lunch in Auxonne after a few hours of driving, and pretty much carried on for the rest of the day. We ended up on the 21:20 train I think!

[tinman]

vnice ;)

two more days and I'm back in the Alps taking another of our events through. can't wait! 3rd time this year.

[Marcellus]

Tinman - where are you coming to??