General Twinair Trip Around Europe

[GettinBetter]

I saw 'ape' on the front, and felt there was ssomething missing, thanks.

No idea about the tunnel, but I was next to the med earlier, now in Gravere, Turin about to head through the mountains in the morning.

 

[GettinBetter]

Tues 25/06/24

Departed:~08-15
Arrived: 16-30

After a short rain shower (whilst I was loading the car of course) I later watched it evaporating in large steam clouds rising from the trees, no doubt to fall elsewhere later (or follow me).


Went throught the Mount Blanc Tunnel, but not without a hiccup. I managed to drive the wrong way past the police station whose front doors were part of a one way system, I was caught red handed, by a young italian fella in uniform, who politely asked for drivers licence, which he took handed to a collegue to took them into the building opposite, after a couple of mins
I was asked for vehicle docs, after what semed like an eternity, I was told I could go (without a ticket ) and was directed in the correct direction.

Took a ton of picks going through the mountains, and you have to be there to appreciate the vastness and scale of it all.

This was at the border entering Switzerland.





Oh, and this..



You can see here that the HSE in the UK has gone barmy, I mean look at the access to the railway here...and I walked from the road straight to it.





Arrived at "Camping Les Arolles" after some hours driving, and I was only half way to my destination in Switzerland.
Its rained every day of the trip so far.

Put the tent up it rained, it stopped and I made a brew, it rained again. Sat in the tent playing solitaire for an hour or so then went too sleep.

Weds 26/06/24
Departed Camping Les Arolles about 08-00

Usual spectacularly interesting views/scenery, and of course I logged another wrong turn, (bit of a bugger not being able to translate swiss instantly) this time it was quite pleasing, I'd managed to get into a lane that put in a queue to drive on a train that takes you through the mountains, and to be honest all those hairpins were begining to look a bit samey, so I was glad of the break.

Arrived: Rassengartenstrausse, Brunnen 15-45
ODO: 69143

 

[GettinBetter]

Thurs 27/06/24

Got up, washed, and car loaded by ~07-45. Wandered around town till 10-00 and took a scenic boat trip around Lake Urnersee, visiting three other piers before arriving at Fluelen. and then back for 11-50. Needless to say then scenery... well you know.








I kept looking at the mountains and spotting houses right at the top, thinking thats where I like to live, although I'm sure it has it's drawbacks.







The pointy end.



It did a swifty 28kmph.


Departed: Rassengartenstrausse, Brunnen 12-00
Arrived: Rohrspitz Camping Site ~15-30

Plumbed for the electric hookup as I wanted to use the PC. Made a beeline for the laundry facilities and did the wash, only to find out out the drier wasn't working. Had to lash up a temp washing line.

Having to top the rad up about every 5 hrs of motoring. It'll need to be a lot worse than that before I touch it.

Planning to setup camp here for at least a couple of days (Monday) and take a break.

It's still raining on & off, lots of surface water in Austria, (hope my washing gets a chance to dry )..

 

[GettinBetter]

Sluming it at a camp site, but this campsite facilities are part of the sailing club, and it so happens the facilities, and restaurant are rather good.

Views from the restaurant..





Had a lazy morning, wandered around and took some pics.

If I stand on the shore where I am (Austria), I can see the German shoreline to my right, and Swiss shoreline to my left.





If it's not one thing it's another. Spotted this on my tyre this morning.



Looks like they're having water level problems here.


I don't think I'll be sitting on that seat.

Went for a swim, well had to didn't I. The water was beautifully clean.



Topped up rad before leaving to pop down the shops, came out of the shops to a worrying amount of wet stuff, had another look, and it was well below minimum, and I'd only been driving 15 mins, topped up to get me back to camp.

Removed top tube, and there wasn't anything obvious, apart from all the things you guys have already mentioned. Chopped about 20mm of tube off and refitted it. Fingers crossed. If not I'll have to drive back to Italy and find a fiat garage...nah, if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you.
Better get some extra water & coolant additive.

One thing I have noticed, is that driving in the UK, I could only manage 44 MPG in ECO mode, but having just done the French & Swiss Alps I've got it up to 48 MPG, whats that all about? I have been using ECO mode & S/S all the time so far.

 

[varesecrazy]

That tyre.. Probably fine,
look to see if it is deforming/bulging
Keep a feel out for new vibrations

Mpg, just the effect of long runs in warm weather I suspect..
That's how I got my highest, 68 in the Panda and 72 in the punto

Potentially better fuel this week also?

 

[GettinBetter]

The water is no longer coming from the top hose, it's coming from further back. When I look under the car, its dripping from around the gear shift area.

 

[varesecrazy]

The water is no longer coming from the top hose, it's coming from further back. When I look under the car, its dripping from around the gear shift area.

You Sure that's not the aircon drain..?

 

[GettinBetter]

no, it's defo too much, plus the reservoir is emptying somehow, and it not dripping at the front.

 

[GettinBetter]

Need an easy way to disconnect the boot light. Having it on at my last stop for three days caned the battery. Stop/start didn't work most of the day. Started working again late afternoon.

 

[varesecrazy]

Need an easy way to disconnect the boot light. Having it on at my last stop for three days caned the battery. Stop/start didn't work most of the day. Started working again late afternoon.

Screwdriver to pop open the bulb holder, then disconnect 1 wire

 

[GettinBetter]

Screwdriver to pop open the bulb holder, then disconnect 1 wire

Ok, will give it a go. Sounds easy enough

 

[GettinBetter]

Sun 30th
Departed Rohrspitz at 06-50.

Stopped for a radiator fluid level check/topup, and guess what, there was a McDonalds there. Normally I'd never bother, but I thought what the hell.

Opposite there was a bay of manual car washers, and the 500 was in dire need of a wash. I'd gone through some roadworks in the mountains and picked up some tar off the front wheels all up the side. I bought some sort of solution at Rohrspitz town, and spent a hour or so trying to remove it, I had to scape the worst off with a plastic spoon, and nearly all the rest with the solution, but it still left remnants. The car wash pressure wash did the rest, and it came up lovely.


Arrived at "Camping Platz" at about 16-40 (west from Prague) at Jesinice, Czechia.

ODO: 69887

Yes, you guessed it, it rained on & off whilst I was setting up camp.
Then on & off all night, but on the bright side I found the inflatable mattress, that I thought I'd forgotten. Luckily, I had a spare sleeping bag, which helped make it a bit more comfortable.



Mon 1st

Slept so much better last night
Getting fed up with all this heat, however it does dry things out more quickly, not sure how I'll fare in the cooler countries. prolly quit the camping.

Going to chill.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

no, it's defo too much, plus the reservoir is emptying somehow, and it not dripping at the front.

Are you still getting the powdery residue around the tank?

 

[GettinBetter]

Are you still getting the powdery residue around the tank?

There's a little left from before I cut the pipe, but nothing to like it was before, or that equates to the fluid being lost now.

 

[GettinBetter]

Oh, and oil is proper colour.

 

[GettinBetter]

Something I forgot to do at the beginning of this thread was post a route, so here's a link.

Route

Might work better if you paste the link into Google Maps directly. It seems to put lots of double routes in using that link.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Something I forgot to do at the beginning of this thread was post a route, so here's a link.

Route

Proper job, that. Don't know what's taking you so long, mind - route says it's only 100 hours

 

[GettinBetter]

 yeah thanks for that.

It's about to get a bit shorter, I've decided to get the ferry across to Sweden halfway up finland.

Apparently, I won't get to see the northern lights, as it won't get dark this time of year.

I'm not enduring all those mossies for nothing.

 

[RichardH13]

Well done so far!

This is a proper road trip

I think it also proves that the seats in the 500 are pretty good, especially for the size of the car, that long seat squab really makes a difference

 

[GettinBetter]

...I think it also proves that the seats in the 500 are pretty good, especially for the size of the car, that long seat squab really makes a difference

I'd had no reason to think about the seats, which means they've given me no reason to, so yes I would agree, they are comfy.