The week over Christmas I did something which i'm both proud of and not. I took my Citrus Insight Rufio on a road trip to Cerelina in Switzerland. In hindsight the journey there was through some of the worst possible winter weather ( I used to live and work in St Anton, Austria so I know bad winter weather ).
If I were to contemplate doing this again I would...
1) buy winter tyres, not even sure its legal to drive in some of these countries without them
2) get my grid charger fitted, god knows how my battery has suffered
3) find a way of preventing the washer jets fluid from freezing
4) maybe take a driving buddy or some books on MP3, music after 36 hours doesn't really cut it
5) Take more than 2 types of ATM card and make sure i know the pin numbers
6) take all appropriate European charger connectors
7) think about roaming costs for my mobile
8) update my severely out of date tomtom GPS maps
9) buy a good paper map of Europe
10) use via michellan both ways
11) Avoid French roads which don't seem to cope well with excess snow.
12) get a better tog sleeping bag.
13) plan a proper sleep.
14) use showers more at the services.
15) take cuppa soups and more thermos flasks.
16) take better foorwear.
All in all the trip was ridiculously underplanned and because of this a bit of a rollercoaster. I'm thinking of making a small helpful booklet from the lessons I have directly learnt from several scary times in the week that was.
In conclusion I hope I now hold a new record for drivers of the Mark 1 insight which is the most countries traversed in a 36 hour time period.
Switzerland
Austria
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
France
UK
I almost passed through Lichtenstein too.
but 7 was plenty. All in all about 1000miles
plus took rufio through the 100,000 mile mark so was a momentus trip.
Best MPG 90 through tunnels in Austria.
Worst MPG just after the flat battery in Germany because I fell asleep in a layby with the engine off but heaters on. had to get German Roadside Assistance out on boxing day to jumpstart Rufio. Amazingly they took less than 30 minutes. You have to love German efficiency.
I wish that the team who developed this car knew what its capable of cause seriously I felt safe taking it over the Davos pass in Switzerland at -15 C. Needed snowchains but it proved not a problem.
Lastly made it back in time for my best friends wedding on the 30th as I had to deliver the bestman's speech. He was not best pleased at my slightly spontaneous choice of holiday timing or venue but I think I have been forgiven now.
If I were to contemplate doing this again I would...
1) buy winter tyres, not even sure its legal to drive in some of these countries without them
2) get my grid charger fitted, god knows how my battery has suffered
3) find a way of preventing the washer jets fluid from freezing
4) maybe take a driving buddy or some books on MP3, music after 36 hours doesn't really cut it
5) Take more than 2 types of ATM card and make sure i know the pin numbers
6) take all appropriate European charger connectors
7) think about roaming costs for my mobile
8) update my severely out of date tomtom GPS maps
9) buy a good paper map of Europe
10) use via michellan both ways
11) Avoid French roads which don't seem to cope well with excess snow.
12) get a better tog sleeping bag.
13) plan a proper sleep.
14) use showers more at the services.
15) take cuppa soups and more thermos flasks.
16) take better foorwear.
All in all the trip was ridiculously underplanned and because of this a bit of a rollercoaster. I'm thinking of making a small helpful booklet from the lessons I have directly learnt from several scary times in the week that was.
In conclusion I hope I now hold a new record for drivers of the Mark 1 insight which is the most countries traversed in a 36 hour time period.
Switzerland
Austria
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
France
UK
I almost passed through Lichtenstein too.
but 7 was plenty. All in all about 1000miles
plus took rufio through the 100,000 mile mark so was a momentus trip.
Best MPG 90 through tunnels in Austria.
Worst MPG just after the flat battery in Germany because I fell asleep in a layby with the engine off but heaters on. had to get German Roadside Assistance out on boxing day to jumpstart Rufio. Amazingly they took less than 30 minutes. You have to love German efficiency.
I wish that the team who developed this car knew what its capable of cause seriously I felt safe taking it over the Davos pass in Switzerland at -15 C. Needed snowchains but it proved not a problem.
Lastly made it back in time for my best friends wedding on the 30th as I had to deliver the bestman's speech. He was not best pleased at my slightly spontaneous choice of holiday timing or venue but I think I have been forgiven now.