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Old 27th September 2019, 13:57   #12
Roderick
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Rover 75 CDT Connoissuer SE

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Hereford
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Default September 2019 update

An update to my 'December trip to Italy' post which seemed to have been read quite a bit, here is the return report.

Wednesday, 'Rodrigo' was driven back to Britain from Italy after taking it out there last year. No problems during the long stay while in Italy other than the exhaust shield coming loose which was fixed at an Italian Bosch garage for free! Much amusement at the steering wheel being 'on the wrong side'. We left fully loaded at 4am Monday morning, driving from near Ancona, Le Marche, Italy, to avoid the morning traffic through Bologna onto the A22, up through the Brenner Pass in the Alps into Austria and then into Germany staying at a small hotel in the village of Allersberg just of the A9 autobahn about 15km south of Nuremberg. Arrived at about 4pm. Good time for rest and meal with some German acquaintances we met when travelling last year.

Left refreshed Tuesday morning and onto the A6 toward Heilbronn before merging onto the A61 toward the Netherlands. The A61 which passes Cologne and Koblenz becomes the Dutch A73 (how seamless it all is, no borders, checks etc – wonderful!) before eventually joining the A12 to the Hook of Holland and the Stenaline ferry terminal.
Absolutely dreadful weather in places, with the car getting drenched at various times during the drive totalling 1771km (1,100mls).

Fast check-in and through to Customs. Again quick and efficient but had to ask if the Dutch had any guidance on what might happen after Brexit. They could not say much, except be prepared for a much longer time spent getting checked, being asked more questions and more intensive vehicle checks – Oh joy!

The Stena Hollandica is a lovely ferry frequently used before and the standard of cabin, meals and experience onboard is excellent.
The ferry departs at 10pm arriving at Harwich for disembarkation around 7am. Welcome to Britain and grey rainy skies. Refuelled at Morrisons just outside the terminal and on our way home. The A120/A12 to the M25 is a miserable road and the M25 even worse with traffic unfortunately very very slow with much start stopping due to a broken down truck until we could reach the M40 and welcome stop at the Beaconsfield services for a Wetherspoons full English breakfast.
Leaving the services, a warning light came up for a sidelight bulb failure!

Onward to Oxford, the A40 and eventually to home in Hereford 1303 miles in total. Diesel fuel consumption was pretty good considering the 70/80+ mph speeds for long periods worked out around a reasonable 53mpg. The only tolls were Italy 40€ and Austria 18€ as currently Germany and Netherlands do not charge passenger vehicles a toll which is helpful in keeping costs down.

Just need to replace the failed bulb and give the car a good clean! Never saw another 75 or MG across the entire continent until spotting a grey facelift near Gloucester! That trip will be repeated again next year, whether we will do that trip again in the Rover is uncertain for all manner of reasons, but it truly demonstrated it's tremendous capability of doing so. Next week, a service and MOT …
I didn't get to take many photos, but 4 are attached. From February on the seafront at Senigallia by the Adriatic, evening shot outside a Restaurant, Up on a ramp having the exhaust shield attended too and finally in Austria at Munster Sud for a 'comfort stop'.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg February seafront, Senigallia.jpg (140.7 KB, 58 views)
File Type: jpg Rod Infinito Ristorante.jpg (127.4 KB, 57 views)
File Type: jpg Rod on ramp.jpg (140.8 KB, 58 views)
File Type: jpg Munster Sud.jpg (136.0 KB, 58 views)
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