Road trip

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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Belle
Joined: Thu 22 Jul, 2010 19:17
Posts: 75

  Z3 roadster 1.8
Location: Glasgow

Road trip

Post by Belle »

Having worked 90+ hours at the hospital in the last 7 days I've maybe gone mad, :shock: but as a friend and I have the week off I've just booked us and the zed on this evenings ferry from hull to zeebrugge for a bit of an adventure.
Not going to be the most organised of trips but taking a tent, suncream and a cagoule and will see where we end up :D
I'm sure I'll have a few photos to post when we return

Belle
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GazHyde
Joined: Fri 26 Feb, 2010 21:27
Posts: 1347

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Royal Wootton Bassett

Post by GazHyde »

The best kind of plan is not having a plan!

Hope you have a great time...

Gary
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sidtheranger
Joined: Sun 18 Jul, 2010 13:45
Posts: 193

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Dorking

Post by sidtheranger »

Have a good one Belle and best wishes :thumb:
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chris1984_99_99
Joined: Sat 01 May, 2010 17:24
Posts: 200

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Troon

Post by chris1984_99_99 »

Nice one! Have a great time!! I think theres a BMW car show on in some Priory next Sunday near Loch Lomond, all being well im going to go to it as im living/working nearby for a while! Would be great to get a few guys from here at it!

Have a great trip, looking forward to seeing the pics!!

Chris
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This sideways motion is feeling all too familiar...
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snoops
Joined: Sat 12 Jun, 2010 17:08
Posts: 971

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Lancashire

Re: Road trip

Post by snoops »

Belle wrote:Having worked 90+ hours at the hospital in the last 7 days I've maybe gone mad, :shock: but as a friend and I have the week off I've just booked us and the zed on this evenings ferry from hull to zeebrugge for a bit of an adventure.
Not going to be the most organised of trips but taking a tent, suncream and a cagoule and will see where we end up :D
I'm sure I'll have a few photos to post when we return

Belle
Sounds like you deserve it, love impromptu trips... the Hull to Zeebrugge crossing is great, you can re-charge your batteries overnight on board then get Zedding....

Safe journey and looking forward to an update on your return.
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Belle
Joined: Thu 22 Jul, 2010 19:17
Posts: 75

  Z3 roadster 1.8
Location: Glasgow

Post by Belle »

Wow! Will definately be doing that again. The oringinal plan for my week of annual leave last week had been to do a tour of the outer hebrides but with such changable weather in Scotland we had a last minute change of plan and headed for the continent. The car behaved all week having fortunately had an oil change only a few weeks ago. Apart from that all I had time to do before setting off was check the tyres had air in them and give her a quick wash....at 530am cos I was so excited I couldn't sleep. :D
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04228.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04228.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
After stopping by Halfords for a european road atlas and headlight deflectors I picked my friend up in Edinburgh and made good time down to Hull for the overnight crossing. We were in good company on the boat and they were kind enough to admire my humble wee zed.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04238.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04238.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I took Mike Fishwick's word for it that the tent wound be fine tucked down with the roof and it was grand even on the motorway. With so little time to prepare we managed to cram two small suitcases (the size you can take on as handluggage) as well as sleeping bags, thermarests, a cool bag and stove in the boot.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04294.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04294.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04295.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04295.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Our first couple of days was spent in Bruges so the car was tucked away in a hotel car park but after that we hit the road and eventually ended up camping near Dinant for a few nights. The landmark in the town is a citadel sitting above the town on a clifftop with a gothic church at the base of the cliff. The towns congested one way system was crawling with nice cars from old porches to new ferraris so plenty of car spotting too.

<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04298.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04298.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04327.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04327.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I enjoyed driving the tree-lined country roads between Dinant and our campsite and we didn't drive a mile on the continent without having the roof down. Really grateful to my parents who, the day before we left and knowing I was planning a road trip, came to Glasgow to fix the wind deflector I recently bought from another forum member. It made a MASSIVE difference!

We didn't spot many zeds but caught this pair at the lights in Mons.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04358.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04358.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
A bit disappointed I didn't get a wave :bawl:

We did see a few other unusual vehicles as a group of ww2 army enthusiasts had taken over a field near our campsite.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04329.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04329.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

On the last day we made a dash for the beach at Dunkirk and was pretty impressed by what seemed like hundreds of kitsurfers.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04363.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04363.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Then, all too soon it was time to get back on the boat for another overnight crossing before a long drive back home from Hull. As you said Snoops the ferry crossing was great, especially since we had a long drive to Hull. The only mishap with the car was my friend pulling off the glovebox handle as she tried to open it while it was locked. Great memories though and would definately do it again.
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04369.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=400 height=600 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04369.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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GazHyde
Joined: Fri 26 Feb, 2010 21:27
Posts: 1347

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Royal Wootton Bassett

Post by GazHyde »

Sounds like you had a great time, thanks for sharing the pictures... 8-)

Gary
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Titan
Joined: Fri 01 Apr, 2005 20:20
Posts: 4002

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: North Yorkshire

Post by Titan »

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing your experiences :thumb:
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RemarkLima
Joined: Fri 08 Apr, 2011 13:22
Posts: 271

  M roadster S50

Post by RemarkLima »

Looks like great fun indeed! Why is driving on the continent so much more of a pleasure than here?
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snoops
Joined: Sat 12 Jun, 2010 17:08
Posts: 971

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Lancashire

Post by snoops »

Great pics, thanks for sharing, love to see/read about peoples trips.

Sounds like you had a great time.

Hope you get your glovebox sorted..
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zedwheels
Joined: Sun 28 Nov, 2010 14:33
Posts: 238

  Z1 Alpina Roadster
Location: Bridgend

Post by zedwheels »

Great story and pics, i wanna do that now!! No plan just decide to go and
follow your nose. :drive
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Ian_C
Joined: Sun 10 Dec, 2006 20:10
Posts: 2415

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Lytham St Annes

Post by Ian_C »

Thanks for sharing belle, looks like you had a great time.

Rare speedster cover on the red zed. I can never really make my mind up whether I like these or not :shrug
<a href="http://s1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04358.jpg" target="_blank"><img width=600 height=400 src="http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y36 ... C04358.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Current...1998 ///M Coupe
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Mouldy
Joined: Mon 26 Jan, 2009 19:40
Posts: 538

  Not specified
Location: Northampton

Post by Mouldy »

RemarkLima wrote: . . . . . . Why is driving on the continent so much more of a pleasure than here?
Less dense traffic, better road manners (no middle lane hoggers) and better roads!!!!

Roll on next Thursday morning when we drive the car onto the train at Ashford, get off at Calais and head for the Gorge du Tarn for a well earned break. We will be going over the Millau Viaduct on the way and I am looking forward to seeing it in the flesh as I don't think that the photos I've seen, as impressive as they are, convey the scale of the bridge.

Unfortunately, we wont be in the Zed . . . . . . four adults plus luggage just wont fit!!! Still, a few bottles of the local brew and hopefully some warm sunshine will compensate.
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snoops
Joined: Sat 12 Jun, 2010 17:08
Posts: 971

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Lancashire

Post by snoops »

Mouldy wrote:Still, a few bottles of the local brew and hopefully some warm sunshine will compensate.
It is impressive, more so to look at than actually drive so you will enjoy taking it all in...... just go back some time in the zed :D
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sidtheranger
Joined: Sun 18 Jul, 2010 13:45
Posts: 193

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Dorking

Post by sidtheranger »

Great pics Belle, that's the best type of break - a proper adventure. Thanks for sharing. :)
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muppet
Joined: Wed 08 Feb, 2006 17:16
Posts: 1841

  Z4 sDrive20i M Sport
Location: Roof down getting a tan

Post by muppet »

nice trip! :zmurf:
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