London to Sydney
Paul's Diary !
Day 5, France/Italy – Gap, l'Aubergerie, Col de Reychasset, Latagne, Genoa, La Spezia and II Ciocco.
Early start, but I didn't get any time to have breakfast. Because we arrived late I couldn't get the days changes … and there were a LTO so I had to work through them to make sure we were all on track. After this was done we were off .. 630kms today from Gap to l'Aubergerie, Col de Reychasset, Laragne and ending in II Ciocco a country spa near Luca.
This route took us East along the base of the Alps to drop into Italy over the Coldella Maddelena. Then on the coast road down to Genoa, south to La Spezia and up into the hills again, the Alp Apuane in Tuscany. Through lots of amazing small towns and villages and into II Ciocco.
The competition stage was Col de Reychasset at 23kms. This is a classic Monte Carlo Rally stage with lots of tight turns and drops, hills and varying road surfaces. We decided to drive a little more conservatively today … and Steve did a great job again. No moments, smooth and neat. Gotta say though it was still a tough job in both seats and we were pretty buggered by the finish.
From here we had a 520km tour stage though some of the most magnificent countryside there is to see and drive. Just purely spectacular! Could really take many photos as we were still on a time control and needed to get to the end. I don't think photos would do any of this justice though.
We only really stopped for a quick sandwich and fuel, finally arriving at II Ciocco at 7pm, totally buggered, Uu to our small but nice room for showers, etc…. before we go for some dinner and early night. We are in the hills and once again amazing views, pity we just don't get much chance to enjoy it! I think I need to come back through here one day with Danni and Indi! Smelly, hot, bothered and tired … time to go, start at 8am tomorrow and my drive.
Day 6, Italy – II Coccio, Montebono, Tereglio, Barga, Volterra, and Arezzo.
Well, I just need to finish on day six … we finished sorting out the car … bleeding brakes, etc…… and just went to our room for a shower before dinner. By this time it was around 9pm … The resort had 2 restaurants inside and another Pizza place just down the hill a little. We were told the main restaurant was OK … but expensive, so we had a look in the bistro and opted for the pizza place.
I think everyone else had done the same and when we arrived they had about 3 staff attempting to serve everyone. Attempting is the wrong word as they didn't even attempt to take our order after 1hr, let alone serve us. And of course by this time all the other places were closed. Anyway, another reasonably early night.
Now, back to day 6 … my turn again and Steve was very nervous to say the least! We had about 400 kms to cover from II Coccio, through Montebono, Tereglio, Barga, Volterra and in to Arezzo for the night. Four competitive stages today … Tereglio (6km) and Montebono (11km), but we do each twice.
The stages were once again a part of the old Monte Carlo rally and totally awesome, but truly V8 country. Tereglio was full of tight lefts and rights winding uphill for almost the whole stage. Some of the corners were so tight Chip Johns in his fairlane had to reverse back and take another shot just to get around! Well, yes the Astra handles well, but just doesn't have any power out of the corner for the uphill! Even in the Astra it was first and second gear with the occasional snick into third.
The first stage I think Steve was the most nervous navigator there … he kept telling me to slow down, etc….. but we never had any moments and I was in full control running at about 60%. The second stage he was a little better, but not much … This stage was more of the same with a little more downhill thrown in, and then uphill again! Total fun! After the first run we just went back to II Coccio for a drink only to do it all again. Off we went and Steve was a little more relaxed this time.
The first stage I took about 15 seconds off the time, and the second about 20 … even after we had to go bush (ever so slowly) just to get around a crashed Porsche in the middle of the road. Fairly respectable times, but once again in total control and no moments. From here we just had a couple of touring stages that took us to a brief stop at a magnificent walled village called Volterra. Lots of tourists and of course we all parked right in the centre square so we were the main attraction.
Volterra is a very old an enchanting town that I really thing you need to spend more time at to appreciate. After 30 minutes off again for another 130km tour through the hilly tuscan countryside passing through Chianti and many other lovely little villages. We finally arrived at Arezzo … I had never heard of this place but it's obviously a top tourist place …. Loads of them! 4 star hotel again, small room, car parking about 500m away, etc… but OK.
After we had sorted out the car, changed the wheels for a day in the dirt tomorrow we ventured out for some food. A little café around the corner from the hotel saw about 20 of us sit to a lovely quite dinner of bruschetta and veg. lasagna. A couple of beers to was it down and an early night again … 11pm anyway .. as we start at 7am in the morning, that means getting up at 5.30. Now I know why they call this a marathon!
Day 7, Italy – Arezzo, San Polo, Alpi Di Poti, Ancona, Overnight Ferry to Igoumanista.
Well, breakfast was early … we went down at 6.30 am thinking we would be the earliest … but we were actually one of the last and there wasn't much left. Oh well, a stale roll with some ham and cheese … all OK. Today is a run of about 350kms from Arezzo to Ancona on the East coast. Pretty much right across Italy.
The route took us through S Polo, Alpi Di Poti, San Paulo, another run through Alpi di Poti and then a tour all the way for 170kms to the Car Ferry at Ancona Dock.
A very nice cross country run across the agricultural area of Umbria down to the Adriatic coast not a real lot to tell about today. We do 2 dirt stages … well the same one twice, one of the famous gravel stages f the early San Remo rallies.
The dirt stages at Alpi di Poti were 17.42kms long and Steve the driver today. All I can say is they are twisty with lots of tight left and rights, lots of blind crests, a long run uphill then a long run downhill then back uphill again only to come back down!
Cars were one minute apart as because of our little crash we have been seeded up the back … not good really. The car in front of us is a Leyland P76, and in front of that a Suzuki. Well, about 1km in the Leyland was well and truly planted in a bank … all OK though. At 9km we then caught the Suzuki … but there was soooo much dust we just couldn't pass ..let alone get within 100 metres! He held us up for the rest of the 8kms, we even came to a total stop about 5 times to let the dust clear.
We did a 19.50 not bad as we picked up 2 mins on the Suzuki at least. A lot of people complained about the dust so the second run they let us go 2 minutes apart. The Leyland actually got pulled out of the ditch and with a little tape looked good as new, what can you say about the good old Ozzie cars!.
This time we set off and caught the Leyland at about the 10km mark. He kindly pulled over and let us through. Continuing on about the 12km mark one of the yellow Capri's from NZ was firmly planted in a bank and tree … same one we parked next to on our crash! This was his third crash, but this looked a little more terminal. They were all OK. By the finish we posted a time of 18.20, much better and quite respectable.
The run to Ancona was uneventful and now we are on the ferry heading to Greece. A good feed, few beers and a good nights sleep, that's what's needed!
We decided today for the run from Darwin to Alice we would truck the car and fly in the morning … so now I can look forward to seeing my darling wife and Daughter in Darwin … what a bonus.
Day 8, Greece – Igoumanista, Timos Prodos, Naoussa, Vermio, Thessalonika.
Well today we were straight off the Ferry in Greece and on our way. First up though … a little on the Ferry trip. The Ferry Areca seemed fairly new … like a modern version of the Tas Ferry … but it had a small pool out on the rear deck and a bar area. The rooms were pretty much the same. We went out back and downed a few cold ales and watched the sun go down, went in and had a bistro dinner, then went off to bed at around 9pm. Didn't wake up till around 7 in the morning, so it was a great sleep!
When the Ferry arrived it was straight into action. The Ferry arrived in Igoumenista and today we cover nearly 600 kms with 2 tarmac stages. We started off with a 377km tour to Veria. What an awesome trip! It was 200+kms of windy twisty roads though the mountains … and every bit like going up the Mt Hotham road! Unbelievable run and a good preparation for the stages, but I must say after 200km of having to concentrate and cater with all the trucks and mad Greeks we were quite drained.
We arrived at the first Time Control .. a little roadside café at Aliakmon and had about 80 mins to have some lunch and relax. Some of the other teams however were busy fixing their cars! The big fords wore out disks and tyres on the touring stage, as did the Honda team from NZ. The Historic Rally team of Escort BDA's had front ends and gearboxes out, and it all looked quite major, but as usual everyone was finished their work on time and ready for the stages.
The first one was Timios Prodomos for 12.8km. Well, poor little Astra once again … this was all uphill with very tight bends most of the way … I don't even think I had to use the brakes! No scary moments … just a nervous navigator that makes a few bad calls every now and then (left instead of right), but we got through in a respectable time. From here we toured through Naoussa for 78kms to the next 11.9km stage called Vermio. Well, I don't know what the organizers are thinking here, but once again all up seriously steep hills and twisty roads. They were amazing to drive but definitely not Astra country … wouldn't I have loved to have the A9X there! Once again no moments and finished in a respectable time. Now for the final tour of 114km … but it is now 7pm! We were off to Thessaloniki, the Capital of Macedonia to a hotel right on the seafront.
Quite a stunning place really, and a fair crowd to greet us. A bit of work to do … time to change the tarmac tyres for dirt tyres as we have dirt stages tomorrow. Steve also went off to an Opel spare parts warehouse and managed to source some more spare wishbones and steering arms. We replaced the welded arm for a proper one and did a wheel alignment. All OK now, and we have a few more spares. The hotel room was 5 star and very nice, but by the time wee actually finished work on the car, etc… it was 10.30 before we sat for dinner! Nice food, not much to drink and in bed by midnight.
