So my trip to Germany (suggestions desired)

[Aebous]

So I have to travel to Germany for PME (Professional Military Education) and I have elected to drive there. Basically I would like to take a FUN route that won't take me too much out of the way but won't be boring (i.e. Motorway/Autobahn). I basically only have one day to get there so I can't go too crazy off course. I also don't want to stray too far from gas stations/civilization/etc.

The trip will be from Thetford, UK to Kaiserslautern, Germany. It will be Mid April so I will need to take weather into consideration as I will be on summer tyres (PS3's)

I can't get Google maps to embed on here.

 

[ben g]

i was wondering how you intended to drive to germany from the USA

 

[Stuart Truman]

Are you crossing via Ferry or the channel tunnel?

 

[Bombadil]

Do remember to take a part of the autobahn where you can drive as fast as your car goes if traffic allows. The traffic being the problem, one would suggest to drive it early Sunday morning.

 

[Aebous]

I'd prefer to cross via the channel tunnel as it's IMO cooler (more high tech).

I will be on the autobahn at some point during my trip to er research things :driving:

 

[Thierry]

In one day it's a fair bit of driving, the direct route is already 520 miles. But if you don't mind that then a few more shouldn't hurt... you go pretty close to the 'Ring so it would be rude not to pop in for a couple of laps :driving:

I did a similar drive on the Motoscape Rally last year, although finished up in Koblenz rather than Kaiserslauten, the drive through the Eupen forest is worth doing.

 

[bigdog]

As I live in Kaiserslautern. I can tell you there are some great B roads in the local area. I.E. Tight and twisty. So if you have some time after class or the weekend. You can have some fun. And you should be able to get a temp fuel ration on your orders and that will allow you to top up at any ESSO station in Germany for $4 per gallon. You will be fine on your summers. I switched mine last week. Most Germans do the winter/ summer switch this time of year. The only exception is if you want to tour the Alps.

 

[Aebous]

I will at some point while there hit up the Ring... I just haven't set about booking a date. (It won't be on the way down though)

Bigdog, I might have time during the week after class to do some runs but most of my free time will probably be during the weekends. I will have a fuel ration while I'm over there (400 litres for 30 days) which I will do my level best to fill up. I will consider the whole trip a failure if I don't burn 400 litres.

I would of liked to go tour the Alps but after doing some research realized it's not the best time for a summer tired roadster, ah well.

 

[mark a]

Once over the channel stick to the Autoroute initially to Dunkirk then take the Autoroute to Lille, don't go via Brussels!

Then go down to Valenciennes followed by Maubeuge. You can then take a run through the forest to Chimay. (have a drive round the old road Race circuit, as well as the more recent street circuit), you can then head up to Mettet, again an old road circuit, but now a new race circuit used for trackdays etc. From there take the Autoroute down through Luxembourg into Germany. You can then either stick to the Autobahn or take a more scenic route depending on how much time you have.

 

[Aebous]

Shameless bump. I arrived. I was in a convey of 1EA British Ford Mondeo & a Dodge uhm something. Anyways we 3 were off. The chunnel was neat. France wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We then took a southerly course that didn't involve Brussels. Basically we went fairly straight towards Luxembourg and then into Germany to the A1. If we would of talked about it before hand I would of split at the beginning of Germany and went on some back roads around Trier (L46 I think). But we didn't and I didn't want to just leave them so I stayed with em on the A1 but then something odd happened with my car.

It started going faster. :driving: I don't know what it was but next thing you know I started accelerating faster, leaving my "convoy" behind then slowing down and letting them catch up. Accellerating to catch up to a crotch rocket, and then a red car. I won't say how fast I went because my wife might read this and know what to expect.

So at any rate I'm in Germany now, got my US Fuel Rations card. The real challenge will be using all 400 litres in a month. I heard some unsettling news that while my class is going we are supposed to get permission to leave the base, so er that sucks. I think that's just rumor though, that'd be pretty assanine to have a bunch of 11-16 year Tech Sergeants (E-6) treated like basic trainees.