I checked my email trail and I sent my first accommodation enquiry 1st December 2011, nothing like being prepared. I decide on a general route and use Google maps to plot a journey with stops where distances are dependent upon who my passenger is going to be. If it is me and my son, as it was three years ago, distances are not an object and we managed days of 400 and 500 miles. If it is with my wife, Susan, as it is this time we will make more stops and rarely travel more than 250 miles in a day. I will also head for specific hotels that I might have spotted along the way, which is the case with our little Florence bolt hole, but more of that later.
Next I buy a ton of maps, there is nothing I like more than poring over a pile of maps picking out what looks like a good route. I have also added for this trip a sat-nav but will use it in conjunction with maps. I will plot the route by map and then use the sat-nav for the tricky little bits i.e. getting onto my selected road and more likely finding the hotel at the end of the day.
The Daytona has a really very good capacity for luggage. We will each have a large holdall which will sit on the shelf behind our seats, a small “carry on” size suit case each, which will fit side-by-side in the boot and the rear parcel shelf for the posh frocks and suits. It all works very well, though I did have to order a collapsible bucket as space was pretty much all taken up by now. Oh and a bit of space for the Euro requirements: GB sticker, red triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, fluorescent vest, bulbs (oh really!) and the latest wacko requirement.........
breathalysers. And I managed to disable my speed camera alert, another French requirement. I am sure there was a time, not too distant, when motoring in France was a pretty carefree affair; those days appear to be long gone. I wonder how things are shaping up in Italy these days. We shall see, but for now I am starting to feel well and truly “prepared”. Now I will get down to some detailed prep, maps, post-it notes for the road numbers, I really enjoy this bit! It means the “off” is getting closer.
Next I buy a ton of maps, there is nothing I like more than poring over a pile of maps picking out what looks like a good route. I have also added for this trip a sat-nav but will use it in conjunction with maps. I will plot the route by map and then use the sat-nav for the tricky little bits i.e. getting onto my selected road and more likely finding the hotel at the end of the day.
The Daytona has a really very good capacity for luggage. We will each have a large holdall which will sit on the shelf behind our seats, a small “carry on” size suit case each, which will fit side-by-side in the boot and the rear parcel shelf for the posh frocks and suits. It all works very well, though I did have to order a collapsible bucket as space was pretty much all taken up by now. Oh and a bit of space for the Euro requirements: GB sticker, red triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, fluorescent vest, bulbs (oh really!) and the latest wacko requirement.........
breathalysers. And I managed to disable my speed camera alert, another French requirement. I am sure there was a time, not too distant, when motoring in France was a pretty carefree affair; those days appear to be long gone. I wonder how things are shaping up in Italy these days. We shall see, but for now I am starting to feel well and truly “prepared”. Now I will get down to some detailed prep, maps, post-it notes for the road numbers, I really enjoy this bit! It means the “off” is getting closer.
