Big (car) tour - feasible?

[.Chris.]

Not motorcycle related I know, but I want to know people's opinions on this.

Given that I haven't managed to get a proper graduate job for next year, I'm thinking of using my relative lack of commitments to save up and go travelling around Europe for a while - probably for 6 or 8 weeks, starting in about April-time next year. I would choose April in preference to say July, as I don't want to go in peak tourist season and don't want it to be excruciatingly hot all the time.

The weapon of choice would be a Morris Minor. I've owned these cars for the past 6 years so know how to maintain and repair them. I might even try and buy one especially for the trip - I have 2 at the moment but one is in quite nice condition (so I don't want to break it), and the other is a heap but has a lot of sentimental value (so I don't want to break that either). Before I go I'd give it a thorough overhaul, probably including an engine rebuild. I'd also take a good supply of spares with me as although they're readily available in the UK, I doubt the same is true in Europe. It would be nice to do a tour like this on a bike, but I really don't travel light and would probably find the whole trip more pleasant in a car.

As for the route - I'm not sure. I've got ideas as to where I'd like to go, but I'm not sure how to 'join the dots', and whether I should even try and see all of them. What I want to avoid is just driving constantly on major roads, and having no time to relax and see and do anything. I wonder whether I should limit myself to fewer destinations (giving myself longer to see them), but on the other hand I do want to see/do a variety of different places. Then again I am aware that it wouldn't be possible to see more than a small amount of what Britain has to offer in 6-8 weeks, let alone the whole of Europe!

The first bit would be fairly easy - wend my way from Calais towards the Black Forest, then down through Switzerland to the Italian Lakes. After that, head East through Slovenia and down towards the Croatian coast.

After that things get a bit tricker - I'd like to see Sarajevo and Mostar, but I'd quite like to see a bit of Serbia too. Also Pristina (Kosovo), Ohrid (Macedonia), and I'd like to dip into Albania and Montenegro as well. Getting all these destinations to link together in a vaguely efficient order wouldn't be easy. From there I'd like to go to Istanbul. At Istanbul would come probably the biggest decision. Ideally I'd love to go to Georgia & Armenia. However that means driving across Turkey, which is a huge country where petrol costs a fortune. I'm not sure but perhaps I should give this a miss and let Istanbul be the furthest I go. On the way back I'd like to see some of the Bulgarian and Romanian coastline, followed by Odessa and Yalta in Ukraine. After that, I'm not really sure

Accommodation wise, I'd ideally like to stay in hotels/B&Bs/hostels and such like most of the time, if possible. I'd take a tent with me to use in Western Europe (to cut down on costs), plus in emergencies elsewhere. What makes all this more difficult is that as I don't want to have a definite schedule to stick to, I wouldn't be able to book accommodation in advance, so would have to rely on turning up at places and asking (in a language I don't speak/understand) if they've got anything.

I'm not sure how much I should budget for all this. The car would generally do in the region of 30-40mpg (up to 45 at a steady 60mph). So I'd be looking at in the region of a grand for petrol. Other costs I'm not sure about. I'd want to take out fairly comprehensive travel insurance which I doubt would be cheap.

So, apologies for the long and rambling post. This is all just a pipe dream at the moment, but it is something that I'd really like to do. If I don't do it while I have the chance now I probably never will, which would be a great shame as most people who undertake trips like these seem to have the time of their lives. Any comments/experience/derision/etc welcome!
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Alexio]

I'm interested in knowing your reasons behind why you would choose to do this in a car rather than a bike? If I personally had enough money and time to do what you are planning I would definitely do it on a bike.
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[pepperami]

Do it! Do it!
at the end of your thread you say that it`s possibly a pipe dream?
dont let that happen.
i have been pipe dreaming about a small tour of East Anglia for ages, but this year i am going to do something about it .

i know my mini tour of East Anglia might not be a grand or as daunting as the trip you are planning, but go on, do it!

i am already planning what to take and have a bike lined up (if the price is right) for this trip.

you say you are familiar with Moggies and have experiance with them..... if thats the case you have one less thing to worry about during your tour.
if it does go pop! your`ll know how and if it can be put right, that has to be a bonus
your doing it in a car.... well you can always sleep in the car if you cant find a campsite or B&B!!

we need to keep our reputation up as world class excentrics, and what better way than some mad Brit driving around Europe in a Morris Minor
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[.Chris.]

[JohnnyK]

Very exciting to see this thread in this forum.

Touring/exploring in a motor vehicle is very fun,Though it can get quite expensive when it comes down to fuel/petrol in comparison to a motorbike.It is more relaxing and comfortable as you have time to "stretch your legs" and camping with a car/truck tent is always convenient.

Of course the routes/trails are way more restricted than on a motor bike.Though it still can be very exciting.Your basis of the trip sounds fantastic.

I have been reading/lurking these forums for quite sometime,as well as other exploration forums.I do not own a motor bike or ride motor bikes currently (though i plan on purchasing an enduro to get started).Currently I do alot of exploration with my vehicles.Doing camping/exploration/touring trips is quite exciting.You just have to take into consideration the cost of fuel/petrol.:/

I am in the midst of planning a few big trips in a vehicle.The main concern always is the cost of petrol/Fuel.Packing heavy or light is strictly personal preference. Though you want to pack light anyhow and try to make due as you go along,depending on the route of course.Spare parts and what not are a must of course.More info about your trip would be nice!

Here some pics from a couple of my trips in my rally car
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/140110134306.jpg
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/_MG_9118.jpg
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/picture-12.jpg
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/_MG_9139.jpg
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/140110135532.jpg
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/StealthDemonWRC/_MG_8991.jpg
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www.Youtube.Com/Recce80

[G]

If I had the time and money, I'd probably take a big van - but plenty of fun can be had in a car and it makes it a lot 'less hassle' - however, with last year's two-week trip I was definitely pleased with the bike in quite a few nasty traffic situations, never mind that it's hard to find a car that could handle the extremes my trail bike could (sitting at 90 on the motorway, then onto some fairly gnarly off-roading.)

Nice to see the scooby being used as it was designed Johnny.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

https://www.bagshotvillage.org.uk/know/fisher.jpg
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[JohnnyK]

Thank you G.

I have been following your touring/exploration trips as well as many others on these forum.Much respect to you and everyone else on this forum who takes the time to share such stories in your life.As for rambling on and pipe dreams,i am quite fond on people who have imagination and heart to actually get out into the real world and see it on a motor bike,or by foot,or car,whatever have you.

This is quite amazing of a place because it seems majority of people are really genuine and determined in doing some amazing trips..no matter how small or big.People from all over posting pictures and taking time to explain their trips.It is quite amazing.
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www.Youtube.Com/Recce80

[c-m]

Go for it.

Post up pics of you preparing the car and the work and mods that will have gone into it.

Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia are easily do able. While that way you could head through Bulgaria to Greece then get the Patras-Bari ferry to Italy before heading up to the lakes.

So the trip would go, Calais--through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, either Macedonia or Bulgaria, then Greece, Itay, Switzerland.

Sounds awesome.