Super Tuscans Tour 2014.
   
   
 

Picture Gallery 1.    The Journey Down.
   
   
  Day 1.

Little Cornard to Etoges  (Nr Rheims).  France.

335 miles.   Overnighting at Château D'Etoges

   
 
  Serviced, MoT'd, insured, washed and polished and ready for action!
   
 
  The Château D'Etoges.    There was a time when we used to do 450 miles to get to Burgundy on our first night.    But, as the years tick by,  and frankly the Aston is more tiring to drive than the Jag,  Etoges has become our regular first (and often our last night) stop-over.    Comfortable and friendly, it has a very good restaurant and an amazing list of Champagnes from which we only ever get to try one.     Staying for a long weekend would be fun and Paris is just a short train ride away!!.
   
   
  The Château after dinner.   The restaurant is the Orangerie (right).    Fine dining  -  outstanding Champagne.    That's why we go there.   Oh,  and they do a fantastic Champagne breakfast.     Just the thing for spirited continental motoring!!
   
   
  Day 2

From Champagne to Burgundy.     (Etoges to Rigny)

165 miles.     Overnighting at The Château de Rigny,      http://www.chateau-de-rigny.com/uk
                                       
 
  Leaving Etoges and heading for Burgundy down those wonderful French backroads.   We took the Champagne Trail.
                                           
  Then we pressed on hard for Burgundy ....... and ready for a little Champagne on the Terrace.
 
  Château De Rigny.
 
  An outstanding Charolais Steak washed down with a half of Chateauneuf de Pape. 2005.    Perfect!!
   
   
  Day 3.

Rigny to Geneva via The Jura mountains and around the North side of Lake Geneva.

155 miles.     Overnighting at Château de Divonne.     http://www.grandesetapes.com/en/castle-hotel-divonne-geneva
   
 
  Chamonix and Mont Blanc is for tomorrow  -  keep left for the Jura mountains.
   
 
  A quick coffee stop en route to Besancon.    As we rise up into the Jura,  there is a distinct alpine feel.    
   
 
  The the first of many special memories.   Over the brow of a hill and, suddenly, a castle on a hill top.    We had to drive on another half a mile before we could stop and take this photo.     So the pic is not as dramatic and in real-life but it's good for keeping our memory alive.

We were heading for Besancon and Pontarlier.   Joni had holidayed there when she was in her teens and fancied a sentimental look-see.     But from the hilltops above modern day Besancon it looked an enormous sprawl, over developed and mostly concrete.      We turned right, and missed out Pontarlier too, heading for the Swiss border.

 
   
 
  Then another magical moment.   We were ready for a lunch stop and just a mile before the Swiss border when we turned a sharp bend, heading steeply downhill, and confronted this fantastic landscape.   Our first sighting of Switzerland.  

We were at the little French village of FREIZE.    Unfortunately, there was nowhere open for lunch so we pressed-on but have this superb pic to nourish our memories.
   
  INTO SWITZERLAND.
   
 
  Once we had our "Carnet" , the licence to drive anywhere in Switzerland without paying tolls,  we headed straight for the banks of Lake Leman  (Lake Geneva)  just outside Lausanne and found this delightful village, Saint-Prex.
 

Every Swiss village has its "watch".

 

 

 

When in Switzerland,  it has to be pastries for lunch. 

 
 
 
   
  Then a nice, easy drive around the north bank of the lake to our overnight stop at the Château De Divonne,  just over the border and back in France for the night.    When we arrived, I parked up right opposite the front door.    The Château was hosting a private drinks party (rather swanky) and were pleased to have an Aston on display.    By the time we were un-packed, the Aston was surrounded with Porsches  -  the Porsche Club of Germany were touring Switzerland and heading-off the next day to visit some Swiss watch makers.
 
   
  As you know by now,  we usually like to sit with a glass of Champagne before dinner and just chat about our day.    Divonne has a lovely terrace overlooking Mont Blanc and is perfect for sitting-out in the evening.    On the strength of the Aston parked centre-stage,  Joni conspired to be allowed to "crash" the private cocktails party,  so we sat on the terrace, glass in hand, whilst entertained  by a local Jazz trio.   A just reward for having put so much petrol duty into the French governments coffers!
     
     
  Day 4.

Divonne to Asti in Lombardy.  Italy.

202 miles.   Overnighting at La Villa.    http://www.lavillahotel.net/
   
 
  Three nights,  three different châteaux and we are ready for Mont Blanc and Italy!     It will be motorway all the way!
   
 
  Because its an Aston!   

A daily occurrence but for the first time,  we could see the alps ahead.    100 Octane for the alps (didn't know it was available)
   
 
  Yep.    This time turn right for Mont Blanc.   Now for some fun.
  Joni captured our run up to Mont Blanc through the windscreen with her compact.     She loved every minute of it and for us both, the drive was superb  -  the scenery exciting and the final approach,  high up on Mont Blanc before plunging into the 12.5km tunnel to Chamonix, quite exhilarating.    The Aston loved it too!!

This is not Mont Blanc in the first pic.   The impressive MB is buried in the clouds a long way off.

Just flick through this sequence to get the feel of it.
  Just the foothills.
  Its in the clouds somewhere.
  All the time, climbing.
  Getting nearer.
  Climbing hard now.
  So, here we go.
 

Mont Blanc is directly above us, still in the clouds.   The Swiss roads are really good and we are looking forward to driving the Passes on our return journey.
   
  INTO ITALY.
   
  Time for lunch.    This is all unfamiliar territory for us so we decided to take a chance and dive off the motorway at the first opportunity.    Five minutes off the motorway we drove into the centre of MMMM,  found a parking space but thought we better just check with this little shop to see if parking is free at lunchtime.    It often is between 12 and 2 pm.
 
   
  Parking was free and, guess what, the shop turned out to be this lovely, cheap, genuine small Italian restaurant.
 
  RESULT.      The pasta was superb  -  the wine was very ordinary, but we were in Italy!

Satisfied, happy and beginning to feel just a little Italian,  we settled in for another 100 miles down to Asti.
   
 
  La Villa was home for two nights to include a rest day.     When we checked in (Valentina was at the Bar not at reception) her first words were  "Ow would you lika two glassa Prosecco.   You can check in anytime before you leave,"     My kind of receptionist!
 
  La Villa was charming,  a delightful boutique hotel run by an English couple with an ex Gordon Ramsay/Jason Atherton cook.   The garden was lovely and the pool restful, all set in rolling hillside.    Very relaxed.    On our first night we just wanted to unwind.
                      
  Our room was perfect      An old converted Mill with some nice touches although, somehow,  it felt a little Provencale.
   
 
  An evening walk around the village before supper and this amazing view of Fontanile in hazy sunlight (about 6.00pm).

These are Barolo grapes.    Are we in heaven?
   
   
 

Day 5.  A rest day,  82 miles sightseeing around Asti.
   
  Unfortunately our rest day was drizzly.     A day at La Villa was not on,  and we knew that the rolling hills would not look at their best,  so we headed for Alba.
   
 
  Not spaghetti but a local speciality called  *******       Very good and the local wine was exceptional.
   
  Alba was quite disappointing so we moved on to see Neive  just one of the many picturesque little villages of the region,
    
 

 

Just the drive up to someone's Villa!!!!!
   
  Typical dull, boring churches of the area.
      
   
  Until you go inside ......... Catholicism does not do dull and boring.
   
 
  Rococo too!
   
  But enough of churches, lets get down to the reason for being in Asti in the first place  -  the other religion  -  BAROLO.

They say that you should always be able to see the bottom of the glass if its a good Barolo.    It was superb and Joni is already under its spell!
 
   
   
  Day 6.

185 miles

Asti to Livorno.   Overnighting at The Grand Palazzo.     http://www.grandhotelpalazzo.com
   
  This was another motorway day so, no photos of the drive,  we just wanted to get down to Livorno quickly and settle in for the evening before the Tour started the next day.   (Stories to tell you about this)!
 
  The Blue Beauty gets five stars too.    We just forgot all it's foibles and got on with it.   It was so rewarding  -  such fun to drive.

Six days solid driving to get to Tuscany had been magical although we were aware that the next 9 days were going to be tougher!     Aston Tours are always great fun but always demanding.
 
  Any 5 star Hotel in Italy, worth its salt, will have a model Riva in its Foyer  .....  eh Matthew!
                                           
  So, here we are.    Ready to meet the other tour participants tomorrow, none of whom we knew)  and to see all the Astons together for the first time.    
                                           
  Now its time to move on to Picture Gallery 2.      
                                           
                                           
 

Home.      The Driving Stuff.        The Route.        Picture Gallery 1.      Picture Gallery 2.