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Jan 29, 2007 16:27:53 GMT
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Hi Folks
As discussed with my van topic - plan is to drive to Sweden via the channel (ie what Clarkson did in the McLaren Mercedes but a LOT slower!) spend some time there and then head up the coast of Norway, pop into Finland and then we don't know.
Either come back through Sweden or head through the Baltic States ie Latvia etc. Will need to sort extra insurance out for that though I think.
Having only driven in France and Malta, I must admit to not knowing anything about driving in Northern Europe.
So come on guys, what do I need to know! Some Scandanavian retro spots would brighten this topic up nicely too!
Ian
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Jan 29, 2007 16:30:47 GMT
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Wow, awesome plan! We have a few Retro-Riders dotted around scandinavia - I'm sure they'll be able to give you some tips!
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Jan 29, 2007 16:51:35 GMT
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Driving in Norway and sweden is a piece of cake, well, as far as i have experienced at least  |
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Jan 29, 2007 17:03:41 GMT
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Short but sweet. Thanks! At least snow shouldn't be a problem in August...
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Jan 29, 2007 17:44:53 GMT
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Oh, and i suddenly remembered, there were some french people who had driven their Citroen van (like that grey one you posted in some other topic) from France here a couple of summers ago. |
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Jan 29, 2007 17:49:58 GMT
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Oh well, we won't be the first! Still can't wait - it will be a HUGE adventure!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Jan 29, 2007 18:12:57 GMT
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I've driven in Norway, sweden and Finalnd and all are pleasant places to drive. Traffic moves at a pretty sedate pace in most places. In Sweden on single carraigeway main roads you have a hard shoulder. If a faster moving vehicle is aproaching from behind, you should ease over onto this shoulder to let it pass. other than that it's a piece if cake. Norway has speed cameras but I don't recall seeing any in Finland or Sweden. Remember also that speeding fines in Finland are means tested so can be pretty steep depending on your circumstances.
When you say "pop into Finland" you do realise it's about 9 hours and an overnight ferry across the opposite side of Sweden from Norway? You might be better off going directly to Finland first then back via Sweden and Norway.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Jan 29, 2007 19:08:49 GMT
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Plan was to go up Norway from about half way up (Swedish 2CV meeting is in Borlange) and then drive right to the top. There it borders Finland. Then we can either come right back down through Finland to Helsinki - ferry back to Stockholm and across the Danish bridges towards home or get very intrepid and get a ferry (if there is one) to Tallinn in Estonia then go through Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland and Germany on our way to Normandy.
Bearing in mind that Helsinki to Paris is apparently 2012 kilometres, it's going to take some doing!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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John
Part of things
Posts: 347
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Jan 29, 2007 19:25:39 GMT
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Sweden:
They do have speed cameras and the cops also do laser gun checks. Within 10kph you will be OK. Also if they cant see your face you can not get done from a camera. Word is they do not bother prosecuting foriegn cars, but I dare not risk it.
Most Swedes do not indicate. They either stick dead on the speed limit or go way above it.
At roundabouts often both lanes will go left, not just the left hand lane. So in the UK speak, to go right at a roundabout the Swedes would use the right AND left lane.
When turning right at traffic lights beware of pedestrians crossing, they have right of way.
Midges and mozzys can be a problem in summer.
Most Swedes speak English.
Sweden is a nice country.
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Jan 29, 2007 19:29:22 GMT
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Once we drove a '73 Datsun 1200 to Norway via the Harwich ferry to Holland then up through Germany and Denmark, ferry to Sweden and up as far as Lillehammer in Norway then back again by more or less the same route. We covered 2700 miles just doing that route! You are looking at nearly double that I'd think.
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Jan 29, 2007 20:09:54 GMT
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That sort of info is useful RatDat as it's difficult to work the route out - especially as we only started looking at the map yesterday! I was thinking at least 3000 miles in five weeks but yes, looking at it, more than four thousand is likely.
That makes 128 miles a day required. For five weeks! (based on 4500 miles). Ok, perhaps this needs more thought (or a faster van! ;D ) especially as we'll be staying in one place for six days.
Would be one heck of a road trip!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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dp
Posted a lot
DP Race Tech
Posts: 1,044
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Jan 30, 2007 10:05:53 GMT
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dollywobbler in da house:
So come on guys, what do I need to know!
Speed cameras are growing up like mushrooms along our roads here in Sweden so watch out but if you guys are going by 2CV they will most likely be NO problem. Be verry carefull in citys and around schools where the speedlimit is 30kph, go 40kph and they revoke your licence, don't know about non Swedes but the fines for speeding have been raised 100% lately so be verry carefull....
Roundabouts and left turns can be verry hard for you guys and it's easy to end up on the wrong side of the road, I remember some years back when a friend and I went to London, we rented one BMW motorbike each and drove off, first roundabout we both went throug the right way (Swedish way) and cold not understand why all the traffic was coming straight at us, ooops....
During August Swedish roads are full of Italians in Fiat 600 and mobile homes and French people in 2CV doing the almost religious trek to North Cape so I guess you'll feel right athome. When you go the the 2CV meet in Borlänge you'll most likely pass through Enköping if you do get in touch with me (numbers PM'd) for some beer & fun. Depending on when you guys are going there's some fun going on in August, 4 & 5 Blacksmiths Nat´s, Kjula, Eskilstuna (DON'T miss this one), 10 Cruising Fagersta (between Borlänge and Enköping). 11 Stockholm Cruising & Wheels Nationals, 18 Mälaren Runt some 30.000 Motorcyles ride around lake Mälaren and just to sitt by the side of the road looking is half the fun. 18 Mälaren Runt Party at Strul MC in Enköping a MUST!!!
DP says: Really hope we can hook up some way........
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Jan 30, 2007 13:56:57 GMT
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Where to start? Last June/July we took 3 Imps (OK, one Imp, one Californian and a Husky) on a round trip, Coventry, Newcastle, Kristiansand, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Bremen, Bolougne, Dover, Coventry. As with all driving on the continent it was a blast! Lovely service areas to stop in, much lower traffic density, beautiful scenery. The only sticky bit was the whole industrial bit through the middle of Holland, all round Antwerp, Rotterdam, places like that. You've got to do the bridges in Denmark, they rock big time. One's about 13 miles long and the one to Sweden is around 10 I think. They cost about £20 each in tolls and are so worth it! I could ramble all day, but you might as well read the blog we did on the way round - www.scandinavia06.org.uk. Check out www.theaa.co.uk for the regulations about carrying spare bulbs and fitting wing mirrors and such... HTH and PM me if I can help with anything! Graham |
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Jan 31, 2007 17:44:56 GMT
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Thanks DP and Graham. Sounds like fun is waiting in Sweden!
We are just considering one last ditch attempt to use the 2CV - take a trailer tent - but I still really want a big H van!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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