First Proper Road Trip - Brussels to Beaune

[ScaredJimmy]

Hi All,

Just thought I'd let you know about a wee road trip we did in the 911 this weekend, just the 11hours driving on dull roads, but here are our learnings (really for people umming and erring about buying a 991 )

So, Driving Comments

• So we drove 730 miles over 2 days. Outbound via Luxembourg (Don't, this is awful) and back along the "Autoroute d'Anglais" (Much easier)
• We averaged 28.9mpg with an average speed of 119km/h overall, so there was some *cough* spirited sections in there somewhere.
• The car, even with our standard seats, is very comfortable. Neither of us suffered from Square Bum Syndrome or back ache. The only very very minor niggle is the drone from the exhaust in 7th gear, but if this is a problem, Bose QC headphones work a treat. Please remember that we came to our 991 from the "Über Barge" route, 2013 Audi S8 which ate miles like very little else, yet we were impressed with how comfortable the car was.

Beaune

• We have stayed a few times in Beaune before on the way back from ski trips etc and have always loved it for the gastronomie, if you like food and you like wine, please make a point to visit. les escargot are immense and of course the beef is amazing. Wine is alarmingly good and reasonable in the restaurants. I discovered a 2009 Volnay Clos des Chênes Premier Cru that was like liquid silk.. Tbh, I discovered two of them....
• We stayed at the Hôtel Cep for the first time, based on a youtube recommendation from Harry of Evo/Harry's Garage fame. It was not only a lovely "old" hotel generally, the staff were excellent, and the position was perfect for a stroll around the town, they also instantly took Barney and tucked him up in their garage next to a Muria and a 996 GT3, so he had company
• There was NO BUTTER IN THE SUPERMARKETS. Literally, none, not even a spreadable. This was a shock that my arteries will probably become healthy from. France, sort it out!
• Oh, and at last count, 12 photos of the car spotted being taken by kids and big kids alike on the drive. *puffed up with pride*

That's it really. Great car, great trip, great food, great wine. Go try it.

Here's a moody shot I took on a murky Autoroute.

 

[SL Boy]

I saw your comment about the Hotel Cep in Beaune "they also instantly took Barney and tucked him up in their garage next to a Muria and a 996 GT3, so he had company". We stayed there with a couple of friends. The hotel is certainly in a great location and old as you describe with a fair amount of Gallic charm. They offered to take our cars off our hands and park them in their private car park. I refused as I always do and parked the car myself and hung on to my keys. Sadly, my friend did not. Sure, they parked his car in the garage but on the way succeeded in damaging the electric window mechanism and made an impromptu repair with superglue. It would have been nice if they had held up their hands and admitted their mistake. But no, it was up to my friend to discover the damage after he had checked out, paid his bill, been given his keys and visited the garage to retrieve his car.

 

[richardfleming]

Inspirational! it's 20 years since I've been to Beaune - was there a while as a student having a fab time with friends and fantastic food and cheap wine (as you do). I think I'll seek permission from SWMBO for a return soon
Nice route might be Calais to Reims (nice when you get there, but not a pretty drive as I remember), then through Nancy, Baccarat, the Voges via Ribeauville (fantastic local Alsace Riesling as I remember), and on down to Dijon & Beaune.