A trip from Turin (I) to Belfast (UK)

(Imperialists be warnred, this post is in metric, so take your calculators)

Classic trip to see the family, in Belfast. The choice of using the car for a 1800 km drive is to bring up goods from Italy (a carful) and bring down goods from the UK (another carful).

For once we decided not to take the usual, short but fat route via France to save on motorway and Alps tunnel toll for a total of over 100€ but to take the long way round through freeways across Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, France again and ferry to the UK.

For those not aware in France the speed limit is 130 km/h but commonly people stick around 140-150, while on freeways the speed limit are 110 and motorways in countries like Belgium and Switzerland have a very strict 120 km/h.

I leave Turin and head off on the motorway direction Milan. Half way I exit and cut towards varese-Lugano as a nice and scenic shortcut through the lakes. As soon as I enter Switzerland I fill up the car - here petrol is 30 €cents cheaper per litre. The computer resets automatically as with all MY2004 and I rejoin the motorway direction North.

To cross the Alps, the motorway climbs to 1300 meters above sea level before entering a tunnel 19 km long that pierces the mountain. on this tunnel the speed limit is 80 km/h but since I had nobody behind me I slowed down to 65 km/h and featherd the car in stealth for the last 5 km to get the battery down three bars and prepare it to absorb the next 20 km motorway downhill.

I arrive in Basel and turn towards France, a few km of fast motorway before I exit and head towards Èpinal in the heart of the forest and join the freeway that will take me to Luxembourg for the next cheap tankful, even if not ncessary.

The computer shows an average of 4.6 l*100 km before it is automatically reset.

The freeway takes me into Belgium, then at Namur I turn right to head towards France and calais, where I have the ferry for the UK. Before entering the UK a make sure that I have enough fuel to take me to Ireland, so I add 8 litres for safety.

I cross the UK steadily, and 6 hours later I get to the Ireland with still 2 bars lit thus comprehending that the 8 litres I added in france was not necessary.

The tankful of cheap Irish fuel sentenced another excellent 4,6 l*100 average.

At this time the smell of home was so strong that I put away fuel economy and started speeding keeping up with the fastest (including another black Irish Prius). when I got home in Belfast the average was 5,1 l*100 km. Not bad at all for the speed I maintained in Irish land.

 

In Italy a law was to pass to allow speed limits of 150 km/h (94?) where roads are three lanes wide with hard shoulder.

Now you can maintains speeds of 177 km/h and risk just a 120€ fine, and many dothat, with the 150 limit one can go at 198 km/h with the same rule....