Normandy Route as of 10th March 2009

Article written by Lang Kidby

DATE FROM TO DISTANCE HOURS NOTES
May-01Istanbul Gallipoli 270 5.5 Starting from Selimpassa Camp to Gallipoli National Park camp site.
2 Gallipoli Day in Gallipoli. Can take 15min ferry to Canakkale and Troy and return if desired.
3 Gallipoli Alexandropolis 187 3.5 Enter Greece
4 Alexandropolis Thassos 1 2.5 Get 30min ferry from Keramoti. Stay in one of several beachside camp grounds.
5 Keramoti Day off on rugged island of Thassos. Spectacular views and great seafood.
6 Thassos Thessalonika 230 4.5 1hr ferry to Kavalla then on to the pretty second city of Greece.
7 Thessalonika Volos 222 4.5 Via magnificent scenic route past Mount Olympus
8 Volos Athens/Piraeus 292 6 Board Ferry to Crete at 2000. Arrive Iraklion 0630
9 Iraklion Chania 125 2.5 Lunch at Rethimnon. Outdoor café dinner on ancient harbour wall.
10 Chania Sfakia 95 2 Morning Maleme airfield/war graves then mountain drive to south coast evacuation point.
11 Kastelli Chania/Suda 105 2 Walk up spectacular gorge, winding drive to Souda (Main Crete war Cemetary.)
12 Souda Iraklion 125 2.5 Explore ancient harbour town and lost city of Knossos
13 Iraklion 2100/ Piraeus at 0630.
14 Piraeus/Athens Korinthos 60 1 Day exploring Athens then short drive over Corinth Canal to camp site.
15 Korinthos Patra 120 2.5 Relaxed coastal drive. Visit ANZAC evacuation ports. Board ferry at 1700/ Ancona 1300.
16 Ancona Arrive 1300 rest and explore. Meet up with Italian Military Vehicle Club members.
17 Ancona Scarperia 200 4 Cross Italian mountain spine to Scarperia. Picturesque Tuscan village 20km from Florence.
18 Scarperia Pisa 82 1.5 Sight seeing Florence and Pisa.
19 Pisa Garlenda 268 5.5 One of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. Garlenda village welcome.
20 Garlend Turin 180 2.5 Pretty drive to probably the nicest big city of the whole trip.
21 Turin Feriolo 160 2.5 Drive up the picture postcard Lake Maggiore. Camp ground on lake waterfront.
22 Feriolo Day off to catch up on washing, shopping, sightseeing and swimming.
23 Verbano Seelisberg 200 5 Winding Semplon Pass, Furka underground railway, Seelisberg mountain-top lake camp.
24 Seelisberg Mulhouse 160 3 Three great museums - Automobile, Firefighters and Railways.
25 Mulhouse Verdun 250 5 Enter France
26 Verdun Day off - The Citadel, visit untouched WW1 battle sites and French National War Memorial
27 Verdun Bois de Bologne 270 5 Night visit to Paris if desired.
28 Bois de Bologne Paris day. Drive or catch the train. Visit French Military Vehicle Club large workshops.
29 Bois de Bologne Bagnoles de l'Orne 170 3.5 Beautiful small spa town nestled in forested hills.
30 Bagnoles de l'Orne Pontorson 80 1.5 Straight on to Mont St Michel (9km) for day before returning to camp.
May-31 Pontor Periers 60 1 Nice drive to Peter Tombs' farm. Clean-up, look at Peter's collection, barbecue.
Jun-01 Periers Etreham 50 1 Join British MVT at campground.
2 .
3
4
5 Normandy Activities
6
7
8 Etreham Dieppe 220 4.5 Via coast road and outstanding scenery.
9 Dieppe Villers-Bretonneux 1 2 Australian National War Memorial
10 Villers-Bretonneux Amiens 13 2.5 Ancient cathedral town. Many war cemetaries and museums enroute.
11 Amiens Eiper/Ypres 180 3.5 Canadian Memorial Vimy Ridge, tunnels. Last Post/ Lowering of Australian flag Eiper Menin Gate.
12 Eiper/Ypres Zeebrugge 60 1 Loading, customs etc. Expected 1-2 days before train to Brussels or Paris etc for trip home.