Day 5 - Friday 4th July
This would also be a fairly relaxed drive with just the one mountain pass as we started to head towards Switzerland. It may have only been one mountain pass on the day, but it was a very special one. If you've ever watched the original Italian Job starring Michael Caine, then you'll have seen this road; the Colle del Nivolet. In the film, the gang use this road to escape Italy in their bus.......in reality, the road is a dead end and goes nowhere. However, this road is absolutely stunning and worth the time and effort, even if you have to turn around at the top and go back the way you came. I last drove this road in 2016 and it was so quiet, only seeing 2 other cars on the road. Now, it has gotten instagram popular, it was rammed. Very busy.
Here is a photo from 2016 and you can see on the left handside, halfway up the photo, a building and car park.
And parked at the very top, again 2016, very quiet.
But first things first. First job of the day, bulb replacement time.
Yup, definitely failed.
Never travel without a bojo trim kit when on a euro trip! Or spare oil and coolant when driving an E9x M3, ROFL!
Finally, a full working set of angel eyes.
Remember that rock slide from a few days ago? Well, here is some of the damage on the bonnet.
Now a quick wash and fill up.
Oliver's G87 M2 collecting a few bees? Wasps?
En route to the only mountain pass for the day.
Some excellent BMW parking here whilst the girls have a toilet break.
Back on the road.
It isn't long before we get to the base of the Colle del Nivolet. We stop for another toilet break and setup GoPros.
Turn 1.......
The turns are tight.
Tunnel!!!
It takes quite a bit of time to reach the summit and you'll pass through a lot of small villages.
Out of the village.
Getting high now.
Made it.
And as usual, our cars gather a lot of attention.
Alexander.
Our time at the summit allows me to apply some of new stickers.
Time to leave.
Stopping on the way down for a few photos.
Some of us then drove back to the top for more photos.
Me.
Alexander and me.
Steven, Alexander and me.
Time to descend.
Still going.
Marek and Joao catch up with us.
Not long and we're at the hotel.
View from the room.
And for this evening, i'd lined up gokarting for everyone but first, some more pizza. And as we're driving, no beer.
Time to kart!!
Who won the go karting?......it was of course Alexander Hoppe. He qualified first and finished first.
Here he is, making friends with goats and sniffing spirits.
View from the hotel at 11pm!
We tried to get some beer after karting but the hotel had run out, and only had 2 large bottles. Sharing is caring.
Stats so far.
