Area I European Tour 29/7/05 - 09/08/05
Having attended the trip to the factory in 2000 it was with great anticipation that we awaited the 2005 25 year quattro celebration. So, when we heard that the Club was not going, a few of us at Area I decided to plan our own trip to make a holiday of it.
With this in mind, Tim Clarke set about arranging hotels and an itinerary and Pete Cassar booked the Tunnel crossing and liased directly with the Audi Club International (ACI) to book our three quattro’s for the prestigious event.
Day 1
07:30, sun shining, lets go. All the work getting the quattro ready, hope it pays off. A 23 year old car (10v WR) heading for Europe, 7 countries to cover, 2500 miles in 11 days. Rhine, Austrian Tyrol, Stelvio Pass, Glaciers, 25th Anniversary Audi quattro celebrations in Ingolstadt, not to mention a few spins around the Nurburgring - Area I members like a challenge! Tanya & I catch the Seacat at Dover, first time on board - parking definitely not for the faint-hearted. Left car perched at precipitous angle sandwiched between barrier and Volvo estate.
The crossing was pleasant enough and after extricating the car we proceeded to the rendezvous point at the first hotel in Dunkerque to meet our fellow Area I members Tim & Nicky (20v) and Pete & Trish (10v WR) who came over on the Euro tunnel.
The Hotel overlooked a lake and parkland and after a leisurely walk around lake and a couple of beers in the bar we settled in the restaurant for a delicious meal with good company.
Day 2
09:30 start. We discovered that someone had been out to my car the night before and it was now sporting a window sticker. Tim had supplied us all with this to commemorating our trip.
We headed for Rudesheim in the Rhine Valley and made good time on the Autobahn then left it to follow the picturesque river route meandering through Rhine valley. We had towering mountains both sides of the road, dotted with some twenty one castles and historic ruins many of which had been restored.
A small town we passed through still maintained a medieval flair with city walls and fortifications until we crossed the Rhine via a small car ferry getting passed by huge barges travelling upriver.
The Rhine River has been the prime trade route for hundreds of years with goods transported from the sea to the Alps and is still the busiest waterway in Europe.
We arrived at our hotel in Rudesheim, parts of which date back to the 17th Century and the hotel consisted of several half timbered buildings with wood carved bays and open galleries, all grouped around a courtyard. As you can see parking was at a premium!
Once we had settled we headed out for the evening to the town square where a live band was playing. Armed with beer we managed to get a table in the square and later moved on to a restaurant.
After dinner we investigated the famous Drosselgasse which is a one hundred and forty four meter long street of wine and beer taverns with music, dance and entertainment.