Travel

Exercise Alpine Adventure uses coach travel to make the best use of finance and time. A coach and two drivers stay with both parties to provide transport to the ski areas and evening activity venues.

Since 1998 Exercise Alpine Adventure has used Hardings International of Redditch (Tel 01527 525200)(www.hardingscoaches.co.uk) to provide transportation. Hardings' drivers are experienced in continental work. Alpine Adventure is popular with the drivers and several have taken part for many years are valued members of the expedition team.

On Friday evening the Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing coach picks up cadets at Gloucester and at Filton before heading for Dover. The South West Region coach picks up at key locations before meeting up with the Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing coach. En route the coach is handed over to the two international drivers who then share the load on the rest of the journey across Europe. After a short ferry crossing to Calais, the route takes in France, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.

Coaches are equipped with toilet facilities but stops are normally taken every few hours to allow passengers to stretch their legs. With an on-board drinks machine and TV/video entertainment, the 21 hour journey is far from arduous and travelling through the night allows plenty of quiet time to relax.

Passing Stuttgart Airport marks the final stage of the journey and quite often gives the first hint of snow on the ground. Telephone calls to the lodges to confirm progress allows the resident chefs to ensure that welcoming hot meals are ready for the arrival of the coaches normally around 1830 hours.

Cadets and adult staff are advised to take sufficient food and drinks with them for the outward journey. Hardings International sets high standards and we ask everyone to keep the coach clean and tidy.

The return journey starts early - typically 0500 hrs on the Saturday morning. Some how this seems to be much faster - perhaps because everyone sleeps after an exhausting week's skiing. The coaches usually cross on an early evening ferry from Dover and are back in the Region and Wing areas a few hours later.

Times/locations of pick ups and drop offs are notified to participants in the immediate run up to the exercise.