A Jiggle and another Italian Tune Up

First job was a  MK7 ride to check the boat is in the water. 

Looks like it from here. Then off to pick up the MK2. MOT might have been passed passed but it took several 'jiggles' to get the key to work. I think I'll rig up a separate switch while I work out what part I need.

Then later in the morning SAAB trip - Harkstead and Ipswich and back. 

Oddly there was another abandoned car on the junction near Fishponds - this time an Audi TT - but it was gone when we got back.

Finally late afternoon, despite the gloom I warmed the 308 up and took it out. Looked good too but ...

...again 95% by the time I got back - not good enough so we'll have to book it in.

Jiggle it ?

MK2 down to Parkers first thing for the MOT and to fix the ignition - so busy we had to park it outside.

Then home in the MK7, before a PM run to Harkstead for jobs etc. However when I left the road was blocked by this car.

As to the MK2 - good news is it passed the MOT - as to the ignition I was told just to 'jiggle it' ! We'll see how I get on but I might get a replacement barrel anyway.

ION: 'President' Putin gets re-elected for a fifth term - by a landslide. Ah that's saved democracy then. 

But perhaps not Western Civilisation.

What M25 Problems ?

On the overnight crossing we found the missing cars. Then it was time to get off the boat and away from this ugly beast which was behind us. 

It's a 2023 Lexus NX 350H CVT - Hybrid Electric - thing.

Through customs OK - but the run back in the rain was slow and the spray bad. 'Road Liable to Flooding' signs all up the route - how about fixing it.

Anyway all week we had been wondering what route to take with the M25 'Closed' where we joined it. The announcements were confusing but logic said it would be open the way we needed to turn off - we tried it to find out. There were no 'Road Closed' signs on the way there though - until right at the junction.

But that was it - no queue and no problem getting onto the M25 our way. Odd again. 

So home in good time and unpacked this lot when the rain stopped.

I hope Alan would be proud.

Just pottering and packing

Plus a couple of trips out - including documenting the piles of tyres etc. we have seen on several junctions ready to block the roads (again) when the Farmers next feel like it. 

Mostly cleaning and odd to be home on the day we 'leave'. Finished packing too - I always like this shot. Reminds me of another car man ... Alan Clark.

Although I suspect his was a decent Claret and not Saumur - oh and it is a Porsche not a SAAB.

Finally off to the port late and even odder to be arriving at the Ferry on our own too - everyone else seemed to be on board …

Taking La Hise

Quick trip to La Hise - parked in the usual car park. 

I'd not noticed the wall on the hill before. Then PM popped into town and petrol. Full up again. This time road blocked by a lorry picking up his tractor. 

Finally evening run to town for evening meal out.

Binac - Done That

Off to the coast - West this time to Binac. Lovely fast smooth roads all the way and of course free parking when we got there. SAAB flat boot so useful too.

Then home the long way via Port du Martin and a windy lookout.

It's Breton you know

Morning run to find the tow path out of Lehon - which we did - although we did not find the car park we were aiming for. Found more closed roads though - well the tow path anyway - obviously we just ignored the sign.

OK there were several trees down across the path but not enough to stop us.

PM out to the coast and back agin. 

Finally home and it appears the commune has also got its Breton name up ?

They are going to need a bigger post for all those signs soon.

Lots of Colour

Shopping first thing - only to find it deserted - all the bright blue trollies were ready waiting for us.

Then PM into St Malo to walk to the Fort as the tide was very low and found a nice burnt orange Vantage S in the car park to great us. Behind that was another colourful car too.

St Malo also seems full of roadworks too as they are digging up the the main Street. Look at these lines.

After the walk we ran back home through our own roadworks only to find someone parked in our space.

That's abuse of a Bikerack

SAAB back to the port again for the walk this time in the sun.

All the way to Lehon and then back (via the Lehon castle) and Dinan for lunch out. Spotted this off 'Truck' in a picture too.

I colourised it for clarity - but the logo on the front can't be Mercedes as it's too old for that.

Then having spotted a tile off the roof we went looking for a maintenance company. No luck - so I improvised. More scrapheap challenge than engineering - gaffer tape and a bike wall mount jumped out at me in the chaos that is my ‘workshop’ here.

Large and Little

Off to Dinan for a walk by the canal AM but the mist had descended and the road was closed #2.

So we just pottered by the river - past this thing again. 

It is still a 2005 Steyr Puch Pinzgauer - although the DVLA site says the MOT expired in 2018 - so not sure of the status now ?

Then pm off to the diy shop - highlight was spotting this classic Peugeot 304 in the car park.

Something looks Suspicious

Slow off the ferry and into traffic chaos. Only a couple of customs booths open and we’re sent to lanes that are dead ends. Took about an hour to get through and on the road. 

While we were in the queue a large car transporter with expensive cars came up next to us - Lamborghini, Aston, Range Rover etc. All the personalised number plates. Odd.

Although I don’t like the look of the tyres on the Bentley. Both sides were the same too. More odd.

Then as we approached Aucaleuc the road was closed again and there was a diversion in place. So home via the backroads - we'll investigate. 

Later a run to Dinan - and found a better way out through the road works - for shopping as normal. 

All White on the Night

Packed the SAAB up - did not seem as much as usual - odd. 

Then down to Portsmouth via a very slow Wisley junction and a quick stop (they were closed). It’s going to be like that for some time too as they work on the junction - in fact we were being warned that it was 'closed' over the weekend we come back - but what did that actually mean ?

Then we chose the backroads across Surrey again to miss some traffic and eventually an hour or so later we were queuing for the ferry. 

Was it just me but were all the other cars white ? As we queued up Lee sent a few Alpine pics and yes - that’s white now too.

I'd better get on and find all the bits now.

How Many Pallets ?

Aston out shopping in the cold gloom of the morning for some food and a small planet saving run.

Then as I arrived home I was sent off on another errand. This time in the SAAB to pick up five pallets.

They were swallowed fine - I have said it before but the boot seems to be set to take a standard pallet.

Finally MK7 ride to Harkstead.

Pops and Stutters

AM cold dash in the Caterham - but at least it was bright.

Ran it around the block - a few backfires on the over-run, but great on the higher power. 

Then later the E-type out to visit the boat and put the battery's back on charger.

I did not stop long as they were working on the boat.

On the run back it was 25 mph most of the way following someone. That probably explained the slight stutter on acceleration - it needs a long fast run to get up to temperature and clear it's throat.

Finally SAAB to the recycling center and then to the RGEA meeting.

SAAB in the Rain

I'm glad I pushed the boat out yesterday as today the rain cam back again - most of the day in fact.

So just a SAAB jaunt into town.

Bookending the Fleet

Still cold but still some sun peeping out by the afternoon. So I warmed the Imp over lunch and took it for an early afternoon spin.

Feels stronger and 50 mph up hill was fine too. A bit cold though - I needed more than the four layers, hat and gloves that I had on. So that was 1933 and just shy of 50hp.

What would ten times the hp feel like ? So moving swiftly on 80 years we have the Aston - all 500+ hp and just out shopping for supper - not a problem with the cold in that.

Still majestic and fast but 10x faster ? I also noticed we just ticked over to 26,000 miles when parking up.

Then I decided to look at the Ferrari and give that another blast. So fan heater on it for an hour to warm through. This time it started first time and although was not 100% smooth it did not backfire like yesterday.

I poured a large slug of Redex in the tank and then took it for a spirited 25 mile run. To start with it was the same but by the time I had got back it sounded better and the 'miss' was imperceptible - but still there. Packing it away I felt better too - but I need to save up for the carbs to be rebuilt this year.

So not 'Better' but 'Better than before'.

All at Sixes and Sevens

Cold but clear(er) day especially after lunch so I got the E-type out for a run. Cold indeed.

That run was fine. 

So later I decided to give the Ferrari a run. First the starting plaid up again - turn it off and the starter motor is still running. Then when it did start it was all pops and bangs for a while. 

It settled down and was OK on the run although felt like it was on seven cylinders from time to time.

It did stand out n the gloom though - and we passed 71,000 miles so it probably deserves some attention. Probably sooner rather than later too.

One wheel on my Waggon

Out first thing sign cleaning again - close to home so I took the one wheeled wagon.

Not as spectacular as last week but still made a difference. The rain will wash the soap off too.

Why some people keep hitting the sign is beyond me.

Then a short Harkstead SAAB hop in the rain and deliver the equipment back.

Too cold and wet for anything else.

Too Cold

AM SAAB run for unexpected Harkstead visit - in the rain - this is getting too much I thought ...

... as I sat there in the layby before I went home.

PM two quick jaunts. 1. to look at the allotment and then 2. to pick up the road working equipment for tomorrow.

Later I looked at the cold blue sky and decided better of it.

What a life.