More Digging

Lots of roots extracted (poor tree) from the base today - even harder work as it was about 80 degrees - but we're getting flatter.

The Alpine looked inviting when I went to pack them away, so we had a little run around the closed block.

Still a bit jumpy and wanders slightly, mind you the roads are very bad. Also the rattles from under underneath seem to be getting worse (as rattles do) so I'll have to look at those soon.

I also got the Fezza out for the now typical 'half block twice' run. 

Went nicely - very well in fact. Now I really should organise a long run ...

Merc Mechanic

As planned I helped Nigel with his Mercedes Bonnet lining first thing. 

It seemed to go on relatively easily and as the bonnet had a great device to allow it to go vertical, it gave us lots of space to work. After that just a short walk to look for a bit of exhaust that had fallen off the DKW - but we could not find it.

PM I pottered but did spend time filling up the low E-type brake fluid reservoir. 

Next I thought I'd look for the 'get you home' tool kit at Halfords.

I found a basic cheap one that even came in a nice soft bag. So I'll add tools to that.

Finally late run in the Talbot - just getting it ready for next week.

I noticed the temperature was a little high - and crept up when I put it away.

I suspect it needed water after the long run last weekend. So I'll check it later.

Less of a Lean ?

AM was digging out the side of the car port. Heavy going but I think there is less of a lean on the Golf.

It will take one or two more goes to level though as it is full of dead roots.

PM van back to Harkstead and a few jobs.

Then MK7 ride down to the boat to pick up what we forgot Sunday night.

Finally I swapped the Talbot battery over to charge the front.

Then Finally Finally (really Finally) I though t the E-type deserved another run.

The E-type brakes were slightly stuck on again when we set off. I decided to turn around in the farm layby as the road is blocked and full of loose gravel and thought I'd look at the knocking from the rear - the car ran on a little when I turned off the ignition. Odd.

I rearranged to hammer in the wheel well which was sticking out and the knocking seemed to go away on the drive back Perhaps I should add some padding or move the hammer ?

I also checked the brake fluid and one reserve was a little down so I'll have to top that up.

There are still more things to sort so perhaps an E-Day soon ?

Another Road Closed

Most of the day was doing the final beam for the carport. So I had to move the cars around.

It even tried to rain so on went the Alpine cover(s). About 6 hours later I was finished and tried the cars.

It seems to work well - but I now need to dig out the side by the tree.

SAAB run after all the work to Harkstead for jobs.

Finally I took the Alpine up the road (after re-screwing the horn boss back in) to look at the closure close up. 

They are going to be a while and I'm not sure how far down the village they are going - but it is a mess.

Another Burnham ?

It was a van day really. Admin AM and then Van Man PM.

So Harkstead/Shotley/Harkstead. On the way back I spotted a chap working on an old car in Lower Holbrook - it turned out to be a black TC he was trying to re-wire.

In the evening I got the Ferrari out - another car in need of a clean/dust.

As you see I forgot something as I drove out.

I also found that they have re-gritted the back road. Odd - and annoying. The car just passed 72,900 with no re-occurrence of the bad running so I will deciare it officially past its probation.

ION: Oh that Burnham - having spent the weekend sailing to Burnham and back it appears he is our new Prime Minister - Socialist Utopia In-coming !

Atlantis ?

We we were greeted by Sun - well at 5:30 we were.

Another exhilarating sail though - 7.7 knots and that was on the main and Jib - mind you it was blowing high teens. 

We also saw a 'Ghost City' on the horizon.

I'm sure that's the Essex Atlantis. Home in the MK7 again later and that was that.

Where did the Sun Go ?

G2R. Light load too for a sail to Burnham on Crouch.

Then I remembered we'd dropped stuff off last night. Anyway off we sailed into the gloom. Good turn of speed though as we used the cruising chute.

Mind you it was the only bit of blue we saw all day

Open Wide

I spent most of the day on the car port. Making the opening the full width.

I had to add a second cross beam to make it more stable so that's most of the wood used up. It does look a little bent but we'll fix that.

Late afternoon it was a MK7 ride to the boat to rig the Cruising Shute in the sunshine.

Finally a run in the (dusty) E-type.

As this week's road blockage is finished I was able to go around the block again - even it it still said closed and I had to go past the barrier. Next week it is our road that's closed though so we'll see what that means.

On the run I could hear the squeaking from the front, the banging from the rear and we still have no indicator repeaters after all these years. I felt sorry for the car - it's not had the attention it deserves and I really should spend time on it in the next few weeks.

Heat Haze

SAAB out AM to look for a long beam for the car port. The consensus is they don't really do 7m lengths of wood. So instead today I have been mostly driving the Van backwards and forwards.

To Harkstead, the Dentist and back in fact. Hot and busy in and around town.

To reward myself I had a spin in the Imp though early evening.

As it was only 25 degrees - and a T-shirt was all I needed. I came home hot and the car hotter, although the gauge stayed fine. I put the car away and noticed a slight heat gaze/smoke from the oil catch tin. Umm. However I checked and I don't think there is anymore water in it. I'll have to monitor.

Essex Calling

A ride in the MK 7 Golf first thing to get the Aston - via the Petrol station of course.

The Aston felt good when I picked it up. Better than before - or just nice to be back in it ? Anyway we parked at Hyde Hall near our usual spot.

It looked very good there - IIDSSM. After a very warm walk it was back up the dreaded A12 and home. Lots of traffic but we pottered up there fine.

Norfolk Bound

So I got the car out of the garage first thing and I spotted that the roll top lining is coming adrift under the windscreen. Odd - probably the heat.

After that it was off to fill up with petrol. Coming back from the kiosk I looked under the car. Ah that will be a pool of water under the car then. A bit worrying, but I spotted it was coming down from the top - radiator cap or overflow pipe probably looking at the staining.

I checked at the Sorrel Horse when I picked up Chris and there was no sign of a leak.

The run up was hard work - two and a half hours all in - but we arrived in good time and watched as more Sunbeams slowly arrived. I checked the engine and again no sign of drips. Nine cars arrived in all - mostly Alpines - but a Rapier snuck in too.

We left about 2:00 and were back at the Sorrel by 4:00. After a cool drink it was home again only to find the village almost cut off at our end with a broken down coach.

So 144 miles today in 25+ degrees and the only real issues being the window rubbers coming unstuck in the heat and the steering wheel horn starting to fall out. Oh and some 'fluffing' when really hot and running slowly. 

Tighten up and a Re-Run

I started on the Alpine after some 'domestic duties' and the first job was sticking the 'M' back on.

There was only a very small damp patch under the car today and it looked like oil but I decided to tighten everything up anyway. The pipes first then the bolts on the pump. Well most of them. The bolts on the engine cover were also almost finger tight too so I did them up. It might help with the oil weeping from the top of the cover. 

The Oil and Water were fine. So next I checked the plugs.

A bit shitty/sooty as expected, which might explain the slightly rough running towards the end of the German trip. I also found a loose wire on the coil so nipped that up too.

I then checked the tyres and two were down a bit - but not the one with a leak. I pumped them up all to 34 to see how it feels. Next was trying to secure the door rubbers again. I moved the screw and stuck more back down.

Again we'll see how we get on. Finally a wet dust and packed away in the Aston Cave.

While all that was going on Grange called to say the Aston was done so that's on the collection list. I also picked up a big bag of Drugs and delivered them to Harkstead in the SAAB - which flashed it's CEL at me - it's not been doing that much recently.

Late PM I re-ran the errand from yesterday in the Ferrari - the roads having calmed down a bit.

Here we are saving the planet at the clothes' bank. Mind you I heard today that there are so many fabrics being re-cycled that the industry can't cope. The 'smell' was still there - well an undertone.

And lastly I spotted the Imp (and me) in the Music Video.

That Smell

A slow day punctuated by an AM passenger ride in the MK2 Golf - to collect the van. Noticed when I put the charger on a few weeks ago I'd forgotten to turn it on.

Anyway PM was a SAAB Uber run to Manningtree via the Drift - as the road is closed again at Stutton for Watermain repairs. AGAIN. Then back the long way even though they have resurfaced more od the road with gravel as before.

Later I thought I'd get the Ferrari out for some errands - avoiding the problems and the fleet of 'moderns' on the drive.

But wait ... I found the Ski slope at a standstill due to bridge closure. That's fine I'll just come back via Stutton. Oh - gravel and closed roads - so I turned around and joined the queue down the Ski slope. As I was there I popped 50 litres of petrol in the car.

And there it was - the petrol smell. So 45 mins later I was home without doing anything. At lease it hints at the filler pipe being the culprit.

Is that Rain - or Tears ?

I awoke in a bad mood - I always return from the West wondering why the fuck I bother to go there. I started TAS, warmed it up and loaded the boot. I managed to chip the paint on the rim while I was at it too.

Not a good start.

I filled up with petrol on the way as planned - with a nice XJS convertible on the other pump - and set off. There was a little flecks of water on the windscreen from time to time but it was just 'micro-rain' and not the radiator cap leaking, so I was safe and sound in the very bumpy and very dusty car park waiting for the others at Melton by 11:15. Soon Chris arrived looking summery.

The run there was fine - although the rear suspension is squeaking a bit - but we were all cold as we parked up on the field in a strong breeze and under cloudy skies.

The weather did warm up considerable in the afternoon as you can see by the picture of John's Radio Car which arrived a bit later.

It got hotter and hotter on the field so I was happy to leave about four and potter home. All in all a 50 miles round trip.

Of course that was not it - Harkstead in trusty SAAB to round off the day.

Oh well.

It Sounds like Rain

So MK7 packed up again - back we come.

If you think it looks less - that's because I forgot my shoes in my haste to get out of there. 

Swish - Swish - Swish through the rain we drove. However the noise was not wet roads but wet tar. 32+ degrees and the roads are looking wet.

We headed for Stow in the Wold - Clarkson (and ex-PM Cameron) country. Mostly populated by electric Chelsea tractors but I spotted a 'bubble car' in the car park.

It did look a bit like an electric Tike toy.

Anyway that done we headed to Chastleton House - our destination. Bloody hot day to wander around so not the best preparation for the three and a half hours drive home.

However, the run back was OK - a bit longer than I expected but I was avoiding the Black Cat roundabout roadworks. Going North to go East seemed odd too.

So all in all what next - new car or not ?

No, it's not on the Van

Grange phoned first thing - it is the Lambda sensor and it is not in stock. So I'll be popping back next week to pick the car up. Good news is that I have a spare garage for the Alpine now.

Then riding around Stroud in a sporty A3 before the duties of the day.

My turn next in the Golf to be the Uber driver for the event. I spotted a nice MGA when we parked up.

But that was the only car of interest.

The final run back and shopping trip was in the heat. It could be France we thought.