That Drive again

So we were all off by 9:45 from the Air B&B - heading in two directions. Oil and family heading home and me 'Uber-ing' again to the Country House for Breakfast.

After that it was a run back home. I did spot even more cars at Avonmouth though.

The only other car of note was this slightly dusty XJS at one of the services.

Only about six hours this time to get home - but with only 'dash and splash' stops.

Looking it up later:  Apparently "around one in four new cars entering the UK arrives through the Bristol Port facilities, totaling hundreds of thousands of vehicles every year". Hence the storage.

Cabin Doors to Manual

I shuffled the cars around first thing to let Oli get his car out - before leaving a bit later to Uber the passengers to the Wedding.

The short run was interesting as off the main road it quickly turned narrow and then narrow and bumpy. 

Then the drive up to the (slightly decrepit) Country House was worse - pot holes, speed bumps, random rocks and big holes in the 'road'. We followed the signs to parking, only to go the wrong way. So I then had to reverse 200 yards back down the narrow track to the carpark in the field.

Not a big deal though.

Over a [very] late lunch I chatted to a relative with a car restoration business - in Cranleigh of all places.

Then much later (just before midnight in fact) I found the car in the pitch black night and we retraced our steps - with three very 'tired and emotional' passengers. The lane looking even narrower and bumpier in the car lights against the dark hedges.

I did have to lock the back doors (really channeling my inner Uber driver now) to stop our 'fares' opening and closing the doors at random in their excitement as we went down the lane.

That was about it really.

That's a Shock

We were all packed up by 8:30 and off in both cars by 9:00. I dropped the Aston at 10:00 - and noticed how small it looked vs the new models.

It was an OK run for a couple of hours to our lunch stop. There we spotted the first interesting vehicle.

Back on the road as passenger after 45 mins stop and rest only for Grange to phone. All ok ... the car is in excellent condition, but it will fail the mot due to a sidelight bulb being dead. That is not an issue until you find out it's £2.5k+ to replace the whole unit. Gulp.

It needs doing - but that's going to mean a c£5k+ bill (lets not for get the VAT) this year.

After that the traffic and (possibly my mood) got worse as we went around Bristol - as did the weather.

But at least we kept rolling along until Avonmouth where we were very congested. We also spotted hundreds of cars parked up ready for something as we went over the river.

Here us a Google Earth view.

The final leg was fine although the roads got very narrow but we arrived - to park on the immaculate white gravel drive - just before 4:00. Glad I've not bought a classic - hard to hide those oil drips on that.

Then later in the evening I was off again as Uber Driver - Train Station, House, Restaurant for supper - and then finally I got a ride back to the House.

A long day - as it took us seven hours with a couple of stops.

Pics and Trips

In the morning I spotted lots of my photos on the Talbot Facebook site. Well at least they are being shared.

Just all 17 then.

I also researched the Imp issue and it is probably serious and may need an engine rebuild.

In the afternoon we had a Harkstead run in the SAAB.

Sorting out an IT issue. Turn it on was the answer.

I did plug the Talbot battery in for a charge though - and then wondered what to do next ?

Nothing as it turned out - although I bought a tester to see what the compression is on the Imp.

You Can't park There !

I started by giving the new garage door wood strip a bit of paint. That looked better.

The Aston was also looking good - even if it is misbehaving as the moment.

Then we started the main event - climbing onto the roof and clearing the garage gutters gutters. I moved on the the impossible gutter but had made up a new device which worked well - well OK.

PM - So the rain was holding off so it's time to get the imp out - it hasn't really had a run for a little bit and is still looking very clean.

So it was time to use it for a job - and collect two more gallons of petrol for the Aston. As I drove to the petrol station, I passed another Vintage car. It was Paul from the CVMC driving past - nice to see - they had had a lunch at Shotley.

What wasn't so nice to see was what it looked like smoke pouring out of the left-hand side of the cockpit as I drove off from the petrol station - was it really or was it just an optical illusion ?

I turned around quickly, came back down the ski slope and came home. There was a little bit of smoke from the oil catch tin when I opened the bonnet but nothing that would produce that effect - so I'll put it down to my fertile (worried) imagination.

Anyway - I topped up the Aston with the petrol and we'll leave it alone for a bit now.

That still left time for another evening jaunt so the Italian got another run out.

Still going well - although it does need another clean and more fuel - before there is none left in the country.

As to the parking - as I walked back from the Co-op a helicopter flew overhead and seemed to try to land in the garden of Reed Hall ! You can just see the rotor and then the body taking off again.

Then another buzzed overhead ? WTF !

Another Van Trip

AM I played with photos and made some a bit better - which was pleasing.

I then repaired the roofing to the back of the converted car port to stop the water getting in. 

PM it was another van run - Harkstead again. Then Holbrook and a shuffle of cars back again via Stutton.

Early evening it was E-Type time.

Autumnal now though - so that was that.

ION: The news is still full of talk that AI will kill all of humanity. So they have formed a Human Priority League. Umm that will defeat the Robots. 

Joining the Dots and Night Time

Slow day after all the excitement of yesterday but I did arrange to get the Aston battery changed.

I marked the old one though.

Not quite sure why I bothered though.

I also thumbed through the Kop Hill program looking for our entry only to find this.

Yep my picture again. They do lead a life outside the camera.

Then it was late so ... I took TAS our again. Not sure why it beckoned but it went very well. I could even think better than a bit ago - perhaps it had cleared any gunk after the run yesterday. 

On the way back the sun was setting so I thought I'd try for a sunset shot. A bit rushed and unplanned but OK for a first try this year.

We'll see if we can improve.

Hill Climbed and Storm Weathered

So it rained quite a bit overnight - as predicted - so a very wet car greeted me when I went to warm it up first thing - well 7:03 AM.

It started first time though - there was no obvious water inside as far as I could see. I tried the lights and they did their trick of turning off all the electrics. I did find that the back leaks and therefore the water stains will be worse when it dries out again as it was quite wet.

No more rain fell on the way to the hill though and we got there in good time. I faffed about for a while and then we registered the car and 15 minutes later listened to the drivers brief and got ready for the first run up the hill.

After a short queue and 'interview' we set off. 

Here we are half way up. Then 1 min 25 seconds later we were passing the checkered flag. Most of the way in third then a change down at the very steep bit into second. Fun really.

After that we returned via the town and wondered around the site before the rain came back in earnest.

Sheltering in the Talbot Marque I chatted to someone who had driven his car down from from the North for me to see - did I forget to mention that ? However having looked at it in the flesh it was not as nice as TAS - and we sort of concluded no Talbot would be. Not even this Concourse winning one - although it is growing on me.

The one I was seeing did not even get a proper picture - it's the red one in the background.

TAS got dried ready and soon it was time for run two.

That was all in third gear - although perhaps the car cried out for second. Again was almost an identical time - perhaps 1 second quicker.

However that was that and we set off home at the top.

We'd agreed to take the M25 to speed up the run which in retrospect was fine - other than the rain, the leaks and heavy traffic.

We encountered torrential rain so got a but 'dripped on' but the windscreen seemed to clear itself so the (slow) wipers were only used a bit. At times the temperature went above 90 degree - but then I'd forgotten to remove the plaque from the front of the car. In fact if we went quicker the temperature seemed top go down.

We got back in about 2h 20 mins - although with the weather and the heat inside the car it felt longer. The car just shrugged it off and did not look as it it had even been out of the garage since the clean and polish on Friday.

263 miles and all is well - although so far we have found that the nearside window was a bit stiff and the inside at the back was wet ... However checking the oil we used none.

More Noises

So - off we go again. Packing the Talbot in fits and starts ready for our latest trip. It started first time too - although I did let it stall. I had a bit of an odd feeling though. Were we too rushed - or just slightly dreading the social interaction ?

Still looked magnificent though on the drive. So off we went with no drama, up the A14 on a route we know well. We stopped to fill up at Newmarket which was a bit early in retrospect although I made sure the tank was almost sloshing over with the 30+ litres I squeezed in.

Then off-piste and the A11 across to Baldock - there were some odd noises after about an hour and a half but I put it down to the strong wind (for the booming noise) and the tinkle to the oil getting thin when very hot.

The A505 was a good choice - but luckily the Duxford air show was mid way through so the traffic was fine there. Then we ventured onto the M25 for two junctions. Which was fine if a little worrying as the car seemed less powerful - but again I suspect it was the hills and punching through the wind.

The oil pressure stayed fine all the time and the temperature actually ran slightly lower than the Prescott weekend - although it's not 80 outside degrees any more. As soon as we were back on the smaller roads the car sounded better. We overshot the Hotel but after a U turn we found the carpark and slotted nearly into a space.

So here we are - Amersham just shy of three hours later - and 126 more miles under our belt.

Luckily I popped back to the car a couple of hours later - to find to instrument lights had been left on - for long and why/how ? However the car started fine so I hoped we'd be ok in the morning.

Taxi both ways to the meal and then bed - with only a little trepidation of the next day and the early timings.

Not on the level

Talbot prep today.

I washed the car first - it did not really seem dirty but the bucket of black water said otherwise.

That only took 20 minutes - although it felt longer.

Then a quick SAAB trip to pick up a vintage voltage tester. 

Not sure how it works but I'll investigate.

Then back to the Talbot and the polish then the windows, which definitely did take much longer.

I also checked the water - needed almost none - and the oil - needed a pint. Odd as it has not really been using oil. However after putting it in the level did not seem to go up at all ? Looking at the car it might have been on a slope so I resisted the urge to add more and put the car away before checking the level again.

Then MK2 into town for hair cut - parked by the twin towers.

No, not those Twin Towers but it was apposite. I filled up the petrol on the way back too.

Back home I checked the Talbot oil on the flat - that was better - I added a 1/4 of a pint and called it a day. Looking at the Golf thought it deserved a clean. 

So it got a clean. Then I did the windows - I even did the door shuts. I popped the cover on it as I suspect it won't get used for a couple of weeks now.

Next - the Aston. The charger was on green so I started the car, backed it out and added another 10 litres of fuel and put it away again. The charger was back to being on low battery health, climbing to four dots after a couple of hours.

Which is not that bad, but it's not what I'd expect.

However the day was not quite over yet. The SAAB out again - up to Harkstead to drop off a big bag of drugs.

Hold again I tested the Tslbot lights. Fine although it did that trick of cutting all power as the switch was moved over. Probably a bit of corrosion on the switch as it’s been unused all year. 

So then we did stop.

ION: 25 years since 9/11 - when the Twin Towers were hit by two aircraft killing 2,700 people. That really was a start of the new Century.

Another Dash or two - this time for Fuel

G2R first thing for a day sail.

The sun was out if a bit Autumnal. 

Home again early afternoon and it was a bit warmer so I went back to jobs. First the Alpine out to get more fuel for the Beast.

It ran well and was nice to get it out again - a bit dusty though - but it is running the fuel tank down.

After that I thought the Ferrari needed a run.

So I dashed around the block.

Dash (board) ing Around

So what is the plan for today ?

First start the Talbot. It was a chilly morning but even after 14 days the car started well, after a few goes that was. I backed it out and let it sit in the sun before popping off to fill it up with petrol.

Nice picture of the dash.

Then I decided to swap the Alpine and Imp over. But the Imp really needed a clean - so I did that first - then went around the block. It seemed to be going well in the cooler air too.

Nice picture of the dash.

Then I swapped the Alpine back under the covers.

Nice picture of the dash.

Can you see where this is going yet ?

Then we took the top box off the SAAB and put it in Oliver's shed - not 100% ideal but much easier than the garage loft.

Then a DIY electrical problem to work on - so E-type out to collect LED lights. The chap at the unit liked it.

Nice picture of the dash.

That did not fix the problem though so I went back into town for a replacement unit in the SAAB this time. But they did not have one.

Well you know what I write next.

So that was ... almost that. The sun was still just setting so I though I'd brave the Aston and test the starting. First time - but then the charger was green.

I put 10 litres of petrol in it and looking at it (and hearing it) I wondered whatever made me think it should go. Bad Martin. I decided 'sod it' lets go around the block - and it did not disappoint.

We - dash'ed around the circuit. 

When I plugged the charger it it was immediately on low. Oh and the fob needed a new battery yet again. 

Finally I confirmed James and Miri for the London adventure in two weeks' time.

ION: An AI expert/techie has stated that there is more than a 1:10 chance that AI will destroy the Human Race within 10 years. Oh well - better get driving.

Utility and Photo Fame ... ish

A lot of home jobs AM [including unblocking the sink] but I did notice three my photos in the Talbot magazine this time.

A bit over processed and too dark, ten years ago I would have been 'cock a hoop' to have a picture in any mag - now it is 'whatever'. Well it is still nice.

PM was a run to Harkstead in the rain.

As it had been raining all day the roads were getting quite flooded.

After that I played with some pictures - nice Anglia one.

Worked quite well I thought.

Dump Day and Tiger Tracks

I spent most of the morning cramming crap into the SAAB. Well the detritus of civilisation I had accumulated over the last few months.

I put the front Talbot battery on charge and it instantly came up green which was a good sign.

PM was the run to the aforesaid recycling center - it took two of us 15 mins to unload.

As to the tracks - I spotted this mess as I loaded the car.

That will be the Tiger spinning its wheels while I tried to reverse it out yesterday morning.

So late evening I treated the Alpine (and me) to a warm run around the block. 

After stopping it was a little lumpy for a while but generally a very nice drive, but I suspect bad weather is on the way.