So good I went there Thrice

My reverie was shattered by a 8:15 call from Harkstead.

So SAAB back in play - annoying why they always park in the bay.

Anyway - I noticed last night that I actually had the van on the drive as it wasn't used last week - so that's one question answered, but another job on the list - getting it back to Stutton for Tuesday night.

Not much car action planned although I put the Talbot rear battery on charge and called in on the Imp and E-Type. I also opened the envelope with the Alpine Magazine in it. Oh dear.

I hope no one thinks I took the picture !

Anyway, checking on the Aston [to tick off another outstanding job] they said they 'still haven't got a headlight' and 'no, they don't know when it might be in'. Oh and 'no idea where they can get one from' if you read between the lines. That could be a problem.

I also seem to have decided to adopt 27 volumes of motorsport, but that little adventure will come later.

PM was a van run as the SAAB was earning its keep doing a shopping run.

The evening run to Harkstead was back in the SAAB. 

Ho Hum - glad I got a few days rest in France.

That was Quick

Armed with our 'Get out of Jail Free' sticker we were quickly off the boat and though customs.

Although it was a quiet boat I think it was well worth it.

In fact even stopping for petrol we only took about two and a half hours to get back - at an average of 60 mph. So that was good.

Unpack and rest - another trip over and batteries re-charged. I'm sure the madness will start again tomorrow though.

Really Nowhere to Park !

Off to St Malo late morning - the plan being an early lunch and then to catch the low tide for a walk across to the Fort. 

I spotted a small grey TR in the distance - the pic does not help identify it but I think it is a TR2.

It was so small compared to the 4x4 passing it. As was this electric Fiat we spotted later and we were standing next to that.

So small but still not parked in the bay ?

However what we did not know was the town was rammed for two events - the Quai des Bulles comic festival which was in in it's last day and the Route du Rhum yacht race they were preparing for - so the car parks were closed or full so we ended up walking 20 mins to and from where we eventually parked the car.

On the way we did spot this huge Catamaran - covered with solar panels for electric power and sporting two Blade 'sails'. It was the first' hydrogen-powered, zero-emission experimental vessel and floating laboratory' said Google. 30 meters long. 

Average speed - 4.5 knots. We do more than that with a decent wind. Odd.

Then home again and packing stage 1.

Then the final run into town for supper.

Green this Time

We were up early for the final packing, cleaning and working out why we always have lots of miscellaneous item left at the end.

Odd packing in the dark again - but no rain and not that cold.

WE had an easy run to the port - the only delay was at passport control when we were asked when and where we last entered the Schengen Area - er ... in July ? Er ... ah Holland. That's when the Biometric system was used. Not sure it tied up with the old style stanp and go system.

On quickly and next to the green stairs this time.

We were the 3rd car on - very close to the front with our 'Impatient Bugger' sticker - only beaten by two cars with really posh people in them who had dressed up for the journey -  although the elderly chap just spent his time in the lift with us bickering with the Ladies !

No shame these old people.

Nowhere to Park

A longer run today - up to a coastal resort to the West - Saint Quay-Portrieux. As usual parking was a nightmare.

Back again as the rain threatened to follow us home but then it is October.

Driving - Shopping - Walking

Dark clouds were threatening rain first thing - lurking behind the sunlight.

By the time we got to Dinan for the market though it was bright and sunny again.

After that it was a trip to the coast (via the recycling again) for a longish walk and obviously a bit of shopping on the way back.

Why get Out ?

Drizzle on and off so visiting DIY shops - again.

Sometimes we did not even leave the car in the rain.

At least it cleaned the car a bit.

Try this at Home - I mean Don't !

A visit to the DIY store ...  then a walk along the beach and a picnic.

There is always free parking everywhere you want by the coast. Why don't we do the same ?

PM home and a bit of Dangerous DIY.

A case of 'don't try this at home'.

Blue is the Colour

A cold bright start as we docked and two warnings of a slow departure to come - the new biometric customs system and building work in the port. Down the colour coded stairs we went.

To find the two identical blue Alpines near us, both looked good but smaller than you expect.

So how long did departure take ? Not long actually. we were off the boat just after 8:30 and through customs etc. about 15 mins later. Apart from the chap being a bit grumpy and asking us why we were in France, it was quicker than normal - again no sign of biometrics but they were building something in the port area.

We arrived at the house to find lots of the driveway had been dug up - new water pipes have been installed. Checking the stop cock it was on and there was a new tap. Breakfast and unpacking then shopping as usual. But first a run to the recycling.

Then shopping.

In fact most of that is not for us at all.

South Again Too

Well we were supposed to be going to France but there was a Mk7 run to Stutton first thing - the long way round obviously but it's the end of the first week of 5 weeks, of the road closure.

On the way Jana tried to wash the windscreen and there's no fluid - how can a £25,000 car not even have a washer fluid low warning light.

On the walk I spotted these beauties at the farm as we passed though.

A Panhard flanked by two Rolls Royce's - part of Joe's 'in progress' stock I guess.

Back home before packing first task was to fill up the washer fluid. Of course we didn't have any because I've forgotten we'd run out - so a mixture of water and car shampoo would have to do. Then packing - always packing - well it has felt like that over the last few months.

Fine run to the port though with our usual stop at the RHS.

Little of interest in the queue (obviously the ubiquitous Morgan) but there was this Opel GT looking beefed up a bit further on.

But I did spot a good looking dark blue Alpine - a new 110 anyway. Well 2 identical ones actually in the queue. Then this Alvis 12/50 turned up too.

It's a 1931 12/60 TJ apparently. Interestingly it had a tall bonnet line like the Talbot.

West Again

Early start for the TOC committee meeting in Chalfont St Giles.

Well early for me - I was up at 6:45 and the car was all wet. Not sure why the lights look yellow though ?

Anyway - just over 100 miles there and an easy run in light traffic - although the car had other ideas and was a bit rough - flashing 'CEL' and 'hunting' so it got ragged a few times to steady it. I stopped at South Mimms [the hardest Motorway Services to access in the country] for a quick break as I was so early.

Then as I was still sooo early I filled up with fuel and realised it was Amersham. I'm almost a local I thought - the times we've been around here this year er once.

Forgetting you drive an Icon

E-type off to Glevering first thing - to help with IT issues and have lunch. A great run in the cool morning air.

A great run back too. I put a bit of fuel in and walking back to the car though how good it looks. So did the chap taking a photo as he drove by a bit later.

Then Harkstead for more jobs and collect the Van.

ION: Diesel prices rise to above £2 a litre due to the continuing Iran conflict - oh and closing all the refineries down did not help either.

Sneaking Out

AM I put the Talbot back battery on charge and tightened the screws up for the boot lock.

Then started the Alpine - which kicked into life immediately.

It obviously enjoys the warm garage.

The weather was quite warm for October so I thought what needs a run ? Well with the Aston away, the Imp and Ferrari knackered it better be the ... Talbot again. So we went all the way around the block to the Allotment.

It did not really need a run though. Anyway it's almost the end of the first week of the road being closed to Stutton - four more to go.

More Swedish Running Around

Admin AM.

I did check the Talbot oil in the afternoon and I don't think it used much at all on the London trip although I should add 1/4 pint perhaps.

Then it was a SAAB run PM - well several.

Harkstead/Ipswich/Harkstead - as today's role is wheelchair maintenance man.

And PC trouble shooting as it turned out.

I checked on the Aston while waiting and  ... it is someone else's fault. They still have not got a correct light but they think it might be in this afternoon ... it did not sound like it would be though.

Miles wise ? The unsurprising champion of the month is the Talbot clocking in 500+ miles, with runs to Kop Hill and London under it's belt - it even beat the SAAB. None of the others made much at all. Except the MK7 Golf which seems to have done 1258 !

Oh there goes Gravity

A full day of basic admin. Finishing off the Talbot archive work and then the photos from the weekend.

This is the best one of TAS.

There was a SAAB trip another 500 yards for more supplies but that was it.

Snap back to Reality

It was an unplanned early run in the SAAB for a 999. But all was well in the end.

It did bring me down with a bump though after all the fun.

I spent most of the day on the Talbot archive (1930 Ulster GP as you asked) which was quite hard work.

PM was a food run (again in the trusty SAAB) about 500 yards to the co-op.

It's really the Same Day

Well that was fun - in parts. 

Anyway - I was up at 8:00 - so less than 5 hours sleep - but I felt fine. We went back to Duke of London by Uber again - it's almost like we live here. This is a view of the underground area where I was parking.

We collected the car and set off back home just after 10:45 - the car started on the button again. Phew I thought. The first stop was petrol, lots of nice comments and a chat with a chap in this Dodge Charger - so really a reply of last night.

From there it was onto the North circular for a few miles then M11//M25/A12. By then I was flagging - I guess the lack of sleep was getting to me by then so we diverted to the RHS for a rest and lunch at 12:30. It had taken only and hour and a half but it felt longer.

TAS of course just shook it off and we got home in just over the hour - as the Talbot encouraged me to get a jog on and we averaged 60 mph most of the way.

So another 222 miles under our belts. I did notice the tick over dropped when the car was very hot - and she seemed reluctant to accelerate at times, but then perhaps I was knackered and not pressing the pedal down enough.

Being Bullied by Bentley Boys

So the day/night of the rally dawned bright and sunny. After I'd mapped the route down to the start of the night run I started the Talbot. It seemed eager to get going a roared into life.

I also check the oil - a little below the top but fine. I packed our small load and we were ready.

We set off just after 2 pm and headed down the A12 turning off to Stanstead. The traffic was fine - although the A120 is down to 50 mph all the way. Not a great problem for us though. On the M11 a yoof leaned out to take a picture and we got a thumbs up from a biker.

M25 for 15 miles to the A1. Then through some roads we recognised - past Brent Cross - and some we definitely did not as we found our way through the houses - although we did generate a few smiles along the way. Then we followed the A41 into the heart of Darkness - well Hampstead - up hill to the pub.

Two and a half hours almost exactly.

After a wander we went back to the pub only to find - no one at all there and a car park full of 'moderns'. In fact it was 6:30 before any other cars turned up but it was this.

Coincidentally an Alvis Speed 20 - but a special 'Special' driven up to London a long way. Around 7:oo a few other cars appeared in dribs and drams. The Delage of James the organiser, a Type 35 Bugatti, the odd Bentley, a large Vauxhall 30/98, a small Fiat Balillia which I liked.

In fact more and more cars arrived until the car park was overflowing with chaotic parking and revving engines smoking into the night. Oh and Rolls that looked as if it was on fire. 

Obviously we ate late (about an hour) but set off around 10:20 not far off as planned for the first stop at Regents Park the run there was fine, with little traffic, lots of parking and not getting in the way of the public. It was very hard to take any pictures but TAS was under one of the few lights so we stood out nicely.

We did not leave there until just after 11:00 and headed for the next stop which was Burlington Gardens. Here there was no real parking as we found the first 'Road Closed' on the route where we would have parked. So there was a bit of disruption with cats on the pavement and on the road, with vans trying to push past and of course more and more Vintage cars appearing.

The 'Order of the Day' appeared to be ignore the mounting disruption and have a nice chat.

Here is TAS lurking behind one the the several Bentleys that were on the run. James' pic showed the 'Little and Large' perspective of us vs the little Balillia.

That little interlude took us close to Midnight so we pressed on - trying an alternative route as our mapped one was closed as you can see in the background. Here the traffic started to pick up or bog down to be more precise.

At least it gave the Phone snappers a better chance. We (several of us) may have turned the wrong way across the lights at this junction too. 

Anyway we arrived at the next stop at just past midnight - The Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall - and obviously we all parked obediently in a row - on the double yellow lines outside.

Again the same scenario played out as more and ore cars arrived and bemused guests left the posh do they were having the log jam of cars are people grew. Not helped by the Tazi's also double parking.

Some cars were even small enough to mark on the central reservation - on Pal Mall - and yes that blue light is a Police Van - who just smiled.

What we did not spot was more and more of the roads on our route had been closed. About half past midnight we set off again this time heading into Mayfair. About ten minutes later we hit the tail end of the queue of traffic on the 'Diversion'.

The Vintage cars by then had been on the road in traffic for about two and a half hours. Then we hit the real traffic chaos. For twenty minutes we slowly progressed - trying to get up St James' Street. Here the stress got too much and the Bentley Boys just cut us up - well some of them - but we managed to hold our own.

I'm not sure what people thought of this group. TAS, following a Type 35 Bugatti, Bentley and Alfa Romeo up the hill, flanked by a Delage and another Talbot. It was close to 1:00 AM before we were extracted and heading for Duke of London - our final destination - arriving 45 minutes later. Gosh that was hard work.

It was just past 2:00 am and 114 hard miles before I was parking in the private basement car park - in prime position though.

Then what ? More chat and eventually an Uber back to James' - so all done by 3:00 AM. 

And the Vintage London Rally - 17 bloody miles !