More Swedish running around

Moved the cars around again first thing to get the top box off. Aston seemed to have a weak battery.

Then trips to the creek and the dump in the SAAB.

Checked the miles and the Aston wins this month at over 910, boosted by the German run. It even beat the SAAB at over 870.

The Alpine was no slouch though at over 520 - give or take the error.

So I've done about 2250 miles this month.

White van man ?

SAAB again as van to dump first thing.

Noticed that one of the other local landlords also has a white van.

His is Italian though. Ferrari California - about £100k.

SAAB jobs

Went to see a Volvo Vx something with Oli first thing. Looked solid and drove the same.

Then SAAB as van again for work all day.

Back run

Run back was quicker - unloaded the SAAB then went back to Silk Street to pick up a few tools etc.

Just pottering in Derbyshire

A few short trips in the SAAB as the rain held off.

Very wet SAAB

Glad we had the SAAB and not a classic today - the rain fell all day in stair rods.

At least it gave the car a bit of a wash.

Green Lane

Up the Dales looking for a walk took us through very small roads with grass and weeds growing in the middle.

Parked on the side of the road but no one came past.

Heading off to a Ford

About 180 miles to the North West for camping trip - SAAB loaded up as usual.

Sat nav sent us into a Ford - we were slowly creeping through when the bow wave covered the windscreen. I wondered what was going on for a split second - until I realized a prat in a 4x4 had screamed past us and overtaken us though the ford and swamped the car.

I was not amused.

I need a spare car

Spent the morning fixing the handbrake on the Alpine - ish. The cable was very stretched so I removed a not to give it less play - we'll see how that works.

The having packed the SAAB I popped to help Oil at Silk street and needed the Golf as the SAAB was fully packed for the trip.

It went well - oil buzzer came on and the steering squeal is still there though.

Shuffling the pack

Moved the cars around to get the top box out. Seems more work than normal. But then we've got too many.

Took the Ferrari out for an early run before putting it away.

Then dropped off the Lotus Seven mag at the Fort - family liked it but the very young son was unsure. Did about 40 miles in the hot sun.

Then swapped the Caterham with the Alpine - still need to fix the handbrake etc.

Repeat with a twist

Lots of SAAB running around with tools etc. for most of the day.

Then decided to bite the bullet and get the E-type out. Not sure why I had hesitated since the new battery was fitted a week ago and before that it was a clean after the clutch was fixed - so not much use in the August sunchine.

Anyway it's always a delight and did not dissappoint. I do think the exhaust is blowing more though.

More SAAB pottering

Morning run to pick up Jana's bike that had a flat.

Then put all the carpets back into the Alpine and took the roof off.

Then run into Halfords twice - inner tube first and then noticed the tyre was shot so back for a tyre.

Then work run for Oli with paint, ladders etc.

SAAB to Essex

Down to RHS Hyde Hall - garden and Classic Car show.

A bit dull, but the exhibition of photography made me think I need to up my game again.

Cooling off

G2R first thing then sail up the Orwell. Nice sail with some decent wind.

On the return when we started the engine it sounded 'different' then the overheating alarm went off !

Seems that no water was getting sucked into it. Checked the filter and tried to blow air back down the intake but nothing seemed to help So time for a work-around.

Took the shower from the heads, stretched it into a water bottle I had cut the bottom off to act as a funnel, duck tape it to the wall. Then fit the bottle into the air pipe from the inflatable pump and duck tape that together, then lead it into the water intake of the engine. Simple.

Well the engine stayed cool and we got back to the marina OK.

308 time

SAAB for jobs first thing with tools in the back.

Then as sun was still out took the 308 round the block for the first time in a long time.

Training Day

Mk7 lift to station - then train to London and back again. About it, but did see a nice DB9 on the street and flooded roads.

Two Plugs Good ...

Cleaned the Aston in the morning - although it was surprisingly clean after 1000 miles touring - really needed a quick going over. Came up well though.

Then I decided to take the Caterham out - but it was so rough I just put it back into the garage.

So I had to take the Aston out instead. The alarm light still came on and went off . Phoned the alarm people but the support could not re-pair the phone - so as it does not set off the Alarm or trigger at the center I'll just see how we get on.

Early evening went to see a secondhand VW Passat with Oli which seemed bigger than the SAAB. I looked at the nice modern cars at the dealer but was not really tempted to upgrade.

Once home I bit the bullet and decided I'd clean off the plugs on the Caterham - in fact I put new ones in. Recorded the miles at 45104 - let's see how long it is before it needs more fiddling.

First I cleaned out all the bits from the tree that had got into the wings and engine. Not sure how though.

The started the car for a test drive. However the car was still very lumpy when I started her up ... because...

some fool had not put back two leads. Again. Test drive short because the bloody road is closed.

Drying out and Powering up

More drying of the Alpine today, with all the carpets in the sun. Cleaned the plugs again too and booked the car into the garage in early September.

Then swapped out the old E-type battery for a new one.

Finally a quick Aston run to get a picture frame for the Horn cover James took the picture(s) for last year.

Looked a bit lost. Oh and the alarm light came on three times - but the center did not get an alert ?

Got back in before they closed the road too.

The return 225 miles

We were not disappointed - the car was soaked in the morning – so more pouring out the water but I had to leave the mats which were dripping wet.

The run back was fine, even the constant roadworks at 50/40 MPH limits. However it did seem as if the steering had got worse and the running got more lumpy as we went.

Once home I started on the drying out process and stripped out the mats and under-felt.

So the car had done a total 527 miles - plus 10% error is 579. Not bad really.

Oh and the show was a bit dull.

Moved the Caterham to get the Alpine in the carport and that was very lumpy.

Letting the car rest

I started the day by emptying the water out of the foot wells again and mopping up as much as I could from the under-felt.

We left the car in the car park during a dry day but that was punctuated by very heavy showers early evening - so we were expecting a very wet car in the morning.

Uplifting 50 miles

I started the day by cleaning four very sooty plugs – the car started fine and seemed a bit better after that.

It was a sunny start so we ignored the show and concours entry to go on a trip. We chose to go via the motorway and the car was much happier.

At the Anderton Boat Lift we bumped into some of the Tigers on their run and got invited onto the boat trip which included a ride in the lift which was an example of Victorian engineering brilliance.

Run back on the motorway fine but as we had to fight the traffic through town the same stuttering came back.

A wet 39 miles

Rain fell overnight but the forecast was ok for the morning. So after mopping out the car and pouring the water off the mats the rain unexpectedly restarted. We decided to set off on the Saturday run and hope it would stop, but it just got worse and worse until we were driving in a storm, down bumpy country lanes through flooded roads.

The car was suffering with the slow speeds and the water was pouring in. Just as the screen finally misted up we got lost. It was horrible, but after a break for a rest we set off again for a bit more of the run. We meet seven more wet Alpines, pottered around some shops and then headed for home.

The road back was better until we hit a gridlocked road. More rain and a slightly dangerous U-turn the satnav sent us through lanes and past farms but took us to a good point on the main road missing most of the bad traffic. Heading for Chester the traffic built up again. Back to the hotel via Halfords for a wire brush (and a lot of dithering about buying a cover) and then the sunshine came out for the afternoon.

213 miles to Chester

We awoke to a sky the colour of pewter, there was no wind but drops of rain were already falling. The car was parked and ready quickly so we set off at (about) 9:00 exactly.

Jana took the first leg – being a passenger reminded me how jittery the car is on the crap roads we now have. Oh and how rough it runs. We got to the services just before 10:00 at 45 miles and just over two gallons used. The boot also remained shut which was good.

My turn to take over for the next 92 miles and added 20 litres of fuel at the next services. We swapped again and ran up to the M6 Toll services for lunch. Swapped again – next stop Keele services at 180 miles and added another 20l of petrol.

We arrived at the hotel about 4:15 - engine not sounding healthy - but more like hot and fouled plugs than anything else. We had been queuing in traffic for the last 30 mins of the run. We parked in the show ground with a few other Alpines left the car overnight and went to bed.

So the trip read 213 miles plus the 10% under reading means it’s about 230.

Packed the Alpine

Final bits into the Alpine for tomorrow, cleaned the plugs and checked the tyres which were fine.

Then I noticed the SAAB had a flat - so fixed that.

Next trip here we come.

Catching up again

Checked the Aston oil and it had used - nothing.

So after 1000+ miles was still at the top.

Then SAAB run (still full) to get replacement external socket to charge the cars - old one was blowing the fuses and full of water.

Then run to the dump with the car and trailer full of old sofa.

Final Golf Mk7 passenger ride for tech support visit.

Aston - 7

A 9:15 morning start for the run home using the satnav on phone to direct us on the first stretches, which worked well. Having been told the rural limit was 100 kmh the progress was a bit more rapid. I managed another 120+ on the German motorway before the roadworks cut in again but then that was that. Stopped at the services for food in the sun again.

We got thumbs up from passing Biker which was nice - but the rest of the run back was a bit dull as it always is - so I tested the Aston satnav on the motorway and it’s probably ok if you are on your own.

We did not fill up with petrol until we hit the UK side so we made it to the terminal on 3/4 of a tank - but need a fill up before we can get home. It’s over 400 miles back and might just make it on one tank if we drove carefully but then again it might not.

Whilst waiting for the train I found the only bit of shade at the terminal that there was while waiting (40 mins late this time). I also realised that Morgans are like Nuns - you always see at lease 1 at any ferry terminal.

After boarding the train I checked the tyres as I had felt a bump. I spotted a small chunk missing from the sidewall of the front nearside tyre. Probably did it boarding the train as it was run up on the metal side. Oh well I hope that’s all I find after 1000+ miles.

The final run was as expected - M20 dull, M25 delays and A12 busy but we got home before 7:30. I also felt surprisingly good after driving all the way myself. We’ve done 1079 miles all told.

So the conclusion is that you can have a holiday in the Aston and park it in public places ok.

It was a bit bumpy on bad roads but copes with speed bumps and ruts and at its best on decent roads.

Aston - 6

Popped off to the petrol station and a quick 45 litres of super. Noticed we’d done about 660 miles - almost more than a year’s miles already.

Very hot on the drive - topped 51 degrees when I moved the car.

Got driven around in the BMW and the A5 cabriolet which was windy – ah and the roof hits you on the head if you are in the back when it goes up and down.

Aston - 5

I took the car out for a speed run in the late morning sunshine. The traffic was fine but the roads more bumpy than I had expected. I also found that it was actually hard to drive fast for a long time just for the fun of it. 100 mph was fine and the car accelerated up to it so easily but past that seemed a bit pointless.

I eventually hit just over 130 mph (210 kmh) so not that shabby but I found out too late that to get there I needed to be running about 110 as I entered a good empty strait. I’m sure given another run I would have topped it but that was enough. Just being able to do that speed without worrying that the police or cameras were there was great.

Aston - 4

We were heading to Germany but first visited Fort Seclin just outside Lille. It was built as part of the city defences it had an entry road that was so bumpy it would have slowed down a tank – basically pave.

Having escaped back over the mile of rumble strips, we cut through the countryside and went under Lille, headed for Mons and the E42 motorway. Oh and roadworks. We passed Charleroi and headed for Liege and onto our normal run into Germany. As we went we were passing a lot of classic VWs who must have been on the way to an event (it turned out to be ‘Le Bug Show’ at the Spa circuit).

I’d intended to ‘open the taps’ on the motorway in Germany as I thought it was de-restricted but in the end most of it was a slow single carriageway runs and more road works. Finally as we got off the main road I was unsure of the rural speed limit so I was overtaken a few times running through the countryside. We arrived at about 3:00 after about 220 miles and almost five hours of very hot driving.

Aston - 3

We tried a different route out of the hotel and ended up with another thee point turn. Anyway first stop was the Somme Museum at Albert about 30 miles away. Parking on the street again the car spent the morning in the sun and was back in the 40’s – so when we got back in after we had spent the morning in cool underground tunnels we felt the heat.

The drive to the next stop, Carrière Wellington in Arras, was another short 20 or so miles on quiet roads. An old quarry used as a safe hiding place for troops it cooled us down again (we even needed our fleeces) before we got back into the hot car. Next stop was petrol and a quick sandwich in the shade.

Another short hop took us up to Vimy Ridge in the heat. I did get a reaction from a couple of the guides by starting the car in the empty car park, but that was all. I also noticed that even in the empty car park people seemed to want to park far too close to it which was a bit disconcerting.

After a visit to the main monument we shot back to the hotel via a restaurant in Douai that was actually open that evening.

We stopped at a ruined factory to take pictures but the light needed a tripod and they did not flatter the car. However another 30 miles done.

Aston - 2

After visiting the Flanders Museum in the morning we set off for the Hooge Crater Museum (via the Menin Gate – just to hear the exhaust boom off the walls as my tribute to the fallen) but at less than three miles away we hardly warmed the car up. However parked in the sun on the side of the road for a couple of hours it hit 40 degrees inside.

From there we headed to Talbot House in Poperinge (15 miles away) again parking in the town relatively easily even if there were lots of speed bumps etc. on the way.

The run to the hotel from there was about 60 miles and we crossed from Belgium into France and passed Lille on main roads before joining rural A roads with the new 80kmh speed limit. On the run we passed the entrance to the huge Renault factory at Douai (George Besse). The area had a feel of the rundown industrial north - but with a lot more sun.

We arrived at the Manoir Les Cèdres and to be honest the entrance looked uninviting. A tight turn through an old iron gate and up a bumpy drive was followed by signs to the car park and about 500 yards of overgrown track. It was about as off road as I wanted to take the Aston. We parked up near a nice goat tethered up next to us. At least it was a safe place to park the car I thought as no one else could find it.

The hotel was set up for weddings and was aiming for the shabby-clique look - complete with heart shaped wall lamp holders - but reminded us of the old France if 30 years ago - before sanitation and modern trends had arrived. They did not do evening meals so they tried to find us a restaurant, but the two they phoned were shut – one for their summer holidays. We decided to head back to Douai and find a restaurant there but leaving grew into bigger top gear style challenge as we found the track out was overgrown and we were pushing past nettles and undergrowth as we went.

In the town we drove through the centre and there were virtually no open restaurants either. We parked on the street quickly when we stumbled on a trendy bar - they served us some snacks and frozen bread after a long wait – but we got to sit in the garden in the warm and watch the posh French drink/eat/natter.

On the way back the satnav took us through the side roads of the outskirts of a run-down area and over every steep speed bump in northern France before we had to navigate back through the tight gate and after a three point turn in the track as a short cut we parked up and woke up the goat.