That beige Polonez: EUROTRIP 2014

[SambaS]

We stopped for brakefast at Wetherby Services, and once more somewhere on the M11 before arriving at Dover. At this point we went to Halfords for a First Aid Kit, breathalysers, high visibility waistcoats, and a warning triangle. I also realised I didn't have the V5 for the car with me or a paper copy of my insurance, just a photograph

 

[SambaS]

Quick question, are my pictures working?

 

[SambaS]

Part 2. France:

 

 

We arrived in Calais something like an hour and a half later after eating some nice expensive food on the ferry. Driving on the right is STRANGE giving way to the left and going the wrong way around roundabouts is EVEN STRANGER! I had to audibly tell myself to drive on the right. To make matters worse I'm not sure the folk of Calais, or even much of France know how to drive there either. I have never seen so many seriously smashed up cars parked up on streets before.

[catsinthewelder]

The pics are working fine Ed. 

 

 

Have fun,  looks like a great way to spend a few weeks

[dollywobbler]

I've been waiting a long time for this report. Eagerly it must be said!

[Skizzer]

Oh goody, I love threads like this.  

 

Spoiler alert - if you were waiting for the ferry in June, I take it you're back home now then?  Or were you just allowing for a really, really difficult journey from N Yorks to Dover?

[vulgalour]

Another advantage of taking the Polonez is that the steering wheel is already set up for continental touring.  I await further updates with antici...

[SambaS]

After a quick stop to fuel up in Calais we set the sat nav for Paris and got the frock out of there. I recorded 32.6MPG in Calais. 334 miles so far...

[SambaS]

I was waiting until my internet was back on so I could do a proper write up but looks like it ain't happening yet, so I've made a start on my phone and its slow progress! Actually gets a bit pic heavy very soon so may be Tuesday before the next update

[garycox]

Is it Tuesday yet?

[vulgalour]

...pation.

[SambaS]

Some pictures from France.

 

We drove from Calais down the A16 to a place called Beauvais, it was getting dark so we pulled in at a picknic spot and put the tent up on the edge of a field. Here I discovered the compressor for the air bed would not run from the 12v cigarette lighter 3 pin adapter gubbins I got from Halfrauds in Dover.

 

No bother was had all night and we got a good nights sleep.

 

Next morning we headed for Paris. We already decided not to venture into Paris with the car so set the sat nav for Ermont and got the train in.

 

We were sat in Paris drinking coffee, eating croissants and no less than 20 riot vans pulled up and all the way around the corner.... 

 

Day 2

[SambaS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leavin Ermont and heading East/ South East of Paris the car developed a loud knocking noise. I pulled over to check the wheels were still on, the half shafts werent loose and same for the prop. Couldnt see any problem. I considered our option, limp home to England and call it a day, phone for recovery and call it a day or continue with the trip.

 

I empoyed the "fuck it" way of thinking and pressed on. The noise got worse, especially between 50kmh and 80kmh. It sounded like the prop was about to come off!

 

Somewhere in the region of Moeurs Verdey we fuelled up, 599 miles so far....

 

Recorded 27.5 MPG Calais to Moeurs Verdey.

 

Day 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toul

 

 

 

 

 

Wisembach North Eastern France

 

 

 

We descended some bloody brilliant roads into this little town, fantastically shite oldy world Frenchy building. i loved it! Sadly I have no idea what they call the place. We're heading South ish towards basel, Switzerland if anyone can ID the town then WoW much taa.

 

Someone with an Aixham fetish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

So this is more or less the route we took through France

 

[Rocket88]

Any tales of mechanical heroism, such as whittling a new head gasket out of a month old copy of "Le Figaro"?

[Skizzer]

no less than 20 riot vans pulled up

 

I'd be laying on some serious crowd control if a beige Polonez came to my town, too.  

 

[SambaS]

Yep have edited the posts above !

[vulgalour]

Fuck me, France looks grim.  I want to go there.

[Mr Livered]

Fuck me, France looks grim.  I want to go there.

Well, "Mauvais Beauvais" is a bit grim, I think it's too close to Paris so it's just ended up as a soul-destroying satellite dormitory town, a bit like Stevenage in the UK.

 

(apologies to any Stevenage shiters)

[SambaS]

Next stop Switzerland.

 

 

Had to buy a vignette on the border to use the motorways. I think it was 40CHF

 

 

 

About 20 minutes into Switzerland a Police car was coming round the roandabout infront of us. They looked and had to double take when they saw the FSO! We proceeded onto the roundabout as they went round again to pull up behind us. They followed us for 3 miles and quickly overtook and signalled us to pull over. When they got out they had their hands on their guns.

 

We had to give them our passports and explain what we were dong. Very professional but extremely intimidating!! They asked me to get out and open the boot, when Tom went to get out too they went for their guns again and told him to stay put!

 

Once they checked our passports out and things back in their car all was well and we were allowed on our way.

 

 

 

 

Random chod parked up:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

Happened upon this shortly after:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

 

 

With day three drawing to a close we found a campsite in Sursee and stuck the tent up, then went to the bar and drank hell lager

 

[vulgalour]

Excellent collection of beige there.

[explosive-cabbage]

Come on Edd! The suspense is killing me!

[SambaS]

Day 4 leaving Sursee:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had to pay a toll to use the Gottard Tunnel despite having the Vignette but it was only small (although I cant find any websites relating to said toll)

[SambaS]

I think this was the hottest day of the trip, once we got onto the vally floor in Southern Switzerland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove up the Valle Verzasca as far as Brione:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaS]

More than happy looking at these cars from the outside, Tom walked round near the door which just opened. Nobody was in the building. So we went for a closer look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found the wide range of cars for sale quite amusing!

[SambaS]

The only picture I got of the Valle Maggia, one of the most beautiful places in  Switzerland (according to my Stepdad who is Swiss). Here you go Philbusmo: