19 Years of Tin Snail - Back to normality

[dollywobbler]

Yes. Just walked past it.

[EssDeeWon]

I will confess to not liking 2CV's one jot but this whole series so far has been so entertaining and eating up all those miles in such a car makes it more interesting.   Good luck for the rest of the trip DW.

[EssDeeWon]

And that Audi 100 review was cool, the summing up of modern audi drivers being a nuisance was so spot on. 

[dollywobbler]

Ah yes. Video!

 

[brownnova]

Bloody hell... I’ve only watched episode 1... I’ve got some serious catching up to do!! 

[dollywobbler]

Bad news. More action!

 

[dollywobbler]

I know this isn't a collection caper, but have a petrol station shot anyway. This was leaving Samobor, Croatia yesterday.

HUNGARY!

Went to stop with an internet randomer, but it looked promising.

Then we went for a drive, him in his Dyane. The only one in Hungary.

We then went for a drive to a viewpoint looking over Lake Balaton.

Then I set off towards Austria. Have another petrol station shot.

A thoroughly ordinary drive really, lots of fast A-road equivalents, much like French Route Nationals. I liked them very much. Eventually reached Vienna. Found this outside my hotel.

Feeling pretty bloody knackered, so my mooch around Vienna wasn't very joyful. I mostly just couldn't be arsed. I think my desire for more culture/old buildings/viewpoints is entirely waning, so I think I'm just going to focus on heading home now. Probably still have about 1300 miles to cover mind you...

 

[dollywobbler]

Now in Germany. Only the photos are on the wrong phone... I have a two day blat from gorgeous Passau to The Netherlands. Ferry booked for Wednesday night. Have now been on the road for an entire month!

[Fumbler]

Nice Aging Wheels T-shirt!

[dollywobbler]

Had to wear it in Hungary really, as it's where his Trabant came from. Sadly, I think he's having a few mental health issues at the moment. I hope we see him in future videos.

[LightBulbFun]

2 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

I think he's having a few mental health issues at the moment. I hope we see him in future videos.

Oh damn I hope he gets well soon!

(I was wondering how he was doing recently when I rewatched some of his trabant videos  )

[dollywobbler]

I spent two days hammering it across Germany, from glorious Passau, up to The Netherlands. The views were epic.

Sadly, the furious pace took its toll on the indicator relay, and it packed up. Thankfully, in the 'permanently on' rather than no indicators at all mode.

So, I'm having to flash myself...

The furious pace took the trip mileage to 3050, in a month. I'm now back where I started, with my friends who organise Japan Classic Sunday. That's  because a video I recorded a month ago turned out to have crap sound. So I did it again.

My friends' accommodation is pretty ideal to be honest.

Garden view is pretty good too.

I'm shooting another two videos this afternoon, then catching the ferry home tonight. Then it's just the small matter of the 300-mile drive from Harwich to home...

[dollywobbler]

After a lovely night sleeping under that Terrano II poster, I drove up to the  North of The Netherlands to shoot a video. Then, after the owner and his girlfriend treated me to a delicious dinner, it was time to head to the ferry.

Yes, bumped into some 2CV friends. Note  also a Mini at the front of the queue, and some hot rods the other side.

There were lots of Minis!

International Mini Meeting in Bristol, so cars from Denmark, Netherlands and Germany. Hot Rods are heading to the Summer Nats or something. Some Minis struggled to get off the ferry due to the ramp angles...

KNEE ALERT

I waved goodbye to The Netherlands, with increased fondness.

Had an expensive yet dreadful breakfast on the ferry, but reasoned I'd just want to get driving once off and through Border Control. Sure enough, 130 miles later, I stopped for a break just after Cambridge.

You can just about see a Mini Moke on a trailer behind the fat BMW thing. The trailer was making some horrible noises, and they were attempting to tie down the Moke with those baby ratchet straps usually reserved for suitcases...

Shrewsbury was achieved just in time for lunch. As I'm technically still on holiday, cake counts as lunch.

On the way back through Wales, I got slightly distracted.

You see, it's the Retro Rides Gathering on the 18th, and I'd been invited to take the Invacar along for one run up the hill. Can't be arsed wasting my money on a full half-day session as I suspect one laboured climb will be enough! It spat a plug out before I went travelling, but I had a few spare plugs in the 2CV. I greased one up and gently wound it into the head. Kill or cure! Back-and-forth a few times and it began turning sweetly, so I tightened it up and went for a drive (after a jump start.). Success! Hoorah!

So, I carried on home.

 

Quite pleased really! 3400 miles in five weeks, the most major incident being failure of the indicator flasher (makes roundabouts fun when you're self-flashing). The first week required a fair dose of fettling with ignition timing, but then the engine was in bits the day before I departed, so the first week was shakedown testing. Given the troubles some folks have had (some friends have had to abandon their car to  recovery and fly home), I think Elly the 2CV did remarkably well. The kingpins are absolutely shafted, the engine leaks a little oil (but not as much as a Mini), so there are things to attend to. I suspect they won't be getting attended to until after my next adventure however...

[dozeydustman]

Welcome home!

[LightBulbFun]

Welcome back! well done DW and Elly  I thoghrougly enjoyed the videos and photos etc posted along the way!

happy to hear the whole adventure was nice and uneventful when it came to how the car performed! and your home safe and sound

I suspect the indicator flasher might just have welded contacts, I imagine if you gave it a thwack against something solid it might un-weld the contacts and resume proper operation

 

also very happy to see TWC is back up and running with just a new spark plug, have you noticed any performance differences?

I do wonder how long the last spark plug has been lose for and if it was letting compression down...

[egg]

Great trip. Elly was outstanding.

You must be cream-crackered.

[Jerzy Woking]

On 8/2/2019 at 4:05 PM, dollywobbler said:

Bad news. More action!

 

Thanks for the tip. Heading off to Bosnia & Herzegovina next weekend, and the 643 is just  a short detour from our intended (non motorway) route from our overnight stop in Kamnik, Slovenia.

It must be the first time I have seen a video of a twisty road completed in a car that I want to do on a bike. 

Oh, and welcome home.

[dollywobbler]

1 hour ago, Jerzy Woking said:

Thanks for the tip. Heading off to Bosnia & Herzegovina next weekend, and the 643 is just  a short detour from our intended (non motorway) route from our overnight stop in Kamnik, Slovenia.

It must be the first time I have seen a video of a twisty road completed in a car that I want to do on a bike. 

Oh, and welcome home.

There are a LOT of warning signs about bikes, warning not to cut corners. Or fall off...

[Jerzy Woking]

There are LOADS on all the roads around the Nurburgring (which in my view are better than the circuit, as no dropped oil, dripped coolant, or wanky drivers to contend with).

9th trip to the Balkans in the last 7 years, and just love the roads and countryside in Slovenia. Except when its wet in the mountains, as most hairpin are surfaced in cobbles, as it helps with grip for cars when its snowing.

[willswitchengage]

Quick question/hijack as I imagine the 2CV buffs will be browsing this thread.

What size are the hoses that are input to / output from the fuel pump? I recently replaced mine but after being stood for a few months they've leaked when the engine is running, so I suspect I've bought some with an inner diameter too large. (sorry I can't remember what I did buy and the car's in storage a very long way away so I can't check!)

[dollywobbler]

Er, 6mm internal diameter I think. https://www.ecas2cvparts.co.uk/petrol-fuel-pipe-high-quality-pump-carb-55mm-fits-tight-onto-sold-50cm-notes-p-1872.html

Also, more action including sight-seeing.

 

[dollywobbler]

They think it's all over. It is now.

 

[hairnet]

[burns] eeeeexxxxxcellent[/burns]

and the reason no ftp

cos 3400 miles in month and half not 12 months

use it = it wont let you down

lol at teh beetle being beasted

 

[RayMK]

2 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

They think it's all over. It is now.

 

I have really enjoyed your adventure.  Entertaining and informative in an off beat way with the bonus of interesting cars thrown in.  Well done to you and Elly.  

[richardmorris]

On 8/10/2019 at 12:43 PM, willswitchengage said:

Quick question/hijack as I imagine the 2CV buffs will be browsing this thread.

What size are the hoses that are input to / output from the fuel pump? I recently replaced mine but after being stood for a few months they've leaked when the engine is running, so I suspect I've bought some with an inner diameter too large. (sorry I can't remember what I did buy and the car's in storage a very long way away so I can't check!)

5.5mm. 6 will leak.

[Noel Tidybeard]

what's the story with the sun shade as you comment in one vid that its not fitted right?

[richardmorris]

2 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

what's the story with the sun shade as you comment in one vid that its not fitted right?

If it’s like mine ( I think it’s the same Matts one) then it has two tiny bungee cords either side to attach by hooks to the original holes at the top of each side of the screen. Elly has a replacement screen and no holes. I’m not sure how DW has fixed it, but it’s certainly a lot further back than mine.  

[Noel Tidybeard]

is it meant to sit and allow normal working of the roof?

[dollywobbler]

In an ideal world, yes. Mine is a bit more faff.  It works an absolute treat though. Generally, I wasn't bothering with sun cream (I did during the heatwave). That was very welcome. It does add a bit more noise, and it does rob the rear of headroom, but I'm very glad I bought it.

[richardmorris]

43 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

In an ideal world, yes. Mine is a bit more faff.  It works an absolute treat though. Generally, I wasn't bothering with sun cream (I did during the heatwave). That was very welcome. It does add a bit more noise, and it does rob the rear of headroom, but I'm very glad I bought it.

Rear headroom is the only downside. I’ve taken the shade off when I’ve done weddings and the bride doesn’t usually like messing her hair. Other than that it stays in place with the roof up or down. My first international meeting was the 1998 Paris anniversary. I drove down, in convoy, with the roof off and my arm on the window frame. A big, and very sore and red mistake. Matts shade is a great invention for us red headed welshmen.