Event Bulgaria Fest - Task complete

[dollywobbler]

FFS! So nearly made it through a country without being stopped. 400km into the day and two hours from the border, inevitable.

 

While waiting for the checks, we washed the car and merrily ignored the men with guns. Oh and I booked us a cosy apartment in Chamonix, which was only half an hour away. Only, it was actually 2.5 hours away! Cue a hasty drive through utterly spectacular scenery. We paid 45 Euros to drive the 11km Mont Blanc tunnel and arrived in a strange land.

 

Catsinthewelder is informed of the been prices here. Like everywhere else we've been, we don't really fit in.

 

Pant levels are critical. Cats bought some trendy pants at a market, but I went cheapskate and washes some at the apartment. With washing up liquid. Hmmm, apple fresh.

 

580km covered today, over 800 to a ferry port. This is just ridiculous.

[DeeJay]

Liked, not for the pull but for you rocking around smelling like a plate.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

I am seriously bloody impressed with you two.

 

Have you gone back-to-front and inside-out?  Then - and only then - is it critical.

[chaseracer]

That car will need parking on a Welsh hilltop for a week with the doors wide open just to air it out!

[Pillock]

from ukmot site that lists requirements

 

'Rear seat belts were compulsory equipment from 1986 and became compulsory for them to be worn in 1991. However, it has never been a legal requirement for cars registered before those dates to be fitted with seat belts.'

 

so 90 and before if theyre not fitted theyre not tested

 

foglight is anything post 80 needed as you know

Compulsory equipment from 1986.

Isn't this fine vehicle 1989?

 

The 1991 date relates to when they started enforcing the wearing of them when fitted.

[Guest Hooli]

1989?

 

I thought they were buying something OLD!

[dollywobbler]

That car will need parking on a Welsh hilltop for a week with the doors wide open just to air it out!

And that's just the whiff from my sandals.

 

I know chickens cannot yet be counted, but I'm bloody amazed by this car so far. We've thrashed it over several mountain ranges, and it is currently parked at a kilometer above sea level.

 

Front wheels have gone a bit black, so we may need to review the pad situation!

[egg]

580km covered today, over 800 to a ferry port. This is just ridiculous.

 

So....Cherbourg? Caen? Le Havre? Dieppe? You might be at one of them by Tuesday, if not sooner.

 

I know what you mean about Dover, but it those white cliffs do bring a tear to the eye when you've been away for a bit (cue Dame Vera)

[Guest Hooli]

Dover is ok, it's the long uphill out of town where every retard sits on the right blocking over taking that gets me. Reminds me how depressing driving this side of the channel can be.

[drum]

Is that an anti-static strip trailing behind?

It's a very long one.

[dollywobbler]

Is that an anti-static strip trailing behind?

It's a very long one?

Yes. And yes.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Dover is ok, it's the long uphill out of town where every retard sits on the right blocking over taking that gets me. Reminds me how depressing driving this side of the channel can be.

 

 

Hah!  Drove down that today.  Towards the port is absolutely bloody magnificent.

[egg]

Personally, I like Dover for its...quirks. Looking out at the port from Langdon Cliffs is something I've been doing since I was a tot.

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Personally, I like Dover for its...quirks. Looking out at the port from Langdon Cliffs is something I've been doing since I was a tot.

 

 

 

The view from the Redoubt Fort on the other side is equally magnificent.  My boss took me up there last year when I went for lunch with her family.  She used to live quite near to it.  Brilliant day out when it's open.

[egg]

The grand shaft is part of that? I went for my 11th birthday!

 

soz for thread drift m8s.

 

[castros_bro]

 

 

Catsinthewelder is informed of the been prices here. Like everywhere else we've been, we don't really fit in.

IMG20180602205622.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

That's AS colander June 2019  taken care of.

[Sloth in a bowl]

That car will need parking on a Welsh hilltop for a week with the doors wide open just to air it out!

No different to my Mégane that has been letting in smelly thunder storm water.

[Felly Magic]

CITW looks like he's just had a cavity search by the rozzers

[Zelandeth]

Seriously need to get one of those strips for the Lada. One because of the fact that it just looks right, and because the damn thing insists on belting me every time I walk up to it on a dry day.

 

Well done on sticking with it guys. The messing around from the police would have had me packing it in and finding the nearest airport days ago.

 

Car looks a nice little thing though, you're giving me ideas for potential future fleet members...

[RobT]

I know chickens cannot yet be counted, but I'm bloody amazed by this car so far. We've thrashed it over several mountain ranges, and it is currently parked at a kilometer above sea level.

 

I'm glad you said it as I've been quietly thinking the same, but didn't want to jink it. Massive respect to you both. I was being a fanny thinking I won't go to Shitefest this year due to the distance and lack of suitable car, but your efforts in an old Dacia have given me the motivation!

[Wack]

I think there should be an autoshite medal of honour awarded for bravery and entertaining the troops (but I am just in from th epub a bit pissed)

[stripped fred]

Just want to repeat what's been said on here. What an adventure. After all isn't this want life's about? I'm sure the constant police interest is a bit annoying but it must stand out to them as a car of interest and it makes for a better story in some ways. Just can't get over the distance. I thought you'd both be home by now! The nearest thing I've done is travel through France with the wife in her modern beetle. We had 10 days and didn't get much further than the Loire valley. The distances are just so much bigger although we were stopping over every few days. Saying that, you could get a few miles covered on the toll roads at 130km/h with barely any traffic. A welcome change from the gridlock over here. You must also know each other very well by now!

[dollywobbler]

130kmh isn't really possible. Well, it is, but I'm not sure how long for. 100kmh is the most comfortable cruising speed. It's why we ditched the Autostrada altogether yesterday, which perhaps makes the mileage covered even more impressive.

[nigel bickle]

2 days to the boat, realistically.

 

I think I'd aim for Dieppe. Le Havre west is run by Brittany Ferries, and is expensive.

 

Wales would dictate a landing as west as poss, and LD lines ( out of Dieppe) is cheap and sensibly regular 3 crossings around noon, 6pm and midnight- from memory.m

Catching the midnight one saves a night accom, and a 4-5 hr rest/ relax/ kip. To recharge. It'll be fairly quiet on a Tuesday, too.

 

Road routing Dieppe is a fairly easy find, avoiding Paris ( you don't want to get on the Peripherique!) with a Le Mans photo opportunity within sensible reach.

 

But that's just me. Have fun getting down from those mountains, and enjoy Geneva.

[vaughant]

130kmh isn't really possible. Well, it is, but I'm not sure how long for. 100kmh is the most comfortable cruising speed. It's why we ditched the Autostrada altogether yesterday, which perhaps makes the mileage covered even more impressive.

You've both been absolute stars and have proved that you don't need something less than three years old to complete a journey over 100 miles!!!

 

A guy I work with is regularly amazed that I drive a SEAT Leon TDI back and forth to Swansea and constantly tells me that I NEED a new car. Ummmmmmm, I think I'll direct him to THIS thread !!!!

 

1989 and covered more than 1989 miles in baking heat with few issues (shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) on a less than fashionable brand.

 

Pure Autoshite.

[Talbot]

Not forgetting, of course, that although stamped out on 1989 (or did I read 1990?) The basic design is from the late 1960's.

 

1600 miles in a basically-50-year-old car. Fabulous! Also no surprise that 100kmh is about the limit for comfortable cruising. Most family cars of the late 60's were like that.

 

Once you've finished this epic journey, will you do a map, overlaid with the entire route (maybe from google timeline or just plot your own) with markers for things like "lunch here" "shit hotel here" "Had to bribe a police officer here" etc? Would be a fantastic thing to see.

[timolloyd]

I feel like I want to be part of an AS welcoming ceremony, at whichever port they dock in the UK. Ticker tape, streamers, lasers etc. Then perhaps a shite convoy to escort them the final distance (with possible decoy shite to prevent any further pulls)?

[Talbot]

If they dock in Newhaven or Portsmouth (and I work out what their arrival time is) I want to do this. Although the convoy may be only a few miles until I have to go home!

[Frogchod]

Not that you'll need it but tools,tea and accommodation are here in Normandie.

Not far from Caen or Cherbourgh. Both Brittany ferry ports unfortunately.

Dieppe is definitely the cheapest non Dover crossing. You do end up in Newhaven though...

[Talbot]

You do end up in Newhaven though...

Given the alternative route up from Dover, that can't be a bad thing shirley? The route up from Newhaven to civilisation is fairly reasonable. I do the journey every now and then and it's OK.