lesapandre Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 There are no really cheap cars about - so buying something and driving back was not really an option. Anything viable with a Control Technique (MoT) is €1000++ these days. Asimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 Gare du Nord achieved. I hope you have enjoyed this canter through north-west France. It's been an eventful trip - tune in again for the next episode. The Benz needs to be in Spain by July 25...hopefully... RobT, artdjones, Matty and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 Wow Eurostar is not much fun. Two lots of automatic passport gates (French and UK - ticket barrier and fairly aggressive security frisking and customs (he even looked in my wallet) and massive queues. My biometric passport never works either. Pretty miserable for the staff and pretty miserable for the passengers. I'll avoid again I think. I did look at flying which is actually cheaper - but that's hassle too. Whatever the price of fuel it still remains the most attractive to drive - of course you need a vehicle that actually works... Though note to self - I think my problems at security may have arisen from wearing a camouflage cap and looking pretty unshaven - a month on the road has left me looking swarthy and shifty...I will tone down next time I cross an international border. But what looks like an attractive Eurostar journey time of two hours is really three+ with all the loading fandango - and getting into Paris. Dover-Calais in a car will remain my favourite. 😆 CaptainBoom, NorfolkNWeigh and Rust Collector 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny Jim Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Bon retour! and thanks for a wonderful thread. lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Jetter Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Looking forward to the next instalment from this intrepid foreign traveller! lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 Ta everybody. Matty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 1 Author Share Posted July 1 Low Horatio gearbox and Remspoor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artdjones Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 On 6/19/2022 at 6:48 PM, lesapandre said: Railway strike? - there has not been a train along here in a long while too. Disused station on former line from Alençon to Condé sur Huisne via Mortagne au Perche. The line is now a 64km 'voie verte' walking, cycle and horseriding path. Was that metre gauge? Last time I drove around Normandy there were disused narrow gauge railways in some of the towns that hadn't been used for many years, but were still just sitting there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 2 Author Share Posted July 2 It was a standard gauge railway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 When you get your car back and if you head for Spain there are a few of us in the country to be able to help you out. For those that are thinking about France as a vacation then this website maybe of help when look for fuel prices. https://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/ I would concur that E.Leclerc sold the cheapest fuel. Dyslexic Viking, Barry Cade and lesapandre 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted July 26 Author Share Posted July 26 For those who followed my June travels with the burgundy 124 - I can announce stage two of our roaming as the village garage have now completed the fueling repairs. Fuel pump, filter and extensive fuel pipe replacement have got it back on the road for under £500 including labour - so I'm looking forward to picking it up and taking it for a spin - things should have improved somewhat. So how to get there - La France Profonde? Well my new French fancy - which I will unveil sometime, has just disgraced itself badly at the MoT station - but at least I will be in France to collect all the parts - so that is now out...so what now? I'm sure Montaigne will have the answer... "Travelling through the world produces a marvelous clarity in the judgment of men. We are all of us confined and enclosed within ourselves, and see no farther than the end of our nose. This great world is a mirror where we must see ourselves in order to know ourselves." Hmmmm...I don't expect he ever collected a broken-down car To be continued... Rust Collector, Spottedlaurel, Dyslexic Viking and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saabnut Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 @lesapandreyou have a pm lesapandre and Matty 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Back to France to pick up the Mercedes... Remspoor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 And immediately get a puncture...it's a big nail. Now to find a tyre shop that can do it - first place was too busy 'till Monday... Rust Collector, Remspoor, Saabnut and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 so car shits itself and persoon buys car to get home/carry on journey isnt it the sctsch that do that? how merde is la voiture? bonne vacance lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 On 8/4/2022 at 12:37 PM, lesapandre said: Back to France to pick up the Mercedes... Now where is the popcorn? lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Grand creme at the cafe...so off the beaten track here they still smoke in the cafe. Barry Cade, Rust Collector and Dyslexic Viking 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Boules competition this morning...France can be so well...French. mat_the_cat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Funfair just waking up...Great graphics. Dyslexic Viking, Remspoor and Saabnut 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Quite a few older Transits about. Remspoor, Dyslexic Viking and Saabnut 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 And very big tractors - it's harvest time. Somebody was run over on Wednesday nearby - airlifted to the local hospital but unfortunately they have died. The roads here are medium-lethal. Remspoor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Off to the stock-car racing tomorrow... loserone, Dyslexic Viking, RobT and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 All the 2CV I see now are in restored condition - no everyday bangers. Barry Cade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Random spots... loserone, Dyslexic Viking, Barry Cade and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Sunlight on old stone... loserone, Dyslexic Viking, Asimo and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Route Nationale. loserone and Rust Collector 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 Very hot here - no rain for weeks - sheltering from the sun on the church steps... Saabnut, loserone, Dyslexic Viking and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 More spots... Dyslexic Viking, RobT, Spottedlaurel and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted August 7 Author Share Posted August 7 Remspoor, Rust Collector, Spottedlaurel and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJK 24 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 A really enjoyable read! Thanks! lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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