Woke up at 0730h to Porl and myself doing synchronised alarm jumping and both saying ‘oh bloody hell’.
Within the hour we went down for breakfast, comprising of orange juice, tea, toast, biscuits and cakes, all in a really posh room.
Starting the day took a while as we were deciding whether go by car or bike, the intentions were to go on bike but the weather was looking poor. By about 1030h we were on foot/bike up a track that could only cope with riders… What a challenge that was, zig zag, rocky, wet grass up very steep hills for about 1.5 miles. Heat made the walk pretty bad, let alone the people struggling on the bikes. An hour and a half later and all exhausted we stopped for the first tea break and dinner.
The afternoon looked like it was going to be nicer with blue skies appearing, so we set off for the hills. Sadly heading in the wrong direction, it wasn’t long before we were in the clouds which was getting cold and wet, hardly seeing much further than 10 yards, and water dripping off our glasses and faces we drove higher and deeper into the French hills where the weather worsened. Before long Porl had me in stitches nearly wetting myself 3 times. We all decided it was time to trace our tracks and head back down, it was a really eerie sense of silence with cows bells in the distance; coming from the cows but not being able to see anything.
Heading down slowly we reached warm air pockets again which was a blessing as Porl and myself were only in shorts and tee shirt.
We realised that the track we did this morning was wrong, so headed for the right one, which turned out to be much easier and more like a track. Before long we had gained a couple of hundred feet and the tracks were becoming difficult to find even with the GPS and maps. The fields were plastered with thistles and thorns which caused Porl to give me a verbal because I nearly threw us off the bike, flinging my feet past his shoulders!!!
Spending some time going back and forth trying to find the track we decided to go off course hoping to find it… not really reaching it we looked further a-field for new tracks. Finding some nice tracks we started to have fun bouncing about on mud tracks and what a giggle it was.
Nearing an end we decided to do one more track, and this had to be the funniest of the day, Richard could hear Porl and I screaming through the brambles grazing our feet and legs. By the time we got to the end we realised we had ended up where we had lunch. Deciding whether we were to go back via road or the reverse of our mud track, I realised we were plastered in blood and flies.
Richard, Sharon, Porl and I decided we would reverse the mud track whilst the others headed back to the house.
On our way back we came across a bull, cow and two calves which was a bit worrying, the bull had the biggest b*!!*(&s you have ever seen!
Once back at the house and all cleaned up it was 2000h so we decided to go and eat at the other restaurant in the village. The menu for 15Euros was a selection of local produce, we said we would have what he recommends, which was asparagus for starters and lamb for a main. The meal was really nice, lamb was most tender I had had.
Porl was extremely excited with the fact we were in a ciderie, which had a large keg and a self service tap! Some ciders later and after a pudding of solidified milk and sugar, similar to [what?] we paid up and realised all the drink was free!
Entering the home at around 2330h we have stayed up chatting and typing this, now being 0115h we have decided to call it a night.
Archive for the ‘4×4’ Category
A Hard Days Holiday
Friday, June 19th, 2009Such Great Heights
Thursday, June 18th, 2009All woke quite early and had our first proper French breakfast, comprising of toast, cereal and orange juice, tea or coffee.
After packing the vehicles we set off through very misty mountains, the day looked like it was going to be drizzly and horrible, but before long sunshine started to appear as we got higher and higher, suddenly we were above the clouds and it was the most amazing scenery.
I had never seen mountains above clouds without being on a plane. The cows and horses all had cows bells, clattering away, at this point we had just crossed the border and we were finally in Spain.
As we passed over the other side of the mountain we had reached our first green lane, which was very muddy and barely a track let alone road. Stopped for lunch, which was our first taste of the usual ham and brie sandwiches which were home made on the bonnet. By this point it was blistering sunshine as we drove through a couple more green lanes before reaching Ochegavia where we were all to meet up for the first time and stay for two nights.
By 8.30 all eight of us were over the restaurant where we had a mixture of lentil soup, fish soup and rice salad for starters and pork ribs, chicken with roquefort cheese. Pudding comprised of rice with cream, ice cream, flan and a tart. The food was very nice, and despite all my salad luck so far, I managed to get away with it tonight.
We all went for a little walk around the village before going back to the house. Stayed up for a while chatting and uploading a few images. Went to bed at 1230h
The First Supper
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009The last big journey before reaching the Pyrenees, we hadn’t bought breakfast here so sat in car park eating Dorset Cereals, this was a first for me and it was bloody gorgeous, even if it was with UHT, a mug and a plastic spoon! By 0900h we had refuelled and set off for St Michel. Passing through some lovely villages and Bordeaux, which turned out to be quite funny and challenging in itself. Clive nearly wiping out a Picasso trying to join the main motorway around Bordeaux at rush hour.
Next part of journey was very picturesque going through forestry which unfortunately had lots of felling going on.
Arrived at St Michel which was a very small hamlet with the hotel right in front of us. Instantly got settled in and had a lovely meal out on the back patio area, comprising of salad and a local crushed veal dish similar to chilli with a jacket potato and cream and then had Sweets which were creme brulee. Porl heard a bike in the distance, and said it was a Ducati, and suddenly Sharon and Richard appeared as Porl ran to the road dancing like a girl.
They quickly joined us for a meal before we all set off for bed, which was hampered by a major thunder storm, although Clive slept straight through it all.
Bon Voyage
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009Awoke very tired at 0500h, packed away the last few things and had a cuppa.
Left at 0600h, arrived at EuroTunnel around 1050h after wasting much time on the M25, luckily not as much as the other way as there was a minor accident causing a several mile tailback and motorway closure.
This made us an hour over due for the tunnel.
Was really weird going on the tunnel, just being stuck in a carriage with 3 other vehicles. Time past very quickly and before long it was time to get off at around 1230h French time.
Afternoon went quite smoothly, stopping very few times and arrived with only one error at 2030h. Room is very basic but just what we needed. Luckily Buffalo Grill was within walking distance and it was a very nice meal. A mixture of Burgers, Bison Hache, Salad, Onion Rings as mains and fantastic deserts of strawberry cone, ice dream and a Indilgence Des Desert; consisting of Creme Brulee, Brownie avec Creme Anglais, Caramel Ice cream and a profiterole filled with French vanilla ice cream.
Evening finished off with coffee and tea.
Porl managed to stink the room out with his feet; despite being in aired trainers all day which really wasn’t a great way to start!!
The last supper!
Monday, June 15th, 2009Started off the day tidying up, getting the Landy ready and decided after a couple of hours hard work we needed the much promised Subway, Porl being Porl had to have everything on his sandwich because he didn’t want any confrontation with a lettuce or chilli (Like in the advert apparently!).
…some (couple) hours later we needed our last supper at KFC. By 8.30 we thought we had better start packing.
By 11.30 we thought we were all ready, getting settled down for the night and Porl reminded me I needed my passport!!!
After getting that we stayed up until 12.30 watching bloody Terminator 2: Judgement Day!
It all went wrong before it even started…Thankfully!
Sunday, June 14th, 2009After doing most of the last minute things we decided to have an Ice cream in Henley, and what better way to do it that by going on the ’78 DT… well half way, rest en foot! The thing seized up on us on the way back, meaning Porl had to push it all the way back home whilst I took photos and made fun! Suddenly it had all gone wrong at the last minute. Ringing Clive to tell the bad news was good news, turns out Russell had bought a bike for the trip but then decided on a better model so he had a spare bike… Quick go and get it then get insured in the morning!!!
What’s all the fuss!
Thursday, February 5th, 2009Got up at 6 this morning after realising it had snowed some several inches in Redditch overnight. Got onto the roads about 6.20 and suddenly felt uneasy, it was probably the first time in my 7 years of driving all roads were fully snowed in, let alone the fact I was in a rear wheel drive for it too!!!
After circling a few roads around my area I decidied to bare the streets to Birmingham city centre. Immediately becoming gobsmacked by other peoples driving, I had only gone some 100 yards and there was an Escort right up my rear, refusing to use my brakes I slowed gradually using my gears and it worked great.
Pulling away in 3rd still seemed to cause my rear to slip and slide but gently pulling away I managed to do it without getting in a spin.
I had travelled about 1.5 miles in 10 minutes and I was still being amazed by some peoples attitude towards the snow; a 4×4 may pull you better in the snow but it doesn’t mean you can stop any better!!! I had a Freelander so close to me, I couldn’t see his lights, whilst doing about 30-40mph.
None the less, I managed to get into work unscathed in about an hour, just over twice my normal time but I feel so much better for doing it, it was a great experience and valuable for future driving.
It was a scary but fun drive in, recommend it to anyone, just be sensible and use your gears not your brakes.
Farley Quarry Round 2!
Sunday, March 16th, 2008Went to Farley Quarry again today…
The Suzuki SJ410 out performed many vehicles that were there and it was generally a really good day out with no problems – Apart from my driving! As you will see we had a few very near misses and of course couldn’t manage the day without rolling it on the side, it’s not many people that can say they have rolled a car twice, but I am sure there will be many more attempts but I intend to keep it to purely off roading events now!
Farley Quarry 20/01/2008
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008On Friday 11th January I won an auction on eBay and collected the Suzuki SJ 410 on the 12th for the sum of £330;
Since then my dad, Jon and I have done nothing but work work work on this little beast (aka Roller Skate) to get it ready for Farley Quarry near Much Wenlock, which was on the 20th. A new clutch was required, new battery and alternator and a few legal issues with the trailer.
Started fitting the clutch on the 18th and immediately had problems, we had bought the wrong one, registration of vehicle seemed to be incorrect with engine, no problems, we looked further into it, apparently it had part Fiat, part Spanish Suzuki, with special thanks to Sureparts. Sure enough my dad managed to get it in by late Saturday afternoon and it was suddenly a mad rush to test it all, to my horror I didn’t concentrate properly and wrapped the trailer lead around the front bumper of the SJ… without realising I drove it off the trailer and nearly wrecked some £100 worth of electrics but thankfully nothing was damaged. On a good note the clutch worked a treat. So she was ready just in time for Sunday.
Got to Farley quarry, she started up a treat which was good news as the alternator was not working and we were unsure of the new (old) battery condition. Porl got in and we went around a bit of the grounds to see what was about, I saw something interesting; axle twisters (extremely uneven ground over a short space). Within 5 minutes I had almost rolled the vehicle, we were precariously balancing near on 90 degrees sideways! Driving in this position is quite difficult and stalling really doesn’t help!
Porl decided to go in his vehicle and I follow for a while, this scared me a bit as I was still totally new to it all… I regularly forgot to let handbrake off and have now managed to totally knacker that up. I stalled the car a few times, but was really amazed with her capabilities up the hills.
Not a video of my car, but almost identical to what I did in the same spot (in wetter conditions) – not that I am trying to make excuses! I got my wheel caught too in the same way, causing the vehicle to go up at 90 degrees, but twice, you would have thought I had learnt the first time!
In the mean time however, when I stalled, it wouldn’t restart so I was stuck in this little ditch that is far worse than it looks in video. After trying to get her out for a while, a chap comes over with an electric winch, great, got the straps out and started pulling. All of a sudden, ‘snap’ the strap frayed and snapped flying the shackle on the end straight on to the window, smashing it completely.
Got it restarted and went for dinner, had a whopping great big double beef burger with cheese, MMMMM!
After jump starting it down a hill, I just thought that things were going to get worse, but carried on out. Within minutes I was struggling to find gear and managed to stop some way away from the starting position. Had a little look but couldn’t really do much so Porl towed me back to the trailer and we left it there whilst going out for a little longer.
Absolutely fantastic day out (to the point of wetting myself of laughter!) and are now aiming to get it all repaired and better than ever for Sunday 10th February which is at Sibbertoft. Finding someone to deliver a windscreen is impossible so I am going to Chesterfield on Friday all being well, might have to stop in at Deano’s as it appears the scrappy is minutes away from his house, bargain!
How clean does she look considering the dirt she had been in, damn!
