It gets worse.<o:p></o:p>
Paula has just read my post & apart from pointing out my poor grammar she reminded me that as we skidded to a halt on the gravel surface the tyres threw up a cloud of dust that enveloped the diners as they troughed up.<o:p></o:p>
I think my ageing brain wiped that from my memory.<o:p></o:p>
Hi Idris,
And they say first impressions count… what an entry! I reckon there’ll be an all points bulletin out in France for MX5’s with GB plates showing! Mind you, we’re not much better - a couple of years ago, we had a Mr Bean moment as we were travelling back towards Zeebrugge from Paris. As we were passing Charles De Gaulle airport, the traffic was really busy, and the sat nav seemed to be incapable of making up its mind - at the last moment it flicked over to where we should have been going, but by that time I was commited to taking what was a slip road to the airport. From there, I got caught up in a one way system and ended up going into a multi-story car park! We spiralled up & up & up to the top, then spiralled down & down & down the other side and back out onto the motorway, where we should have been, without hardly stopping! It was scary at first when we went in, but there were tears rolling down our cheeks when we got back on track and realised how stupid we (ok, me) must have looked!
Trev.
Hi Steve. Nice to see you’re still around. I went to Carcasonne last year. Stayed in Ginoles so must have driven through Ruffiac D’Aud. Beautiful part of the world.
Unfortunately it wasn’t in the 5, we flew down with friends and picked up a hire car.
Thanks Trev and again Idris, everyone in the office is looking at me having a moment!
I’ve gone from having a toe-to-toe with the builders in my server room to wildly laughing at your posts within the space of two minutes!
The only thing that happend to me on Holiday in France in 2009 is that when Sam and I was goning down the Motorway on the first day. got stoped by three policemen on bikes stoped me. I thought I was in trouble by having Sam in the front seat but all they wanted was a picture of SAM my heart was in my mouth.
Terry
Just got back from Languedoc… route was Calais>Rouen>Orleans (avoiding Paris)>Millau bridge>Narbonne>Ferrals-les-Montagnes. The D-roads and smaller mountain passes around the Black Mountains are MADE for the MX-5 (and deserted) and I had the top down all the way there and back too. 2 full tanks of fuel, 1,000km, in my Mk1. Brilliant.
I’m glad you had a great time, I think the roads are great over there. I loved Narbonne when I went. I can’t waite to get back over there in July/August and on Fuel wise you did realy good. Did you see many MX5 there.
Tez and Sam
This years main holiday (or “Honeymoon” as the future Mrs Snurfen insists on calling it) will be a fly drive to Italy. Sadly no MX5 frolics there. Will have to do a September jaunt to La Belle France - absolutely love bimbling around France, and I’m running out of the lemon squash that I can only seem to get over there (Dillidam, or something like that - it’s scrumptious).
Not one down there, although I saw a Mk1 last summer in the villages. I was in traffic with an 09-plate newish MX5 on the way back, but no MX5 OC sticker and no acknowledgement, sadly!
I got a lot of attention from an American lady who was more interested in the iPhone setup.
You did well about the Lady. When I went everyone wanted Sam
I was jsut a side line
we did meet up with some people on a yaut in Monaco know that was good. when I went I saw some MX5 but not many as over here, I just took Sam for a walk and I have seen 4 a mark 1 and three mk 3 and I’m glad to say all tops down, if you are ging to the spring rally well have to have a chat about france.
Tez and Sam
Hi Gary,
Wondered how your trip turned out - am thinking of doing a similar route Summer; possibly Portsmouth to Bilbao then up the west coast of France to St Malo.
Cheers.
Phil C
Went again in May this year, however had brake problems driving through Provance front drivers side calliper locked up.
Managed to free it with the tools that I had stowed in the boot. Made it to Antibes removed the wheel & cleaned up the calliper.
All was ok until I had to brake hard then it would lock up again although I got expert at unlocking it with a large screwdriver, but it curtailed most the driving that we had planned.
Drove home up the auto routes & managed to hardly use the brakes at all, you get expert at slowing down using the gearbox & then coming to a halt with the hand brake.
Crossed the Channel into Dover then had to negicoate the M 25, M3 & A 31 back to Weymouth.
Removed & stripped down both front brake callipers cleaned the pistons & cylinders renewed the all rubber seals (pig of a job) re-assembled the calliper & bled the system & now all is ok.
I did contemplate doing the repair in France, but the seals would cost 80 euros per wheel over here £40.00 all in.
I did manage to take these pictures if anyone is interested:
I’m planning a euro trip next year (around June) and I’ll be taking in Reims (old race track terraces and pits), Mulhouse then south into Switzerland and over the Grand and Petit St Bernard Passes (Italian Job’s opening scene filmed there with the Muira). After that back into France and down the Route De Grand Alps to the French Riviera. This route takes in a number of mountain passes and also incorporates the Col De Turini, one of the most famous roads in the world and part of the Monte Carlo rally. I’ll then be heading along the French and Italian Rivieras before heading north to Lake Como. From there it’s over to the Stelvio Pass and then back into Switzerland. I’ll then be heading through Switzerland over one or two passes before doing a great trio of them, The Susten, Furkha and Grimsel Passes. Once that is accomplished it’ll be north through into Germany and then onto the Black Forest (large part of it done on the D500). I reckon I’ll stop off at Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes and Porsche museums which are supposed to be mightily impressive. To finish off I’ll be heading to 3 race circuits for a look around and possibly (if money and time permits) a blast around one of them, Hockenheim, The Nurburgring (the one I may have a blast around) and then Spa.
I can’t wait, it should be absolutely epic, just a shame none of my friends can get time off from their wives/girlfriends to come as well. I may end up doing it solo but I must do it whatever happens. I’ve already started saving for the hotels and fuel costs, which should be a fair amount considering it works out, setting off from the north east, at over 3300 miles in total.
If you have a chance drive to Spa from Nurburg via the Alsace region of NE France. We were down there last year, absolutley stunning, empty roads and some fabulous passes and scenery (Col du Donon (or similar) rings a bell).
Nurburg should be quite interesting since they will host the German GP in July. We went last year and had the time of our lives with none of the German drivers doing well and Lewis winning.
…and finally, looking at your forum name, seems you will be just as up for it at 1.30 on Sunday as we will be. Unfortunately a 600 mile round trip to the SOL doesnt allow us to attend though we will be up a week later… FTM
Anyone planning a trip to France later this year should buy the Sept 2013 issue of RIDE magazine on sale from 17th July 2013.
I have just received my copy as I subscribe to this bike magazine and there is a RIDE Guide To France which contains 40 great routes which can be downloaded at www.ride.co.uk/france.
Routes in North East France, Tour of the Vosges and the Doubs, routes in North West France, Tour of Normandy and Brittany, Routes in South East France, Tour of the Alps, Routes in South West France and Tour of the Pyrenees are covered.
Although RIDE is a bike magazine most of the info is relevant to cars as well. When I tour on my bike I have less room than I have in the Mx5 so am used to travelling light.
Well worth the £3.99 for the info contained.
Great tip Neil, if a little late for me. I’m sat outside near the pool in Souillac, where a local is showing me a good wiggly route to Saint Cirq Lapopie tomorrow. I knew that route, but he’s just shown me a fabulous set of twisters on the way from Figeac to Gramat.
Up early, croissants and coffee at sparrow’s fart and off we go!
Not that I am envious or anything you understand.
Enjoy and be safe.
Really did enjoy and did stay safe - except for the moment on the way home where I had to stand on the brakes and go offroad at about sixty as the genius in the jazzy Jag trying to overtake me completely missed the fact there was a car alongside me on the opposite side of the road! How he didn’t have a total wipeout and land in the wife’s lap was purely down to the “swerving under extreme braking” prowess of my little Mk3.5. well done that Mazda.
Drove some fabulous roads, both twisty and scenic. Will post the good ones and the attractions worth visiting after I have removed the GB and beam bender stickers/washed and hoovered the car/mown the lawn/weeded the allotment/caught up with my email/worked out and eliminated that strong odour caused no doubt by leaving three teenagers at home alone for a fortnight.
The important bit - waves: didn’t see a single 5 on the move in France, but one on ferry out and another on the return. Ferry out were good company, ferry back looked at me oddly when I waved. Had a full on smiling wave from an older couple in an MGA, and lots of toots, flashes and waves from the camper vans and caravanners on British plates as we zoomed north on the homeward leg. Always enjoy that, a little bit of camraderie as we treck homeward.
For those planning to go, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. For those toying with the idea of going (maybe on your first foreign jaunt) - do it. you won’t be sorry.