The tour background

Due to us saving for USA 2005 next year and our new car being built we did not sign up for the main list summer tour this year. A bunch of us from nise7ens decided to plan a trip down to the French Alps with a view to having a fairly cheap holiday with a bunch of friends. We had rented a chalet for 7 days in the Alps and planned a three day drive down and a three day drive back home. There were five of us in the end, Tim and Pete in the SV, Dusty in the 40th anniversary and Jo and myself in a Peugeot 407............it`s a long story. Birkin were to lend us a car while ours is being built. Despite problems with them providing a car by the Tuesday before the tour they were prepping a car for us to take. However in the end we were scuppered by not being able to get insurance as we did not own the car. At this point we gave up and turned to plan B which was to hire a car in England as we already had our flights over to Birmingham at this point.

Thursday 8th July 2004 - To Ashford

While Tim, Dusty and Pete were up at the crack of dawn catching the early morning ferry from Larne Jo and myself were waking up to breakfast at her parents in Northampton having flown over the day before. All we had to do today was pick up the hire car, relax and wait for the boys to get down the country. For the boys it was more eventful as they bumped into Johnty who was en route to Scholar with a couple of cheese blocks along with the pistons and crank from my duratec. The banter across the new Kenwoods which we had all bought apparently made the journey seem shorter.

Meanwhile we picked up a 2 week old Peugeot 407, having been upgraded from a 206. It was the 2.0 diesel with the six speed box, complete with air con. At least we would be comfortable while trying to keep up with the se7ens.

We arranged to meet with the guys at Towcester for some dinner while the worst of the rush hour traffic passed by. Then it was simply a case of getting down to Ashford in Kent as quickly as possible. Torrential rain slowed progress and Pete had some sphincter tightening moments at the wheel of Tim`s SV on A048R`s. After waiting for Tim to catch up after getting lost we found the hotel despite Johnty trying to put me off by giving me a full run down on the discussion he had had with Kirkistown about our track days. It was still tipping it down when we pulled into the hotel carpark so we got a little soaking before calling it a night.

Friday 9th July 2004 - Ashford to Piney

An early start to catch the ferry from Dover to Calais. TIm and Dusty were on a slightly earlier boat to us so they arrived in France first and carried out a quick recce to find the first supermarket stop of the tour. We arrived shortly afterward having been introduced to the joys of driving on the wrong side of the road. It was surprising how quickly we became accustomed to it which was good as we`d be covering a fair amount of miles over the next few days.

We started the journey by trying to avoid the Toll roads and sticking to the local lanes. However before long we realised that we were not covering the ground quick enough to make it to our first stop in time for dinner. So we hit the toll road to make up lost time. As we travelled we hit some torrential rain and about the same time Tim`s car decided to give some bother. Suspecting brake problems we pulled in to try and find the problem. After removing the rear wheel it still wasn`t clear and the French breakdown service was called.........and they didn`t speak much English........With our French not going far beyond ordering an orange juice or asking the way to the station Tim resorted to elaborate hand gesturing to explain the problem. Tim decided that all was OK........after we had all been soaked......and we continued on our way. The air con in the 407 was put to good use to dry my shoes and trouser legs out.

We continued along the toll road and then took to the local lanes for the last few miles to the overnight halt. The quality of the local roads was fantastic, great surface with nice sweeping bends and no people, cars or horses to get in the way.

The overnight stop was in the quiet rural french village of Piney. The hotel was opposite the village square. A good meal was enjoyed by everyone....although we were unable to sample the local ale as all the pubs seemed to close early.

Saturday 10th July 2004 - Piney to Les Carroz d`araches

A reasonably early start on a fairly long journey to the Alps via Geneva. I jumped in with Tim and Jo with Dusty with Pete keeping up in the 407. You tend to forget how well a se7en handles when you haven`t been in one for a while. We set off in Tim`s A048 shod SV and approaching the first corner I was searching for a brake pedal and then we were around the corner...........fantastic.........can`t wait to get a car back on the road. We blatted through some beautiful open countryside until the lunch stop where we all sampled that great French delicacy.......the croque monsieur......except for Tim who wanted a ham sandwich for which the proprieters wife had to make a run to the local supermarket.

Sunday 11th July 2004 - Friday 16th July @ Les Carroz d`araches

Monday

Saturday 17th July 2004 - Les Carroz d`araches to Laon

Monday

Sunday 18th July 2004 - Laon to Long Buckby

Monday

Monday 19th July 2004 - The journey home

Monday