Driving France

[ClassiChimi]

Fly me to the moon
And let me live amongst the stars
Let me see what life is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words please be true
In other words say you love me
Nat King Cole does a wonderful version of that song
I love it and that's how I've come to feel about my little English motorbike,

200M (Graham) mentioned the persuaders the other day,,,I can't quite remember the music to it but I understand where he was coming from.

Another one by the greatest Elvis

Like a river flows,gently to the sea
Darling so it goes, something's were meant to beeeeee
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you.

I've loved some wonderful women,,
Even a French girl for four years, this place just breaks you down until you can feel real emotion again, I like it
Were to stiff at home, we need to find out inner being more and let it flow,,,

I'm very emotional today,,,missing my family I think!

It could also be the dark clouds that remind me of home,,
The cleaning lady thinks I have a wonderful voice,,,(singing in the shower)
She's young and beautiful and I reckon she wants me,,,,
I'm not here for female company I have my hands full of romance for France and my bike.
Maybe I'm sad because I'm missing the Tvr,
Not sad just exasperated !

I'll come here with the car one day and drive the wheels off it,

Deep breaths as I'm really struggling to cope.

Ok over to the camps restaurant for strong coffee,, man up.
It won't take long, the people here are so upbeat,

I know most of you chaps are up and about getting ready to fight for another days work,
Just take a moment and dream of you,your girl maybe and your fantastic sportscar and one day do what I've been doing.
The memories will stay with you for life
Al

Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 16th September 21:23

[Oldred_V8S]

ClassiChimi said:

Hi Paul (oldred V8S) I love the look of your car mate

Thanks Alun, maybe one day I will get the chance to show it to you.

[ClassiChimi]

Peter I think your a great dad and have a lovely family. I think you've worked hard to achieve this and I admire you tremendously mate.
Your kids will never leave home,, it's just to good
Be very proud of yourself, your wife and kids.
Keep supporting them cos we'll be crocked one day and you'll want them close.
I saw the pic of your boys bike,, jee I'd be worried for my boys on bikes like that but your a brave man and you've passed it on to your children
The best of health to you and all who care and work so hard.

So I go over and have breakfast with the guys and galls from the campsite,,,
So perspective,,,the big guy with a beard says I look sad, bloody eck,,
I shrug my shoulders and just say missing loved ones,,
The next thing I've got 3 blokes and a beautiful girl surrounding me and kissing me.
I feel better straight away, have a lovely conversation about French life and tradition,

See the guy with the tash and hat on, I asked for a spanner off him yesterday, came back and wanted to adjust my chain,,
So Iet him,,,,,I've made a friend for life so it seems







There's another lady about my age who I've fallen in love with but she hadn't arrived when I took the picture,, god she's got legs that go on until heaven itself

I'm writing all this because it helps me remember all these little moments of joy,
Writing on here has helped me to not be lonely,,,

I've been thinking about you Tvr boys,,, your all very special people and never forget it lads,,,
Tvr's are just cars,,,,meeting Peter Anthony Richard Daz, Alex Graham and many others
I'm often a bit of a loner but I couldn't have done what I've done to my car if you chaps didn't exist,
Anthony for instance,,,about a thousand leagues above me but treats me with respect and generosity,,,
What a bunch of great people I've met
May you all get what your after in life and I for one wish you all the best of luck.
Alun

[ClassiChimi]

Oldred_V8S said:

Thanks Alun, maybe one day I will get the chance to show it to you.

I have to Thankyou,, I'm sure if we met it would be like meeting up with a long lost brother,,

You've made my holiday very special as it's your words that gave me the confidence to strike out.
I Thankyou from the bottom of my heart.

Right enough of all this emotional stuff,,, I've had three strong coffees a load of cuddles and I'm charged up again.

I so want to go for a ride but the cover is staying on the bike today.

I'll update when I have something worth saying
Al

[QBee]

I name this mushroom "Alun".




A fun-guy in a field of dreams, out of focus due to the french beer.

[ClassiChimi]

You always make me laugh aloud Anthony,,,
Your a great geezer,,,,,
Have a lovely day mate.

[ClassiChimi]

Anthony your such a funny bugger I've just looked at your post again and I'm in fits of laughter.
Special man indeed.

Edited by ClassiChimi on Wednesday 16th September 21:15

[ClassiChimi]

All this within a few hundred yards of the campsite.









Two steering wheels,,,for when you wanna go one way and the missus wants to go another




The nudist beach,,,hahah it's not really







Dramatic sky and my little hotel/ chalet



Paradise

Theres a cockerel that wakes me everyday at about 5.30am,,,
I found it,,, it's only the old mans who has the aged Solex bike I mentioned

I like the darn thing,,,




See the tennis courts,,,I'm in the buildings just below them, 50 yards away.
You can hear the boats rigging at night in the breeze. It's called Paradise Marina,,bit rough and ready but nice all the same

It all looks rather dull in this light but it's all rather splendid.
Alun

[ClassiChimi]

I Didn't even get out the campsite today without another meeting of minds,
Stephan and his lovely wife,,,German,
I keep seeing this little red 2CV parked, I even took a good look at it the other day,,
Tidy car I thought,
So today I'm taking the cover off the bike and contemplating a ride,,,it's cloudy but doesn't rain much during the day so thought,,,I'm British surely I can watch for the puddles, anyway
This chap comes upto me and starts saying what a nice bike,,
We then spend a good hour chatting away,, turns out it's his 2CV they've driven it down through Italy and are sort of on there way back home, stopped to see St Tropez etc,,
A 2CV all that way,, who's the nutter now!
He's rebuilt it from the ground up and was very proud of it,,,
He owned Alfa's for years but got fed up with fighting off the rust

There off tomorrow and asked me to join them this evening for a glass of wine, I gladly accepted,, trouble is he says he's been having fuel starvation problems,, might not make it back tonight he said in a very matter of fact way,, very German I thought
Here's a pic of him and his lovely wife, I can't remember her name doh!

We've exchanged details and I will call him if he doesn't show this evening just to check their safe.




So after that I thought I'd go for a local ride,, shorts on as it's still very warm and off I go towards La Croix Valmer,,
Found yet another beach and had a coffee.
As I'm walking out I see a bar with Conga drums on a small stage,,,I played drums for years, couldn't resist so walked in and asked the lady owner if I could make some noise,,
Yes she says,,, just her and a few chaps sitting at the bar,,,
I start tapping the things,, she likes it so puts some funkie disco music on,,,
That's it I'm off with the fairies ripping it up,,,


Asked if she could take my picture,,, so then I asked if she could do one on my phone.



Now you know what an ugly blighter I am




Bell Bullet helmet,,,that and my leathers,,,,I do look the part I'll have you know.

[ClassiChimi]

It's not all good,,,
I've been getting eaten by a mosquito in my room,,,
Yesterday I tore the room apart, everything outside and went a hunting,,,,
Found you you little ,,,,,,, fat as fk, my blood,,, it's a splatted Mosquito now
I might moan about home sometimes but at least we only have flies!
Ttfn

[Richard 858]

Glad you're all ok Alun and all is pretty much well with you. Sorry I missed your call yesterday evening, I did try and call you back this morning. I'll give you a try again tomorrow if you'd like, just remember the "foreign" charges will be on your account though

We'll have to have a chat about a European convoy run in the Tivs sometime

Keep the faith Brother, keep the faith !

[ClassiChimi]

No worries Richard, I'll ring you as I have a special deal with my provider

Phew, Stephan made it back,, Sabine his wife is pouring the wine as I speak,,,,

Impeccable English and we have many things in common,,,he's learning about Pistonheads, he's always trying to get spare parts for his little car,,,,remind you of something!

Rode bikes for years and we've been comparing scars

He loves old British cars and thinks my Triumph is outstanding, Sabine says he was talking about it all last night,, he'd heard me leave earlier in the evening and was enthused.
It's getting boring I'm sure but these comments are on an hourly basis almost!
Anyway I'm far to busy to waste time on here
Alun

[2OOM]

Alun, if you're starting to head in the other direction, Gassan is a nice village it's on the left on the way to La croix valmer, it has great views and one of those table maps showing where places are ... it's a twisty ride up there so best done in the dry, you can go onto ramatuelle and on to st T .. nice little run .. glad you're still enjoying yourself .. now .. you mentioned long legs??

[ClassiChimi]

Yes Graham, I remembered you said that's where your parents are and I think I took the same mountain road you've just mentioned! Lovely on the way out,,,,came back the same way about 6.45pm,,, getting darker and the clouds were decending on top of me,,, had a bit of a panic on really,,,very low visability etc,,, great views but I couldn't stop (photo) as I seriously thought I'd be staying the night up there
I did Criox Valmer last week also, bit more protection from the wind,,some days it's getting quite strong when on the beach etc. it's actually quite a relief because it's still very warm as I'm sure you know.

Graham your better than having Judith Chalmers on bourd
My friendly Cockeral has woke me again? It's a lovely sound to be honest,,,, feels like I'm in the countryside and also reminds me of Wales as a child,, farming and all that

[QBee]

I was in Wales a few weeks ago, and yes, you're correct, it does seem to have more than its fair share of cocks, especially in Newport on a Saturday night.....

[ClassiChimi]

Newport,,,surprised you got out alive

Last night was the most enjoyable so far,,
Stephan and Verone (Sabine where did that come from??)
A lovely gentle couple with a passion for life and a we'll get there sometime type mentality.
We shared breakfast this morning also and it was like meeting old friends.
I've just waved them off as they head on to Monaco for another days driving,,,

Stephan was overwhelmed at the pics of the Tvr,, he's never seen one let alone see what I've been doing to it ,,
Sometimes people like these two help me realise why I'm in love with our cars and how much respect it affords you.

We were all sad to say goodbye and I'll call him when I get home,,he wants to know I'm safe. I have mates who care less!
We shared many moments of laughter at English car engineering etc.
he owns a few old Mercs,, W155 and others that I can't recall, wine!!
Here's the last picture I took just before heading off.

[ClassiChimi]

Anybody wanna hear about my latest crazy day!
Well I'm gonna tell you anyway
Clouds thinning today but still dark over the hills,,,I enjoy the many beaches of Croix Valmer so pottered over on the bike this afternoon,,

Saw this nice Honda and parked up,,,same helmet as mine locked to the bike,, so I went into the beach cafe and sort of flashed my helmet,,,carefull,,, around and sure enough a guy nods,,,
Young chap with his girlfriend,,Manu and Rebecca,,,invite me to join them for a beer,,
Ten minutes talking about bikes and then he tells me he's a musician in a band in Paris,,,,,drummers just left the band,,,
Crickey I was a drummer once I say,, so we then spend a few hours talking music etcetc.

The band are in Brittany recording in October,,,with a drum machine
Nah that's no good I tell him so he invites me to come over and record with them????!!!!
At my age I say,, don't be foolish,,,I'm a Brit,,, deep respect for our music all over the world etc

I can't promise I say but we exchange phone numbers and I said I'd look his band up on YouTube and see if I can play to his sound?
I won't play gigs but I can record anyday,,,,
I haven't looked as yet but I may well go over and help them out..
How cool is that,,,
His gran lives in Grimaud,,,I've not been there yet so I'll have a listen to his music and if I like it I'll go over to his tonight for dinner,,, 10.30pm that's dinner time?!!!
Oh to be young
I'll forget about it by the time I'm home but if I commit I'll do it.

Mad mad holiday this is turning out to be,,,
Al

[ClassiChimi]

Anyone into music,,, I like Nat King Cole but check out these crazy mothers. ,,
BIRDY HUNT on YouTube
I like them,, a bit like some stuff I did about 30 years ago,,
I'm going to dinner with Manu,,,if you look he's one of the keyboard players with big hair,,
The singers a nutter but that's nothing new!

I can play to that in my sleep, I've been thinking of selling all my fabulous drums so if he wants me too I'm I'm going to record with the band,, a last harah sort of thing.
You only live once.
Probably won't happen but it's a fun idea if nothing else.
Al

[QBee]

Don't know any Nat King Cole, but I suspect that tonight in the South of France, after dinner at 10.30, walking home, crunching autumn leaves underfoot and looking at the stardust overhead will be unforgettable.........

[2OOM]

And after and ... after midnight .. there will be a ..a port grimaud serenade ..