Driving France

Driving France

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QBee

20,985 posts

144 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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phazed said:
That made me laugh a A!

We will take the chim and travel with the credit card.

I will plan a rough route across Spain and through Andorra but like our ring trip a few years ago nothing planned and it all worked out well.

I am hoping that mid-June won't be too busy, I really don't know.
Off 'tinternet:

Very warm, but not as hot as the coming months, June is a great time to see everything Madrid has to offer. You can expect an average temperature of 21°C, which reaches an average high of 29°C, before falling to a still rather warm low of 13°C during the evenings.11 Jul 2014
June Weather Averages for Madrid, Spain - Holiday Weather
www.holiday-weather.com/madrid/averages/june/

You are avoiding school hols, so that sounds perfect in a TVR

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
I've just got pics from Stephan,, his lovely little 2CV and beautiful girl,,,
He said something about how lovely Marsielle is and how it was smashed to pieces by stupid Germans,,
I said I'm not proud of what we did to Dresden,,,,
This pic arrived upside down,, laughed my nuts off,,,
Told him he looked like a Focker D8 pilot from the First World War doing a barrel role and setting his guns,,
Ain't that a great pic.



I'm sure he'll get the joke!
scratchchin

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
I've just done a Jimmy Saville and washed some smalls in the sink,,, shiver,,,
Why can't someone bring that dirty bd back to life so we can take it in turns giving him a right good hiding!

My sister went to the BBC and was in the croud for top of the pops,,
She was 15 and she said he seemed a weirdo,,, never went near her but he could have,,
He'd look weird if I got hold of the orrible little man!
I'd almost rather bin my clothes than think of him,,

I dunno where this lot comes from sometimes,,,,

Enough of that nonsense,,, I'm relaxing today and keeping myself to myself,,
You can get to much of a good thing,,,

QBee

20,985 posts

144 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
Confucious he say "Too much bks makes you go blind....." laugh

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
biglaugh Funny you say that?

QBee

20,985 posts

144 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
Think we've both been to Specsavers.....whistle

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
I can't decide which way to come back to the uk starting Thursday morning.
I've been looking on google maps and I'd do the Alps but I'm concerned with weather, my fitness and hurting my bike,,
In fact my main concern is no charger on the bike ( big mistake) for my iphone. It has an excellent sat nav but doesn't last more than about 4 hours,,,
I'd then have to sit and wait while I've found somewhere to charge it,,, it's looking a bit daunting,,, I'd also like to do that sort of journey in the Tvr,,, I think I'd enjoy it more!
Up on those high mountains with no map to guide me,,,I've got visions of being lost miles from people, unable to find a hotel and even having to sleep rough.
If I'm going to do it I want to go as scenic as possible,,, if I have to go main roads then feel it's probably better to leave it and do it another time,,,I'm on my own too so do I give it a miss!
I've had a great time and ridden loads already,,,
I'm talking myself out of it arnt I.
Any thoughts and maybe ideas,, I'd like to either stop at Macon or Troyes for the first over night stop then just get back on the route des Anglais from there on. It's tiring riding a bike this far for me but once I hit either of those towns it's easy after that.
Is there a decent route that someone's done that can take in some of the alps and still reach said locations within day light on the first day,,, I've looked at Menton and up but it's huge milage and turn turn turn!
It'll take so long and I'm not sure of fuel stops either,,,
Coming to a halt with no fuel in the wilderness doesn't appeal.
It's the dat nav issue that's a pain most of all,,, multi road changes with no map/ sat nav,, having to stop and keep checking even if I bought a road map ,,,,,,
Ok give me a clue about here to Macon and I'll make a decision. Thanks Alun
I won't be taking pics either,, this phones about to explode me thinks...


Edited by ClassiChimi on Monday 21st September 20:16

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
I'm going to do at least one of two things tomorrow,, find a bike shop that I can trust to put a charging point on my bike,, then do the alps without fear or ask the girl who lives in Le plan de la tour if we can have dinner before I leave,,,both ideas are fraught with danger though hehe
I'm going to be looking a right plonker if she says no!!!!
Tosh,,, he who dares,,,,,
Again what do you wise men of the world think,,,,I'm waiting with baited breath and plenty of smiles at your replies,,,
I've decided already,,, the girls hot as you can handle,, the alps are cold and lonely!!!!
Reply anyway for the laughs....;)

QBee

20,985 posts

144 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
Go with whichever will be the most fun. Simples.....

2OOM

374 posts

284 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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Have you thought about buying a Map? cool
I used to do it that way and it's not too bad, quicker than waiting to charge your phone ..
If you do get one just decide which way you want to go and write a list of the towns you're heading for and the road names on some paper.. I used to have it in my tank bag but if you didn't want to stick anything on your tank or it looks like rain keep the paper in your pocket and stop and check it .. use permanent ink as well in case it gets wet .. the sun is still a good way to make sure you're heading north as well biggrin
If you're going to Troyes use the d971 ( i've mentioned it before) but it really is a really great road .. or if you go to Macon you can still go to Dijon then troyes via that road .. hehe

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
RThanks Graham,,,I can't shift this headache which is making me loose some confidence.
I'm drinking gallons of water and I havnt had much alkahol at all during my stay here,,, I'm always on the bike !
I've looked at my tyres again after riding The tour roads and it looks like marks from drifting on the back wheel,,,
That's not funny at all and I can't remember how or where I've done that.
It's upset me again and gets my nerve ends gangling more than a French girl getting fruity with me.
If I was a few miles from home I'd feel good about that tyre but I thought I was riding steady???

The map thing,,, yes it's the obvious thing to do but still I'm unsure.
The problem there is I lost my glasses that double as specs and sun glasses,,, on the way down here !!!!
So I use sun glasses which us ok when I'm moving but then have to put my reading glasses on to see close up,,,it's a pain in the ass,,, if I lost them I'd be screwed!!!!
I won't decide yet but I think some of the roads I've riden down here have thrilled me and I've got away with it,,,,
I can't do sod all slow,,, that's sounds like bragging,, I'm not honest,,,
I don't know what it is,,, actually I do,,,,,when I ride slow I sort of loose concentration and still get caught out,,,
I'm not safe on a bike,,,
If I go a bit faster my mind just clicks and I can keep it up for hours,,,
It's all a bit stupid but it's the truth.

Using the sun,,,, Crickey that does feel like I'm back in the 17th century,,,
I want to get home now to see my friends and family,,,sleep in my own bed,, make my own coffee,,
Home is where the heart is even if a day later I'll be wishing I did do a better route home,,,

Hey I'm not done yet,,, this has been a massive wonderful experience after such a long time not sitting on a bike,,
I'll strip my bike and enjoy cleaning any dust and sand away whilst thinking planning a proper bike trip one day.
The car I'd do it at the drop of a hat but for me on the bike,, I need to prepare myself. You more experienced riders probably think I'm a Jessi but this trip has helped me overcome huge trauma in my personal life and I feel like looking after myself again.

I thank you and we will have to meet up sometime Graham because without your knowledge I would have just sat on a beach???!!!!

Anthony that simple sentence says it all,,,Thankyou too.
If my head can clear by the end of today I'll go for it but if not I'm coming home a straight as an arrow.
What the flying fk has caused these markings,, I've not sat and spun the wheel doing donuts so someone gimve me a clue,,,just so you know,,, at 18 years of age I could pull one handed wheelies and change gear,,,I can ride a bike!




Having looked at that picture again,,,it must be from going through one if those sand traps,,,there no evidence of it on the front wheel,,,,I'm kind of remembering a slight slip angle at one point now,,,

Just a few mm loss of feel for a split second,,
I'm coming home before I regret it!
Thanks for the memories,,,Alun

Just to confirm, those marks go all the way round the tyre and from the front wheel you can see I've had the bike as far over as there is tread pattern,,,I'm almost 50 years old,,,I don't find it funny,,,, on the bike I love these angles but in the cold light of day it messes with my head.

Edited by ClassiChimi on Tuesday 22 September 05:27

nawarne

3,090 posts

260 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
Alun, if you get up to Dijon....and it's a lovely part of France, was there in August, cut across to the Loire valley and take the D roads that run alongside the river and/or the canal.

We did these roads going down to Burgundy/Dijon/Beaune and passed through some beautiful small towns and villages by keeping off the autoroute. Guess it'll be grape harvest this time of year, so I'd imagine a lot of banter in the cafes and bars with the workers.

Bonne route, Je vous en prie!
Nick

67Fox

452 posts

111 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
Whatever you do, have fun doing it!!

On another note Alun:-
Could your headache be due to you loosing you glasses. So that you have to skwint, struggle to focus?
I have had this problem in the past. Just a thought smile

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
"Oh you silly thing,you've really gone and done it now" lyrics from a punk band but I can't remember the name?






Were having dinner together at this restaurant near her home tomorrow evening 8.30pm,,,,,,,,,,,,

I've deliberately missed off the last few digits because if any of you are like my old builder mates you'll ring her and destroy my chances just for a laugh,,,,,hehe

My hands are shaking, my legs are weak, my stomach feels like I've got live fish on there,,,,heads spinning but the headaches instantly gone,,,sort of,,,,
I must have used this word hundreds of times through this thread but
Increadable,,,,,she says I'm very funny,,,I feel a bit funny I can tell you,,,,

I'm breathless,,, so will she be if I have my way with her,,,,
Nah I'll act like an English gentleman and try do us proud,,,
Love,,,it's a load of bull but it's hard not to feel real warmth and I'm not on about this wonderful sun beating down on me.

I'm in shock,,,I looked at her this morning and thought she'll never go for it,,
I just asked her if she'd be working tomorrow because I'm leaving Thursday early morning do it will be my last chance to say goodbye,,,she just did the rest,,,,wow,,,
Then to top it off she says I don't work Thursdays,,,,,, get my drift,,,,
I'd say she's about 40 years young,,, beautiful, has two kids 13&17 years of age. Perfect.
Hey I'm a man of experience, I just want to enjoy her company and show her deep respect.

She always rubs my arm and shoulder as we kiss French style saying good morning,, sparks fly,,,
This could be the start of a beautiful relationship,,, I'll be running this campsite before long,,,,biggrin

It's all to much this place,,, who'd have thought when I posted a question about how to get here all these experiences and feelings would happen to me.

Triumph,,,what a great company,,,the factory is 10 miles from my home in England,,, it makes me very proud

Wish me luck and Thankyou boys for showing interest and having made me smile loads
Alun
If you are ever near la plan de la Tour visit this restaurant,,, if the locals use it,,,that's all you need to know.
Ask for Yannick the chef and he'll look after you and that's a promise




ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Nawarne,,, I'll look when my hands stop shaking,,,
Yes I agree it could be because of my weak eyes,,,
I'm just going to relax again today,,, drink water and eat well.
Ttfn

QBee

20,985 posts

144 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
5 Place Foch.........whistle

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
It's a good job your not here Anthony you'd blow me out the water
What does that mean?????

2OOM

374 posts

284 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
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clap

Tyre Tread

10,535 posts

216 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
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bow

ClassiChimi

Original Poster:

12,424 posts

149 months

Tuesday 22nd September 2015
quotequote all
smash
Graham you have a lot to answer for
What can I say,,, I'm twenty years younger today than I was 3 weeks ago.
My son wants me back to who he respected as a boy,,,
Go on dad,,, who's the man dad,,, he's really happy for me,,, With that knowledge I'm a king amongst kings
Emotion,,,, good emotion,,,, I'm gaining strength again,,,
Now go get on ya bike you lot I've got stuff to do,,
Many many respects Alun

I'm still shaking like a leaf,,,,,,,, women!!!

Right that lots going in my bag and I'm off for some swimming and sun bathing,,, I've just looked in the mirror and I've gone white as a sheet,,, all the bloods gone south hahahahah,,
Easy Al,, to much info,,,
All the breath seems to have left my body,, deep breaths and the like,, I thought riding my bike was exciting!

I've been on some roller coaster these last three weeks, you'd think I've never been on holiday before.
Cheers Alun




Edited by ClassiChimi on Tuesday 22 September 10:42