Anyone for a PH old car pootle round France?
Anyone for a PH old car pootle round France?
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Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Me and a mate are planning a trip around a bit of France in old cars early next summer with our other halves.

Him and his missus will be in a 72 Beetle and me and Mrs Huntsman will be in a 64 Morris Traveller.

About 5 or 6 days duration, LD Lines from Pompey overnight, lunch in Chartes, visit cathedral as its amazing, one or two nights in the Auberge Du Centre in Chitenay near Blois, take in a couple of chateau, maybe along to Azay or Saumur, stopping off at Le Mans for a couple of nights to absorb the local motorsport history.

Perhaps a couple of nights camping to add to the fun. Unless its raining in which case we'll grap a cheapy hotel.

Probably the last night we'll use the Hotel Dauphin in Honfleur and have moules et frites on the quay.

Some shopping.

There will be some gentle motoring, lots of smelly cheese, lots of wine, some nice meals and some cheap one's, some farting and sniggering, some telling off. We speak dreadful French.

I dont intend to do anything more organisational than this thread and as plans firm up I'm quite happy to share our itinery if anyone else fancies bimbling along? Maybe if there is a few we could RDV at Goodwood and drive to the ferry as a bit of a convoy.

No dates as yet.

Any Ph'ers live in the Le Mans area that could give us a bit of local knowledge on the history of racing round Le Mans? Cough....cough....

LordBretSinclair

4,306 posts

206 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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In my ever advancing years I'm afraid I don't do camping (or cheap hotels). I hope you get the trip organised though and if you have time do visit this place http://www.manoir-automobile.fr/welcome/index.php at Loheac - its amazing.

Rostfritt

3,098 posts

180 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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Sounds tempting. I have a LHD Volvo Amazon (mainly as an excuse to go to the continent) enjoy camping an smelly food. I also speak dreadful French and tend to try and say something in any foreign language I know it in (ou est la bahnhof, por favor). A pootling road trip sounds like an excellent idea.

nigel bickle

104 posts

216 months

Friday 25th November 2011
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We might be game. Current oldie is a 1965 Datsun P411 (Bluebird). I do have a close French friend who runs a big 2cv club in Alencon who might help.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Friday 25th November 2011
quotequote all
A Morris, a Beetle, an Amazon and a Datsun, sounds perfect!

benjj

6,787 posts

192 months

Saturday 26th November 2011
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Could be up for this date depending. Spent many a happy day pootling around northern France and a miscellany of old bangers.

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Saturday 26th November 2011
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I think there used to be a PHer who lived near Le Mans but I cna't remember his name at the moment

Yours

Al Zheimer

LordBretSinclair

4,306 posts

206 months

Saturday 26th November 2011
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Tony, time to take your tablets hehe

M3John

5,974 posts

248 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
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If i honestly thought that Her Majesty (the car) would make it all the way round without breaking down i'd be up for it. hehe

Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
quotequote all
Righty ho, not forgotten about, The Consort Marmalade and I have been discussing dates, I think we've got a plan forming.

In the next week or so I'll publish a sort of itinery.

Lowdrag has very kindly offered to help us out in Le Mans so we can make sure we see the best bits.

jith

2,752 posts

244 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
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Huntsman, I wish you wouldn't have posted this! The idea of cruising around France in the 500 SEC with all the windows down and the sunroof open is utterly compelling right now. I have had the wind forcing the rain under the workshop door for 3 days now!

Any idea when you are thinking of going? The problem for me is that I have the cost of fuel all the way from Glasgow; it's a good bit extra. Mind you, the 500 has a boot that would swallow a marquee! And the French camp sites are the best in the world. (note how I am trying to talk myself into this).

Chartres Cathedral is fascinating, as are most French Cathedrals.

And face to face with lowdrag's D type too! And there might be an XKSS as well by the time we get there.

Let me know.

J

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Thursday 5th January 2012
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On a serious note, the XKSS should be here end of April, so if you are coming later in the year and want me to recommend a hotel and book same I'm willing to help out. similarly, if you want a BBQ around the pool here and it fits in with my travel plans that's fine too.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Friday 6th January 2012
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Thank you everyone for your interest and kind offers!

We've set a date, me and my wife in our Morris Traveller, my oldest chum, Le Consort Marmalade and his better half Sue, will be catching the LD Lines Portsmouth to Le Havre service at 2300 on Sunday 3rd June.

Details to follow.

Motown Junk

2,041 posts

246 months

Friday 6th January 2012
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V interested, will try to convince the o/h that this will be better VFM and more fun than St Lucia.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Tuesday 24th January 2012
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Some booking have been made...

LD Lines from Portsmouth on 3rd June at 2300.

Auberge Du Centre on 4th June. http://www.auberge-du-centre.com/en.php for one night.

Currenty 2 old bangers, a Morris Traveller and a 1970 VW Bug, 4 people.

One car coming back 10th June, the other a week later.

Will be some camping along the way.

Huntsman

Original Poster:

9,306 posts

279 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
We're back.

Weather not so good.

Both the Morris and the VW ran perfectly.

We didn't make it to Le Mans, decided we'd prefer to stick out in the countryside rather than head into a city, aside from the Pont De Normandy, we did 700 miles without any motorway.

A great trip.

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Monday 11th June 2012
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And I still haven't got the XKSS grumpymadcryrage