Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
I like having my car attended to whilst abroad. It makes my excursions feel more purposeful, somehow and gives me a little local knowledge abroad. I have emailed the service manager at MB Barcelona to see if they can fit the duo valve that I brought along with me. Last year, they replaced the the front discs and pads and seemed most courteous and trustworthy. They had a W126 in there which was Swiss plated and said that they attended to a number of foreign vehicles on a regular basis, so it seems as though I'm not the only one!
I rather agree about the pleasures of having the car attended to abroad. The mechanics' trade seems a good deal more competent, more honest and more courteous than we are used to.
The alarm went off at 5am this morning and I was in my car at 5.15. It took 15mins to get down to the autoroute and another 45 to cover the 20 junctions to Menton where I commenced the climb from the coast to the Col de Castillon, 706m.
I was in the fetching if deserted and dirt poor looking town of Sospel by 7am. To my horror the petrol station had burned down. A market was setting up and I was tempted by coffee and bread but kept going to the Col de Turini at 1,605m. This was most rewarding and it felt good to cover what is a classic route.
Here I am at the classic vista of the lacets from the église de Notre Dame de la Menour:
And more hairpins further up:
I continued through the delightful town of Moulinet at 7.30am. Unfortunately it was all shut up. I quite literally bumped into a delightful French lady who told me nothing would be open for another half an hour so I pressed on to the summit (where again nothing was doing) and then down to La Bollène-Vésubie. Here I found some ne'er-do-wells sitting outside a grocer/baker and correctly surmised there would be coffee and pain au chocolate for me, both warm, each €1.
Fuel was getting low now although I always have the 7L spare wheel can just in case. I was also running out of time. It takes a long time to cover very few miles on these twisting passes. I also think you don't need a fast car. The roads are just too narrow, too steep and too tight. I did look down a couple of times and it was terrifying. I cut back along the Gorges de Vésubie road, quite fast moving, through Lantosque and then Plan du Var where I refuelled. CdeG would appreciate the pump assistante. If he'd had enough to drink.
It was then a quick run down to the autoroute at Nice and along to the hotel. This return route along the valley bottom was much, much faster than the outward route and, if permission is secured, I intend to use it tomorrow to check out the Gorges de Daluis. Finally I clocked this just before my autoroute exit. It's not just me, then. I bet my bottom dollar this was en route to Sport Tech 83. Smoke silver, too.
The alarm went off at 5am this morning and I was in my car at 5.15. It took 15mins to get down to the autoroute and another 45 to cover the 20 junctions to Menton where I commenced the climb from the coast to the Col de Castillon, 706m.
I was in the fetching if deserted and dirt poor looking town of Sospel by 7am. To my horror the petrol station had burned down. A market was setting up and I was tempted by coffee and bread but kept going to the Col de Turini at 1,605m. This was most rewarding and it felt good to cover what is a classic route.
Here I am at the classic vista of the lacets from the église de Notre Dame de la Menour:
And more hairpins further up:
I continued through the delightful town of Moulinet at 7.30am. Unfortunately it was all shut up. I quite literally bumped into a delightful French lady who told me nothing would be open for another half an hour so I pressed on to the summit (where again nothing was doing) and then down to La Bollène-Vésubie. Here I found some ne'er-do-wells sitting outside a grocer/baker and correctly surmised there would be coffee and pain au chocolate for me, both warm, each €1.
Fuel was getting low now although I always have the 7L spare wheel can just in case. I was also running out of time. It takes a long time to cover very few miles on these twisting passes. I also think you don't need a fast car. The roads are just too narrow, too steep and too tight. I did look down a couple of times and it was terrifying. I cut back along the Gorges de Vésubie road, quite fast moving, through Lantosque and then Plan du Var where I refuelled. CdeG would appreciate the pump assistante. If he'd had enough to drink.
It was then a quick run down to the autoroute at Nice and along to the hotel. This return route along the valley bottom was much, much faster than the outward route and, if permission is secured, I intend to use it tomorrow to check out the Gorges de Daluis. Finally I clocked this just before my autoroute exit. It's not just me, then. I bet my bottom dollar this was en route to Sport Tech 83. Smoke silver, too.
It may add more than that! It was very slow from Menton to La Bollène-Vésubie.
This IGN map of the Route des Grandes Alpes is excellent and shows my route. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Route-grandes-Alpes-2017-...
CdeG: on this occasion, you are not disappointed.
This IGN map of the Route des Grandes Alpes is excellent and shows my route. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Route-grandes-Alpes-2017-...
CdeG: on this occasion, you are not disappointed.
An R129SL-inspired video of our hillside chalet/apartment on the hilltop of San Sebastián to Zarautz, Basque Country.
https://vimeo.com/339436667
https://vimeo.com/339436667
I can relate to your recent experiences, not in a 124 way, but at least involving a classic estate and the Col de Turini. 
When a €0.50 plastic connector in the cooling system of my RS2 failed the gentlemen at the main Audi dealer in Dijon were delighted to have the opportunity to work on such a rare beast. The car duly left with them I hired a van with a tow bar to take over dragging duties and trundled off to my track day at Magny Cours, Caterham dutifully following behind. On my return to Dijon the guys had done a lovely job on the car, true to their word in timescales and at a reasonable cost (and with many smiles and thumbs-ups to fill in any language difficulties).
One of my most memorable drives up the Col was in my GT3 first thing in the morning, along with a friend in his TVR. We took it on in the opposite direction to you and from what I remember didn't see another car. Not many horses were spared as those memories were made ...
When a €0.50 plastic connector in the cooling system of my RS2 failed the gentlemen at the main Audi dealer in Dijon were delighted to have the opportunity to work on such a rare beast. The car duly left with them I hired a van with a tow bar to take over dragging duties and trundled off to my track day at Magny Cours, Caterham dutifully following behind. On my return to Dijon the guys had done a lovely job on the car, true to their word in timescales and at a reasonable cost (and with many smiles and thumbs-ups to fill in any language difficulties).
One of my most memorable drives up the Col was in my GT3 first thing in the morning, along with a friend in his TVR. We took it on in the opposite direction to you and from what I remember didn't see another car. Not many horses were spared as those memories were made ...
Let me give a full length account of today's journey. It entertains me even if it bores the pants of everyone else. As yesterday, I got up at 5am and headed out. As yesterday, the hotel was deserted. I was kind of hoping (channelling CdeG here) that some bored French woman might be ambling back from her husband's on-going poker game... but of course not.
Instead, more sensibly, I headed north up the D563 from Tourrettes to Mons and on to the Route Napoléon. The hillside was richly green and the sky a wonderful washed out pink. I could see all the way back to the Mediterranean.
The RN85 (as was, anyway) took me to Castellane. I see why the supercar guys love this road. It is wide, smoothly surfaced, fast in places, technical in others. A great fast run making up some lost time. Castellane looks like an interesting provincial town, a bit better off than other places I've visited, no doubt because of the road. From there I took the D955 north again past the Lac de Castillon, over the dam and up to St Julien-du-Verdon where I picked up the N202 eastbound. Another corker of a road. Just east of Vergons I came across the lovely Chapelle Notre Dame de Valvert which was open for prayers.
Now the landscape got interesting as the RN202 carved its way through the gorge on the long descent towards Nice.
I ought to add something about the 124. Its suspension really is made for this kind of high speed cross country touring. Not once did I find it lacking in power. Of course, there were no over takes required. But it handles these roads with effortless grace and pace: I was running about 90mph over the RNs. Yet it has compliance to handle the single lane back roads not to mention narrowness: many moderns would be useless, I expect.
After no time at all, I was at the entrance to the Gorges de Daluis road, the D902/D2202. Having lost a little time on the way to Castellane, I was now ahead and looking forward to enjoying the next parts of my drive. It was not to last. The road starts out open and fast, well made, traversing a giant but relatively gentle landscape. It soon tightens up. And then becomes altogether hair-raising as it clings to the side of a sheer rock face many hundreds of feet up. There are numerous tunnels, sometimes in one direction only. To be avoided if scared of heights; to be savoured if you enjoy the grandeur of nature and the pleasure of motoring.
I cannot imagine how this landscape was conquered. At Guilliaumes I left the Var and picked ups he D28, climbing high to Valberg. Disaster struck on a hairpin when I shredded the sidewall of the driver's side rear tyre here:
I took the car to more level ground and set about changing the wheel. All did not go to plan. I could not get the jack into the rear jacking point so thought I'd try the front point. That worked but when I got the wheel off, the suspension dropped and I couldn't get the spare on. After scratching my head, I put a big rock under the rear control arm, let the car down, and had another go at using the rear jacking point. With the assistance of another rock (remember to pack rubber mallet next trip), I was able to get the jack into the hole and effect the change. Onward ho, with the nagging suspicion that I would not be able to replace the spare tyre.
I can't quite recall the height at Valberg, I think 1,675m. Snow in sight:
From there I continued to the delightful town of Beuil. I would like to have a skiing holiday here. Not in May.
Now seriously behind on time (I promise to be back at the hotel by 10am) I stopped taking pictures and got the pedal to the metal. Into the stunning Gorges de Cian, red stone with the iron oxide, very deep, this time the road goes along the bottom. It is pretty intimidating. I completely cooked the brakes without realising it. I was making smashing progress until I came upon a bus which promptly got stuck and took about half na hour to free itself. It should not have been down there. You could exercise a proper car down here: the road is sufficiently wide and smooth. I did two of those time lapse videos but they really fail to capture the scale of the gorge. It is magnificent, breathtaking, reaffirming of one's faith. I'll add links when Vimeo has finished processing them.
https://vimeo.com/339563327
https://vimeo.com/339563327
Then it was down the 202 (now a RD) to the A8 at Nice. The 202 itself is a spectacular road. Were it in the UK, we would all rave about it but because it is here (the world number one for crazy transport infrastructure) it seems unremarkable. Again, a big road in a canyon. At times it is dualled, with the carriageways passing on opposite sides of a mountain, or one above the other, bridges, tunnels, tramline along side, the works.
I can honestly say that the Gorges de Daluis—Col de Valberg—Gorges de Cian circuit is the most spectacular drive of my life.
Do it.
Sure enough, I can't find anyone with a 205/60 R15 tyre in stock and they won't sell me a 195/65.
Instead, more sensibly, I headed north up the D563 from Tourrettes to Mons and on to the Route Napoléon. The hillside was richly green and the sky a wonderful washed out pink. I could see all the way back to the Mediterranean.
The RN85 (as was, anyway) took me to Castellane. I see why the supercar guys love this road. It is wide, smoothly surfaced, fast in places, technical in others. A great fast run making up some lost time. Castellane looks like an interesting provincial town, a bit better off than other places I've visited, no doubt because of the road. From there I took the D955 north again past the Lac de Castillon, over the dam and up to St Julien-du-Verdon where I picked up the N202 eastbound. Another corker of a road. Just east of Vergons I came across the lovely Chapelle Notre Dame de Valvert which was open for prayers.
Now the landscape got interesting as the RN202 carved its way through the gorge on the long descent towards Nice.
I ought to add something about the 124. Its suspension really is made for this kind of high speed cross country touring. Not once did I find it lacking in power. Of course, there were no over takes required. But it handles these roads with effortless grace and pace: I was running about 90mph over the RNs. Yet it has compliance to handle the single lane back roads not to mention narrowness: many moderns would be useless, I expect.
After no time at all, I was at the entrance to the Gorges de Daluis road, the D902/D2202. Having lost a little time on the way to Castellane, I was now ahead and looking forward to enjoying the next parts of my drive. It was not to last. The road starts out open and fast, well made, traversing a giant but relatively gentle landscape. It soon tightens up. And then becomes altogether hair-raising as it clings to the side of a sheer rock face many hundreds of feet up. There are numerous tunnels, sometimes in one direction only. To be avoided if scared of heights; to be savoured if you enjoy the grandeur of nature and the pleasure of motoring.
I cannot imagine how this landscape was conquered. At Guilliaumes I left the Var and picked ups he D28, climbing high to Valberg. Disaster struck on a hairpin when I shredded the sidewall of the driver's side rear tyre here:
I took the car to more level ground and set about changing the wheel. All did not go to plan. I could not get the jack into the rear jacking point so thought I'd try the front point. That worked but when I got the wheel off, the suspension dropped and I couldn't get the spare on. After scratching my head, I put a big rock under the rear control arm, let the car down, and had another go at using the rear jacking point. With the assistance of another rock (remember to pack rubber mallet next trip), I was able to get the jack into the hole and effect the change. Onward ho, with the nagging suspicion that I would not be able to replace the spare tyre.
I can't quite recall the height at Valberg, I think 1,675m. Snow in sight:
From there I continued to the delightful town of Beuil. I would like to have a skiing holiday here. Not in May.
Now seriously behind on time (I promise to be back at the hotel by 10am) I stopped taking pictures and got the pedal to the metal. Into the stunning Gorges de Cian, red stone with the iron oxide, very deep, this time the road goes along the bottom. It is pretty intimidating. I completely cooked the brakes without realising it. I was making smashing progress until I came upon a bus which promptly got stuck and took about half na hour to free itself. It should not have been down there. You could exercise a proper car down here: the road is sufficiently wide and smooth. I did two of those time lapse videos but they really fail to capture the scale of the gorge. It is magnificent, breathtaking, reaffirming of one's faith. I'll add links when Vimeo has finished processing them.
https://vimeo.com/339563327
https://vimeo.com/339563327
Then it was down the 202 (now a RD) to the A8 at Nice. The 202 itself is a spectacular road. Were it in the UK, we would all rave about it but because it is here (the world number one for crazy transport infrastructure) it seems unremarkable. Again, a big road in a canyon. At times it is dualled, with the carriageways passing on opposite sides of a mountain, or one above the other, bridges, tunnels, tramline along side, the works.
I can honestly say that the Gorges de Daluis—Col de Valberg—Gorges de Cian circuit is the most spectacular drive of my life.
Do it.
Sure enough, I can't find anyone with a 205/60 R15 tyre in stock and they won't sell me a 195/65.
r129sl said:
Sure enough, I can't find anyone with a 205/60 R15 tyre in stock and they won't sell me a 195/65.
Tyreleader appear to have loads of choice and will deliver to a fitting centre near you, even in France. https://montage.centralepneus.fr/
jeremyc said:
r129sl said:
Sure enough, I can't find anyone with a 205/60 R15 tyre in stock and they won't sell me a 195/65.
Tyreleader appear to have loads of choice and will deliver to a fitting centre near you, even in France. https://montage.centralepneus.fr/
However, BestDrive near Cannes Airport have stock. Whether I can get permission to head down there tomorrow first thing is another matter.
Edit: no they haven't.
Edited by r129sl on Friday 31st May 16:10
ferrisbueller said:
r129sl said:
Let me give a full length account of today's journey. It entertains me even if it bores the pants of everyone else.
Au contraire, it's thoroughly enjoyable and somewhat inspirational.I also admire the dedication of the early mornings whilst away on holiday but suspect that adds to the experience of it?
[quote=r129slTo be avoided if scared of heights; to be savoured if you enjoy the grandeur of nature and the pleasure of motoring.
[/quote]
Fist pumps warranted. Well done for seizing the moment. It makes one feel alive. We must all get on to Petrolicious to capture R129SLs love of all things youngtimer Mercs!
... do share your tips on how to capture a time lapse video without a wife to dutifully secure the phone on the dash!
[/quote]
Fist pumps warranted. Well done for seizing the moment. It makes one feel alive. We must all get on to Petrolicious to capture R129SLs love of all things youngtimer Mercs!
... do share your tips on how to capture a time lapse video without a wife to dutifully secure the phone on the dash!
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