A French Loop - Aston Style
Discussion
that was the first thing Mrs K said when she saw the news.mikey k said:
.....Nice to relax after customs "investigated" the whole car, first time that has happened to us!
You haven't sold any dodgy compressors to HM Customs recently have you 
You back for a trip out on the 27th to look at the new Vanq and eat all the food at Wilmslow ??
Looks like Graham and I are going. Although you will be sleeping rough you will still need to eat
Very jealous. Will be there in a few weeks for a whole 3 days (2 days driving 
)
Day 1 in France and 661 miles from Cheshire
Customs woman was amazed how little space there was to "hide" anything, she was even more amazed to see how little we had packed for 2.5 weeks.
We went through Le Mans around the road circuit, quite weird seeing crash fences and chicanes with massive kerbs on a "normal" road
Temp hit 32C around Le Mans
Now sat in the garden of a great little chambre de hotes called Domaine de Joreau
Beer is nice and cold, then off out for nosh!
Early Start from Ashford with the mist still burning off
French Loop 002_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Empty roads and not a cloud in the sky, the Sanef Toll tag is great don't know why I've never bought one before!
French Loop 008_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Le Mans was a bit weird but nice to see out side a race event
Those guys are loons doing over 200 MPH on the Mulsanne straight!
French Loop 014_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 018_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 021_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Saw Yetis next engine ugrade out on a road test
French Loop 025_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Arrived at our first night stop to a fantastic drive way and nice "digs"
French Loop 031_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 036_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 044_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Customs woman was amazed how little space there was to "hide" anything, she was even more amazed to see how little we had packed for 2.5 weeks.
We went through Le Mans around the road circuit, quite weird seeing crash fences and chicanes with massive kerbs on a "normal" road
Temp hit 32C around Le Mans
Now sat in the garden of a great little chambre de hotes called Domaine de Joreau
Beer is nice and cold, then off out for nosh!
Early Start from Ashford with the mist still burning off
French Loop 002_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Empty roads and not a cloud in the sky, the Sanef Toll tag is great don't know why I've never bought one before!
French Loop 008_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Le Mans was a bit weird but nice to see out side a race event
Those guys are loons doing over 200 MPH on the Mulsanne straight!
French Loop 014_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 018_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 021_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Saw Yetis next engine ugrade out on a road test
French Loop 025_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Arrived at our first night stop to a fantastic drive way and nice "digs"
French Loop 031_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 036_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
French Loop 044_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr
Edited by mikey k on Sunday 9th September 22:29
Jockman said:
You haven't sold any dodgy compressors to HM Customs recently have you
You back for a trip out on the 27th to look at the new Vanq and eat all the food at Wilmslow ??
Looks like Graham and I are going. Although you will be sleeping rough you will still need to eat
You know our stuff is only "quality gear" You back for a trip out on the 27th to look at the new Vanq and eat all the food at Wilmslow ??
Looks like Graham and I are going. Although you will be sleeping rough you will still need to eat
Not sure about Wilmslow?
mikey k said:
Sat on the boat having a coffee and Pain au Chocolat
Nice to relax after customs "investigated" the whole car, first time that has happened to us!
Nice and sunny bit a bit too much sea mist at the moment
Basic mistake - ferry! Use Eurotunnel and save yourself at least an hour vs the ferry crossing.Nice to relax after customs "investigated" the whole car, first time that has happened to us!
Nice and sunny bit a bit too much sea mist at the moment
Edited by mikey k on Saturday 8th September 17:32
Have a great trip. The weather in France has warmed up in the past 2 days.
Just got home :and not even a cold beer in the place
Mikey - you using your Aston Garmin or a standalone satnav ?? If so, have you needed to update your maps ??
I know you have the GB rear plate and no doubt the hivis and bulb kit but.....did you bother with breathalysers or are you subscribing to the 'Foreigners aren't affected until November viewpoint?'
I know you have the GB rear plate and no doubt the hivis and bulb kit but.....did you bother with breathalysers or are you subscribing to the 'Foreigners aren't affected until November viewpoint?'
Jockman said:
Mikey - you using your Aston Garmin or a standalone satnav ?? If so, have you needed to update your maps ??
I know you have the GB rear plate and no doubt the hivis and bulb kit but.....did you bother with breathalysers or are you subscribing to the 'Foreigners aren't affected until November viewpoint?'
Tom Tom with ITN files is working well even shows the "danger areas" I know you have the GB rear plate and no doubt the hivis and bulb kit but.....did you bother with breathalysers or are you subscribing to the 'Foreigners aren't affected until November viewpoint?'
Breath kits are available on the ferry at £6 for 2
They are sold out through out most of France and many are not bothering until November
They are 1 euro each I'd you can find them
Plod have found the AM interesting many have a really good look. It no tugs as yet
29C in Limoges, Mrs K is melting
Bought my breathalyser kit in Halfords. A fiver IIRC. They are sat in the seat pocket behind the drivers seat, along with the Hi Vis jacket, where they will almost cetainly stay until next year.
Bought updated AM SatNav discs and also updated the TomTom. TomTom now does not show French speed cameras, just 'danger' zones. However did notice it is not showing as many speed cameras / danger zones as it did last year, so they've screwed up somewhere.
The AM Sat Nav now does not get lost in France, but its still a pile of crap compared to TomTom. "Keep Right" means exit this dual carrigeway! TomTom says "take the exit".
Mikey K - enjoy the trip.
Bought updated AM SatNav discs and also updated the TomTom. TomTom now does not show French speed cameras, just 'danger' zones. However did notice it is not showing as many speed cameras / danger zones as it did last year, so they've screwed up somewhere.
The AM Sat Nav now does not get lost in France, but its still a pile of crap compared to TomTom. "Keep Right" means exit this dual carrigeway! TomTom says "take the exit".
Mikey K - enjoy the trip.
Jockman said:
I know you have the GB rear plate and no doubt the hivis and bulb kit but.....did you bother with breathalysers or are you subscribing to the 'Foreigners aren't affected until November viewpoint?'
Or subscribe to the 'it's a stupid policy' viewpoint. Just say you used it before you drove to ensure you werent over the limit. Since the whole speed camera gps warning device ban, Tomtom no longer piggybacks off the Coyote database. That is why the warnings are so poor. In fact, they are so poor they don't even show some cameras that have been there for years. Worse than useless.
Coyote offers the best protection in France, but pretty much useless anywhere else.
Coyote offers the best protection in France, but pretty much useless anywhere else.
BingoBob said:
Since the whole speed camera gps warning device ban, Tomtom no longer piggybacks off the Coyote database. That is why the warnings are so poor. In fact, they are so poor they don't even show some cameras that have been there for years. Worse than useless.
Coyote offers the best protection in France, but pretty much useless anywhere else.
Get a App like CamerAlert which can be easily deleted if needed. Very reliable in France, bit lacking in some other countries.Coyote offers the best protection in France, but pretty much useless anywhere else.
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