Story of our French Trip- Fantastic!
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Just returned from my 4 day trip to Compiegne, France in the Chimaera.
The car drove and conducted itself impecably throughout the whole trip even though the weather was quite warm.
The drive down to Dover last Wednesday was relaxed apart from a severe traffic jam due to an accident just over the Dartford Crossing which forced us to take the A2 and not the M20 as planned.
I filled up with Optimax in Dover and then we queued up to board our 'Sea France' ferry and took many admiring glances from fellow voyagers.....nothing to what was instore for us once we had crossed the Channel.
Boarding the ship was rather uneventful with plenty of ground clearance, which i thought might have been a problem. We were fortunate enough to be right at the front of the ship, more a case of 'last on first off' and with no fear of anyone bashing the side of our newly painted car with their doors etc.
The crossing was swift and when we returned to our car for the start engines routine, we were both amazed to see the car surrounded by ship employees, all looking around with admiring glances.
Its always a bit embarrasing returning to your car in these circumstances.
The sun was shining on the other side and the hood was well and truly down and we set off for our two and a half hour drive to our Chateau.
After about half an hour we had both commented on the number of passing cars slowing and which had the occupants noses pressed up against their windows to get a proper look at our Chim, and then strain their necks to look at the front to see what it actually was.
We pulled into a picnic area to have a sandwich or two and again the interest was rife. It made us smile when a little french boy ran up to the front of the car, turned and shouted to a group of adults eating on a picnic blanket," Pappa, its a TVR".
We giggled and then continued our journey to the Chataeu, this time with Charlotte driving.When we arrived we just had to get some nice (sad eh?) pictures in this splendid castle with the TVR, and the roar was something else as we drove into its splendid driveway and gardens right up to the entrance.
Later we drove into the town and i felt like a true proper poser, driving around the square with people staring from the many cafes and bars that were spilling out onto the pavement, it really was magnificent.
We parked and left the car, when we returned, someone was actually taking a picture of the Chim and we engaged in conversation...well he did,i listened due to my poor French.We were then aquainted to a saying that we heard many times over the next 3 days "Belle voiture monsieur" which basically means, 'nice car sir'. Even the Gendarmes gave us the thumbs up.
This went on and on and i cannot emphasise it enough unless you have experienced it yourselves.
An old lady started to wave at us and gesticulated to her very small grandson to do the same as we thundered through a sleepy little village.
The funniest episode was in the grounds of the Chateau whilst we were out walking. We noticed an elderly lady and a younger lady looking around and inside our Chim as we were walking up to it. As i approached i said to the old lady "do you fancy a ride" to which she replied in a warming Scottish accent "im going to a wedding this afternoon in this car and i canny wait". Myself and Charlotte looked at each other puzzled and the old lady went on to explain that there were a lot of Scottish people staying at the Chateau for a family wedding in the nearby town.We wished them well and i unlocked the car to which the two ladies looked puzzled. Then the younger one said "oh...thats not your grandsons car, thats his over there" (pointing to a new Blue Uk Audi TT Convertible).
The old lady put her hand over her mouth and said "dont tell him but i prefer yours". That just made us laugh.
A few minutes later we walked into the Chateau past the wedding party (who were drinking on the lawn)and the younger of the 2 women, was recounting the story to the group, who all looked in our direction and to which Charlotte said "the lady would like ride in a TVR and not in the TT". The only person that didnt smile was a young man (bridegroom) who actually owned the TT.
Over the next few days we managed to fill up with Optimax every time and we positively grinned everytime we drove the Chim, the weather was nice and sunny and the attention was relentless.
We were however, brought back down to earth quite quickly as we got off the Ferry at Dover, a seagull litterally splattered our car from front to rear with the contents of its stomach and we were fortunate that at this stage the roof was on.
The drive back home was warm to say the least as i darent store the roof in the boot whilst it was in that condition..lol.
Once we arrived back home i worked out that we had covered over 700 miles with and average of 29mpg which returned the smile to our faces again.
The car was then washed and put back into the garage and as i closed the door i was still smiling.
I will conclude this story with the advice to get over to France in your TVR because unless you experience the fact for yourself, mere words cannot do it justice.
>>> Edited by tonyrec on Sunday 27th July 20:11
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