.... not the most flattering of piccies - she'll kill me if she sees it. But since no-one is actually reading this, then it doesn't matter! Traffic was appalling - I later discovered that I'd elected to travel on one of the biggest holiday weekends in France - Ascension weekend - and got stuck in a 40km traffic jam on the way to Lyon.
A late arrival in the UK from the ferry necessitated a stay in a Travelodge. It was rubbish. I won't bother with them again.
Packed Maria off on the train. Got the car MOT'd and taxed, then set off for the IOW. Once again traffic was heavy and I only just made it in time for my 1800h ferry. Arrived quite late at Sandown and pitched camp as you can see it was quite late by the time I'd got sorted!
However, sorted I was and looked forward to a pint and a pie.
Next day dawned much as the rest of the week would:
Not much joy there!
Amazingly quite a few made it to Sandown on the Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately the threatening weather sent many scurrying for home on the Saturday evening, and only a few hardy souls stayed for the Saturday evning with band - at one stage I thought we were going to outnumber the audience... but in the end there were about 40 faithfuls at the gig, enjoying a beer and hopefully the music.
I never flew LC, since I managed to badly kink one of the forward lowers rigging her on a blustery Friday morning. Bugger. I looked at the wire and thought "well, I wouldn't take a boat out with rigging like that - or if I did I would be constantly expecting the mast to fall down," so I didn't fly her. Despite Graham's stalwart efforts at P&M to find someone coming down on the Saturday who could bring me a replacement. No luck.
I was rather hoping for a prize - longest travelled not to fly! Nearly 1000 miles each way...
Nonetheless I had a great week and renewed my acquaintance with the HMFC guys who had come. I also finally met Kev Armstrong - quite a character!
The drive back was equally eventful - got a serious flat on the trailer rounding Lyon:
Wow! I think I was lucky not to lose the tyre completely. I put on the spare - it was a little low in pressure, so I topped it up a bit. As I removed the pump, the centre of the valve blew out... hmmm. Looks as if I won't be meeting up with Daryl and co in Gap this evening then!
After my debacle with the RAC at the end of last year, I was loth to call them, but eventually I capitulated and stunningly they turned up within 40 mins and fixed the tyre!
Home by 0100.
Tyre flat the next day - oh well, at least LC is safe in the car park at our appartments.
It took 2 weeks to get new tyres - nothing doing in France - eventually I had to get them via the UK, and amazingly they were cheaper than lower quality tyres in France - even with the postage!
Albeit frustrating sometimes to live in France, there are some compensations:
... the view from our terrace the other evening.
Tyres fixed, it was time for a trip to La Roquebrousanne... to follow.
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