james6546 said:
We are pleased to announce that we are back in for this trip :D

Very pleased!

Now I just need to decide whether to take my CX-5 or the defender. Votes please! The defender doesn't have the best reliability record but the CX-5 is a bit of a car
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Excellent. Will you now be joining us at the beginning of the trip in Rennes or later on as your original plan?
As for your Defender / CX5 dilemma . Mmmmmmm.........well the CX5 will cruise at 130k in air-conditioned luxury but it won't take your roof tent.
Maybe let Sarah make the decision. (Then you're blameless!)
 
Vincemcdonald said:
Excellent. Will you now be joining us at the beginning of the trip in Rennes or later on as your original plan?
As for your Defender / CX5 dilemma . Mmmmmmm.........well the CX5 will cruise at 130k in air-conditioned luxury but it won't take your roof tent.
Maybe let Sarah make the decision. (Then you're blameless!)
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We are going defender I think. Mainly cos I don't want to scratch the CX-5 and it doesn't matter with the defender. We won't bring as much stuff as last time though!

We can only make it down on the 10th as I don't have any more time off than that. So I guess meet you in Nantes?
 
Been an expensive few weeks getting the old bus ready but, after new watts linkage bushes later this week, it should be ready to go.
I'll see you all in Rennes on the 8th, really looking forward to it.
 
james6546 said:
We are going defender I think. Mainly cos I don't want to scratch the CX-5 and it doesn't matter with the defender. We won't bring as much stuff as last time though!

We can only make it down on the 10th as I don't have any more time off than that. So I guess meet you in Nantes?
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Yes, see you in Nantes at the campsite I mentioned several pages ago.
I'll bring your spares that you left with me last year.
 
MrIFan said:
Been an expensive few weeks getting the old bus ready but, after new watts linkage bushes later this week, it should be ready to go.
I'll see you all in Rennes on the 8th, really looking forward to it.
Click to expand...
Excellent, see you there.
Have just fitted a set of 31" kumho kl71's and the old van is looking a bit more aggressive now.
 
Vincemcdonald said:
Yes, see you in Nantes at the campsite I mentioned several pages ago.
I'll bring your spares that you left with me last year.
Click to expand...
Excellent, and I shall bring your spanner!

Don't worry about the rad pipes, I have got a complete silicon set to go on before I go. If they blow, all hope is lost.

Started fitting stuff back in the 90 yesterday, getting exciting now
 
james6546 said:
Do we have any worries about the fuel strikes going on in France?
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The French are normally pretty effective at striking and the chief cheese eating surrender monkey is already making conciliatory noises about modifying the new labor laws. Hopefully it will all be over in a few days but worth keeping an eye on.
 
MrIFan said:
The French are normally pretty effective at striking and the chief cheese eating surrender monkey is already making conciliatory noises about modifying the new labor laws. Hopefully it will all be over in a few days but worth keeping an eye on.
Click to expand...

Just had it pop up on my BBC app.
Strikes, delayed everything, riots, no fuel in 12,000 petrol stations and limits at the rest. They are certainly doing industrial action properly! Bah!
 
sarah88 said:
Just had it pop up on my BBC app.
Strikes, delayed everything, riots, no fuel in 12,000 petrol stations and limits at the rest. They are certainly doing industrial action properly! Bah!
Click to expand...
Ah good old BBC, never let the facts get in the way of a good story :D as of 06/04/2016 there were a total of 12524 petrol stations in France of which 11798 were active (sourced from UFIP the official French Petroleum Producers website via my somewhat limited grasp of French). Approx a third of them are currently dry or experiencing severe shortages as of today but that figure is likely to rise rapidly unless the strike is called off very soon! It would take about a week to get supplies back to normal if the strike ended today. Definitely needs an eye keeping on. Most ferry companies will allow no more than 10 liters of fuel to be carried in cans and, so I'm told on other forums, are checking more vehicles than usual before boarding and confiscating anything over this limit. France also has a law restricting the import of more than 10L in a private vehicle.
Fingers crossed that M. Valls keeps up French Government tradition and capitulates quickly or we might be pushbiking on the trails! o_O:D
 
MrIFan said:
Ah good old BBC, never let the facts get in the way of a good story :D as of 06/04/2016 there were a total of 12524 petrol stations in France of which 11798 were active (sourced from UFIP the official French Petroleum Producers website via my somewhat limited grasp of French). Approx a third of them are currently dry or experiencing severe shortages as of today but that figure is likely to rise rapidly unless the strike is called off very soon! It would take about a week to get supplies back to normal if the strike ended today. Definitely needs an eye keeping on. Most ferry companies will allow no more than 10 liters of fuel to be carried in cans and, so I'm told on other forums, are checking more vehicles than usual before boarding and confiscating anything over this limit. France also has a law restricting the import of more than 10L in a private vehicle.
Fingers crossed that M. Valls keeps up French Government tradition and capitulates quickly or we might be pushbiking on the trails! o_O:D
Click to expand...
It's not looking good to be honest. I'm hoping it has been resolved in two weeks
 
james6546 said:
It's not looking good to be honest. I'm hoping it has been resolved in two weeks
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Indeed. The news looks quite negative but the Brittany ferries website seemed quite positive. I think we'll just have to wait and see.
I suppose it wouldn't be too bad if we had cars with a decent range.
 
Have just thrown a bit more cash at my van and now have working air conditioning. Whether or not it's still functioning by the time we reach Rennes is another matter.
Unfortunately, I recently received an email from Kerm & Randomdaze saying that due to circumstances beyond their control, they will not be able to join us.
So it looks like we will be a convoy of 3.
See you in Rennes MrIFan and J & S in Nantes.
MrIFan, could you please pm or email your mobile prior to your departure, thanks.
James & Sarah, we already have your numbers, I just hope that your first phone call this year is "put the Barrie on, we're 20 minutes away' rather that ' I've got a vibration, may be a bit late'!
 
Ah, that's a shame that they couldn't make it.

I'm going to London (again) today to try and get a visa for Iran, so hopefully I will have my passport back in time.

Ian, what is your handheld CB like? I don't think I'm gonna have time to fit mine back in again, and not entirely sure it actually works.
 
Sorry guys but it looks like I'm out. Went laning on Saturday and all was fine but when I checked the car over on Sunday morning the coolant was low. Topped up, bled it through and took it for a run and level had dropped again. It's been in to the garage today and there are no obvious leaks so it looks like the head gasket has gone. If I can get it sorted in time I may come down with you James but will have to see how bad things are and how soon it can be fixed :( I'll keep you updated

James, the handheld cb is pretty naff to be honest, unless you can find somewhere to keep it vertical whilst driving the range is very limited. A bit better if it can be kept upright but still not great. That may just be mine though as it was bought second hand off ebay for not a lot and is quite old and battered!
 
MrIFan said:
Sorry guys but it looks like I'm out. Went laning on Saturday and all was fine but when I checked the car over on Sunday morning the coolant was low. Topped up, bled it through and took it for a run and level had dropped again. It's been in to the garage today and there are no obvious leaks so it looks like the head gasket has gone. If I can get it sorted in time I may come down with you James but will have to see how bad things are and how soon it can be fixed :( I'll keep you updated

James, the handheld cb is pretty naff to be honest, unless you can find somewhere to keep it vertical whilst driving the range is very limited. A bit better if it can be kept upright but still not great. That may just be mine though as it was bought second hand off ebay for not a lot and is quite old and battered!
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That's a shame.

We are also unfortunately out too as I can't get my passport back from the Iran embassy until Monday, gutted.

Next year I guess...
 
james6546 said:
That's a shame.

We are also unfortunately out too as I can't get my passport back from the Iran embassy until Monday, gutted.

Next year I guess...
Click to expand...
Oh bugga....double bugga.
Thanks for letting us know.
We thought about doing a 'billy no mates' trip but as the weather looks to be deteriorating we have now cancelled our crossing and re-booked it for later in the year.
 
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