We’ve just returned from our annual French holiday. The old gal put another flawless 2400 miles under her wheels. With the direct ferry link from Rosyth, it’s only a 17 mile drive from my front door to the dock gates exit at Zeebrugge.
We stayed near Nyons, around 30 miles southeast of Montelimar and got as far south as Avignon. That A7 south of Lyon is some road – few HGVs, just three lanes of tightly packed cars battering on. Venture into the outside lane and you’re being pushed along at over 90mph and in your RVM you can see the hairs up the nose of the driver behind. Tailgating is now a major pastime for the frogs whether on M-ways or backroads. Their mission is to overtake at all costs.
Just clear of Lyon we passed a major shunt on the north bound carriageway. We continued at 80–85mph past three stationary lanes for twenty minutes, almost to the tolls four miles south of Vienne!
The region where we stayed is dominated by Mount Ventoux. A smooth winding road climbs for 16 miles from around 1100 feet right to the summit at 6220 feet – OK, nowhere near as high as the Stelvio, but good enough for Mercedes to test several disguised E-classes.
View attachment 8187
The trailers were laden with ballast and these boys drove the cars like they were stolen. Being my car, transmission, brakes, tyres and cooling system, I drove up in a sedate 40 odd minutes. They ploughed up in less than half that.
View attachment 8188
Cyclists take hours! Also a nice contingent of MG As, Bs and Cs as well as several Jag XKs.
I also drove up a minor pimple called Garde Grosse – 3100 feet – near Nyons and got real earache from Mrs D for my troubles. It was actually a bit daft. A single gravel track with no passing places snakes precipitously to the top which is so pointed you have to do a ten-point turn for fear of going over the edge.
So after taking photos and admiring the view, did the car not start? Three goes and boy, was I sweating. Of course, it was just red hot and the fuel was evaporating. No second chances on the hairpins either – spinning wheels, no purchase. Once down, Mrs D says “don’t EVER pull a stroke like that again!”
We spent second part of the holiday near Salins-les-Bains in the Jura. More good roads there but I behaved.
Despite the punishment, I got a fraction over 30 mpg over 2408 miles using 98ron.
We stayed near Nyons, around 30 miles southeast of Montelimar and got as far south as Avignon. That A7 south of Lyon is some road – few HGVs, just three lanes of tightly packed cars battering on. Venture into the outside lane and you’re being pushed along at over 90mph and in your RVM you can see the hairs up the nose of the driver behind. Tailgating is now a major pastime for the frogs whether on M-ways or backroads. Their mission is to overtake at all costs.
Just clear of Lyon we passed a major shunt on the north bound carriageway. We continued at 80–85mph past three stationary lanes for twenty minutes, almost to the tolls four miles south of Vienne!
The region where we stayed is dominated by Mount Ventoux. A smooth winding road climbs for 16 miles from around 1100 feet right to the summit at 6220 feet – OK, nowhere near as high as the Stelvio, but good enough for Mercedes to test several disguised E-classes.
View attachment 8187
The trailers were laden with ballast and these boys drove the cars like they were stolen. Being my car, transmission, brakes, tyres and cooling system, I drove up in a sedate 40 odd minutes. They ploughed up in less than half that.
View attachment 8188
Cyclists take hours! Also a nice contingent of MG As, Bs and Cs as well as several Jag XKs.
I also drove up a minor pimple called Garde Grosse – 3100 feet – near Nyons and got real earache from Mrs D for my troubles. It was actually a bit daft. A single gravel track with no passing places snakes precipitously to the top which is so pointed you have to do a ten-point turn for fear of going over the edge.
So after taking photos and admiring the view, did the car not start? Three goes and boy, was I sweating. Of course, it was just red hot and the fuel was evaporating. No second chances on the hairpins either – spinning wheels, no purchase. Once down, Mrs D says “don’t EVER pull a stroke like that again!”
We spent second part of the holiday near Salins-les-Bains in the Jura. More good roads there but I behaved.
Despite the punishment, I got a fraction over 30 mpg over 2408 miles using 98ron.
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