John will hate me......

This was at the motor museum, this is what John looked like in the 70s with a ginger afro!  Its true he really had one!  Bless him he was a real sport doing this for me, especially considering when he said "its your turn" and I ran away!  Sorry John!

Gaydon Motor Heritage Museum

On the way back from London John and I decided to stop off at Gaydon to look at cars!  I think John had the bug, he went round Beaulieu Motor Museum with Tony the day before!

 This was a stunt car from James Bond's Die Another Day a beautiful Aston Martin and they did horrible things to it!  All scuffed and bullet holes in the windscreen.

 This is a lovely little Austin, I can't remember the model and I didn't want to look like a complete nerd writing everything down in a little book!  Such a pretty car would suit me down to the ground.  This is my second most favourite car in the museum, I would drive this darling little car any time!

 This is a Leyland, I love the big headlights and just the whole feel of the first half of the century you get from it.  You could imagine a girl dressed as a flapper driving this, or a gentleman farmer in his tweeds!  Ok I would happily drive this car too!

 A tracked Landrover!  I think I would feel like I could conquer the world driving this!  No bog would stop me - someone will have to help me get in holding a step ladder though.

 A Pink Panther.  Need I say more an amazing colour - it appeals to my sense of humour that lots of really tough soldiers driving around in pink cars!  Obviously I am being silly and know that they are doing the worst job imaginable just now - I wholeheartly support our armed forces and I think it is disgusting that the government don't do more to support them.  The fact the ordinary people have had to set up charities like Help For Heroes to support the troops is terrible - they do a vital job and then get dropped like a stone when the soldier really needs the support.  Ok rant over!

 Range Rover.  This is the Range Rover that took part in the British Trans American Expidition from Alaska to Cape Horn 1971-92.  There is not a straight panel in sight, this is a real warrior.  I have such a soft spot for old Range Rovers, I would happily have another, I still feel bad about killing the brown one we had.  I don't think John has forgiven me either!

 An Alvis.  It is a Cyclops - see the middle headlight?  Ok I admit I took the picture just because of that headlight!

 Another Alvis, the car I would choose to drive out of the whole museum.  It is the perfect colour(!) and style for me, I would feel like royalty in this!

I know this picture isn't very clear but look at that interior, beautiful wood and chrome and that steering wheel!  Even the colour of the seat is perfect!  Yes I would be very happy in this car!

A very special day

Can you tell I'm a happy girl?  On Saturday I went to London for Kandee Johnson's Glaminar!  I had the most fantastic day and learnt so much.  John and I had to go to a meeting in Portsmouth on Friday so we stayed over at Tony and Dee's near Reading, we hadn't seen them for ages and it was lovely to have the time to catch up and see Lauren briefly on Sunday morning as well.  Tony very kindly got out of bed before the crack of dawn to drive me to the train station and give me much needed pointers for coping with travelling in London (I am such a country bumpkin, I need all the help I can get!) 

So the day itself.  I was the second girl to arrive, we were in a very post hotel, Le Meridien Piccadilly.  I met Kandee's Mum Shannon who was so thrilled to see us!  I was rather worried before I got there that it might all be a bit over the top, but it wasn't at all.  Kandee really is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  In the morning it was all about running a business and how to go about it.  Some of this didn't really apply to me (because I already run a business) but I can wholeheartedly endorse everything she said - she spoke a lot of sense.  For the predominantly younger (early 20s) audience the information and insight she gave would be absolutely priceless and it would have been helpful to me when I was that age just setting out!  Even though that bit didn't really apply to me I still found it very useful - you can't have to much help when it comes to running your own company!
The afternoon was all about beauty secrets and no I am not going to give them away!  All I will say is that I have had a lot of comments on how much better I look since then.......
Meeting Kandee at the end really was the icing on the cake (I forgot the mention the cupcakes - and they were scrumptious) she was so wonderful.  As you can see from the photo there was no "I'll just stand next to you and smile" and a polite little hug - oh no a proper big squeezy hug (like from your best friend you haven't seen for a while) and she pressed her face to the side of my face.  Now that might sound odd written down but it wasn't, she felt like a true friend.  I am truly grateful to have had to opportunity to have learnt from someone who is in the heart of the industry (LA) and is also such a lovely person.  All I can say is I will be striving to be the pink tree (no I haven't lost the plot!)  I will treasure this day!

Homeward bound

Grenoble to Troyes 295 miles.

For some reason I didn't take any pictures!  I think it was because we were going back through farming country and I took lots of pictures going the other way, its the only reason I can think off apart from maybe I spent a lot of the day sleeping instead of navigating?

Troyes to Calais 249 miles.

This is the view from our hotel room in Troyes.  We had a fabulous "last supper" that night and swapped lots of horror stories!  John and I confessed to not even looking at a map until we got in the car in the morning, everyone was astounded!  James made a quite hysterical speech which I can't repeat!  Everyone had a wonderful time and nobody wanted it to be over.

 This was a contaption for making hessian bags (I think) in the foyer of the hotel.  It had lots of bobbins on it.

 Heading north towards Arras where we decided to have lunch.  Not a cloud to be seen just lovely.

 Arras.  Look at those black clouds!  Can you tell we are getting closer to home?  Arras is really nice, we had a nice lunch of ribs and chips, in fact John mentioned them the other day.  I said he would have to take me back to France to get some more!

 We came out from lunch and Ginger had made a friend!  A Simka, they look deep in conversation.  Do you think they spoke in German, English or French?

 Boarding the ferry with rally plates displayed on the dashboard.  John and I were sitting quietly in the car when we suddenly felt the back end go down, looked round and a bus driver was sitting on it!  I got out of the car and suddenly there was a group of English men surrounding us, really admiring the car, the bus driver had been trying to look cool!  He didn't half get teased!

 Bye bye France.  On the ferry home, feeling a bit flat and already planning the next trip.  John wants to go to Croatia, I would like to revisit Germany.  I think it is likely that we will do a charity drive if we can set it up.  As most of you know we are involved with RFU Injured Players Foundation (Obviously John is a member!) so we would like to support them as well a Spinal Research. 

It really just remains to say that John and I have both had the most fantastic holiday, it is the perfect way for us to go on holiday.  We met the most fantastic people who were a joy to spend time with.  Really the people made all the difference from being a nice holiday into an amazing holiday.  If you were on this trip and reading this - thank you.  I can't not mention John making me pull over so he could drive because he REALLY didn't like me trying to race Paul and Mike in their Porsche, after dinner parties with brandy involved with James and Richard (sorry for buying the expensive stuff!) and of course Trevor and Margaret - I didn't get caught with handfuls of sweeties!  I hope everyone had as good a time as we did and hopefully do it all again next year!

A new day.

Nice to Grenoble 206 miles.

After our incredibly early start we started to climb and were soon about the clouds.  We got stuck behind a Belgian camper van that did 10mph on the hills then floored it so you couldn't get past on the flat bits so that was instant road rage from me (I was driving) eventually though I got past and it was bliss.

This was a really amazing rock arch we drove through.  I love arches like this, you almost expect to come out into a different reality on the other side.

A castle (or church?) on a hill with the town below.  It was quite big, you can just about make out the flag poles on the right of the buiding at the top.

 Above Dignes-Les-Bains.  You can't see much but the clouds were breathtaking, very Lord of the Rings.

 Grenoble on a rainy day.  The architecture is just lovely.

Even though it looks wet and rainy (we are SO used to that!) it was warm and it felt very cosy in our car.  Maybe its because we were on holiday so any trouble seemed far away!

Coming down the mountain....

We have to backtrack slightly because these pictures are from the Hotel Des Trois Vallees a very famous place!  We stopped for a well earned lunch break.  We caught up with the morgans (John and Gloria, Roger and Val) and the E-Type ( David and Ellie)  We had a lovely time sitting outside in the sun and looking at the amazing pictures inside.  Of course we got our rally plates to prove we made it to the top!

 Everyone took it in turns parking their car outside to get a picture with the hotel in the background.....

 John is a very happy boy!  I swear every man on that mountain top reverted to being a small boy and pretended to be Paddy Hopkirk just for a little while.....

 We stopped about halfway down for a breather (me not the car this time!) and you can see where they have built extra bits for the road, its very steep.

 After getting lost on the outskirts of town, no satnav to talk us in, we flew by the seat of our pants and made it in the end!  This is the view from our hotel in Nice, they were setting up the circus in the big square.

 John on a sun lounger!  Sitting down on one is fine, its the getting back up that is difficult!  We managed but it wasn't pretty, having a lazy morning was just what was needed.

We drove to Monte Carlo and I managed to forget the camera.  We went shopping in Nice, I got to go to Sephora which I was thrilled about!  We went to the circus with elephants and tigers!  John and I decided to get out of bed really early and drive along the coast to Cannes with the sun coming up.  We leapt out of bed to be greeted by pitch black and rain, we waited for a bit the sun came up, the rain stopped and we had a delightful drive.  Cannes was beautiful in the early morning light, then we turned for Grasse.

The Col Du Turini

With no further ado the infamous video of the descent of the Col Du Turini.  I don't think I need to say anything, I've said it all in the video!

Tuesday Afternoon.

After we came down from the heights of the morning we drove over this little bridge, where John suddenly decided it would make a lovely picture with Ginger on the bridge.  Ginger on the other hand said that she had driven far enough and certainly wasn't going to go BACKWARDS for us - no way!  

So we carried on our way and saw this amazing sight - just look at that house on the very top!  Look in between the two flagpoles on the left, it is such a long way up!

 Further along we came over this bridge and I got out so John could drive back over and I could take a picture, cue me feeling very alone in a foreign country as John sped off and I realised I didn't even have my phone in my pocket....

 Unfortunately the barriers were slightly too high (probably the only place in France where they are the right height!) so you can see the car but not very well.

 I took a couple so I at least had evidence that I had tried!

 Finally proof that I drove!  I have to say I really enjoy driving this car, very comfortable with lots of room.  Having old injuries to my shoulder and lower back (thats horses for you!) I can struggle with seating position, not immediately but after a couple of hours and I just don't get that in this car.  Just as well!

 And this is where I drove!  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed driving through this gorge, theres a bit of a drop on the right hand side and it was ok, getting over the fears...

 I even kept up with the locals, there were some traffic lights so I was in a line of cars and I didn't hold everyone up driving like a tourist at 2mph!

 I know this picture doesn't show a lot but I am very proud of this - I drove over this bridge with a) my eyes open b) without panicking and c) with a smile on my face, well nearly!  This is such a huge step forward!

The next post is the exciting one - The Col Du Turini!

Tuesday - lovely driving and the Col De Turini!

Tuesday D'Allos to Nice via Col De Turini 138 miles.

I am going to split today up into sections because again there was just so much to see. 

We started with a glorious drive down the mountain to Colmars.  There were a few anxious moments because the fuel gauge decided to tell us fibs.  The night before we checked and had half a tank of petrol.  When we got going the next morning we were on empty!  There was no puddle so I don't know what happened but we were a bit worried until we saw a little filling station.  It was a beautiful day.....

Once again the sun was shining, the mountain air was crisp and clear everything was right in the world.  The drive was just superb, this is a truly beautiful part of France.  I loved it!

This is the chateau at Colmars.  It is a lovely village with a gorgeous church for some reason I didn't take a picture.  It was market day so lots of people everywhere (nowhere to park!) I love the bustle of a village on market day, it's the best!

Look at that tiny little room stuck on the end.... I wonder what that was used for?

Everything was just perfect - the weather, the company, the car had a full tank of petrol (and oil!) The views were stunning, I could have carried on driving here forever.....  John was actually driving, I was navigating a lovely long road that I couldn't get lost on!

From here we had a choice of routes - the high road or the low road!  I decided on the high road because John had been so understanding the day before - and I could see from the map that it was nowhere near as high as the Col D'Allos!

Mac and Auriol overtaking us in their Sunbeam Alpine.  I was slow and didn't get a good picture, the first fifteen minutes or so of going up to the high bits made me hyperventilate until I got a hold of myself and then it wasn't too bad.  The road got wider and I got happier!

French crash barriers!  Not very high with nice big gaps inbetween! 

I have to admit this is not a road we drove on.  I spotted it across the valley and thought that it would be a good picture with the bridge.  I actually got out of the car and stood on the edge of the road - that means I was very brave - fear of heights is disappearing!

John parked on the other side of the road waiting for me to take pictures!  This was a really nice road to drive on.  We had a delightful morning!  And lots more to look forward to this afternoon!

Now THIS is the scary part!

This was a pretty lake we drove past on the way to Barcelonette.  You can see we are already climbing.  Can I just take this moment to say that the pictures do not come anywhere near capturing how high or how close to the edge I felt - or the extent of how emotional I got!

We came across lots of people floating around!  These were just the ones I got in a "group shot", we counted 17 altogether - I don't know how they didn't crash into one another!

We were steadily climbing all the time so every so often I would get a horrible shock when I could see how far up we were.  The white thing in the picture is, I believe, some sort of water pumping station.  As you can see the light is starting to go as it is late afternoon....

Higher again.  I am not terrified at this point.  I had already cried on the Grand Serre thought the "bad bit" was over.  You can see here there is still a barrier of sorts (!)

The light is really starting to go now and I have started hyperventilating again.  You really can't get a good idea from the pictures of just how high we are.  John kept saying that we should stop and take some pictures and I refused.  I wish now I had been a tiny bit braver but I can tell you this - I'm not going back up to get more pictures!

Ok now I have got to the stage that I am not looking to take pictures, just pointing the camera out the window!  For the last ten minutes (ten minutes!!! Thats a long time!) There have been no barriers.  The road is the width of the car.  Massive hairpins that make you feel as if you are about to take off into thin air.  Even John was quiet (concentration!) Once again there are no pictures.  It was beyond me.  As you can see we are level with the top of the mountains.  Col D'Allos is 7,500 feet.

After we came over the summit we dropped down about a 1000 ft to where we were staying that night.  Look what we met!  A farmer moving his flock of sheep, he was carrying a couple of lambs, I was surprised to see that in September. 

Sheep further down, they didn't go slowly down the mountain either, very sure footed!  I am pleased to say we made it to the hotel and had a very nice dinner and I think the best evening of the trip - a select group of us stayed up late and put the world to rights - there may or may not have been gin involved!  We really needed it to steady our nerves after the stressful day! 

This is the view off our balconey the following morning.  It took ages to get to sleep, every time I closed my eyes I had flashbacks to that horrible road.  I forgot to mention we had the best welcome in the whole of France in this hotel - a very nice gentleman whose name I forget.  The most delightful Basset Hound I have ever had the pleasure to meet what a darling dog he is, I wanted to smuggle him home with me!

The ginger car recovering from her strenous climb.  James and Richard's fabulous Jaguar Mk 2 and a french car in the middle.

The light in the bedroom.  I know I'm such a girl taking pictures of stuff like that.  But thats just me!

This poster was in the hotel reception.  It is advertising donkey trekking, I took a picture of it to prove to Jeremy that he really does have the life of reilly, his cousins are having to walk up mountains to keep tourists happy.  He still doesn't believe me even though I have photographic evidence!