Return to Blighty - le retour à la Grande Bretagne

[madbilly]

Hi all,

The time has come for us to leave Provence. After 8 years here I think I can finally admit that I liked it here, even if I found it difficult to ever see past the hassles of the bureaucracy here and the fact I never mastered the language. We'll be setting off on a holiday road trip back to the UK in convoy, Mini and Lotus. We want to go at a fairly relaxed pace, not more than 2x2 hours driving per day so we have time to see and do things en route, very important for our sanity and the wellbeing of our little girls. The route isn't finalised yet, in many cases not even conceptualised! But we've got a fairly good idea of the direction we need to go in...

I'll pack a few things in case I need to fettle the Elan on the way. Toolkit, oil, maybe brake fluid (though I've never had a leak), petrol can (empty) and a few spares like spark plugs, ignition coil, alternator and PAS belts (not that they're easy to change but...). Any suggestions for what to take?

Looking forward to getting back in the Elan scene a bit over the summer, if I have time, Maybe there'll be a chance for a BOLLECKS meetup!

Cheers

[Simon_P]

2x2 hours driving per day so we have time to see and do things en route, very important for our sanity

agreed! Hoof it through France then white cliffs of Dover, Canterbury, Windsor you can break down wherever you like in the UK. Some self tappers, a piece of wire and a 5l water container full of drinkable water (do they have that in France,?) and a waxed string puncture repair kit.

[Rambo]

Looking forward to getting back in the Elan scene a bit over the summer, if I have time, Maybe there'll be a chance for a BOLLECKS meetup

You just missed one. Volvo Simon too

Did Les Frogs boot you out back across Le Channel ?

[Dave Eds]

Check those oil cooler hoses Bill.......

[madbilly]

Hi all,
Sorry for not replying, for some reason I didn't get any reply notifications. Or more likely I didn't see them!

Simon, we'll be breaking up the journey in France not UK. When we arrive in the UK we've got to go straight to our quarantine location.

Rambo, no we are leaving of our own choice although they will of course be pleased to see the back of les rosbif after Brexit.

Dave, good tip thanks I'll check all the hoses and take a hose clip driver thing can't remember the name! If the oil cooler hoses are knacked then it will be too late to do anything about it.

Self tappers I don't have oddly. What's the wire for? Never heard of a waxed string puncture repair kit before, looked it up and would it work on Lotus tyres? It would need to be put on the inside? So would also need a tyre iron. TBH I'll probably just put it on the space saver (make sure it's pumped up) and take the damaged tyre to the nearest tyre place.

Cheers

[Simon_P]

they will of course be pleased to see the back of les rosbif after Brexit.

Didn't want us to join, didn't listen us when we were in, didn't want us to leave, will now be glad to see the back of us. How very French!

The wire is for anything electrical, or anything that needs tying on.

String puncture repair will work on any tyre and will fix screw and nail holes.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tubeless-Tyr ... 890.l49286

[KenCarson]

For the string puncture kit to be useful you need to be carrying a pump as well.