French event May 2013

[HarryMann]

Off the ferry and approaching London. Heavy wind and rain. Bit of ducking and diving with Polish taut liners weaving about in the wind.

Home now after 960 miles and just a broken exhaust bracket needing welding up. . Broke on way to Calais, held up but a good rattle on idle.

[axeman]

I snapped a trailing arm!
Now back on UK soil and driving home under own steam.

we need more info on this one!

[jes*b]

[lloydy]

looks like you all had a great time

i also need to know about this trailing arm!

[Fabzzz]

looks absolutely awesome i regret not coming now... therefore next year i'm in ! Glad you all enjoyed it , and hope my people took care of you with good wine and cheese !

[Ralf85]

Excellent photos. I liked the lot especially what I've experienced in France many times ie joining up all the tables and eating together. Fab. I can't wait to get over there again in the Summer to enjoy sunshine and similar camping experiences with French/Dutch friends I haven't seen for a year!

[Crankin-wagen]

I snapped a trailing arm!
Now back on UK soil and driving home under own steam.

I suspect you were trufle hunting ....again, m'lud

[axeman]

I snapped a trailing arm!
Now back on UK soil and driving home under own steam.

I suspect you were trufle hunting ....again, m'lud

that would have been jes and meg with the 2 hounds surely?

[janmi]

Hi all!
belles pictures !!
Pleased to meet you the syncronautes.
We have had few funny adventure with some arm,trail to dig and curious meal to tasted or musics to recognize for example.
We are going to show some pictures about the week in Normandie on the site of syncro-club ad soon. Don't hesitate to visit it.
Paul, if you organise next year an event in summer in Ireland we will be happy to come.

[HarryMann]

Bonjour Janmi

...and welcome to the 8090 club which we Syncronauts belong to.

That was some amazing event that was and nice to meet you both... Apéro is a good idea to relax after a tiring drive, we try to do it at our own events.

...and yes, isn't that musical dog clever even with noisy CB interference... we had Jes and Debs and Dai laughing a lot one day, and Paul working extra hard with his CD collection

Jenny is reviewing our photos now and will 'put some up' this afternoon.

Regards - and we hope to meet you both again some time.

Jenny and Clive

[HarryMann]

Just for information...

The Syncro Club de France do not have a fixed site event and rarely if ever go back to the same place it is a much larger country. There are no really large farms and they probably don't have pay and plays like here. Local region members work hard preparing and doing a reconnaissance for a meeting.
Apart from Syncro 20 years, this was the first time they had formally invited us to join them...

In my opinion there would have not have been a better way of seeing Normandy and the incredible Seine Valley in full bloom than having accepted their invite this year, also helping to brush-up on the French language and enjoy their food, wine and culture.

I know Dai and Debs agree and expect that Patrick, Mat and Paul do too.

[silverbullet]

That tunnel in the woods looks squeaky!

[HarryMann]

We were given height limits for a few routes -fairly conservative in retrospect.

[Fabzzz]

that's why i need a poptop !

[syncropatrick]

Cracking trip. Lovely people hosting and organising a packed schedule. Offroading, sight-seeing, eating and drinking. German, French and English Syncro owners coming together to mix it up on war fields of WWII.

Visited Bayeux...

to see a comic.

Wild camping in the woods.

Hans travelled with his cats on-board. Snapped one sleeping.

Anyone know where to buy these sun shades?

The Seine has small vehicle ferries instead of bridges in places. They give way to these whoppers.

A frequent sight over the next 10 days...

and again.

The big breakdown.
Driving along a lane, could hear clicking. First thought was "ah, a CVs gone. Well that's OK I've got the parts and tools to effect a field swap". Got onto road still clicking, "not so good". Wound down window to try and hear which corner, glanced in rear view mirror to see rear nearside wheel 30 degrees off vertical! "oh poo". pulled over to investigate, thinking wheel bearing had disintegrated, only to find outer arm had torn off through 70% of the diameter just back from the bush. Shock kicked in at that point and photos were forgotten for a while.
So lucky I'd broken down opposite a farmers yard which contained a massive shed filled with metal, brazing kit, welders, grinders, vice, power tools - everything you need! Limped into yard.

CBs and mobile phones went mad and all Syncros within 10 miles piled over. Three peeps who could weld had a conflab and Jean-Luc got the straw. Without the farmer being around we cracked on. When him, his wife and the village mayor turned up they couldn't be more friendly and helpful.
Jean-Luc spent 7 hours non-stop working on the van and welded up the arm insitu having removed the bottom shock bolt and loosened the outer bush only.


Farmers wife brought out her young geese for entertainment.

Top massive gash welded up and ground down.

The sidewall under the outer seam had plate cut to shape, bent to fit and welded in.

On this pic you can still see the huge hole in the arm above the bottom plate welded on.


more tomorrow.