Hello from the South Of France.

[keith]

We sail to santander a week on Sunday.

Just got to think about some loose plan for meandering back to Calais,or caen, or somewhere

[ThorAlex]

Were did you find open trails i southern France? I was i Les Arcs sur Argens (not far from Frejus) and we were not even allowed to walk in the forest due to fire hazard... Had i known you were in the area i would have invited you by, i know a couple of cool spots for the family:)

[Holydiver]

Sounds like a trip?
Let see some photo's on your return

Have a good one

[jed the spread]

Well the end of our last full day away, France, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, so far and we have stayed at some really cool places with a totally different atmosphere in every one. We are camping for free at the moment on the French/Belgium boarder by a lake and should have enough time to take Isaac zip wireing in the morning for a couple of hours before we do the drive north for 2.5 hours to get the 20.01 ferry. Trying to make the most of it as my voice mail is chocker block with enough work to see me up to Xmas.

Took enough video to make an interesting video for CampervanCulture website I guess with the odd maxhanical issue, so stay tuned....

We have had a great near on 4 weeks away as a FAMILY, and are already planning our next trip on our Westy Syncro.

Stay safe,

Jed

[Mickyfin]

Great stuff, and as always, looking forward to your video coverage

[HarryMann]

We sail to santander a week on Sunday.

Just got to think about some loose plan for meandering back to Calais,or caen, or somewhere

Keith,

If I were you I'd head West along the N.Spanish Costa Verde a wee while before turning around and heading back to the gap into France... checkout our descriptions of the Picos trip last year,

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=94434

those beaches and coastline for about 50 miles or more West from Santander are beautiful, warm, surfy and not too busy...

Alt drive a round Santander to the East, checkingout the sleepy spots up the ruver estuary back to caost the other side oppo Santander (the late Seve Ballesteros' golf course is along there too), fantastic area and you'll def. bump into other like minded souls

[LittleMissSunshine]

Sounds fantastic! Have fun

[torchy]

Jed I love your style.

How do you find the "lanes" around Europe?......is it just a case of seeing a track and "lets have a go, if we get stopped we'll turn back" ?? or google earth or ????

Any tips? maybe it is just a case of a bit of devil may care, fingers crossed we'll be OK.

I've got it in my mind there are police around every corner waiting to point guns and/or fine you.

I recall from one of your vids you carry an axe...just in case ...think I would too.

Either way keep up the reports and the vids, always good.

Trust it was a safe return home

[jed the spread]

Trust it was a safe return home

Yes mate got home with only one set of brake pads down to the metal, one snapped turbo stud and a quick bit of welding from a french garage for £8 I got it all fixed now with no dramas and the van has clocked up its first 350,000km so ready for another trip.

The first video is now loading and should be ready in an hour

jed

[oorwullie]

where were ya in swissland? not interlaken i hope?



i'd show ye some trails.

[syncropaddy]

Bumped into a Jeep fanatic in the Loire Valley yesterday. Really nice chap with a collection of 25 Jeeps - and an understanding wife!







He took us for a spin in the blue Forward Control Jeep down to his caves. What a day !! And some fabulous wine!

[oorwullie]

feckin''ell paddy, that's some serious jeeps there.

[syncropaddy]

feckin''ell paddy, that's some serious jeeps there.

All consuming passion ..... very serious collection!

[jed the spread]

How many miles do you think the owner has done in any of them? I only ask because it might be seen as pointless and sort of wanna be by others, but I am sure you will be forth coming in an India Jones stye shenanigans driving down his massive driveway and back again ?

Good luck to the fella.

jed

[syncropaddy]

How many miles do you think the owner has done in any of them? I only ask because it might be seen as pointless and sort of wanna be by others, but I am sure you will be forth coming in an India Jones stye shenanigans driving down his massive driveway and back again ?

Good luck to the fella.

jed

People who collect stamps dont usually lick them and stick them on envelopes, they usually stick them in albums. Similarly, to pursue a passion in restoring and collecting motor vehicles does not mean you have to drive them.

In this particular case, the man does not have a driveway to do as you suggest, but drives the ones that are 'legal' and 'complete' on a regular basis. The remainder of the 25 vehicles are 'work in progress' and the quality of that work is, to my mind, beyond reproach. That guy has spent 6 years tracking down a NOS rear door for the Olive Green estate, travelled 800 kms (in one of the Jeeps) just to make sure that the quality of the re chroming was to the right standard. He had to buy 4 FC Jeeps to get enough parts to complete the blue one in the pics. He spent 2 months travelling around the US looking for the correct material so he and his wife could remake the seat covers .... This is a collectors passion. This is what old vehicle ownership is about. He doesn't have a 'Brickwerks' to ring up and order bits the way we have. I admire what this bloke does and those like him as they preserve the past so you and me can see and enjoy what came before.