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.
