Matt_S Posted July 3, 2023 Share Posted July 3, 2023 For my summer holiday I have booked a villa near Marseille and I am taking the Westy for its first tour! I will be sailing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg using the high speed ferry service (Condor Liberation) operated by Brittany Ferries. I’m splitting each journey (down & back) into two, so roughly driving half way each time and already booked accommodation for each way point. Recently I’ve made a few changes & additions to my car such as a new luggage rack, temporary full windscreen, twin USB charging socket and finished my new home made tonneau this weekend. With only 3 weeks to go I now have to plan what tools & spares to take bearing in mind the small amount of spare space available, so far I have thought of the following; Spares list Throttle cable Fuses Fan belt Clutch cable (do I really need to take this?) Bulb kit Consumables Cable ties Electrical tape Duct tape Gloves Crimp connectors – a selection Tool list Allen keys Spanners – a selection Screw drivers Sockets – a selection Snips Leatherman Crimps Puncture repair kit – Dynaplug kit French Regulations Hazard sign / warning triangle Hi-Viz vests Light deflectors (for driving on the opposite side) V5 Document Driving license Vehicle insurance documents Seems a long list but most of the tools and a few consumables will fit (with careful packing) in an old wash/toiletry bag I have which I can fit behind the driver’s seat, then I have the same amount of room behind the passenger seat. Is there anything critical I have missed or should think about taking? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO Posted July 3, 2023 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Few small nuts, bolts and washers for things like wing stays etc? Self amalgamating tape possibly and some electrical wire? Although you could probably get some in France if required. You can guarantee whatever you take you won’t need, and vice versa! Enjoy, looking forward to the magazine article 😀. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted July 4, 2023 Author Share Posted July 4, 2023 Good shout@Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO! I will add to my list 👍🏼 11 hours ago, Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO said: Enjoy, looking forward to the magazine article 😀. Yep for sure 👌🏼 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Bon voyage! 🇫🇷 🥖 🥐 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 Fantastic, have a great time! France is great for Westfield driving, and in the South in particular, there are some amazing roads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cutler (Adge) - Dorset AO Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 That’s novel, a spare steering wheel on the roof 😂. Enjoy your trip Matt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Davis (fatblokestu) AO - Devon & Somerset Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 Have a fabulous time Matt. Mrs Matt is very brave, assuming she is with you?! 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonjh1964 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 3 hours ago, fatblokestu said: Have a fabulous time Matt. Mrs Matt is very brave, assuming she is with you?! 🤣 I didn't even know there was a Mrs Matt only met Matt's sister 'Chatty Nat'. Whatever the facts are Matt, hope you have a fantastic time - I'd strongly recommend the awesome Tarn Gorge to anyone that gets close to the Millau Viaduct. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 On 21/07/2023 at 14:55, fatblokestu said: Mrs Matt My sister is with me On 21/07/2023 at 18:42, jonjh1964 said: 'Chatty Nat' Wasn’t so chatty with all this buffeting 🤣 but she did manage to get some sleep 😴 On 21/07/2023 at 18:42, jonjh1964 said: I'd strongly recommend the awesome Tarn Gorge to anyone that gets close to the Millau Viaduct. Took a lovely route just after the Millau Viaduc that took us through Ganges & Nimes finishing at our villa in Aix-en-Provence. Here’s the route Literally haven’t found a bad road yet, it’s lovely driving here. Had lots of admirers too along the way with lots of people giving a 👋🏼 Couple of pics 4 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evosteve Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 A beautiful part of France, stayed in Aix-en-Provence when visiting Eurocopter in Marseille for work many years ago. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Davis (fatblokestu) AO - Devon & Somerset Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 2 hours ago, Matt_S said: My sister is with me Oops, sorry Matt! Enjoy anyway 👍 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted July 27, 2023 Author Share Posted July 27, 2023 A French Caterham! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_S Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 One final pick on the alway home 🇬🇧 2000 miles later! Everything mechanically ok! But I have found out our cars aren’t waterproof ending up with a broken Dash2 😫 Hopefully a couple days in a bag of rice in the airing cupboard will fix it 🤞🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, Matt_S said: But I have found out our cars aren’t waterproof ending up with a broken Dash2 😫 Hopefully a couple days in a bag of rice in the airing cupboard will fix it Calling @Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Out of the box, I seem to recall Ian finding the DASH2 didn’t have the extra sealing round the screen, leading to water getting in. Obviously, too late once the problem has happened, but if the drying out works, worth getting done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 Sounds like you had a great trip otherwise, though! Fantastic, well done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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