Chapter 21

The car finally came to stop at a petrol pump on the Paris to Caen autoroute.  We had left Provence the previous day and traveled up the autoroute to Beaune when we had spent the night.

Dinner had been an interesting affair.  The evening was warm and mild and we decided to eat outside.  We had barely sat down at our table when the heavens opened and the wind blew.  All of the diners rushed indoors and we ate our meal to the accompaniment of a rain storm.

The next day was even more exciting.

On the road from Dijon and the car began to overheat.  We drove very slowly for the next 20 miles and twice had to refill  the radiator.  At Chatillon sur Seine the friendly French Peugeot agent repaired a hose and we continued on our way.

As we drove round Paris on the Francillienne Autoroute. It was obvious that the car was losing power.  We crawled up several hills to the dismay of the other traffic and the car went slower and slower.  At the toll booth on the autoroute the car barely moved at all but after several minutes we had once more reached 70 miles an hour.

The engine got hotter and hotter.  We finally pulled into a petrol station and filled the car.  That was the end of the line!.

Nothing would persuade the car to move further forward (although it would move backwards) .  We un-hitched the caravan and pushed it into the front of the restaurant and reversed the car beside it.  We went for a cup of coffee.  On our return I phoned the AA.  The telephonist was very kind and very helpful, she cancelled our ferry, made provisional arrangements for us to be on the ferry the following afternoon and an hour later a breakdown truck arrived, put the car on the back , the caravan behind and drove us to his yard.

We slept quite well in his yard and although he had said he would be back at nine o'clock he was only half an hour late. The mechanic opened the bonnet - gave a cursory look inside and said with a Gallic shrug " boîte de transmission automatique!!"  and slammed the bonnet.  I took that to mean that the automatic transmission had failed!!  He phoned the AA and after quite considerable discussion it was agreed that he would take us to the ferry.

We were towed onto the car deck .  Nothing is ever simple.  We had a brief discussion with the docker who would pull the car onto the boat.  He was concerned that the brakes might not work if the engine was not on.  " Not a problem" I said, "the engine runs - it's just that the car won't".  He was not convinced.  We agreed that he would start to tow us and I would test the brakes.  The brakes were fine!  The tow rope parted with a very satisfying crack and whipped over the head of the driver in the cab of the towing vehicle.  " Les freins vont bien" I shouted to him - as if he did not already know!!  He went away and came back with a hawser worthy of the QE II.

We were towed off again at Portsmouth and after a short wait another breakdown truck picked us up and took us home.  AA Relay is amazing - with the car on the back of the truck and the caravan behind we stormed up the M1.  If the truth be known faster that I would have dared pulled my caravan, but then a 7.5tonne tow vehicle must make a difference!!!

We arrived at 14 hours late.

Next day the car was back at our local dealer - if you have followed this saga from the start you will know it has spent quite a lot of time there in the last two years. Their mechanic opened the bonnet gave an English shrug and said " Looks as if the automatic transmission has gone!"  " We will need to order one from France!".  "They could have put one on the truck yesterday"  I muttered gently - but then that really would have been too simple, wouldn,t it!!!

The car is back on the road - running well, no longer overheating, the new gearbox is fantastic and I have booked all the ferries for next year.  The car is going to France at least four times next year, the replacement which was planned for early next year has been put back a bit - new automatic gear boxes don't come cheap!!  

Chapter 22

Easter Millennium Year

The saga continues. 

The gearbox on the car was finally replaced.  Winter passed slowly, but with the advent of Spring thoughts turned towards the next holiday.  The caravan was sent in for service.

The van remained with the agent for a week.  The telephone rang, "Your van is ready, but there is a problem with the fridge and the axle.  "Okay fix it". 

Life was a little hectic, and I was unable to collect the van the next week.  A week later I arrived at the caravan agent.  I paid in the bill and was about to leave when I asked, "what did you do to the axle?"

"Axle, Axle?", was the response.

I know that this is going to be a problem.  We walk out and look at the caravan.  There is a distinct lean to one side.  I run my hand over the wheel arch.  "Do you think that I can drive this caravan to the south of France in five days time?" 

The service manager scratched his head, and reluctantly, like dragging teeth from a crocodile grunted a very quiet "No".

"Well, we travel to France next Friday with a caravan, you will have to have this one fixed by then".  A  look of horror spread over his face, "We can't do anything about it today he said but I'll phone on Monday to find out what the delivery is on an axle and the cost".  I went home and told the wife.

"I think it would be a smart to move to look at new caravans tomorrow", I said.  So we did.

Monday morning,  - the new axle will take eight weeks and cost £1,000!!

We move over to the sales department.  "We will buy that caravan there, but it must be prepared and delivered by Thursday!"  The sales assistant was quite flustered, "I don't know what trade in we can give you for your old van", she said.

"Work out the trade in that you would have given me and deduct the cost and fitting of the axle"  I said.

Once the facts were clear the rest of the process was reasonably quick.  Indeed the caravan was prepared and ready by Wednesday.  I collected in the caravan replaced all our equipment from the old caravan and arranged to have a new lockable tow bar head fitted.

We were ready to roll by Friday.  (In fact we did not leave till Saturday)

In the handbook it advises a short trip to see if everything is satisfactory, a run of about five miles and a check.  Ah well, what it is going to get it is 700 miles and we will see what we will see at the end of that time.

The good news.  The car with its new gearbox behaved beautifully the engine ran sweetly the engine did not overheat and all was well.  And, surprise surprise, at the end of 700 miles the caravan was still with us and all complete

Chapter 23

We went to France at Whitsun - nothing happened

"They didn't think much to the Ocean
The waves, they  were fiddlin' and small
There was no wrecks and nobody drownded
Fact, nothing to laugh at, at all."

ALBERT AND THE LION by Marriott Edgar

But the summer, ah well, that was different!                  The saga continues ......