Seems that road trips are a bit scarce, so having just got back from one, thought I would entertain/bore you with 10 days we had in the 2.9/ 2009 Boxster.
First though, a little background.
We've had this tease of a car for 9 years now, bought as a retirement present, and to be used mainly for good trips, long and short, and so it has been.
We missed the usual Euro road trip in the car last year and flew/drove the north lakes of Italy in a hired Panda Hybrid.
Nice holiday, but the car was 'dull'.
We planned a run through some parts of France we knew well from 40 years of doing this stuff; it had to be out of season so not HOT, September it was to be.
We do a bit of hillclimbing in another car, so squeezed it in between events which got a bit busy due to a main service and subsequent replacement of the full cross-over pipework at the front of the car, but with the car in a good state (thanks to Zuffenhaus) all was set.
RAC recovery was arranged, expensive for an older car (ie over 9 years old) but having called upon it once a few years back well worth it.
The overall plan was to drive to Dover, stay over night and an early train to France and 450Km to the first hotel for one night, then on to the Dordogne.
region for 5 nights, up to the Le Mans area for one night and 3 nights in Normandy before taking the FERRY home from Caen to Plymouth. Had been 30+ years since using a ferry.
I hate the trudge of the M20/M25/M6 etc home to the West Midlands after the beautiful roads of France, near to depressing.
We wont be doing the ferry again, just toooo slow a process and not worth the time. Nice boat mind.
So, away we drive.
Should say my wife researches and organises almost everything for these trips to the smallest detail.
I cover the car stuff, and the endless payments to a million people. Things are complicated now compared to 40 years back.
The overnight stay in Dover was good, clean place, organised for the overnighters and ideal for the run to the train. Filled the car up the night before with 99 octane E5, first time in 4 years. Thought it would do it good.
It looked very dirty due to hard rain all the way down. Hoped France would be better.
The train was as good as ever, so slick, so fast and soon running at 130Km. Maps on her lap, wife does not do sat-nav. She has an uncanny sense of direction.
I'm good mainly for pressing pedals, and enjoying the toll roads.
Long time ago we invested in a screen mounted tag for the tolls, no cash, no leaning out of low windows, bliss. Cheap too, the tag not the tolls!
Arrived in Semblancay for the first hotel in a sleepy French village with secure parking and a strong reputation for good food.
On arrival there were 2 Porsche guys, one Boxster and one Cayman who were on a big trip all over the place and heading for England. Had a quick chat.
The evening meal as knock-out simply put, the hotel cat very vocal, run by a charming lady with hubby in the kitchen, place was full. Easy to see why.
The room was basic but fine for one night and we were away again fresh in the morning just after the others left for a blast north.
Dull but dry weather and more Km munching as the car sang along. Found some 99 octane E5 and mastered the computerised 24/7 system (that was a surprise) and hammered along at 130Km. French motorway driving is great.
Lorries keep a big gap between themselves (easy to exit off) and other drivers overtake and pull back in. Sounds simple? Very nice and even relaxing.
By this moment I was sure one of the read wheel bearings was starting to grumble. This started 3 years ago in Austria very suddenly, but is only really noticeable in Europe!
Oh, and the wipers became very noisy too unless kept very lubricated with screen wash, I knew I should have changed them before hand. Annoying.
We reached the 3rd hotel in late afternoon, looked great and a few Km's from Sarlat, a prize in France's medieval history, and a real treat.
Unexpectedly we landed a huge room and massive bathroom for a cheap price all down to a coach load of tourists, but to out advantage, and for 5 nights too.
Very unusual for us to win like this! Hotel was Hotel Plaisance if interested.
Time was passing quickly and the 5 days we saw a lot of the region. Nice weather, car even more grubby, but no rain so at least the wipers were silent...
Found a local petrol station that worked like a good UK station, fuel in, pay card, drive off. (rare in France).
Time to head home, but first a two nighter in Fontevraud L'Abbaye. We came to this hotel twice before in recent years, and it needed some TLC, but nice food!.
Across the square from the hotel is a huge old monastery building, restored by the French government with a very deep and varied history, but was requisitioned by Napoleon as a prison in 1800 or so and so it stayed, very infamously, until 1962 no less, a very miserable place.
It is now spectacular!
Made our way further north via Le Mans and it's museum which is going through a fresh make over, so a bit disappointing after a very difficult time finding it!
Not sure why over 1/2 the cars were Formula 1 cars!
Some more motorway bashing and we arrived at La Ferme De La Ranconniere.
Well, what a place!
Fabulous in its buildings, great food, and the smallest room were have EVER stayed in.
It was the only room left when booking in march and was round, and in the early 14th Century part of the main house with 2 small windows to shoot arrows from but all was good, quite a novelty. Oddly, no member of staff smiled. Just one local man doing breakfasts. Most odd.
It was the kind of place you see in Octane magazine with a tour of classic exotica lines along the front area. Smashing special place in a tiny village.
All round this area is of course WW2 and Dunkirk, and the 2 free days we had there we visited some memorials and took in facts posted everywhere about the efforts of all thos people to liberate France and world from Nazi Germany.
Sobering.
And so to the run home and the Ferry.
Overall the experience was good, but long queues and 6 hours on a steady boat with WiFi if you pay for it, but good food and few people gave it a relaxed feel.
The run home was nicer than 'London' but my god, driving on UK motorways sure is different to France.
Car is now nice and clean, wheels were very dirty, inside full of grit and new wipers ordered.
1980Km, 34.6 average MPG. and the speedo just about to turn 90,000 miles, 56k of those bashing around Europe and the Scotland/UK runs too.
Jury's out about the wheel bearings, what a job that would be.
First though, a little background.
We've had this tease of a car for 9 years now, bought as a retirement present, and to be used mainly for good trips, long and short, and so it has been.
We missed the usual Euro road trip in the car last year and flew/drove the north lakes of Italy in a hired Panda Hybrid.
Nice holiday, but the car was 'dull'.
We planned a run through some parts of France we knew well from 40 years of doing this stuff; it had to be out of season so not HOT, September it was to be.
We do a bit of hillclimbing in another car, so squeezed it in between events which got a bit busy due to a main service and subsequent replacement of the full cross-over pipework at the front of the car, but with the car in a good state (thanks to Zuffenhaus) all was set.
RAC recovery was arranged, expensive for an older car (ie over 9 years old) but having called upon it once a few years back well worth it.
The overall plan was to drive to Dover, stay over night and an early train to France and 450Km to the first hotel for one night, then on to the Dordogne.
region for 5 nights, up to the Le Mans area for one night and 3 nights in Normandy before taking the FERRY home from Caen to Plymouth. Had been 30+ years since using a ferry.
I hate the trudge of the M20/M25/M6 etc home to the West Midlands after the beautiful roads of France, near to depressing.
We wont be doing the ferry again, just toooo slow a process and not worth the time. Nice boat mind.
So, away we drive.
Should say my wife researches and organises almost everything for these trips to the smallest detail.
I cover the car stuff, and the endless payments to a million people. Things are complicated now compared to 40 years back.
The overnight stay in Dover was good, clean place, organised for the overnighters and ideal for the run to the train. Filled the car up the night before with 99 octane E5, first time in 4 years. Thought it would do it good.
It looked very dirty due to hard rain all the way down. Hoped France would be better.
The train was as good as ever, so slick, so fast and soon running at 130Km. Maps on her lap, wife does not do sat-nav. She has an uncanny sense of direction.
I'm good mainly for pressing pedals, and enjoying the toll roads.
Long time ago we invested in a screen mounted tag for the tolls, no cash, no leaning out of low windows, bliss. Cheap too, the tag not the tolls!
Arrived in Semblancay for the first hotel in a sleepy French village with secure parking and a strong reputation for good food.
On arrival there were 2 Porsche guys, one Boxster and one Cayman who were on a big trip all over the place and heading for England. Had a quick chat.
The evening meal as knock-out simply put, the hotel cat very vocal, run by a charming lady with hubby in the kitchen, place was full. Easy to see why.
The room was basic but fine for one night and we were away again fresh in the morning just after the others left for a blast north.
Dull but dry weather and more Km munching as the car sang along. Found some 99 octane E5 and mastered the computerised 24/7 system (that was a surprise) and hammered along at 130Km. French motorway driving is great.
Lorries keep a big gap between themselves (easy to exit off) and other drivers overtake and pull back in. Sounds simple? Very nice and even relaxing.
By this moment I was sure one of the read wheel bearings was starting to grumble. This started 3 years ago in Austria very suddenly, but is only really noticeable in Europe!
Oh, and the wipers became very noisy too unless kept very lubricated with screen wash, I knew I should have changed them before hand. Annoying.
We reached the 3rd hotel in late afternoon, looked great and a few Km's from Sarlat, a prize in France's medieval history, and a real treat.
Unexpectedly we landed a huge room and massive bathroom for a cheap price all down to a coach load of tourists, but to out advantage, and for 5 nights too.
Very unusual for us to win like this! Hotel was Hotel Plaisance if interested.
Time was passing quickly and the 5 days we saw a lot of the region. Nice weather, car even more grubby, but no rain so at least the wipers were silent...
Found a local petrol station that worked like a good UK station, fuel in, pay card, drive off. (rare in France).
Time to head home, but first a two nighter in Fontevraud L'Abbaye. We came to this hotel twice before in recent years, and it needed some TLC, but nice food!.
Across the square from the hotel is a huge old monastery building, restored by the French government with a very deep and varied history, but was requisitioned by Napoleon as a prison in 1800 or so and so it stayed, very infamously, until 1962 no less, a very miserable place.
It is now spectacular!
Made our way further north via Le Mans and it's museum which is going through a fresh make over, so a bit disappointing after a very difficult time finding it!
Not sure why over 1/2 the cars were Formula 1 cars!
Some more motorway bashing and we arrived at La Ferme De La Ranconniere.
Well, what a place!
Fabulous in its buildings, great food, and the smallest room were have EVER stayed in.
It was the only room left when booking in march and was round, and in the early 14th Century part of the main house with 2 small windows to shoot arrows from but all was good, quite a novelty. Oddly, no member of staff smiled. Just one local man doing breakfasts. Most odd.
It was the kind of place you see in Octane magazine with a tour of classic exotica lines along the front area. Smashing special place in a tiny village.
All round this area is of course WW2 and Dunkirk, and the 2 free days we had there we visited some memorials and took in facts posted everywhere about the efforts of all thos people to liberate France and world from Nazi Germany.
Sobering.
And so to the run home and the Ferry.
Overall the experience was good, but long queues and 6 hours on a steady boat with WiFi if you pay for it, but good food and few people gave it a relaxed feel.
The run home was nicer than 'London' but my god, driving on UK motorways sure is different to France.
Car is now nice and clean, wheels were very dirty, inside full of grit and new wipers ordered.
1980Km, 34.6 average MPG. and the speedo just about to turn 90,000 miles, 56k of those bashing around Europe and the Scotland/UK runs too.
Jury's out about the wheel bearings, what a job that would be.
