Africa - BRIDGET THE MIDGET

Night John Boy

11th August 2022 By roychinnor2 Comments

Bridget and I will be home tomorrow (Tuesday 9th) afternoon. We are currently in Calais and booked on the Channel Tunnel service tomorrow morning. My apologies that the trip has only lasted for two months and that it is much shorter than the original planned trip around the world. As I stated at the beginning we have Mr Putin to thank for that situation and this trip was no more than a consolation. That said we have travelled through 20 different countries excluding the UK and covered some 5,000 miles, which most would consider a reasonable tour. I have not made a final decision about whether or not this will be Bridget’s last road-trip. I need to reflect on that for a while. I can confidently say that there were three highlights to this trip, one being the extraordinarily kind gentleman that spent the whole of his day towing Bridget and myself around Moldova after some idiot filled Bridget with diesel. He...

Ready To Go Where!?

25th February 202015th March 2020 By roychinnor2 Comments

Having decided to stay in the UK for winter I couldn't face the idea of laying on cold concrete under the car trying to locate various faults and so decided to hand it over to the experts. They tackled the noise at the rear first and having checked everything I had already done could not identify precisely what the cause was. They did identify that the nearside rear tyre was distorted and needed to be replaced, but everything else was good. They decided to move on and tackle the oil pressure problem that they believed might be the generally known (by everyone but me) trouble of the crankshaft. It needed to be re-ground and they replaced the main bearings and big-end bearings whilst at it. Also replaced was the oil pump. Whilst removing the engine the mechanic noticed that the gearbox mountings had collapsed and that a mounting bracket was 'non-standard'. What's more it was bent and distorted, so it, and the...

Wonder (not Wander) Winterland

7th November 201916th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

When I returned from the Canary Islands in April I said I wouldn't be returning in the Winter of 2019. I have made similar statements on previous occasions but then changed my mind and returned to the sun as soon as the weather in the UK started to cool. This year however, I am still in the UK in November and I am staying! The reason for this stupendous decision is that I am going 'WALK-ABOUT' in 2020. The plan, as much as there is, is to ship Bridget (sorry Bertie) to Halifax, Canada in May. We will then mooch around until the end of June when we hope to attend the NAMGBR event in Calgary. After NAMGBR we will explore the Rockies before descending into the USA where I intend to complete a large circular tour that will include a visit to the Mullin Automotive Museum in California. I am thinking Peter Mullin's new museum being built in the UK would...

European Summer Walkabout 2019

18th July 201915th March 2020 By roychinnor4 Comments

I was back from my Winter Quarters in the Canary Islands some two months when the ‘itch’ started. Not the kind you go to a doctor with, but one that can only be cured with a ‘walkabout’! Not something that could be ignored, because that route only leads to hum-drum, boredom, even talking to oneself. I went online and quickly bought a ticket for the Channel Tunnel. Not a lottery ticket to win it, but a one-way ticket to freedom. I decided to turn right at Calais and head south, even though the sun and heat was, according to the BBC weather presenters right across the Country. Bertie the ‘B’ was now as ‘completed’ as such cars ever are and I was keen to experience how he handled with a new Mazda gearbox. Even the sceptic in me had to admit the drive was now easier, smoother and quicker than previously. Due to various delays, one caused by my not having secured...

Bertie’s Relaunch

30th July 201815th March 2020 By roychinnorNo Comments

Say "Hello" to the new Bertie! Now for six months 'bedding in', starting with a rolling road check this weekend. See if the original carbs (HS4's) are properly tuned. I replaced the Weber with these so that I can tweak the mixture at the side of the road should I need too. The brakes have a servo which they hadn't before and the clutch has been replaced, otherwise, mechanically, he is pretty much as was. ...