Back To The Future

Back To The Future

By roychinnor6 Comments
Sorry for my prolonged absence. It has been so long that I couldn’t remember what my last post covered and had to go on site to see. Anyway, we have had an eventful few days in France and another of those “Bridget should never have made it” moments, followed by Moss Europe digging us out of the clag again! They must be fed-up with us by now, but they continue assisting. After the wonderful run through the Selvio Pass and a couple of nights at Terisimo we continued in the general direction of France. My regulars will know the high esteem that I hold France in, and I suddenly had an unaccountable urge (possibly connected to a surfeit of wine) to visit my cousin in Blaymont, Lot and Garonne. Although they had other family already there, they were, of course, delighted to be honoured with a visit. A number of times I was unable to ignore an aweful banging when I started...
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And Then There Were Three

And Then There Were Three

By roychinnorNo Comments
From Pordeone we drove over to Tremisone, on Lake Garda. This area has always been a favourite of mine and very many Brits for many years. For me it’s just about nature, the mountains and inevitable lakes. Unfortunately this particular area is just about saturated from a traffic point of view and it is difficult to know how to resolve it. Widening the roads, apart from being difficult, would spoil many aspects of the area, but it is impossible to restrict the numbers. I had checked into my hotel in Pieve di Tremisone and completed the initial recce of the town and was just about to enter the building when a MGF pulled up in the car park opposite. I walked over and introduced myself to the occupants, a couple from Hebdon Bridge. Unfortunately they are not MGCC members, but still very nice people. First of the family I have seen since leaving the UK. One of the photos I have uploaded...
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Return To Italy

Return To Italy

By roychinnor2 Comments
Feeling thoroughly refreshed after a couple of days in Maribor, Bridget and I set-off for Sesta al Reghena, some 20 miles West-Nor’-West of Trieste and 15 miles West-Sou’-West of Udine. I am not sure how to pronounce the latter, so I asked a cockney “Wasn’t he that geezer with chains, a sack and a tank of water?” It occurred to me after, what a shame it is that there wasn’t a prison camp there during World War II, then hundreds of Brits could tunnel their way out and we could make a film entitled “Escape from Udine” The drive was event free and the scenery was back to what I enjoy so much, lots of open space with some serious mountains in the distance. Much of the urban housing across Slovenia is similar to the chalet styles you would see in the French Alps areas, Austria and, I imagine, Switzerland. The latter is one European country I have not been to,...
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Little Red Cars and Stuff

Little Red Cars and Stuff

By roychinnorNo Comments
The journey from Abingdon to Modena had been largely without incident, the exception being our excursion through Piacenza. This classic Italian town is approximately 20 miles from Modena and we were travelling on highway SS9. According to the map this goes directly through the middle of town, but the problem with maps is that they don’t get updated with road re-routing, one way systems or, in this case, pedestrianisation (not sure there is strictly such a word). Anyway, we entered Piacenza and found the usual glut of churches, cathedrals, narrow cobbled streets, etc. Then, as we approached the bustling centre of town we were faced with obstacles blocking the road and a sign that clearly (even with my poor Italian) was informing us that traffic was not allowed between the hours of 8:00 and 18:00, except for buses. In fact buses would not make it through the majority of streets because of their size. I looked around and decided I could...
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First 1,000 Miles

First 1,000 Miles

By roychinnorNo Comments
The planning was over, the route confirmed, all the paperwork was completed and even following a late health scare for Chris, from which he was given the all clear 4 days before the departure, our African Odyssey adventure was beginning. The weather forecast for Sunday 11th September was atrocious but the God’s changed their minds and although the winds were gusting at up to 45 miles per hour the sun managed to shine for much of the day. MG’s started gathering in the Abingdon Town square a little before midday and before the official flag eventually dropped at around 3:30pm there were at least 30 MG’s of differing vintage. Both Chris and I were kept busy chatting, not just to the many club supports, but also to interested passers-by. One particular senior lady approached on her mobility scooter and asked if she could escort us! Her scooter was capable of 8 mph and she had lived in North Africa for many years...
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