Another trip with the wrong car

Another trip to France with work, again tantalisingly close enough to the Pyranees to imagine just how good it would be to get the Elise down here again. This it was closer than usual being based out of &&&& right in the foot hills, surprisingly working with a guy who owned a Morgan and unsurprisingly sporting a twirly moustache. Anyway the stead for this week was a fiat panda with the aircon option firmly unchecked, seriously I had not realised you could still buy cars without aircon.. Anyway a mighty panda it was, still no rear engined twingo but maybe next time.

So after day one I got the chance to run the col du &&&& in said panda and it delivered the kind if laughs that only a small underpowered narrow wheeled French or Italian hire car can muster. Delicious amounts of tyre squeal were coupled with a moderate amount of grip and predictability from a chassis you could take liberties with if you were feeling stupid, or on an empty col. Fortunately my work colleague and passenger has become accustomed to my driving and was reasonably happy with our progress, only squeaking when we got a bit of air on the way up and having crested  the summit when I slotted reverse, pulled a J-turn in order to do the descent, this time in the rain that had started falling as we neared the top.

Day 2 meant a fast cross country run from the site to Carcassonne on the &&&&&. I say fast, the panda does not really do fast, however what it does do is fun and despite having to let a Leon through who was also "on it" we had a fun time wringing out the petrol engine which was surprising fun after so long in diesels.

No sat on airfrancs to Charles de Gualles with renewed desire to get the Elise back on the road and back to the mountains. The maths on 45p per mile fro. Edinburgh to the Pyranees is interesting..

Up and running 1992 Hardrock

Was a wreck in dad's garage, now back up and rideable on everything but the chain and tyres.

Approx 45miles so far no probs. last ridden by me on the London to Brighton 20 years ago.

Crowded Waves and Quiet Trails

Friday off in May and a lucky swell. Surf 1 on the twinny was good but marred when I dropped it. Hung around for the push and surfed a very crowded reef on my log. Got the lions share with on of the c2c guys and later a couple of the other regulars that showed up. Most were just floating but it did make getting down the line without running people over interesting at times. And you don't want to be hit by a 9.2.

Later in week ride Cannock and it was nice and quiet, met a group on the trail and ended up riding the second half with them. We pushed each other onto some of the black sections and I was pleased to complete then all - shows how far you can progress in a couple of months riding.

Nasty little step up

Spotted in Monaco

These things are getting better with age.

 Couple of shots of them setting up for the race

Agent Orange

Goes like shit of a shovel. Two of the best surfs of the year, nice evening surf then the following morning

got up 4:30 to hit the beach at first light and it was pumping. The first half hour solo was just about as good as I have surfed and the new board the best board I have ridden - and I do love my single fin.

Wave number two was the money as they say, easy roll in then it walled up all the way to the inside allowing my average ability to draw the kind of lines that my  mind often plans but rarely delivers. Speed up for the last section then up and over the shoulder, paddle out and repeat. Someone later paddled up and said they had been watching from the road, "looked great first thing, you were all over it eh" oh aye my ego will take that all day long, at least till the next missed wave.

And more on the way for next week.

Wetsuit warming, wrap it round a bottle of boiling water.

New Rocket

Super clean logging

Perfect clean little pease on the push after low tide. Surfed it till the swell said goodbye to the bank.