A complete change.... (1 Viewer)

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stcyr

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Well, after 8 months of idyllic life on 'the farm' here N & N & littl'uns are on their way over to UK for an Mot. They left us last Saturday and are making their way up to Dieppe in 'easy stages' - 50/60 kms per day. So far they've overnighted at Clécy, Dives-sur-mer, Deauville, then south a bit to La Mailleraye-sur-Seine where they are now. Tomorrow they'll be crossing the Pont de Brotonne aiming for somewhere near Dieppe.
We eventually got round to fitting the Autogas tank last Friday - filled with LPG (19.2 litres for 12€) - and all working perfectly.
Plans are currently: mot next monday in Worthing, then on to west Wales for a while (ex-home), then Derbyshire, then Scotland .... Then back here mid-August. ;)
 
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Le départ de St.Cyr
 

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Anthea M

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Wow is it six months since they set off on their adventure ! Glad they are still enjoying themselves ! Good luck !
You will miss them!
 
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They arrived here last October, intending to stay a couple of weeks then go travelling south. But they liked the place so much they stayed. When they return mid-August they do plan on exploring more of France/Spain/Portugal etc though. :)
 
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Fun & games today. After a very pleasant lazy 4 day trip to Dieppe, N & N & co turned up in Worthing for the mot on Ol'Bess this morning... Failed on a duff ball-joint. Not bad for an oldie. Reversing out of workshop the clutch pedal fell to bits - turned out it had been welded many moons ago. The garage wouldn't help & left them stranded in the middle of their cluttered forecourt. Nik found someone a few miles away who welded it up for £2 !! All nicely greased and refitted and now on their way to Brecon where they're booked on a site for the night. (y)

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(y)

They're on their way ... bit late but unbowed. Clutch pedals fine. But will be coming home here asap. They'll have the ball-joint replaced by a family friend in west Wales where they used to live, who is a well-trusted garage owner - then another mot, rather than stick around in Worthing. Last mot's still got a week or so to go so no probs there. ;)
 

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Failed on a duff ball-joint. Not bad for an oldie.
Last mot's still got a week or so to go so no probs there. ;)
I always understood that an MOT test fail cancelled any remaining period of the existing one is cancelled - so, technically they have no valid MOT...:unsure:

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Yes.
"The government has updated its guidelines warning motorists that they face prosecution if they drive their car following an MOT failure – even if its previous test hasn’t expired.

Some drivers put their car in for an MOT early to find out if any faults need repairing, mistakenly thinking they can use the vehicle until the old test runs out.

A lot of speculation exists around the topic online, with a number of sites claiming that drivers are within their rights to continue using a car with an in-date MOT certificate, even a tester has since deemed it unroadworthy.

But now the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has updated its guidelines, saying: “You must not drive the vehicle on the road if it fails the test, even if the MOT hasn’t run out.”

It adds that the only exceptions are to drive to have the defects fixed, or to a pre-booked MOT appointment.

If you’re caught driving a car in a dangerous condition, you could face a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and three penalty points..... "

And ...

Update: February 2016 Since running this story, the DVSA has updated its website again – to say the complete opposite of what it originally said.

It now states: “You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.”

Beware, though – if you do drive your car away it is technically unroadworthy. If you were to be caught driving a dangerous vehicle, you could be prosecuted – and you definitely can’t plead ignorance if you have an MoT fail sheet informing you of this ...
 
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Happy outcome. Due to the delay with the clutch pedal N & N had to book a site in Builth Wells. The owner of the site was really helpful, said don't worry what time you arrive, just drive carefully. He welcomed them at 10.30pm and said no time set for departure next day.
I got a text the next morning saying 'Got a ******* flat tyre' ...
Anyway, breakdown cover sent out a tyre fitter to change the wheel for the spare - N. didn't attempt it himself due to the pitch being grass & slightly sloping - The tyre was u/s ...
Once the spare was fitted they left for their destination, Newcastle Emlyn area where they are now pitched up on a friend's campsite. All's good.
He's pretty chuffed, after the event - Ol'Bess is 31 years old & only cost £3.5k, and, individually, all the problems could happen on any age vehicle.
So, balljoint to replace, 1 new tyre to buy, mot, then a week or so seeing old friends & family - then back to the Promised Land ;)

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Ol'Bess is nearly in Scotland now. :)

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Camped by Loch Trool, just north of Newton Stewart, probably for a few days boating - Happy days.... ;)
 

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Wow.. hope it continues ... but if they decide it has to stop .. by God what wondérful memories they will have made together.()
 
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In admiration for you all. hope the journeys continue to foster the excitement of every turn.(y)

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More excitement in the tale of Ol'Bess, the £3.5k 31 year old relic.
The team moved on from Loch Trool ... further north.
The somewhat floppy gear-change became more so. Before long is was becoming difficult to find 1st., 2nd. & reverse ...
So they decided to make their way back down to west Wales as quickly as possible.
Left yesterday morning - and arrived down near Aberporth late yesterday evening. Quite a marathon :sleep:
Nik texted me to say they'd arrived & I asked if he was running on rocket fuel ... Nope, he said, just wanted to go quick enough to avoid the need for the lower gears ;)
The pre '87 Peugeot/Citroen/Fiat vans were only fitted with floor-change for the UK market. The mod required a complex system containing many joints & articulations, and due to lateral out-of-line pressure on the rods entering the gearbox the linkage was prone to rapid wear. So, a conversation with Mr.J.K.Towers should bring forth a new modified linkage - and they'll be making their way home here, no doubt by some circuitous route. Aiming for mid-August .................................. :)
 

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Can I put peoples minds at rest following the comments made above.

Whilst it is true that to use, cause or permit to be used a motor vehicle in a Dangerous Condition is an offence, how many of us on here would put a Motorhome through an MOT in such a condition?

When was the last time you saw VOSA hanging around an MOT station hoping to catch some poor soul who's track rod end had some play?

If you are stopped by the Authorities, they will KNOW whether your vehicle has got an MOT.
If you have a valid MOT issued in the previous 12mths, they will not go chasing you looking to find offences. Unless of course the vehicle is screaming" Look at these defects. How unroadworthy am I.
 
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Well ... Just got text: 'Appears we've got gears!'.
Adjusted clutch pedal.
Theory was that as the clutch pedal had been rewelded 'everything was a 'bit out'.
Next decision'll be whether to whip back to Scotland to continue exploring :rolleyes:

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The good news continues ... After a few lazy days camped in a favourite secret spot by the Teifi Nik decided it was time to get the Mot sorted. Self-kicking ensued. Turns out that the ball-joint fail in Worthing was actually not a fail but an advisory. In the panic of the clutch pedal falling to bits he just grabbed the paperwork without looking at it closely - and assumed it was a fail! So, now in Wales, he had to put the van through a new mot. This time there was no mention of the ball-joint but a rear wheel-bearing was 'failed' ... Turns out it just needed tightening slightly. It then passed.
Result: new mot, no repairs/replacements needed ...
Costs: Mot x 2 @ £35 = £70
Ball-joint £0
Bearing £0
Clutch pedal £2

Pretty cool for a £3.5k MH, 31 years old, which had been standing unused for 8 years until last autumn. (y)
 
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The gang is back in France.
1st. day off the ferry a large hole appeared in the front silencer so Nik walked over the road from the aire to the village garage. As soon as they had a space they sent someone over to let them know and it was all welded up. Bill: 10€ ...
They're now slowly wending their way down the Cotentin - should be here later today. The plan is to stay near us for a few days ( = a week or two), and then carry on travelling south for a bit.

;)
 
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Yep, the couple of days did turn into a couple of weeks ... ;)
The last few days have been spent fixing/overhauling/cleaning a few bits & pieces ready for the continuing trip - the fridge works, the cooker works, the water-heater works, the shower & taps work, the new exhaust is on AND she's had a wash :whistle:
Plan now is to mosey on west round Brittany, then southwards, down west coast, along Cote d'Azur, up through Gorges du Verdon then slowly back here to Normandie - 64 day trip (fingers crossed) - ready for little Joe's eye appointment in November.
We got a complete new 2 silencer and long tailpipe system, Krupp Thyssen, for 70€ through ebay.fr. Just one silencer would've cost 56€ on ebay.uk!

So, so far, ol'Bess has gone from Liverpool (her previous home) to west Wales, up to Derbyshire, back to w.Wales, down to south coast, over the channel, Dieppe to southern Normandie, back to Dieppe, Newhaven to west Wales, up to central Scotland, back down to Wales again - and back to Normandie the long way round (all round the Cotentin peninsular)..... all on the most minimal budget. ;)

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Yesterday saw the departure on a 60 day trip round Brittany, down the west coast to Bordeaux, down to the Cote d'Azur then back up through central France... 1st.stage, St.Cyr to Fougères completed successfully ... (y)
 

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Yesterday saw the departure on a 60 day trip round Brittany, down the west coast to Bordeaux, down to the Cote d'Azur then back up through central France... 1st.stage, St.Cyr to Fougères completed successfully ... (y)
Have a great trip and safe travels keep in touch when you can!(y)

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2nd. stage - Fougères to la Foret de Brocéliande, famous for its legends of Merlin & co. (y)

(Getting jealous already - we'd have gone with them for part of the trip if I didn't have to go to UK on Sunday, for a few days... :( )
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Anthea M

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