Evening All. I've not had much to contribute to the forum for a while, sorry. However, a somewhat impromptu road trip last week has finally given me something to post about.
I found myself with a few days off last week and I had the very sudden, compulsive urge to scratch a major itch that I had had since getting my MGF a couple of years ago. A few online bookings later and I was on the 11pm sailing last Wednesday night from Newhaven to Dieppe - destination Millau Viaduct, South of France, and a return ferry booked for midnight Saturday! No pressure....
Day one was a blast down south on the toll roads for 500 plus miles straight to Millau. Off the ferry at 5am and good weather meant roof down all the way. A few sensible stops and a short sleep later and I got to Millau at 5pm. The bridge IS MAGNIFICENT.
It's tall. Very tall. Height of The Empire State Building tall. And stunning. And worth every leg aching moment of the drive down.
After an hour taking in the view, I drove across the bridge and then took a 45 minute diversion to get under it.
Overnight in Millau and then a further 400 miles to do for the day, off of the toll roads. First, into the deep ravine of the Tarn Gorge that the bridge spans. Apparently it can get very busy but I was on the road at 7am for the most fun, twisty, scenic road that I have ever driven.
From there, a quick hour further South to literally dip my feet in The Mediterranean, then West to Toulouse to visit the Airbus factory and then north for my next overnight in the Dordogne.
Final day was a leisurely 450 mile non autoroute journey back to Dieppe. Lovely surprise when I stopped for petrol at a slightly run down garage next to the Dordogne river was this mint MGA being worked on at the back of the garage.
They also had various classic Citroens, a stunning BMW 3.0 csi, Merc 280 (?) Pagoda and, looking embarrassingly out of place, a Dodge Viper... typical, eclectic French.
So, just shy of 1400 miles in three days. The MGF didn't miss a beat but the £60 RAC full service euro breakdown cover was worth every penny for peace of mind. Next time though, I need to take a bit longer - 'tis a bleeding long way to go in such a short time just to see a bridge!
Cheers chaps / chapesses.
Andrew