A decision has been made after a long period of deliberation and much hand wringing. We are off across the channel to foreign shores in my trusty D3 “Ruby”. We are getting on a ferry from Poole and travelling to St Malo for a holiday in St Brevin. Going to spend two days “working” so will be classed as a business trip! 8)
With my Ruby now 11 years old and with 186K on the mile-o-meter it was a much harder decision than our last trip to the home of the La Patisserie. When we had Land Rover Assist and LR Warranty it was a no brainer, just go and enjoy the trip. However post “DSL’s Norway Adventure”; it is a much harder decision to take Ruby out of the UK. With only the AA to cover me and their policy of recovery to the value of the vehicle, one has to weigh up the potential pitfalls. Bringing Ruby back in carrier bags as hand luggage doesn’t appeal to me!! I feel the Disco Forum vultures doing pre-flight checks already…..!!
Once the hard decision has been made to actually go, 30 minutes on the internet finds me a hotel on the beach near to where we need to be. Not cheap for a sea view suite, but the Wife is worth the expense and will get me plenty of bonus points to hopefully spend in the bedroom!!
Ferry crossings were much harder to get at a reasonable price this time of the year; we wanted to get as far down the coast as possible to avoid stupid amounts of travelling. Once chosen I was annoyed to find Condor Ferries don’t accept Amex so I can’t benefit from their automatic travel insurance………..more expense!
Paid for the AA European Cover, another £77 for 7 days……!
So the long list of things to do is being compiled:
Check over Ruby and muck her out, give her a good polish as well.
Check the spare wheel will actually drop down, not been used for at least 9 years so not holding out much hope!
Change the wheel nuts for some new solid ones, the latest set have rusted and expanded again.
Buy a breathalyser kit and make up a small box of bulbs.
Find the 13A multi-way strip with the Euro plug on for all the chargers etc.
And most importantly put some of my plastic tracking in the boot in case we get stuck in the sand again.
Countdown has begun, T minus 15 days….. ------------------------------
"Ruby"
Rimini Red 06MY TDV6 S
Xenons, Bright Pack, Climate Pack,
BAS Magic Box and Remap
ITG Air Filter
ERG's Blanked (Woody32)
Huge Permagrin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72947
Ruby will be fine, just enjoy the trip.
And don't worry about the breathalyser. That's being officially ignored by the Gendarmes, and has been since not long after it's been brought in. But remember hi-viz within reach of occupants, a more sensible law. Not that I used mine in last 2 breakdowns.
1st Aug 2017 10:27 am
Paddington
Member Since: 30 May 2013
Location: Southampton
Posts: 280
Hi
I had the same thoughts as well about taking my discovery 3 (2006) down to the south of France.
We did the same trip last year hassle free so hoping for the same.
We flipped a coin and the disco won.
It's a 2 day trip , ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre then down to bourges, overnight stop.
Day 2 bourges to valras plage for 10 days.
Like you I've taken out AA European Cover plus parts and Labour up to £500 but hoping that I don't need them .
Been all over the car checking what I can and kitting it out with a split charge system for the cool box and a shelf in the boot , cases underneath and tuck box on top.
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3077
Paddington wrote:
Hi
I had the same thoughts as well about taking my discovery 3 (2006) down to the south of France.
We did the same trip last year hassle free so hoping for the same.
We flipped a coin and the disco won.
It's a 2 day trip , ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre then down to bourges, overnight stop.
Day 2 bourges to valras plage for 10 days.
Like you I've taken out AA European Cover plus parts and Labour up to £500 but hoping that I don't need them .
Been all over the car checking what I can and kitting it out with a split charge system for the cool box and a shelf in the boot , cases underneath and tuck box on top.
Wish me luck.
Here's a few pics
Good luck! and have a fantastic trip both of you
Paddington - Please consider getting a dog guard though with that fridge and shelving in the boot if you don't have one ready to go in D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
1st Aug 2017 3:07 pm
Paddington
Member Since: 30 May 2013
Location: Southampton
Posts: 280
Hi James w
Thanks.
Great idea ,the cool box will be strapped down with a kayak load strap as well.
Previous cars
Discovery 200 tdi
Discovery 300 tdi
Discovery td5
1st Aug 2017 3:22 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3077
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
Good luck fella lets hope we both have a trouble free time The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
1st Aug 2017 6:19 pm
D&G
Member Since: 29 Jun 2017
Location: Charente 16480
Posts: 3483
Nice area. Is everybody from the forum coming to France.
Have a good trip.An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory.” ― Millard Fillmore
2006 Disco 3
Gas Gas 300ec / Gas Gas tx249 / Bandit 1250
XR 650r / Pajero 2.8 Lifted and Safari Snorkel-gone.
Yes its the charge of the heavy brigade The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.
1st Aug 2017 6:26 pm
garfield2
Member Since: 24 Jul 2008
Location: morley, leeds
Posts: 313
D&G wrote:
Nice area. Is everybody from the forum coming to France.
Have a good trip.
Yes we are coming to a place near you next year, angeloume not sure if it will be may or September yet, Portsmouth to Caen I think then sarf
Regards
MartinDiscovery 4.5 HSE 2015 MY
Discovery 3 SE 2007 MY gone with spinning journals
1st Aug 2017 7:49 pm
D&G
Member Since: 29 Jun 2017
Location: Charente 16480
Posts: 3483
Blimey, perhaps the October camp should be out here.
I had best get my D3 sticker from Martin.
And somebody in a Disco might wave back
Left hanging again today. An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory.” ― Millard Fillmore
2006 Disco 3
Gas Gas 300ec / Gas Gas tx249 / Bandit 1250
XR 650r / Pajero 2.8 Lifted and Safari Snorkel-gone.
1st Aug 2017 8:06 pm
Paddington
Member Since: 30 May 2013
Location: Southampton
Posts: 280
Thanks Aerialmark good luck as well.
I've got the AA phone number at the ready.
Previous cars
Discovery 200 tdi
Discovery 300 tdi
Discovery td5
1st Aug 2017 9:28 pm
Jarvis
Member Since: 16 Dec 2009
Location: West Berkshire
Posts: 279
D&G wrote:
Nice area. Is everybody from the forum coming to France.
Have a good trip.
Yes! Mid-August: Portsmouth to St Malo then down to Saint-Emilion for vin rouge, then Narbonne for .. vin rouge then Haro in La Rioja for..... you guessed it, vino tinto!
1st Aug 2017 9:53 pm
D&G
Member Since: 29 Jun 2017
Location: Charente 16480
Posts: 3483
Will have my eyes peeled for disco 3 stickers An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory.” ― Millard Fillmore
2006 Disco 3
Gas Gas 300ec / Gas Gas tx249 / Bandit 1250
XR 650r / Pajero 2.8 Lifted and Safari Snorkel-gone.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum