Friday & Saturday were prep the Landy and sort out gear days. I changed all the fluids and filters. Re-tightened up the loose prop shaft bolts, cleaned out several months worth of field, sheep and dog debris, added in some mount kits from RAM Mounts and generally went to town on making sure I had all the junk these kinds of trips need. As part of this, I packed all the spares for the Landy, so a spare starter motor, a power steering pump, (mine whines every now and then), the Radius Arm bushes I never got around to fittings and several sensors, bearings, oils, filters etc etc. I had also forgotten about the sump bolt, which got dislodged on a rock in a river crossing awhile back. I meant to change the sump itself, but have left it and now its too late. That set me off on a search for a bash plate to protect that part of the engine, but no such luck finding one. I still haven't fitted a steering bash plate either, so that whole front bottom end is going to need regular checking on the trip. I did pack some metal putty and a spare sump bolt though! Last minute delivery arrivals were the gas regulator & hose for the cooker, the Sand Recovery Boards, headlight deflector patches and some Dog Turd puncture repair kits.
Sunday was a day of visiting people I hadn't seen for awhile. Working and hibernating seem to be my main past time the last couple of years, so it was refreshing to actually talk to people for once! Most of my friends know I'm a bit of a loner, so they just give me some stick whenever they see me! 😏
Once the Landy was loaded up and the house cleaned & locked up for the rest of the winter. I set off on a bit of a weird south bound journey via Lancaster and Liverpool and then on Monday, down to Dover.
The travel time to Dover has increased on Google Maps from 6 hours to 7.5 hrs it seems. No doubt due to Britain's infamous and growing crappy driving standards, poor quality roads and the huge increase in traffic flow over the last few years. For me, its going to be longer as I have a few stops to make as well. So prep the music library with updated playlists, download a few Podcasts and pack some nibbles and drinks was the last minute job.
I still need to pick up a Hi Lift jack for puncture & recovery issues, so I found a place in Liverpool that has the HL604 version I'm after, alongside a couple of extras like mounting brackets and anti rattle plastic clips. The LR Centre seems to specialise in Landrover stuff, and for me its on the route with just a minor detour. I'm hoping to mount it on the rear crossmember of the chassis, so its low down and I can also use it as a step into the back of the truck. It could do with a canvas cover to stop it getting covered in road shite, so maybe I'll find somewhere in Tunisia and have one made. I also need to find a rubbish carrier to hang of the spare wheel, but in the UK they seem to be £100, which just seems extortionate for a 1000 denier nylon bag that is going to get slowly destroyed by waste, sun and road grime.
The LR Centre turned out to be a waste of time. I turned up at 08.10 as their website says they open at 8. Once I found a way in, I was quickly thrown out to stand in a wet and slushy doorway. I got told off for not phoning before arrival and the stock on the website wasn't accurate, (either that or their employee couldn't be bothered). They seem to be set up for online sales and don't want visitors at all. So I never got my bits and they missed out on £200 of sales. Hey ho.
Once finally down at Dover, it was stop for food, a bit of shopping, then check in to P&O Ferries and wait to be boarded. I did have time to do a bit of comfort shopping before leaving the UK, so Liquorice Allsorts, Walkers crisps and plenty of Veggie Samosas went into the shopping cart because a healthy diet is really important apparently! 😇.
Once in France, I'll get some nice wine, cheese and pay a visit to the charcuterie counter.
Stark contrast in weather between the north and south of Stoke on Trent. Snow, black ice and really cold, then Dover is blue skies, warm and calm seas. Happy days.
Now, its sit back on the ferry, ride the swell of the English Channel to the land of the French for yet another traverse of that great country.
