Slow Fleet – Saab 9000 August 2014 Update (Part 2)
Latest Costs: £113.77
Miles this month: 2102
The weather remained hot and dry allowing us to explore the region, usually spending a couple of hours a day driving. Still, the lanes are generally empty and the 9000 rattled along happily at reasonable speeds (read above the 90km/h limit).
Some of the surrounding sites are interesting, if a little unusual…
One other unexpected highlight was finding out there was a Matra museum nearby, in a town south of where we were, Romorantin-Lanthnay. So, a completely unplanned trip was undertaken and I pulled up in the car park next to it. Wow, this little place is superb, road cars, race cars, prototypes and development studies.
What I didn’t know was this town was the home of Matra Auto, although I would have read about the plant closure after Renault pulled the plug on Matra making any more cars for them. So I err… accidentally came across the old factory on the way out, coincidentally of course …
Week two meant relocating North to Eure in Haute Normandy, to the very pleasant village of Pressagny le Val, near to Vernon and Giverny. This put us closer to Calais and West of Paris, so I wouldn’t be going back the same way. The location was up on a hillside and had nice views from the garden, a quiet little village, which I was beginning to like.
The first full day, a Sunday, meant that the whole place appeared to shut down. So a trip out to some other touristy villages to see what was around, and have lunch. Easier said than done in a less touristy bit of France, I can only assume. Luckily one larger place had a decent bakery and the Saab made for an indoor picnic area, as the weather wasn’t so inviting.
However, we managed to come across this station in the town of Pacy-sur-Eure where some sort of train and craft fair was going on. By now the weather was bright dry and sunny, so it was busy. Still, it offered other forms of decay to look at other than that in the car park.
It was rather enjoyable and I came across this supposedly famous car parked outside. It must have had a clone for the crash scene, but was rather lovely.
The week was cooler and wetter, with local attractions keeping the daily excursions within a reasonable distance. Although heading to the various local hypermarkets kept me driving regularly. The strange vent issue had manifested itself this time (no ice in the cabin) as a reduction in flow. I have a feeling a leaking heater matrix might be dropping water which then freezes somewhere in the channels behind the dash. The slight sweet smell you get on a damp morning and the instant steaming of the windscreen being a clue also.
Some highlights included climbing up to Chateau Gaillard in Les Andelys, which was worth it, the views were stunning. I even drove back around the one way system to get the view from the car park across the top.
Generally running around the area, and returning to a favourite of mine, Lyons La Foret, saw some stunning scenery, pretty towns and villages.
Parking up in these different places give you the chance to admire the French take on Jalopying. What is considered a past it and only fit for scrap car, but to the enlightened readership a perfectly serviceable vehicle, appears quite routinely throughout France. A proliferation of 205s and Super Cinqs giving me the idea of a French version soon. Cars are a lot more expensive over there, so it makes much more financial sense to keep them maintained and running.
A final jaunt into Giverny, where Monet’s house and garden were, which was visited earlier in the week… to see one of the villages highlights. The engine museum.
How this fantastic place can be free and deserted is beyond me, no flowers in here whatsoever, just interesting creations and useful devices. One of which was a very early and somewhat terrifying washing machine.
But all too soon it was time to pack and return to the UK, in nice weather of course, and take a much more relaxed trip north to Calais and the port.
If that wasn’t enough a trip to Lincoln soon after saw this! (and yes the odometer has been replaced, documented too).
