AC Owners Club Forum
AC Owners Club Forum => ACOC News and Events => Topic started by: administrator on June 08, 2013, 11:47:36
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A spectacular week touring the Pyrenees, staying in the superb Paradors, with good company, food, roads and scenery - many thanks to John Norris for instigating and Jasper Gilder for leading.
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm274/bryanmo/a_DSCF8060.jpg)
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Indeed, a superb week of happy motoring in our beloved ACs and in good company. More to come, after recovering from 4067 kms on French and Spanish roads in the Cobra.
"http://s172.photobucket.com/user/MkIVLux/media/Spain%202013/ACOC131snowfallonthePourtaletpassintoSpain_zps494d5e0b.jpg.html?sort=9&o=2"
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Hi Constant, it seems you encountered the same weather I did in Massif Central [;)] ... Could please let us watch the full album, as I assume the only picture we can see at the moment is this one :
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC131snowfallonthePourtaletpassintoSpain_zps494d5e0b.jpg)
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hi Olivier,
I am struggeling to get the pics from Photobucket to here! I am certainly missing something in the process. Been reading over and over again the instructions as related in another thread on this forum, but.... it ain't workin'. I do have another 20 pics to load....
Indeed the above pic was taken on 30 May on the summit of the Pourtalet pass that I had used out of Lourdes into Spain. On the way down I had to mount the roof onto the Cobra as we passed the Puy de Dôme and since then we had it all: heavy rain, halestorm and snow.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC132snowfallonthePourtaletpassintoSpain_zps02e71d49.jpg)
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I use photobucket app on my Ipad, and it works perfectly ! Try again [;)] ... Want to see your pics !
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finally ..... strange process!!
after 1580 kms we arrived at Sos del Rey Catolico, the high place of the catholic king (of Aragon)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC133Sos_zps1982fffb.jpg)
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a medieval town with narrow streets ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC133Sosstreeta_zpse6ef7820.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC133Sosstreet_zps5d6b3d55.jpg)
and some eternal locals ...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1004_zps27120a28.jpg)
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where we encountered the group or British friends(old and new) who had taken the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, whereas two British cars had taken independent journeys through France.....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/IMG_1045_zpsd060c28f.jpg)
Next day half the happy bunch was proceeding to the Riocha plain, over some 120 kms of good roads encountering hundreds of windmills (modern, not of Don Quichote time) on mountain peaks.... and we all kind of struggled to find our way to the vinery indicated quite confidentially on a miniature map by our tour guide and organizer Jasper.
Maybe he had hoped by there to eliminate a few from the wine tasting and have it all for himself [;)][;)][;)]
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC134vinerylineup_zps25b9575e.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_0949_zpsae415836.jpg)
(http:// http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_0951_zpsaca3a856.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_0932_zpsb78b396b.jpg)
and here is the happy bunch after the wine tasting... (in the middle just behind John Norris, is the owner of the place.. and at the far right of the picture we spot Celina, the Argentinian born export manager of Finca Egomei, and our guide on the visit of the vinery
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC134vinerybunch_zpsc4826fa4.jpg)
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after the visit.. the sun came out again.... and we all headed back to Sos, boots of some ACs filled with Egomei bottles ....
Next day we head eastward towards Vielha, over a few passes in the 1400-1600 m altitude range.... with an occasional pitstop...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC135pitstop_zps1ff1ace9.jpg)
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and through impressive scenery ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC136impressivescenery1_zpse047bbee.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC136impressivescenery_zpsaa3fc306.jpg)
and always alert for some strange traffic encounters...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC134crosstrafficahead_zpsf6b4006d.jpg)
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Vielha is a boring place, just some 50 kms south of the French border, but surrounded by a few 3000 m or so snow covered peaks....
(will have to find some picture in my album.... hence patience required)(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1054_zps1a6c78b2.jpg)
time to relax and have a walk down into town (thanks John for picking us up at the foot of hill when returning to the Parador).....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1062_zps1e995dc6.jpg)
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... and off we are again in our mounts, this time either via a northern loop over two French passes, or via a southern loop through the Spanish side... I did chose the latter, as already having massively used French tarmac on my way down to Spain....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1068_zps456cea4d.jpg)
the drive was over excellent and dwindling roads through narrow mountain gates...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1072_zpsb976fc9c.jpg)
... passing through Ainsa, yet another medieval town ...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC137Ainsa_zps5c9dbcd4.jpg)
...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1103_zpsc6e802ad.jpg)
....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1091_zpsb4f53f27.jpg)
..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1106_zps946eb261.jpg)
situated on the head of a lake....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1098_zpsee86f123.jpg)
... and into the valley of the Pineta ...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138PinetavalleytoparaodorBielsa_zps13d3096c.jpg)
.. to arrive at Parador de Bielsa, where we are greated by John and John (Goose and Spencer that is), happily occupying the front row of the hotel's bar terrace [;)]
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138aJohnampJohnBielsa_zpse57949e5.jpg)
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more to come.......
the bar's terrace was a sundeck ... not only for us
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1133_zpse0e7b4f5.jpg)
with scenic views all around...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1147_zps5680eef3.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1143_zps6e630c0c.jpg)
but also for some locals ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1152_zps4d687d88.jpg)
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.... this Parador is located at some 1400 m of altitude at the end of the road on the foot of the Lost Mountain.... impressive views as we look out the rooms' windows.....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1144_zps73d5e096.jpg)
... good occasion to take a walk attempting to ascend that peak or at least proceed past three waterfalls onto the highest plateau accessible by 4 wheel drive vehicle at some 1700 m of elevation....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138onfeettothemountaintopChristineConstantDany_zps608e23be.jpg)
with Christine to my right and my co-pilot Dany to my left...
occasionally watching natures impressive force as snow avalanches are spurred by the ice melting by the sun's heat...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138snowavalanchea_zpsc491a091.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138snowavalanche_zpsf0a6f4f6.jpg)
we did make it to the top valley where horses and cattle grazed on the spare vegetation at some 1750 m of altitude....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1201_zpse49a7c87.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1204_zpsf940d5be.jpg)
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on our way down we encounter some British tourists [;)]
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC138SusanDanyJohnBielsa_zps5ae65083.jpg)
who then decide that the way down with us is easier than trying to be brave and reach the top plateau where anyway there is only some cattle and horses and a few marmots to be encountered.... and no bar to relax.....
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..more tomorrow.. I need some sleep
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Thanks for those pictures, Constant ! Few cars, but impressive sceneries ! You all look like pilgrims, with your sticks and big shoes [;)] ... Did you manage to drive your car with them [:o)] ?
Is it a Zagato on the very left of the finca pic ?
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Olivier, ...don't worry, I exchanged the Timberlands against racing boots before getting into that Cobra. Ain't much space in the footwell.
There were more cars but they did not all go to the Finca. The red car on the far left of the picture is a TVR Sagaris, car of our tour guide Jasper.
I'll post more pics later.
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some more pics of ACOC members' cars.. here the very early high powered MkIV Cobra that owner Neil let me testdrive on a short stretch of bumpy mountain road... so we did it the smooth way.. (thanks Neil [:)])
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/IMG_1044_zpsfede17fe.jpg)
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and the beautiful Ace Bristol
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/IMG_1046_zpsead7c510.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1125_zpsc0fc88f0.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/IMG_1047_zps3f4c37a6.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/IMG_1048_zpsa44af634.jpg)
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Hi Constant,
Thanks for posting some of your photos they are great, I’m looking forward to seeing more. Even though the it's less than two weeks since we returned it feels longer and I’m missing he open road, the occasional sunshine and the good fun of our group.
I hope you and Danny had better weather for your return trip ?
I will try and post a few of my photos.
Cheers – John and the Rev-Limiter.
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Looks like a fabulous trip. I rode my motorcycle through that area about 26 years ago! It was great then. Would be great fun in an AC!
great photos. And, unlike many posts, finally plenty of photos of the crowd, not just cars!
Keep posting!
Gus
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quote:
Originally posted by cobham cobra
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I hope you and Danny had better weather for your return trip ?
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hi John .... all in all we had only two days of driving under the soft top, out of 11 days on the road ...
so after Bielsa, after running into massive four feet countertraffic......
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC139countertraffic_zps5961a034.jpg)
(no, none touched the Cobra while passing [:)])
.... we headed north-west towards the Atlantic on the south slope of the Pyrenees ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1097_zps7c546c25.jpg)
to reach our last hotel in San Sebastian late afternoon... a fantastic hotel with an underground garage (at least for some of our cars(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1232_zps260c5de7.jpg)
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cars stored away, shower taken to get the dust out of our hair, refreshment on the hotel bar's terrace .....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC1391happyhourSanSebastian_zps87faf09a.jpg)
.. off we go (yes on foot por favor [;)]) to look around San Sebastian.... beach
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1236_zps2c73632e.jpg)
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bridge to town centre...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1237_zps2fa7897b.jpg)
.. time to relax, take a drink on a terrace and enjoy a jazz combo...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1239_zpsd7b37c5f.jpg)
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you won't believe it, but this is the only shop that the girls visited [;)]
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1242_zps1b8d7a14.jpg)
.. before we find a nice tapas bar on the central piazza
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1250_zpsfebbc2b6.jpg)
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later in the evening, we slowly stroll back to our headquarters.. encountering some other AC owners all on foot (no their cars haven't broken down, but are simply taking a rest), they definitely heading towards a tapas bar in town centre ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1262_zps812f01f8.jpg)
... while Neil, Christine, Dany and myself contemplate the surroundings under sunset...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1258_zpscf48ca50.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1260_zps15bca8c5.jpg)
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back at the hotel while having a last one in the bar, we are all delighted to see Anthony coming in with his Ace Bristol, on a flat bed, having suffered a puncture only a couple of miles before destination.... long day for him and his valid co-pilot...
.. next morning Glenn and Colin gave a helping hand in fitting their spare wheel to Anthony's car allowing him to drive to the ferry and get home safe with the other members of the party .....
as half a dozen are watching ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1269_zps938e6120.jpg)
and taking pictures
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1271_zps5f10c1aa.jpg)
.. only one is working .....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1270_zps62812452.jpg)
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finally it is time to say goodbye... a last official picture (missing are the Booth brothers and John Goose and Minty, having already started their return trips a day earlier) ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/Spain%202013/ACOC1395happybunchbeforeleavingSanSebastian_zps84f085ac.jpg)
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While the Brits prepare their cars for a shorter trip to the ferry at Bilbao, Dany and I point the Cobra towards France.....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1073_zps04ffeacf.jpg)
.. for a 650 kms stretch to get us to the Loire river for two more nights in a Chateau ...
It was getting quite hot that day, not much traffic but quite a few roadworks..... a quick nap to recover at midday in the shade of a tree on a parking lot... and here we arrive at Château la Ménaudière, our next headquarter off Montrichard on the Cher, side river to the Loire, east of Tours...(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1275_zpsb25833b9.jpg)
.. a very nice hotel that I can only recommend, including secure parking for the mount
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1276_zps1beda3ac.jpg)
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from here we visited Chateau Chenonceau on the Cher, one of the most beautiful castles in the Loire region, particularly well maintained as it is privately owned and operated...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1284_zpsdfb54668.jpg)
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1289_zps3ca60ac8.jpg)
..each room being nicely decorated by fresh flower arrangements that would cost a fortune if I had to buy them in our flower shops ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/IMG_1350_zps4f2e99f9.jpg)
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after the visit of this beauty we decided not to see a second chateau and relax at our hotel's outside pool.. before going for dinner to a former church in downtown Montrichard
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/P1020308_zps1f08b951.jpg)
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last of the 11 days spent on the road in the Cobra alongside my brave co-pilot Dany...
the usual packing after breakfast (this is the 7th time that I get on my knees and store it all away despite the large spare wheel that I have now carried during the last 54000 kms but never needed -- I still can't leave it at home -- sorry Dany we cannot take that extra pair of shoes [;)][;)]
.. and off we are again.... pointing the nose of our mount to the north-east.. past Château de Chambord, probably the largest of Loire châteaus ...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w34/MkIVLux/P1020357_zpscc47b747.jpg)
.. for another last stretch of 600 kms to reach home before sunset.
As if we did not have had enough at the beginning, suddenly, just 50 kms south of the border to our home country, we ran into a huge and very intense rain shower. Dany spotted a place where we could hide under a narrow roof and wait for a quarter of an hour.. before slowly rolling onto the tarmac and continuing in reduced pace towards home, arriving safely at destination.
What a stunning mount: 4067 kms without a hickcup, except a caught each time after I had fuelled up....
and no complaints from my co-pilot!
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tomorrow or so.. I'll let you know how we started our journey as we spent already two days in the Cobra before hitting the Spanish border..... so stay tuned.
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Constant,
thanks for sharing your trip with us [;)]... and this is a proof, if ever needed, that the MKIV is made for driving and can accumulate thousands and thousands miles !
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What a fantastic adventure and drive. Wish I could have made it. Thank you for posting all of the great pictures. They really give a good idea of what was experienced.
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Very interesting pictures and great story thanks ! Did you see any sites or come across any references to the Duke of Wellington as well as it's the 200th anniversary of the Battle of the Pyrenees this month....?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Pyrenees
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we did not meet the Duke of Wellington ...