Everyday Appia

[lancianut666]

are the clear plastic covers over the speedo and gauges supposed to be tinted yellow or is this age effects
Clarkey

[simonandjuliet]

I suspect it is aging, but having given them a good polish they are easier to read

[stanley sweet]

I use toothpaste on the acrylic crystals of old watches - removes any scratches etc. Just apply with a damp cloth, let it haze, then polish off. Also just used Autosol metal polish to completely transform the opaque Lybra headlight covers to crystal clear. Either might be worth a try on the instruments.

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Stan, I think that I will leave it as "patina" - I used to use the toothpaste trick for cleaning my diving mask when I was a marine biologist .... good stuff , toothpaste !

Refitted the sunvisors and worry-beads, the painted visor mountings look fine and the worry-beads came with the car so are part of her identity !

I have connected up a cigar-socket for iPod/iPhone charging. it is quite discrete and fits in the under-dash pocket on the passenger side, means that I may not bother with the radio, I'll see how it works with bluetooth speakers

Latest daft idea is to cycle along the Pyrenees, off-road, from Andorra-ish to the coast near Coulliore, dipping in and out of Spain. Plan to take the Appia so time for a quick check and mini-service

Up on the ramp to check everything still there and as it should be ,then grease the steering and oil the lower suspension guides. It is a bit dirty from 18 months use, but otherwise OK.

Will probably be quiet for a week or so, hope the AGM goes well ......

[LANCIA]

CIAO SIMON , UN MESSAGGIO PER TE SULLA TUA MAIL............

[simonandjuliet]

So it didn't quite go to plan ......

Bike packed up neatly in the back of the Appia, lovely drive up to the high Pyrenees, a quick stop at Villefranche le Conflent with its amazing "Vauban" fort - well worth a stop for this and "Le Train Jaune" which leaves from here

But then the planned cycling trip along , and down, the Pyrenees was cut short when I impaled myself on a tree !

So after a trip to the medical centre and a few stitches it was decided that I couldn't continue - a great shame because it is amazing. Will need to re-organise and do it again

Please excuse or delete the gory photo !

The return drive was phenomenal, so good that I didn't stop to take any photos ! A solid 3&1/2 drive  via the high plains and then following the river Aude from its source to Carcassonne and through the Gorges St Georges. It was mid-week so NO traffic and a hot sunny day. I did not come across another vehicle for 50 miles, just kept going at my pace

The best drive I have had for years

I left home really liking the Appia, I came home loving it !

[Parisien]

Wonderful Simon, bar the running into the stationary tree!!!!

Get well soon, thats not your spanner arm though!?


P

[lancianut666]

Unlucky with the tree...matron says she is standing by to whip that plaster off!

[stanley sweet]

Ouch. Those kind of drives are great - the type you never forget.

[simonandjuliet]

Great day out on Sunday.

Juliet spotted a poster attached to a lamppost in the next village advertising a "Rallye Surprise" this weekend. It showed a cartoon picture of an old Peugeot (?) suggesting that it was aimed at the classic owner ........

We phoned and booked (15 euros per car) and were told to arrive at the departure point at 8am on Sunday

We duly turned up in the Appia to find that we were the oldest car by 50 years ! Plus there was an observation run with clues  and a "cultural test" , obviously all in French. Not forgetting "guess the weight of the sausage" a singing competition and "identify the smell"

Some of the route was "borderline" - Jules had to get out and watch us over the hump. We saw the Bages' pelicans and paddy fields

For example, we had to name 3 records recorded by Charles Trenet and then needed to know the lyrics from "La Mer" to find the next clue ......

What does a cochliophile collect ? - spoons of course !

And then the first lines from a list of poetry

Suffice to say we came last ........but we were still awarded 2 bottles of wine, a car rug, sports bag, set of flannels and a "tarte aux pommes"

We had a lovely day out, beautiful drive from Bizes Minervois to Peyriac sur Mer, via Narbonne and Bages. Tim will recognise much of it, indeed he was probably watching us from his wind-surfer !

Lovely weather, lovely route, lovely company ..... can't wait for next year !

[the.cern]

That is brilliant ..... a great day out and purely by chance. I bet if you had know the age range of the other contestants you would have given it a miss!! What a loss that would have been!!!

                          Andy

[lancialulu]

We should have been with you as there was no wind to windsurf, well not enough for us beginners. Consolation prize we went to the picturesque village Lagrasse today (Monday) as they had a (free) piano recital festival. Great drive back at midnight no cars around.... So we did not see you Simon.....

[stanley sweet]

I can feel the heat just looking at the photos. Better take a couple of short planks next year to help out on the rough tracks. 'Guess the weight of the sausage' sound like something from 'Allo 'Allo. Was there a painting hidden in it?

[lancialulu]

Working Delta!!!

[simonandjuliet]

As it should be !