Goodwood to Angouleme Circuit of the Ramparts

[Riverbankannie]

Last day today, practise this morning and racing this afternoon,

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This is our morning cycle in with the town in the distance,

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Many of the cars from yesterday's run out are now dotted around the town and there are lots of people milling around, This TVR demanded a photograph (I have a soft spot for TVR's) and loved the paint.


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A nice supercharged MG,

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And then to the racing it has to be said that the spectating is not the best, although this is a Renault Alpine there were about 6Porsche 911's and the noice was deafening with the buildings in front and also behind, the Alpine sounded lovely though,

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We then moved and stood on a bench we had a half decent view as the cars came up the hill, in this race they were all over 100 years old and to be fair the hill was a struggle for them,

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We had to stop long enough to see a race with about half a dozen Mini's in and then we called it a day as apart from anything it was boiling hot and I was burning.

So that's it, we have enjoyed it, not as good as 12 years ago when we came, glad we have seen it again but won't be rushing back anytime soon but not ruling it out completely.

At last, an MG for me!

 

[funflair]

At last, an MG for me!

You should have asked, there were others

OK prepare to be spoilt, these are from when we came in 2012

There you go

 

[funflair]

Oops missed a couple,

Or three.

 

[WESTY66]

T’was Blummin gorgeous last weekend
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Forgot to add, did you notice Mrs Westy back on the bike?? First time after her fall at Lyndon top last year

 

[funflair]

Forgot to add, did you notice Mrs Westy back on the back?? First time after her fall at Lyndon top last year

Yes I saw Val was on the bike but didn't realise this was the first since her little tumble, no wonder she falls off she doesn't get out enough Jen says thanks to Val for the windscreen clip she used it at the ferry port

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[gus-lopez]

Cable brakes on a Bugatti,

That light blue one has seen better days. You can see why when they fill with petrol you have to also add 2 pints of oil

(I have a soft spot for TVR's) and loved the paint.

You wouldn't want to pay for it though.

We managed to find some sunflowers that hadn't died off,

I think many were planted very late this year due to the incessant rain as there were none around when we went to the Uk & most were only just flowering on our way back

Thanks for all the photo's .

 

[funflair]

That light blue one has seen better days. You can see why when they fill with petrol you have to also add 2 pints of oil

Nice to see though close to 100 years old and still being used and abused like it was designed for.

 

[jongood]

So today (Saturday) is really the day for looking around the paddock as all the cars should be in and most of the exhibits are in place but we did most of that yesterday,

The rest of the Concours de elegance were in place and looking good,

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A few bikes,

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A very pretty "Salmson" (never heard of it but it has it's name on the front)

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A nice Mustang next too a very nicely finished Citroen DS,

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And a rather special Citroen DS but I can't remember what it is so hopefully somebody can help otherwise I have to go back tomorrow and find out.


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And a couple of rusty old Harleys for WESTY66

I think it might be a Chapron DS

 

[jongood]

funflair was there any racing Martin? Would have been an experience to hear that MG with the blower at speed

 

[funflair]

I think you are right Jon, Chapron Le Dandy,

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[funflair]

funflair was there any racing Martin? Would havd been anbexperiencd to hear that MG with the blower at speed

The blown MG wasn't racing Jon, the Porsche's between the hoses were deafening, the Alpine was sweet as a nut and easy on the ears

 

[funflair]

We found the Charente Maritime area so pleasant yesterday we have only moved 20 miles today, what we saved on diesel we are spending on another camping car parks X municipal campsite, lovely spot on the outskirts of Tonnay Charente should be OK for cycling still and we might visit Rochefort from here, there again who knows

The sun is shining, we got under the 3.6m bridge so all is good.

 

[funflair]

Very high tides at the moment me thinks,

The mud is left over from the last high tide this morning and tonight around 7pm is supposed to be higher,

This is the tide coming in and it’s fair galloping,

Suspension bridge which I think we can ride over for a view of the town,

And another church,

 

[funflair]

The only “fly in the ointment” or should I say “bugs” at the minute is b——y shield bugs or are they Stink bugs? They seem to have taken a liking to our van

 

[funflair]

Yep it’s come up,

About high point now though so all good.

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[funflair]

Yesterday was V warm but better on the bike as he had our own breeze, followed the cycle path upstream and then back by a slightly different route so we could cross the suspension bridge, and avoid so muddy paths due to the night tide, nice enough ride on some fairly bumpy tracks, loads of Herons and Egrets but no Kingfisher’s again, I decided the water was too murky for them to see fish

The suspension bridge which is only open to bikes and walkers, and below the view of the town at low tide,

Bridges seem to feature quite a bit a round here and in the distance left of centre you can see the transporter bridge (very much like ours in Middlesbrough) and also the much more recent viaduct of the estuary of the Charente,

 

[funflair]

Today was forecast rain but it hadn’t come to much by the time we had had coffee so we set of with waterproofs in the panniers and headed to Rochefort The home of the transporter bridge in the distance yesterday,

Bit of a murky day but that’s the transporter bridge and the newer road bridge behind it,

For anyone not familiar with the transporter bridge design, basically it is a tall structure that allowed masted sailing ship underneath and the cars and passengers were transported on a gondola slung from ropes and overhead gantry so it could cross from side to side, I said cars and passengers were above as now it’s only bikes and foot traffic, the structure was built around 1900 but was superseded by a lifting bridge in the late 60,s (no longer here)

The transporter was closed for safety reasons in the early 2000,s and after 4 years and not far off a total rebuild it reopened in 2000 and they have a interesting information house at one side,

I thought this might have been a good scaffolding job for bobnick

I mentioned the lifting bridge that replaced the transporter in 1967 but all that is left is the concrete structure at either side, you can just see this in the middle of the picture, the people on it are……….

The local Tango dancers potable ghetto blaster and all,

Anyway we crossed over for free as it’s a monuments open weekend and we were greeted by this very dapper couple, he claimed to be the design engineer of the bridge but I wasn’t sure interesting all the same.

Then it started to rain as headed home but we saw a Kingfisher

 

[Lenny HB]

The sun is shining, we got under the 3.6m bridge so all is good.

Did you need the brown trousers?

 

[Lenny HB]

Forgot to add, did you notice Mrs Westy back on the bike?? First time after her fall at Lyndon top last year

I was surprised as Val was still refusing to go on a bike at Lyndon Top this year.

 

[bobnick]

Today was forecast rain but it hadn’t come to much by the time we had had coffee so we set of with waterproofs in the panniers and headed to Rochefort The home of the transporter bridge in the distance yesterday,

View attachment 953191
Bit of a murky day but that’s the transporter bridge and the newer road bridge behind it,

View attachment 953192
For anyone not familiar with the transporter bridge design, basically it is a tall structure that allowed masted sailing ship underneath and the cars and passengers were transported on a gondola slung from ropes and overhead gantry so it could cross from side to side, I said cars and passengers were above as now it’s only bikes and foot traffic, the structure was built around 1900 but was superseded by a lifting bridge in the late 60,s (no longer here)

View attachment 953193
The transporter was closed for safety reasons in the early 2000,s and after 4 years and not far off a total rebuild it reopened in 2000 and they have a interesting information house at one side,

View attachment 953201
I thought this might have been a good scaffolding job for bobnick

View attachment 953202
I mentioned the lifting bridge that replaced the transporter in 1967 but all that is left is the concrete structure at either side, you can just see this in the middle of the picture, the people on it are……….

View attachment 953204
The local Tango dancers potable ghetto blaster and all,

View attachment 953203
Anyway we crossed over for free as it’s a monuments open weekend and we were greeted by this very dapper couple, he claimed to be the design engineer of the bridge but I wasn’t sure interesting all the same.

Then it started to rain as headed home but we saw a Kingfisher

One of those transporter bridges in our North East, cannot remember where.
AND that scaffolding job, well i wouldn't have been interested as i only did big jobs.

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[funflair]

One of those transporter bridges in our North East, cannot remember where.
AND that scaffolding job, well i wouldn't have been interested as i only did big jobs.

About 10 miles from where we live, it was opened about 10 years after the French one.

 

[bobnick]

About 10 miles from where we live, it was opened about 10 years after the French one.

I worked in that area in the 70s. Monsanto, Redcar British Steel etc. Mostly stayed in the Bourgh but did a couple of spells in Redcar and Saltburn.............i don't want to remember those days

 

[funflair]

I worked in that area in the 70s. Monsanto, Redcar British Steel etc. Mostly stayed in the Bourgh but did a couple of spells in Redcar and Saltburn.............i don't want to remember those days

I served my time at ICI Wilton so just over the road

 

[funflair]

This morning it was chucking down so we used the time wisely and did nothing, well I might have done some hoovering but that's it, by 11 it had about stopped so we moved as that was the plan anyway, moved? all of about 25 miles in fact we can still see that transporter bridge but from the other side, we are now at Fouras at the mouth of the Charente,

Nice enough spot again, and right on the beach front,

Still monuments open day but this time it was €1 to go into the old Fort Vaubin Museum and the view from the top was great,

If you use a bit of imagination you can see La Rochelle in the distance and off the end of the peninsula is Ile d'Aix, the other direction is Ile d'Oleron but the other side of the Charente so not easy on a bike without going back to where we were yesterday to cross

Oh and the weather improved so we sat out on the front and had a beer.

 

[nifty fifty]

nice report thank you. we also were at the ramparts for weekend for us it was first time certainly would go again but do things differently. the slippery silver escort in the races had entertaining style . did you notice the db aston used to pull his race car\ trailer from uk.

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[funflair]

nice report thank you. we also were at the ramparts for weekend for us it was first time certainly would go again but do things differently. the slippery silver escort in the races had entertaining style . did you notice the db aston used to pull his race car\ trailer from uk.

No Missed that, and missed you as well but there were a good few brits around, where were you parked/camping?

 

[nifty fifty]

guided by there advertising\tourist board. we used recommended motorhome parking area at espace carate arena. expected it to be an organized area but realy nothing and nobody it was just the park and ride and allowed to stay thur to mon. bus provided free sat\sun and couple euro otherwise buses were over subscribed dident turn up and last busses 8 ish ect so fri eve was out generally that was all a let down and would not do that way again. thankfully i had thought ahead with gas, water full and empty waste tank .surprised at just how many brits there competitors and watching.
walked the track route fri and chose a spot between the hairpins to watch sun.
be nice to have a car with me and do a rally route maybe nextime i will take the 65

 

[funflair]

guided by there advertising\tourist board. we used recommended motorhome parking area at espace carate arena. expected it to be an organized area but realy nothing and nobody it was just the park and ride and allowed to stay thur to mon. bus provided free sat\sun and couple euro otherwise buses were over subscribed dident turn up and last busses 8 ish ect so fri eve was out generally that was all a let down and would not do that way again. thankfully i had thought ahead with gas, water full and empty waste tank .surprised at just how many brits there competitors and watching.
walked the track route fri and chose a spot between the hairpins to watch sun.
be nice to have a car with me and do a rally route maybe nextime i will take the 65View attachment 954603

looks well tidy go for it.

 

[funflair]

So we have seen the Ile d'Aix just off the coast and there is a ferry running several times a day so why not? well the weather forecast for a start but again it was better than it could have been.

That is the island port, bathed in sunshine,

And here is our ferry, jongood we saved €9.50 by having a tandem as they only charge that as one bike ,

Nice for a ride around as basically no cars on the island, well basically no roads either but some deserted beaches, an old fort and lots of gunning emplacements.

Plenty of bikes for hire but I guess we are out of season now so plenty left as well,

Some bits look a bit run down and tired to be fair,

And there we were gone,

And just to support the local economy I know I should have moved that tent for a better view but I couldn't be bothered, sorry.

Did I mention the rain? actually it was OK as we were under tree having a sandwich but tomorrow doesn't look that good so we will have to see, I would like one more bike ride around her before we move ideally but that might depend

 

[funflair]

Nothing to report today other than we went for a walk in the rain and got wet, and it's still raining

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