Something different again. 2 kittens from Acorn Association near Mussidan to Gif sur Yvette, west of Paris. This to be followed by the collection of Arcos, who has blotted his copy book again, this time after his 2nd adoption. That was a late addition to the task, originally it was to be just the kittens, a night out at Toury, south of Paris, and home again by tomorrow lunchtime.
The new plan therefore is to overnight at La Marmite, at Limay, near Mantes la Jolie, west of Paris, a routier that I have often known about but never managed to stay at. Should still be home tomorrow though, but in time for dinner instead of lunch.
I left in good time, just before 8am and planned to collect the kittens at 9.30. This should get me to Gif in good time to deliver and then do the hour or so to Mantes by dinnertime. But, after only an hour or so on the road I encountered a problem. After leaving a roundabout the car suddenly lost power and I coasted to a halt at the side of the road. My first thought was a fuel blockage, but then I noticed that the engine was still ticking over, so not that. It had changed down to 1st and was still in that gear so I ventured slowly forward a little, ok, changed manually up to 2nd, still ok, so motored on cautiously for 500 metres to a layby and stopped to take stock. There was an icon lit on the dash, it could have been engine or gearbox to look at, whoever invents these things has a wry sense of humour I often think. I checked the manual and discovered that it was an indication that there was a fault in the pollution control system, and that I should consult a Peugeot dealer asap. The fact that this didn't sound urgent and that the warning light was orange not red, and not flashing, coupled with the absence of a stop signal, encouraged me to carry on.
I arrived at the top of the rough track which is Lynda and Trevor's abode not much later then planned and after a catchup chat, we don't see each other often these days, loaded the 2 kittens, Alice and Aspen, and was off again.
I intended to skirt Perigueux on the free autoroute to the south to get to the main dealer east of the city as soon as I could, but then changed my mind as, once off the ordinary routes, my recovery service isn't allowed to operate and that could prove costly if the car came to a stop. I decided to take the direct route through town but again thought differently. I could have gone up the N21 through Thiviers but, if anything needed doing to leave the car for, I would choose my own dealer at Nontron. Thus I would go due north to that town, get the car checked out and, if given a clean bill of health, work my way north eastward to regain my route.
I arrived at around 11.30 and had to wait for the mechanic to finish another car before coming to mine with his laptop diagnostic program. This was the advantage of going a little out of my way, they know me here where all my servicing is done and worked into their dinner break to do the check. At another place I would have been delayed for 2 hours at least. It turned out that the system needed recharging with the appropriate additive, but that would be ok till I got back from Paris. If further confidence was needed on my part, the offending icon was extinguished on the screen.
As I continued I calculated the delay at the cats' new home and thought that I would still have time to do that and get to my place of rest for the night. Any other delay and I would telephone the owner of Arcos and give him a new rdv in the morning. In the event I made such good time that no changes were necessary, in fact, for the first time that I can remember I actually arrived before the GPS prediction.
The traffic was kind round Paris, possibly due to the habit of Parisians to disappear south to the sun in July and August. The users of the Autoroute du Soleil's loss in the solid traffic was my gain and I arrived shortly after 6pm. I was soon backed into their car park and the cats were carried into the house, where we watched them explore and eat while we had a cup of tea and talked about the location.
I arrived at around 11.30 and had to wait for the mechanic to finish another car before coming to mine with his laptop diagnostic program. This was the advantage of going a little out of my way, they know me here where all my servicing is done and worked into their dinner break to do the check. At another place I would have been delayed for 2 hours at least. It turned out that the system needed recharging with the appropriate additive, but that would be ok till I got back from Paris. If further confidence was needed on my part, the offending icon was extinguished on the screen.
As I continued I calculated the delay at the cats' new home and thought that I would still have time to do that and get to my place of rest for the night. Any other delay and I would telephone the owner of Arcos and give him a new rdv in the morning. In the event I made such good time that no changes were necessary, in fact, for the first time that I can remember I actually arrived before the GPS prediction.
The traffic was kind round Paris, possibly due to the habit of Parisians to disappear south to the sun in July and August. The users of the Autoroute du Soleil's loss in the solid traffic was my gain and I arrived shortly after 6pm. I was soon backed into their car park and the cats were carried into the house, where we watched them explore and eat while we had a cup of tea and talked about the location.
After that I was given a guided tour of the complex, now a number of holiday gites but originally the country retreat of Edward and Mrs. Simpson after the abdication in the 1930s. It is an extensive enclosed compound in old stone and my short video really doesn't do it justice. On seeing the wide area inside the large wooden gate I realised that I would have been better, if I had known, to enter there and turn around for the return. My hosts were a young English couple who are the caretakers of this place and so were the best people to describe the surroundings. They spoke of their intention to create a petanque piste on the site and sought my advice on how to go about it, or at least point them in the right direction for technical advice.
Then I was off and calculated, correctly, my arrival at the routier at 8pm, well inside my schedule for the journey to a 7.30am rdv at Auvillers the next day.
This was the happy scene at Auvillers only a week before
Arcos is not aggressive but he does get excited and tends to nip, sometimes quite hard, at such times. That is the reason for the initial use of the heavy duty muzzle, which, once the fuss has died down, comes off.
Sadly, it is bad enough nipping adults but a definite no when there are children around. I had my misgivings when I delivered him and saw all the kids, but these people had chosen him out of several who did not have this habit and we were assured that they had encountered, and overcome, such behaviour before. But not soon enough and he had to come back again.
At the gate at 7.30 the man was waiting holding Arcos by the collar. I asked if I should bring the muzzle but he said no, and indeed it was not needed. He told me sadly of the nips that Arcos had given 3 people, though not him, and it was plain that he had taken to the dog in spite of this.
However, the die was cast and Arcos and I set off south again. I knew the journey would be calm and quiet, because that is the sort of dog he is most of the time. And so it proved.
At Sully sur Loire, where I always fill up with the cheap diesel, a chance to admire the beautiful chateau alongside the river.
We arrived back at Sharon's at 4.30pm to be greeted by Andy and, suitably muzzled of course, left Arcos to run around and check all the new scents from his short absence.
The car was booked in for the recharge the next week and is supposed to be good for another 160,000 kms. Another 2 years then!
Arcos is booked for another try near Tours soon. Fingers crossed.
Total Distance 1,304 kms
Arcos is booked for another try near Tours soon. Fingers crossed.
Total Distance 1,304 kms