French and Italian Alps - June/July 2012

[AndyCook]

Arriving in amsterdam 2hrs late due to severe gales in north sea. Slept through them ok.
Put too much silicone fluid in viscous fan a few weeks ago so it was on a bit all thetime, robbing a bit of engine power amd more fuel used. I drained a bit out 2 days ago but needs a bit more out, so that will be a 30 min delay today to do that.
Heading for strasbourg area today.
Free wifi on ferry

 

[SpinDrift]

Have good trip.

I hope you find better weather in the Alps.

 

[AndyCook]

Back in civilization again, campsite and wifi!
Been on the offroad trails for 8 days and finished with offroading this morning.
Some great weather, amazing views and excellent trails.
loads of photos, will try and upload a sample.

The trip hasnt been without techinical issues.
first overheating Autobox, A/T temp light coming on - on long steep offroad trails, so an autobox cooler a must. found using low-box and putting heaters on max in cab (not nice at 35degC) stopped the overheating.
maybe the 32" tyres on the 4.1" diff is too much,,,
second i added a bit more silicone fluid to viscous fan before trip, too much as fan came on too much and robbed power. so i emptied some into a container and its OK now, still comes on when needede but not all the time.
drivers side CV joint starting clicking after 2nd day offroad.
i end i removed front prop after day 5 to ease the strain on it and stop it failing completely, put difflock on and have done trails in 2wd. i put prop back on yesterday for some tricker trails.
So will need to source a new pair of CV joints when i get home, once i have figured out which one is gone - inner usually goes?

waeco fridge came up with error light, but unplug and replug sorted it. it has had flashing error light a few times, and looks like leisure battery isnt charging up properly, it only gets to 12.35v not 12.6/12.7 after a days driving.

issues aside really enjoyed it, much bigger mountains than Pyrennes, but trails harder on vehicle.
tunnel de col de papillion was closed due to snow in it still and access trail blocked by a landslide.

had another trail near susa, where we had to drive round boulders from rockfall. used waffleboards, stones and some digging to make this less risky.
then we had a narrow 800m pitch black tunnel in mountain, with CB antennae scraping all the way. tried an excursion upto a fort called Fort Jafferau (2801m) but trail blocked by snow fields... We met a German called - Karl Storm, in an 80-series and chatted for an hour at our camp just below this fort at 2200m. he had body lift, sus lift and 37" swamper tyres! he drove round the snow fields!, but i didnt dare in a loaded collie with only AT tyres. he had be driving in the area for 20yrs.
had fun with friends with their Hilux in convoy with us for 2 days, after meeting at Col Bonette (2804m)

yesterday on ancient trail upto Col du Mont Cenis, we came across more rockfall boulders, which we couldnt pass, so had top reverse back 500m on a tricky trail to turn around.

going to chill and mountain bike for a couple days, before heading to Rhone valley to get some wine! pics to follow

 

[AndyCook]

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Looks like a lot of fun, some nice views there

 

[Ben]

great pics Andy.

not envious at all!

 

[Graham]

[strike:1lnqujoe]great[/strike:1lnqujoe] fantastic pics Andy.

Gra.

 

[AndyCook]

thanks Guys - there are 100's more photos!
just uploaded a handfull for now

think i have solved fridge, and then inverter power problems.
and leisure battery not charging properly...
thought battery was duff...

i have been monitoring with dash voltmeters
but thought i would disconnect and check with my proper voltmeter, and discovered postive terminal clamp nut on Leisure battery was loose! when i went to isolate the battery from all drain.
things seem to be working now i have tightened it up - in camp, inverter and fridge not tripping out with low voltage errors
will have to see if it charges properly today

was going to source another battery or just a campsite power hookup cable today - but hopefully not needed now!

overcast and damp today - cant complain its been brilliant weather for our trip!

 

[fast but dim]

superb pics!!!

I took my 120 to the french alps last year,

Unfortunately I didn't have time to drive any trails I hope to get there again in the next couple of years and fit in some offroading. Your camping pics have whetted my appetite!

 

[chadr]

Sounds like your having a great trip Andy - please keep the pics coming.....

superb pics!!!

You should've read the manual that came with the tent - those poles, ropes and pegs all serve a purpose. You shouldn't have to prop up one corner of the tent yourself....no wonder you didn't have a chance to drive any trails!

 

[AndyCook]

Up in Belgium now.
we have been doing 4hrs on the motorway, then stopping somewhere for afternoons, getting bikes out then enjoying some wine shopping and beers!

backtrack to alps and big bike descent for the "gate opener"

camp on a ski piste

heading down to Val d'isere
and Tignes - Grand Motte where we have skiied in background

wine at Tain L'Hermitage

and then a afternoon and evening in Beaune - fantastic city

vineyards at Beaune

and beer

and beer shopping in Lorraine region in Northern France

stopped by French customs... but they were fine with 8 cases of wine

and belgium

and back to landcruisers! an old landcruiser in France

 

[AndyCook]

a shade under 3000miles later and we are home

fantastic trip, and still lots to do in Alps for next time
time for a Birra Moretti that was still in fridge!

 

[AndyCook]

The SPOT tracker route log!

 

[Gav Peter]

Welcome back Andy. Great pics & sounds like a worthy trip. Got any more pics heading our way???

 

[AndyCook]

some more pics

Fuel prices not so Bad in Europe, with Euro being better value
many fillups at 1.30ish Euros = £1.05 a litre!!
used 665ish litres

and quick rough calc, no more than £780 spent on Diesel

(last year to Pyrenees we went about 100 miles further and were getting better mpg without RTT - but due to Euro-pound and maybe higher fuel prices, but mainly exchange rate spent £100 more on fuel last year!)

Ferry was "free" as all covered by Avios

campsites about 13-20 euros a night, we had about 6 wildcamps


Topping up diff oil...

it was very dusty!

not nice having the AT tread filled with fresh tar after squeezing past this lot..

Auron ski centre - obligatory chair lift shot!

Hilux at col de bonette

snow!

landcruiser mtb shuttle and downhiller "gate opener"

The only "gate" of the trip - an electric fence wire

removing front prop to ease strain on front CV's

forest

risoul ski centre

i got the bike out

sandwhiched between trucks!

Risoul

spots usefull in this 1940's wartime tunnel - no lights and 850m long

marmots

marmot

tree pruning

scary track behind

one of the best wildcamps - by Fort K14 over 2000m

another rockfall

and another

brilliant trail - Strada del'Assetta

another good wildcamp

ski centre

col de bonette

climb to col de bonette

Toyota's at 2400m

wartime gun emplacement guards the col

big views

St-Dalmas-le-Selvage

another tunnel

Col de Tende

wartime bunkers now cowsheds!

ski pistes

cakes!

our friends great Hilux

 

[Gary Stockton]

Very lekker, Andy - will need to catch up with you and get some details!

Cheers

 

[Ecoman]

Wow it looks like you had a great time over there.

Glad you both got back safe and sound.

I recognise that Hilux you spent some time with over there. Do you know if he is a member of the HPOC forum?

 

[AndyCook]

Not sure if Ted is on HPOC bill.
I will ask.
Its a great hilux

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Looks like you had a great trip Andy, some nice pics there

 

[SpinDrift]

Great trip Andy. Definitely on the list.