Holly the Hilux trip to Auvergne/Haute Loire 2017

[AndyCook]

well, we have started our summer overland trip, day 3 and we are now Troyes in France.
Heading down to Auvergne area, Haute Loire to finish off a roadbook we started in 2014.

Trip going well so far, from the Highlands of Scotland down to Troyes,
Settled down in campsite now with a chilled cremant du Bourgogne and a red warming up in the 30degC heat

Should be on the tracks by Tuesday

Fizz

Stopped with MIL in Nottinghamshire last night

 

[Chris]

Sweet

 

[AndyCook]

We headed south past Dijon, stopped at wine Coop in Beaune for supplies

Then into this winery in Beaujolais area near Macon

And down to Lyon, then headed SW into Massif Central
And stayed the night at a wonderful and spacious campsite by a river

Today we went to look at a volcanic plug with columnar basalt

Then went for a 45 minute walk to look at a waterfall

After shopping for food and beer at Langogne, we hit the trails
Pretty easy, some narrow bits and slightly tippy and washed out trails, so used 4x4 a couple times

Tonight's camping spot, we deviated onto a Little used side trail with dead end and found this glade to camp in.

This was last nights site

And another out of sequence pic from last night

 

[AndyCook]

Well, the trails got a bit more spicy today and low range needed a few times for both climbs and descents.
One descent was a slow low range 1st descent for half an hour, pretty rubbly and hairpins, would have been very challenging to get up it, think winch would have been needed. Co-pilot wasn't happy, but I enjoyed it.

Nice day, hit trails and 9.30 and at wild camping spot on hill top by 2.30pm
We needed to dry out mattress from RTT after incredible thunder and hail and rain storm hit us last night and I hadn't closed tent door properly before deploying foxwing and then getting in car !
Did some touristy stuff exploring a priory at lavoute-chillac



Can't seem to get rid of these photos of my server, raspberry pi and solar output app !!'

 

[AndyCook]

Our progress so far

 

[Bob]

Looks great, haven't been able to go to France this year as we are moving house, but definitely going to steal some of those locations for next year!

 

[Chris]

Andy, would you adopt me please?

 

[Ben]

Great trip so far.

My co pilot sometimes decides she doesnt like unexpected 1st low descents too!

BTW do we even want to know what that webpage is that you had open in one of your tabs in your last few pics?

 

[AndyCook]

Ha, that's the copilot, live blood,analysis ! Not anal....
She had some tests done the other week,

 

[GeekOKent]

Looks like a great trip.

 

[AndyCook]

Nearly finished the Roadbook, then heading to big mountain trails in the Alps

More great villages to explore and more tricky stuff, used maxtrax and bowsaw a few times now to make things safer on hard bits
Side steps taken a battering...

A bit cooler today thankfully

 

[AndyCook]

More,

 

[AndyCook]

 

[AndyCook]

 

[AndyCook]

Andy, would you adopt me please?

Sorry not enough room on drive for your 80's and hilux

You will be on tour soon though

 

[Chris]

Look, adopt me now or I am going to the authorities. Your call!

PS save me some lunch.

 

[l384580]

It looks like you are having a good time the scenery looks stunning and good food and wine what more could you ask for

 

[Chris]

A son?

 

[Gary820]

You need to sell yourself more Chris, son with a lathe, welder etc etc, can shoot his own steak. Has already moved out and got a job but wants the tradition of holidays as a whole family


Looks like you're having a great trip Andy, roughing it with the meals though, you need a grown up son to help out