Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
The last post!
So here it is the last post on our Barcelona Bangers adventure.
We all got home safe and sound, despite Easyjet's best efforts. We eventually arrived home about half three in the morning, a bit later than expected as our flight was delayed by 45 minutes, then after we got loaded on the plane we were then all ofloaded from the plane as they needed to do a security check as they had let someone on who wasnt supposed to be on!
We landed about 2 o'oclock and then we had to get a bus and a train from Luton Parkway into Bedford (Mark jumped at Flitick)and then we were picked up by Petes other half who kindly offered myself and Russ a lift home.
Earlier Russ gave the security staff a good chuckle, when he tried to bring half the car and it's contents through in his hand luggage. First the triangle got confiscated, then the first aid kits were looked at as they wanted the scissors out, then the turbo gauge got them really in a tiss as well as the Stereo...the icing on the cake was that they confiscated the two rolls of gaffer tape!!
What a great time we had, from the time we set off to the time we got back it was absolutely brilliant. Now were wrecked and Mark and Russ had to work today!!! lucky them...I on the other hand took the day off, magic.
I have a few thankyou's to give, firstly to everyone who sponsored us. Our total is going to be well over £1000, double what we originally targeted and that is amazing, were all really grateful. Thanks to Chris for sorting out the car and getting it all setup for us, I'm still really gutted for you that your work mucked up your holiday. Your efforts made the car a smooth and faultless ride so cheers mate!
Thanks to everyone who gave us stuff to raffle off in the tat raffle we had a great time doing it and it added quite a bit to the total.
Thanks to the WAGS for giving a weekend pass especially Pete's at such short notice, come to that cheers to Pete for dropping everything and joining our little trek!
Cheers to the organisers of Barcelona Bangers for putting on such a great event, quality.
I'm sure that there are people I've missed off and if I have sorry about that, only had 4 hours sleep!
I think I'll leave my last thanks to Curry Thunder itself, you did us proud, now you can put your feet up in the great garage in the sky....Woooooooosh!
Cheers for reading my ramblings, over and out, Mark and the rest of the Curry Thunder Crew.
We all got home safe and sound, despite Easyjet's best efforts. We eventually arrived home about half three in the morning, a bit later than expected as our flight was delayed by 45 minutes, then after we got loaded on the plane we were then all ofloaded from the plane as they needed to do a security check as they had let someone on who wasnt supposed to be on!
We landed about 2 o'oclock and then we had to get a bus and a train from Luton Parkway into Bedford (Mark jumped at Flitick)and then we were picked up by Petes other half who kindly offered myself and Russ a lift home.
Earlier Russ gave the security staff a good chuckle, when he tried to bring half the car and it's contents through in his hand luggage. First the triangle got confiscated, then the first aid kits were looked at as they wanted the scissors out, then the turbo gauge got them really in a tiss as well as the Stereo...the icing on the cake was that they confiscated the two rolls of gaffer tape!!
What a great time we had, from the time we set off to the time we got back it was absolutely brilliant. Now were wrecked and Mark and Russ had to work today!!! lucky them...I on the other hand took the day off, magic.
I have a few thankyou's to give, firstly to everyone who sponsored us. Our total is going to be well over £1000, double what we originally targeted and that is amazing, were all really grateful. Thanks to Chris for sorting out the car and getting it all setup for us, I'm still really gutted for you that your work mucked up your holiday. Your efforts made the car a smooth and faultless ride so cheers mate!
Thanks to everyone who gave us stuff to raffle off in the tat raffle we had a great time doing it and it added quite a bit to the total.
Thanks to the WAGS for giving a weekend pass especially Pete's at such short notice, come to that cheers to Pete for dropping everything and joining our little trek!
Cheers to the organisers of Barcelona Bangers for putting on such a great event, quality.
I'm sure that there are people I've missed off and if I have sorry about that, only had 4 hours sleep!
I think I'll leave my last thanks to Curry Thunder itself, you did us proud, now you can put your feet up in the great garage in the sky....Woooooooosh!
Cheers for reading my ramblings, over and out, Mark and the rest of the Curry Thunder Crew.
The post that should have been posted yesterday...the last day!
Well it’s our final and sad day today in Barcelona. We were up a bit later this morning, partly because we didn’t have any driving to do, but mostly because all our heads were a bit fuzzy from last nights celebrations!!
After brekkie we decided to have a look round Barcelona, and take Curry Thunder out for a final spin.
First stop, the Nou Camp, second stop a big Cathedral, both were pretty spectacular, although the home of FC Barcelona does remind me a little of MK Dons stadium….
Traffic was quite heavy so we decided it was time to get to the scrap yard, as we left the Cathedral the heavens opened and the worst rain (actually the only real rain) we saw descended on Barcelona. The roads soon became like rivers but the thunder rolled on, never missing a beat.
We made it to the scrappy at 2 but it didn’t open till 3 so a quick check of the Tom Tom found us the nearest McDonalds, and after a quick Big Mac we took our chariot back to Hierros Saiz scrap yard. After a bit of queuing and chatting with some of the other Bangers, documents changed hands and Curry Thunder was officially laid to rest. Fortunately her new owners gave us 50 euros for her so that paid for the taxi to the airport and the first round in the bar J
Were all a bit sad to have had to let the car go really, it has been a joy to drive and I’d thoroughly recommend getting a Volvo for that type of journey. Testimony to that I the fact that there were at least 4 other Volvos in the rally, all slightly different but they all made it. Quality!
So were sat in the airport all exhausted but all with a sense of achievement!
Russ also managed to find a new breed of bird that seem to be resident in Barcelona, Monkey Birds…hmmm
All for now, I’ll do the last post tomorrow when I’m back in blighty!
After brekkie we decided to have a look round Barcelona, and take Curry Thunder out for a final spin.
First stop, the Nou Camp, second stop a big Cathedral, both were pretty spectacular, although the home of FC Barcelona does remind me a little of MK Dons stadium….
Traffic was quite heavy so we decided it was time to get to the scrap yard, as we left the Cathedral the heavens opened and the worst rain (actually the only real rain) we saw descended on Barcelona. The roads soon became like rivers but the thunder rolled on, never missing a beat.
We made it to the scrappy at 2 but it didn’t open till 3 so a quick check of the Tom Tom found us the nearest McDonalds, and after a quick Big Mac we took our chariot back to Hierros Saiz scrap yard. After a bit of queuing and chatting with some of the other Bangers, documents changed hands and Curry Thunder was officially laid to rest. Fortunately her new owners gave us 50 euros for her so that paid for the taxi to the airport and the first round in the bar J
Were all a bit sad to have had to let the car go really, it has been a joy to drive and I’d thoroughly recommend getting a Volvo for that type of journey. Testimony to that I the fact that there were at least 4 other Volvos in the rally, all slightly different but they all made it. Quality!
So were sat in the airport all exhausted but all with a sense of achievement!
Russ also managed to find a new breed of bird that seem to be resident in Barcelona, Monkey Birds…hmmm
All for now, I’ll do the last post tomorrow when I’m back in blighty!
Monday, 14 September 2009
Barcelona!!!! part two...
Well we made it, Tempsford to Dover to Calais to Nantes to Biarritz and to on Barcelona in a car we bought for £200...superb.
Yesterday was a fantastic day, we drove through the Pyrenese out of France and into Spain. We chose to take the backroads and it was the right move as the motorways would have got us here in just over 4 hours, wheras our journey took 7 hours and the sights were amazing. It also meant that we didnt have to park as nlong in Barcelona as parking tarriffs are bloomin expensive.
The car has held together really well. We started to get a random judder when the car misses occasionally, and accelerating whilst turning left is not for the faint hearted. Turning right is smooooth...
Once in Barca we got checked into the hotel, and then straight out to meet the other bangers, or at least those that made it here. A good night was had by all...beer is definitely cheaper here than in France.
We didnt see any bangers at all during the day but most were at the bar so it was good to catch up and exchange tales.
All in all a great journey was had by all and our next challenge is to get the car scrapped, hopefully we'll get that done later, now though a bit of sightseeing is in order, look out Barcelona, here we come...
Mark.
Yesterday was a fantastic day, we drove through the Pyrenese out of France and into Spain. We chose to take the backroads and it was the right move as the motorways would have got us here in just over 4 hours, wheras our journey took 7 hours and the sights were amazing. It also meant that we didnt have to park as nlong in Barcelona as parking tarriffs are bloomin expensive.
The car has held together really well. We started to get a random judder when the car misses occasionally, and accelerating whilst turning left is not for the faint hearted. Turning right is smooooth...
Once in Barca we got checked into the hotel, and then straight out to meet the other bangers, or at least those that made it here. A good night was had by all...beer is definitely cheaper here than in France.
We didnt see any bangers at all during the day but most were at the bar so it was good to catch up and exchange tales.
All in all a great journey was had by all and our next challenge is to get the car scrapped, hopefully we'll get that done later, now though a bit of sightseeing is in order, look out Barcelona, here we come...
Mark.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Day three...the day of sore heads...
Day two started well enough, the car seemed to heal itself overnight and most of the knocks and bangs had smoothed out to a constant drone.
We muissed the big off but caught up with a few bangers as we left Nantes, everyone seemed to be raring to go, one team, DILIGAF had reaked havok in the night and sabotaged a few cars. They also had a load of bangers (proper firework types) that they were bombing people with...funny guys, although Im not sure the locals were finding it as funny.
Then we were on our way through endless country, threw a few villages that broke the day up but mostly it was fields and roads, not very intresting.
We stopped at a supermaket to buy a more "french" lunch than mcDonalds. French bread, cheese ham and pate were the order of the day, with added crisps etc to make the meal complete. We stopped of at a truck stop to have our feast and it was a very senic lunch.
Afterwards we headed on to Bordeax where we encounterd a small convoy of a ratted out Golf and a hurst (which was dying ironicly) and we drove for a good few KM with them, we were joined later by some extremly mental scots in a mondeo...lunatics.
Then the big push into Biarritz, well Anglet which is where are hotel is where we met up with most of the other bangers.
After a shower and freshen up we hit the mean streets of Biarritz, and very nice it is too. Our taxi driver, who was driving a brand new merc and wearing armani and a rolex, did his best impression of an F1 driver to get us into town. After meeting with the rest of the teams we headed out looking for food, which was a challenge in itself for 4 English guys, although there is some debate about that...we eventually got a burger and some pomme frites and we carried on drinking. Sadly Taxi's are scarce in Biarritz so we didnt get back to the hotel till after 2.
Day three statrs with a sore head...
All for now.
We muissed the big off but caught up with a few bangers as we left Nantes, everyone seemed to be raring to go, one team, DILIGAF had reaked havok in the night and sabotaged a few cars. They also had a load of bangers (proper firework types) that they were bombing people with...funny guys, although Im not sure the locals were finding it as funny.
Then we were on our way through endless country, threw a few villages that broke the day up but mostly it was fields and roads, not very intresting.
We stopped at a supermaket to buy a more "french" lunch than mcDonalds. French bread, cheese ham and pate were the order of the day, with added crisps etc to make the meal complete. We stopped of at a truck stop to have our feast and it was a very senic lunch.
Afterwards we headed on to Bordeax where we encounterd a small convoy of a ratted out Golf and a hurst (which was dying ironicly) and we drove for a good few KM with them, we were joined later by some extremly mental scots in a mondeo...lunatics.
Then the big push into Biarritz, well Anglet which is where are hotel is where we met up with most of the other bangers.
After a shower and freshen up we hit the mean streets of Biarritz, and very nice it is too. Our taxi driver, who was driving a brand new merc and wearing armani and a rolex, did his best impression of an F1 driver to get us into town. After meeting with the rest of the teams we headed out looking for food, which was a challenge in itself for 4 English guys, although there is some debate about that...we eventually got a burger and some pomme frites and we carried on drinking. Sadly Taxi's are scarce in Biarritz so we didnt get back to the hotel till after 2.
Day three statrs with a sore head...
All for now.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Nantes....the land where the internet doesnt exist!!!
So we reached Nantes at about 6 o'clock after battling thru traffic from the outskirts into the town centre. Not too bad now were here but internet access seems to be pretty scarce, Im currently sat on the fire escape stairs which seems to be the only place I can get an IP address...hey ho, I guess France is not known for its technolgy. Had a meal in town and a few beers after meeting up with other banger teams in the hotel. Seems like most people made it here but we did see a few teams arrive as we ate at about 10.30 so god only knows where they have been or what happened to them. Im sure we'll find out tommorow when we line up for the off on our trek to Biarritz.
Car is doing well but the clutch is still in decline. Its OK whilst cruising but driving thru town is hell...
Enough for now I'm off to bed, after 4 hours driving and 8 hours in total on the road, im bushed. Will update again tommorow, as long as I can find some internet access somewhere.
Mark...
Car is doing well but the clutch is still in decline. Its OK whilst cruising but driving thru town is hell...
Enough for now I'm off to bed, after 4 hours driving and 8 hours in total on the road, im bushed. Will update again tommorow, as long as I can find some internet access somewhere.
Mark...
Half way to Nantes....
Got to the hotel in Calais about 8, after we nearly drove back onto the euro tunnell! We were even in the queue and had to ask some chap to backup to let us out…still we made it and that’s all that matters.
Checked in and aout the door by five past 8, and off to the John Bull pub…which is an old English boozer in the middle of a massive shopping mall.
After a checking in with the organisers of the rally and a few beers, our thoughts turned to food…only Mark C braved the curry on offer, the rest f the team opting for burgers..probably the wisest choice on reflection….
The hotel room was basic but functional, one double bed with a single bunk over it. I havnt slept in a bunk since I was about twelve so that was an experience, especially trying to get up at 4 in the morning for a leak…in the dark…hmmm
The next morning we headed out to the car park which was now FULL of bangers. Some mighty efforts from some of the teams too, especially one team who had mounted a mast and sails on top of a Vauxhal Carlton..awesome.
Mark Bradley the organiser, gave a brief err breif to the crowd and we were off, heading to Nantes.
Were half way there as I write this, most of the bangers have split up across this bit of France, each making their own way to the next stop. We have bumped into a few on our way, not litrally of course, well not yet anyway.
The cars still going strong, although the knocking from the clutch is getting a bit worse, but most of the driving is cruising along dual carriageways so its not a major problem.
Biggest issue we have is the bloomin CD player. Seems to be a bit random about what CD’s it will or will not play. And I can tell you now, French radio is rubbish.
Oh well we’ll survive I’m sure.
All for now update you later hopefully from Nantes!
Checked in and aout the door by five past 8, and off to the John Bull pub…which is an old English boozer in the middle of a massive shopping mall.
After a checking in with the organisers of the rally and a few beers, our thoughts turned to food…only Mark C braved the curry on offer, the rest f the team opting for burgers..probably the wisest choice on reflection….
The hotel room was basic but functional, one double bed with a single bunk over it. I havnt slept in a bunk since I was about twelve so that was an experience, especially trying to get up at 4 in the morning for a leak…in the dark…hmmm
The next morning we headed out to the car park which was now FULL of bangers. Some mighty efforts from some of the teams too, especially one team who had mounted a mast and sails on top of a Vauxhal Carlton..awesome.
Mark Bradley the organiser, gave a brief err breif to the crowd and we were off, heading to Nantes.
Were half way there as I write this, most of the bangers have split up across this bit of France, each making their own way to the next stop. We have bumped into a few on our way, not litrally of course, well not yet anyway.
The cars still going strong, although the knocking from the clutch is getting a bit worse, but most of the driving is cruising along dual carriageways so its not a major problem.
Biggest issue we have is the bloomin CD player. Seems to be a bit random about what CD’s it will or will not play. And I can tell you now, French radio is rubbish.
Oh well we’ll survive I’m sure.
All for now update you later hopefully from Nantes!
Thursday, 10 September 2009
In Dover!
Got to Dover about 3.30, headed into town and got a beer and a mcd's.
Now on the boat headed for france.et two other teams. Good bunch.
I can smell curry, so all for now. Will update later from the hotel.
T
Now on the boat headed for france.et two other teams. Good bunch.
I can smell curry, so all for now. Will update later from the hotel.
T
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Not long now....
Not sure if its nerves that are kicking in a bit, I think its probebly more anticipation about what the car will do and wether we'll get any problems with it on the way down.
I'm typing this as England slot home thier third goal of the night (come on England), lets hope that it all goes as well for us as it has tonight for them.
Bags are packed, music sorted....lets go!!!!
I'll try and get the next post on when we get to dover.
PS number 4 just went in.... :) perhaps the next rally should be too South Africa???
I'm typing this as England slot home thier third goal of the night (come on England), lets hope that it all goes as well for us as it has tonight for them.
Bags are packed, music sorted....lets go!!!!
I'll try and get the next post on when we get to dover.
PS number 4 just went in.... :) perhaps the next rally should be too South Africa???
We are 4 again!
We have found another nutter to fill Chris's boots...Russell's Cousin!
So were back up to 4 which is fantastic news and means less driving for everyone!
More soon...
So were back up to 4 which is fantastic news and means less driving for everyone!
More soon...
Some pictures...with added stickers!
Still a bit down this morning, but the car has been decorated so thats cheered us up a bit...heres some photos....
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Just two days to go...the good news and the bad news...
So with just two days to go I thought a quick update would be in order.
Chris, resourceful as ever, has managed to sort out a big load of gold paint and with cap in hand Russ's next door neighbour has sprayed our roof! I'll uplod the photos tommorow, but it looks great!
Chris also sorted a Stereo so that we can pump out the bangin Bangra and bollywood hits, and a massive box of "stuff" including triangles, first aid kits, hi vis and bulbs etc.
So now for the bad news...after all the help and generosity that Chris's garage have offered they have now told him he cant take the time off work...the Bleeeeps...
All I can say is, Chris, I am gutted for you and thanks for putting so much effort into getting the car sorted, we wouldnt be going had it not been for all your efforts so cheers.
I know your gutted now, but if we do another one of these then hopefully youll be able to make it.
So we are a man down, and an important man too as he was our spanner man. The urgent quest for a new 4th member has started in earnest, but with only a couple of days to go we could be stuffed. Hopefully a quick meeting tommorow will sort things out one way or another...
All for now...a very down Team Curry Thunder.
Chris, resourceful as ever, has managed to sort out a big load of gold paint and with cap in hand Russ's next door neighbour has sprayed our roof! I'll uplod the photos tommorow, but it looks great!
Chris also sorted a Stereo so that we can pump out the bangin Bangra and bollywood hits, and a massive box of "stuff" including triangles, first aid kits, hi vis and bulbs etc.
So now for the bad news...after all the help and generosity that Chris's garage have offered they have now told him he cant take the time off work...the Bleeeeps...
All I can say is, Chris, I am gutted for you and thanks for putting so much effort into getting the car sorted, we wouldnt be going had it not been for all your efforts so cheers.
I know your gutted now, but if we do another one of these then hopefully youll be able to make it.
So we are a man down, and an important man too as he was our spanner man. The urgent quest for a new 4th member has started in earnest, but with only a couple of days to go we could be stuffed. Hopefully a quick meeting tommorow will sort things out one way or another...
All for now...a very down Team Curry Thunder.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
One week to go!!!
Just a quick update...with only one week to go!
Our total is now up to £723 which is astounding. Top marks go to Russ who managed to pull in over £200 quid from the regulars at his local watering hole...nice one.
Just uploading a couple of photo's of a fully functional Curry Thunder...hopefully this week it will get it's new livery....
Will post again with some more photys when it's done!
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