Another eventful trip to France

Another.... eventful trip to France!

The car...a 1993 Escort 1600 ZETEC 16 valve convertible, my Mazda MX5!!

Time...September 2014

It happened at Kirton just outside Boston and only 20 miles or so into the return trip, first stage, to catch the 11pm ferry from Newhaven. I stopped to set up the gps gadget and Alan my passenger for the trip, proclaimed “Look at all that smoke coming from the bonnet!”

Quite quickly he continued, “look at all that smoke coming into the car!”

I must admit it look rather alarming and increasing quickly. I nipped out and without any regard for personal safety raised the bonnet. Yes, lots of smoke but certainly no flame!

Decision time...does one start serious lengthy investigation at the roadside...or does one slam the bonnet down and decide to travel sufficiently fast to keep the smoke out of the car? After all, the engine was still running fine if somewhat lumpy!

Slam the bonnet down won.... and we accelerated rapidly south.

An hour and a half later we stopped on a lay-by on the A14 just before joining the M11. No change....although did not allow the engine to idle and encourage that smoke. Didn’t lift the bonnet either, I am one of those old time types who believe “if you don’t want to know the answer....don’t ask the question!! I did look underneath though and there was no oil or water on the floor!

Food stop over, we took on the last leg of this UK bit and arrived at Newhaven in good time. After joining the traffic queues for the ferry we thought it prudent to cut the engine every time we moved up to the ticket kiosk just in case some bright spark on the ferry staff thought a car pouring oily smoke from the bonnet was not a good idea to put on the next ferry to France!

Finally on the ferry we found a suitable seat and crashed out for a rest and travel with someone else driving and no stress!!

Arriving in France at 4am, checked oil, only seemed normal usage, topped up a bit and decided to use motorway all the way at best possible speed!!

Arrived home close to Saumur half an hour before expected time and flaked out; slept two solid hours before appointment at local wine producer's "open day" and lunch with wine tasting!!

Car did really well, “new” second-hand tyres and wheels bought for the journey and everything else, ran superbly, except that dratted “tick over” sensor that failed 400 miles after leaving home and caused constant stalling at junctions and lights etc!!  Averaged 60 mph from Boston to Home!!

Alan greatly relieved to arrive here in France...at one stage I think he thought he was doomed to abandoning the blazing car somewhere on the side of a French motorway...but courage and confidence in one's machinery came out on top!!