General Twinair Trip Around Europe

[GettinBetter]

15/06/24
ODO: 66426 (converted from miles) START


Said farewell to dull, dismall weather at Dover docks on the 15-06..


Ferry dockeed in Calais at 12 40 french time, and noggins here forgot to add the 1 hour lost ..and after driving roughly 1/2 and hour in the wrong direction, (satnav wouldn't connect) promptly did a u-turn after seeing far too many signs for Brussels.
This of course made my arrival at Au Calme, Houssay somewhat later than I would have liked. After seeing two camera flashes decided to set my speedo to KM, which I did at Au Calme.



The last thing I thought before I went to sleep as I looked at the old beams in the room was, "I wonder how big the spiders are that live in those holes?"







Spent the next day walking around Vendome, hoping to get a few last minute things that I didn't have for my trip, but most shops in france are closed on a Sunday.





ODO: 67140

Managed to get the room for another night, so had a nice relaxing day.

Next stop was Blandine, St-Bonnet Elvert....


Absolutely stunning views from the dining table..



AND... the weather is now beautiful
ODO: 67522

Tomorrow, I'm off to Valras Plage...

 

[GettinBetter2]

15/06/24
ODO: 66426 (converted from miles) START


Said farewell to dull, dismall weather at Dover docks on the 15-06..
View attachment 446665

Ferry dockeed in Calais at 12 40 french time, and noggins here forgot to add the 1 hour lost ..and after driving roughly 1/2 and hour in the wrong direction, (satnav wouldn't connect) promptly did a u-turn after seeing far too many signs for Brussels.
This of course made my arrival at Au Calme, Houssay somewhat later than I would have liked. After seeing two camera flashes decided to set my speedo to KM, which I did at Au Calme.

View attachment 446666

The last thing I thought before I went to sleep as I looked at the old beams in the room was, "I wonder how big the spiders are that live in those holes?"

View attachment 446667

View attachment 446668

View attachment 446669

Spent the next day walking around Vendome, hoping to get a few last minute things that I didn't have for my trip, but most shops in france are closed on a Sunday.

View attachment 446672

View attachment 446680

ODO: 67140

Managed to get the room for another night, so had a nice relaxing day.

Next stop was Blandine, St-Bonnet Elvert....
View attachment 446681

Absolutely stunning views from the dining table..

View attachment 446682

AND... the weather is now beautiful
ODO: 67522

Tomorrow, I'm off to Valras Plage...

How are you doing

 

[GettinBetter]

ODO: 67867 kms
Departed Blandine: 11-15
Arrived Valras-Plage: 16-30




Well, I'm as far south as I was planning to go (Valras Plage just off Beziers), and the car hasn't missed a beat. One stop for fuel en route, and the scenery was beautiful, (too many to mention or photograph, sorry)





Setting the speedo to kms' made the next leg of the trip so much easier.

Must remember to check car fluids, & tyre pressures. Oh, and maybe a wash, it has been raining on & off every day, all the way down, and is looking a bit grubby. Luckily any storms have been elsewhere.

I've mainly been shopping (oh, and laundry) because of the rain.
Accomodation is quite nice.



Although the en suite, is mine ha ha, but I feel I'm rattling around in here, it's meant for 6, but I'll survive.



Bought some clothes which when I got to the site, I found didn't fit, seems Euro XL is a tad smaller the UK XL They had to go back today, so with a bit of luck the weather may clear up tomorrow, and I can get down the sea front?

GB

 

[GettinBetter]

Fri 21/06/24

Went to the beach area today, around 09-30'ish most shops were open/opening.


Nope, that's not the beach. For the Guys at Cooks, Those beams are wood, Just thought you'd like to know, or not.







It was nice but felt very sterile, and defo car un-friendly. Lots of electric scooters wizzing about, and a minicipal equivalent of a tuk-tuk shot past me on the road at about 40mph!

There was a tat market in the main carpark which overflowed along the front for some fifty yards of so selling the same old rubbish (well, looked like it to me anyway) if it doesn't have a functional purpose it isn't needed.



As I was quite early, the beaches were empty, but I noticed that they rake the beaches (how cool). I didn't find the town part particularly inviting anymore, so took some pics, bought a hat and arrived back at 11-30.


Drove to Montpellier looking for Euros, but over the last few days of searching, it was dawning on me that cash is already done for in France, the small places are still accepting cash, but the bigger concerns have the power to dictate cards only.







These (below) were very popular in the shops.

 

[GettinBetter]

Sat 22/06/24

Last day, and need to pack for an early start (07-00'ish) to Gravere, Italy.
Satnav says 498kms and 8.5hrs, so I'll plan for 12hrs, and hopefully arrive around 18-00, I'll take a few routes of my own so who knows.

I have a new plan for this leg of the journey, I've made a list of all the places I want to head for, on my designated route, rather than relying totally on where the satnav takes me.

Checked fluids, and even got around to giving it a wash



I did notice however, the coolant level was at minimum, and evidence of dried coolant on the joint lip of the reservoir tank.





I did tighten the pipe previously when I noticed this issue, but it doesn't seem to have cured it, I also flexed the joint without over doing it, and it seemed quite solid. I'll keep an eye on it. It's done nearly a 1000 miles, so it's not exactly pouring out. (yet )

 

[varesecrazy]

Sat 22/06/24

Last day, and need to pack for an early start (07-00'ish) to Gravere, Italy.
Satnav says 498kms and 8.5hrs, so I'll plan for 12hrs, and hopefully arrive around 18-00, I'll take a few routes of my own so who knows.

I have a new plan for this leg of the journey, I've made a list of all the places I want to head for, on my designated route, rather than relying totally on where the satnav takes me.

Checked fluids, and even got around to giving it a wash

View attachment 446894

I did notice however, the coolant level was at minimum, and evidence of dried coolant on the joint lip of the
I did tighten the pipe previously when I noticed this issue, but it doesn't seem to have cured it, I also flexed the joint without over doing it, and it seemed quite solid. I'll keep an eye on it. It's done nearly a 1000 miles, so it's not exactly pouring out. (yet )

Is this the factory tank? ,
some were prone to failure around that point..

 

[GettinBetter]

I've no idea, it could be. Is there anyway of knowing?

 

[the green vanper]

Is this the factory tank? ,
some were prone to failure around that point..

With the paraflu sticker on it, it looks like factory.

 

[GettinBetter]

OK, maybe I need to have a search for something enroute?

 

[varesecrazy]

OK, maybe I need to have a search for something enroute?

Arguments for and against the TwinAir | FIAT Panda (2012+)

I've always preferred the notion of the 1.2 petrol. Sure, it's slow and old but it's reliable and easy to keep right. Now, I'm opting for a 1.2 Easy but my backup is a more expensive 0.9 TwinAir... The engine is the only reason I'm avoiding it. But just so I can decide with the facts (and...

www.fiatforum.com

Found on an Italian trip apparently..

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I've no idea, it could be. Is there anyway of knowing?

If it's the original tank it should have a brass tube insert in the spigot from the turbo pipe. That was the problem with mine; it seems the brass expands and contracts and the plastic gets fine cracks in it. Looks like yours has traces of coolant around it. The brass insert was deleted on the replacement tanks.

Images of mine after replacement;

 

[GettinBetter]

Oh dear, will it last so you think? I don't mind topping it up.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Oh dear, will it last so you think? I don't mind topping it up.

In all honesty I have no idea. I topped mine up for a couple of months before getting the new one from Shop4Parts. It's a relatively easy fix if you can get the part. I suppose the main worry is that it may fracture completely and dump your coolant.

Some people tried epoxy to seal it with mixed results as I recall. Here's a link to the discussion I was involved with at the time (Dec 2017); https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/twinair-coolant-leak-from-turbo-the-pipe.451727/

 

[varesecrazy]

The link I used : they had a Failure in Umbria / Tuscany on a trip, a local garage replaced it

Yes the 2010/13 era tanks seems to fail at the brass fitting

Try and determine if it's Stressed Plastic.. Or just a poor fitting hose

 

[GettinBetter]

I'd rather not touch it, if it does the trip, I'll get a new one then.

 

[varesecrazy]

I'd rather not touch it, if it does the trip, I'll get a new one then.

Sensible just wanted you to be aware..

My 2 x 2013's are still original,
but are Not in a 500, so could be slightly different

 

[the green vanper]

Wow, what a discovery... Thanks a lot @Piccolo Nero e Bella As far as I remember, the one in my Ducato (2011) looked also like cracked... But cannot remember that it was leaking. And I'm 99% sure there was no brass insert inside. As the car is from Italy, one of the previous owners added tap water... So the tank (and the whole system) is covered with scale. I've cleaned the tank with citric acid once to be able to see how much liquid is there inside, but it got covered again very quickly. I'm planning to do a thorough flush of the whole system, so before putting new coolant I'll examine the tank for any cracks. Just to avoid double work.

 

[GettinBetter]

Sun 23/06/24

ODO: 68678

Departed: ~06-45
Arrived: 18-35




It was a long day, but the longevity was offset by some terific landscape views. Stopping to keep taking pictures was an absolute must, but sadly pics won't do it justice.Got off to a ropey start, when satnav took me on payage, even though I'd chosen a route that said it had 'no tolls', eventually got around it by shortening the target destinations. The rest was fine.



As I was driving through France towards Italy, I was aware that the landscape was looking Italian long before I actually got there. Also once over the border I was always driving alongside a river.



At one point I got out of the car and went down to the river and it felt like a cowboy movie scene, I was expecting some dodgy looking hombres to turn up.

On arrival, I managed to book the room for another day, which saved me rushing off the next morning.







Mon 24-06-24

Walked to Susa (the nearest town) 30mins up a steep meandering mountainside road, only for it to dawn on me that I should be going downward! . Downwards was nicer, except for the realisation that every step down would have to be climbed on the way back.


Noticed the above little buidings next to th e the stream, the fact that it had a pipe coming for it made me think it was a hydro electricity plant, but I was prepared to dismiss it because of the water flow seemed too small, however...



The phone was completely offline most of the day, I may need to get another SIM card with a different network, in the hope that if one isn't operating in a particular area, the other is (maybe).

Tourist Info said there is no need for a vignette in Italy, only switzerland, and can be bought at the border.

Had the tea that I'd promised myself at the bench with a view.



Met the neighbours, had a chat & was offered a glass of wine (well when in Rome), and took a piccy of his Italian version of a tuk tuk.



Single cylinder, rear wheel drive. I actually caught a glipse of it tearing through town, while I was down there, very impressed with it's ability to climb those hills.


Off to Switzerland tomorrow, and have chosen the mountain route past two lakes, so will see if there is a place to camp at one of them.

 

[varesecrazy]

I've no idea, it could be. Is there anyway of knowing?

His TukTuk
Is closely related to a Vespa scooter (Piaggio..) and known as an "Apecar"

Lovely scenery.. Is this dodging the MontBlac tunnel, or are you nearer to the Med coast?

 

[GettinBetter]

Struggling to answer in app, as it keeps adding my text to your quote !!