Backwater Tours:

Tour d'indulgence Français 2019

The Loire & Brittany

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To leave the shores of England and take to the roads in France with the Brexit banned from all conversations was a real treat. Brittany Ferries landed us in France and made our way to the magnificent Chateau d’Artigny, (not easy to spell or say!). The massive palatial hotel was built as a home for the Coty family, of perfume fame in 1912. Clearly, no expense spared. Its good to see where some of the cost of an expensive perfume has been invested.

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A small army of employees and contractors are employed in looking after the place. On our second day there we witnessed the transformation of the formal gardens at the front of the Chateau by a team of gardeners, planting the  ‘parterre’ with colourful plants. This back-breaking feat was achieved during the day while we were engaged in sampling the local wine.

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A coach took the assembled company of twenty-eight firstly to the Chateau Chenonceau which has a chequered history. The Chateau is built straddling the river. Along with the coach came a young lady who’s local and historical knowledge of the region seemed to know no bounds.

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After the Chateau down to the serious business of tasting wine. The first of two stops was the caves Duhard, who specialised in white wines in particular Vouvray. Lunch was enjoyed in the caves. An almost religious event in France. Everything stops for lunch.

The next excitement was to test our taste buds to the limit. The smell, then the taste of flavoured water was the warm up to tasting a whole series of delicious wines. Each group was marked, and winners were chosen, who were presented with a couple of bottles. It took until we were in Brittany to get them opened! Thank goodness for the coach back to the Chateau.

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Saturday 25th May saw all the cars take part in a Tulip run stopping at Chateau et Fleurs, Chateau de Pray and the magnificent gardens at Villandry. The day ended with a dinner in the grandeur of the ‘Salon Royal’ at Chateau d’Artigny.

Sunday 26th May saw a lot of packing and paying bills before we headed North to, Finistere, which found us arriving at the Grand Hotel des Bains. This delightful hotel was a complete contrast to the chateau. It had been modernised in a very sympathetic New England style with comfortable bedrooms, and a location second to none. Right on its own beach in this tiny fishing village called Locquirec. The visit here was excellent. A place to visit with or without a classic car.

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Two tulip runs were organised perfectly as we have come to expect from Lyn and Paul, who always manage to find excellent places to stop, and eat.

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The second route found us eating lunch in the infamous Hotel du Lac in Huelgoat. No this is not the Booker Prize winner Hotel in the book of the same name by Anita Brookner, her Hotel Du Lac was on the shores of Lake Geneva. Unless you knew that it was a chance to dream that perhaps this was that ‘Hotel Du Lac’. What they did do was to serve up an excellent lunch, French style.

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After lunch, a stroll to the magnificent stones on the edge of the lake. This jumble of huge rocks which are a prehistoric site. If you perchance find yourself here, go, and have a look at the stones. A mysterious and atmospheric gorge.

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Back at the hotel in Locquirec, all was not well with one of our number. His petrol pump had stopped working. Thanks to the foresight of Jonathan Mitchell who seemed to have an endless supply of parts for E-types, a new petrol pump was provided. An interesting thought, how many men does it take to change an e-type fuel pump?

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The answer is one – James Turnbull, complete with Jaguar overalls, but it needed four onlookers for advice and helpful comments.

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A great time was had by all, thanks to the excellent planning of Paul and Lyn. Bring on the next one, please!

E-type Club Round Britain Coastal Drive 2016

Testimonials

Stages 1 & 2 (Days 1 & 2)

First of all a massive thank you for all your energy and effort in arranging such a fabulous event – all in such a good cause.  We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 legs and wish we could have joined you for more.  Perhaps the Club could do something of this ilk again in the not too distant future; worthy cause, Iconic cars, excellent company, drives through some stunning scenery. Neal and Talitha Brewer

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Stages 4 & 5 (Days 4 & 5)

Our colourful E-type journey around Britain.  The Welsh bit.

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In the morning at Tenby the weather had not made up its mind, with Opalescent Dark Silver Greyalmost Gunmetal clouds in the distance but never Black

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As we drove North from Pembroke, looking out West we could see the Opalescent Silver Blue sea, rolling onto Opalescent Golden Sand and Green Sand where the beaches were quite stony.  In places the Old English White surf morphed into Cream as the waves bubbled across the Bronzeshore.

Inland to the East the Fern Grey foliage was lit up with Pale Primrose bushes and fronds of Willow Green.

Further inland we discovered beautiful Sherwood Green forests with acres of British Racing Greenfields and a backdrop of Sable mountains covered in Heather.

We were well blessed with powerful sunshine, our arms turning a shade of Signal Red, driving under an Azure Blue sky turning towards Turquoise in the north East, and almost Dark Blue at times. 

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It was a colourful drive, that day.

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Gill & Steve Butler

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Stage 4 (Day 4)

The organisation was superb and the accommodation first rate.  The officers and members were so welcoming and friendly.

I just drove stage 4 Bridgwater to Tenby.

… We had a good sing along after Dinner in Bridgwater and Tenby as I just happened to have my Uke with me.  The OLD HAM strikes again.

Jonathan

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Stages 6 & 7 – (Days 6 & 7)

‘Hello Louise, thank you for the update. Very well done! What a concept, what an ocean of organisation, what a demonstration of stamina and what a wonderful result!! I am lost in admiration for you both and for the backroom staff. I loved it. What a shakedown for my car, what a wonderful test of my security arrangements… But mostly, I feel privileged to have been a part of this historic event. Thank you to Philip and yourself. ‘ Kind regards, Brian

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Stage 6 (Day 6)

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Hello Louise,

Thank you for all your and your teams hard work in organising the round Britain run.  We really enjoyed our stage of the event.

Best regards,

Robin & Jane

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Stage 11 – (Day 11)

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Dear Louise

Yesterday seemed to go very well and we benefited from fabulous weather!

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I managed to get to Kylesku for a delicious dinner in the Kylseku Hotel and a very cosy B&B nearby where I met Willie Pelly and my E Type, which he had kindly brought over from Dunbeath.

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Thursday morning was cloudless and wonderful after a little overnight rain and after catching up with the “gang” for breakfast at Riconich some 20 miles north – we all set off pretty promptly at 09.00 – ish !

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Passing empty white sandy beaches with slow breaking rollers coming ashore with towering hills to ones right and the sun on ones face in an open E Type is about as good as it gets in motoring.

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The day passed in a symphony of bliss and even the famous notice sign at John O Groats was empty and awaiting our massing and photo’s!

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On to Dunbeath for lunch and a garden and garage tour and away they sped south to Inverness!

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Lovely and thanks and I must send a donation cheque too!!!

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Best Regards

Tertius

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Louise

Thanks for a couple of special days driving around the coast, meeting and chatting to some great people (including you of course!), and getting to grips with taking the dogs with us for the first time.

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The stopping off point this afternoon at JD Classics was a real eye-opener for me, topped off by dinner with my brother and his wife.

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Thanks for organising it all!

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Janet and Dick Wilkinson

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Stages 1, 17 & 18 (Days 1, 17 & 18)

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Hi Louise
Just a quick note to thank you, Julie and Philip for a well organised Round Britain   Rebekah and I thoroughly enjoyed the stages we did and we know how difficult it is to set up and run.  We managed to limp WLY home after leaving Port Lympne and will be looking at fixing over the next few weeks.  We will definitely do this type of thing again.

Many thanks again

Andrew and Rebekah Hubbard

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Stages 4 to 13 (Days 4 to 13)

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Hi Louise

Adrian and I have just arrived home after a wonderful 10 days on the RBCD! It was lovely to meet you. A big thank you to you, Julie, Philip and the team for all your hard work in making this event happen. I see the fundraising is going well and Adrian will let you know the amount we have raised shortly so that you can add this to the total.

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Kind regards

Susanne Westgate & Adrian Turner

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Stages 1 & 18 (Days 1 & 18)

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Hello Julie and Phillip,

A great pleasure to meet you at Port Lympe and thank you for inviting us to join you at your dinner table there.

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Congratulations to you both (separate message of thanks sent to Louise) on the event – quite something and, no doubt, the positive repercussions will continue for some time forward.

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This was a mammoth challenge for you and bravely confronted – and look at the financial result!!! Fantastic for such an important charity trying to gain as much publicity for its cause.

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Hope to bump into you at some point at a watering hole on the Kings Road!!!

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Very best wishes and kind regards,

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Richard and Suzie George

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Stage 15 to 18 (Days 15 to 18)

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Dear Louise,

I just wanted to write and thank you and your team for a wonderful experience. My only regret is that we could not do more of the run, given that the car was still in bits the first week. We met so many nice people and the organisation was nothing short of miraculous, given that controlling in excess of 100 E type owners must have been like trying to herd cats. You should all be proud of yourselves.

Kindest regards,

Ian