Lacking Enthusiasm...
Discussion
I've had an interesting few years lately and find myself struggling to really get back into life. For reasons unknown, I agreed to partake in a road trip to Gibraltar at the end of this month, yet I'm struggling to look forward to this. I know it will be an amazing experience and that once I'm away it'll be fine, but boy am I lacking enthusiasm.
We are travelling roughly 150 miles a day though France and Spain, nice hotels booked for each evening then five nights on Gibraltar and back again. We will be using our 1986 2CV and my BiL in his Lotus Europa. Both proven cars that are easy enough to fix should anything mechanical befall us, yet here I am almost dreading the experience.
Not sure why I have posted this, other than to try and gain some affirmation for my trip. I'll try to keep a log and post updates, if anyone is interested...
We are travelling roughly 150 miles a day though France and Spain, nice hotels booked for each evening then five nights on Gibraltar and back again. We will be using our 1986 2CV and my BiL in his Lotus Europa. Both proven cars that are easy enough to fix should anything mechanical befall us, yet here I am almost dreading the experience.
Not sure why I have posted this, other than to try and gain some affirmation for my trip. I'll try to keep a log and post updates, if anyone is interested...
Definitely in for the updates. That looks a fantastic way to travel 150 miles a day through France and Spain! Should be a blast.
I can empathise with not getting excited about something like a holiday or a special event until it is right in front of you - and even getting anxious at the prospect. Perhaps some concern about moving outside of a comfort zone/change/the unknown. The important thing is to enjoy it while you are doing it.
I can empathise with not getting excited about something like a holiday or a special event until it is right in front of you - and even getting anxious at the prospect. Perhaps some concern about moving outside of a comfort zone/change/the unknown. The important thing is to enjoy it while you are doing it.
Draw up one of those lists of Positives and Negatives
Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
Turbobanana said:
Draw up one of those lists of Positives and Negatives
Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
Thanks. That is actually a massive help!Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
I like a nice road trip and going foreign but however much I try to plan ahead it just jumps up and I am never completely ready!
I always do a reasonably long trip in the UK before we go in whichever car we are taking to iron out any issues, the only times I haven't done that we have had issues that you could not foresee. Maybe you need to get out the car on the 1st nice day when it stops raining and just enjoy it, that always gets the enthusiasm back.
I always do a reasonably long trip in the UK before we go in whichever car we are taking to iron out any issues, the only times I haven't done that we have had issues that you could not foresee. Maybe you need to get out the car on the 1st nice day when it stops raining and just enjoy it, that always gets the enthusiasm back.
Lovely old tin snail!
Great adventure and nice easily managed daily distances.
I'd love to do similar in my Mk1 850 Mini but it really could do with an engine rebuild, it wouldn't like a lot of the gradients on the autoroute although is happy to cruise at 50 when big hills aren't involved. Ideally I'd swap the 850 for a more suitable 1000 or 1275 for a jaunt like that.
Do keep us informed as to how the adventure pans out. Barring and major mechanical maladies as soon as you set off, or stop for the first night and have a few glasses of wine I'm sure it will be a very enjoyable trip.
Great adventure and nice easily managed daily distances.
I'd love to do similar in my Mk1 850 Mini but it really could do with an engine rebuild, it wouldn't like a lot of the gradients on the autoroute although is happy to cruise at 50 when big hills aren't involved. Ideally I'd swap the 850 for a more suitable 1000 or 1275 for a jaunt like that.
Do keep us informed as to how the adventure pans out. Barring and major mechanical maladies as soon as you set off, or stop for the first night and have a few glasses of wine I'm sure it will be a very enjoyable trip.
Sideways Tim said:
Turbobanana said:
Draw up one of those lists of Positives and Negatives
Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
Thanks. That is actually a massive help!Positives
Your 2CV (and your garden) look awesome: congratulations!
France and Spain are brilliant to drive through. Everyone in France will love the 2CV.
The food is great.
The roads are better than ours (big benefit to the Lotus driver, less so the 2CV but you'll enjoy them more because you'll be going slowly).
The weather will be better than here (actually, this could be true of the North Pole).
You aren't at work.
The food is great.
They drive on the correct side of the road (we don't).
There's much less traffic.
The food is great (I may have mentioned that).
Negatives
Nope, can't think of any.
Do it, OP! If you don't, let me know and I'll happily take the 2CV on your behalf.
Cool runnings, as nobody in their right mind ever said.
Sounds great; I travel to the South of France two or three times every year (more than 20-years now) and still look forward to the journey.
150 miles each day sounds great, presumably on the the old N-roads /D-roads in France and similar in Spain, which will leave plenty of time each day to take in the scenery and stop for coffee/pastries etc in village cafés whilst watching the world pass by for a while. Perfect. Plenty of options re routes and half the fun is in the planning.
I use a big diesel for the trip but have always fancied 'drifting down' in something like a 2CV: you'll get plenty of attention with the two cars you're taking and the locals will love them. Go for it and make the most of it, it'll be great.
Eta: look forward to the updates.
150 miles each day sounds great, presumably on the the old N-roads /D-roads in France and similar in Spain, which will leave plenty of time each day to take in the scenery and stop for coffee/pastries etc in village cafés whilst watching the world pass by for a while. Perfect. Plenty of options re routes and half the fun is in the planning.
I use a big diesel for the trip but have always fancied 'drifting down' in something like a 2CV: you'll get plenty of attention with the two cars you're taking and the locals will love them. Go for it and make the most of it, it'll be great.
Eta: look forward to the updates.
Edited by TarquinMX5 on Tuesday 9th April 21:30
I adored my 2CV , one of very few cars I've owned which made every journey an adventure . I was thinking of buying one but was unconvinced until a friend
gave me the keys to his and told me to just drive. And I did , most of the day spent exploring the forgotten roads of the Lincolnshire Wolds and I loved it and bought one immediately.
Moral of the story ? The man who is tired of a Deux Chevaux is tired of life .JDI
gave me the keys to his and told me to just drive. And I did , most of the day spent exploring the forgotten roads of the Lincolnshire Wolds and I loved it and bought one immediately.
Moral of the story ? The man who is tired of a Deux Chevaux is tired of life .JDI
Sounds like you have gone through a life changing event recently. Having recently lost my Father I can sympathise with your lack of enthusiasm, as I too am lacking that at the moment.
However, apart from supportive family and friends I have 2 wonderful “toys” that I take out most weeks which ALWAYS make me smile.
Never driven a 2CV, I can imagine they are full of charm and like my old Jeep, your never in a rush so relax more, especially seeing other people’s positive reactions.
Do it, life’s way to short for regrets, and do share the route etc after your done as this is something I would like to do in the future.
However, apart from supportive family and friends I have 2 wonderful “toys” that I take out most weeks which ALWAYS make me smile.
Never driven a 2CV, I can imagine they are full of charm and like my old Jeep, your never in a rush so relax more, especially seeing other people’s positive reactions.
Do it, life’s way to short for regrets, and do share the route etc after your done as this is something I would like to do in the future.
We live in a part of the world, where lockdown went on for over three years, there was no travel. When restrictions were lifted, the cost of international travel would turn ‘one’s’ eyes to tears.
I love to read other people’s road trip exploits, be it an American road trip in a muscle car/huge SUV, European hoon in a supercar, or overland adventures in a suitable/unsuitable vehicles. A trip through France and Spain to Gibraltar, in a 2CV and a Europa, now my interest is seriously piqued.
Last August Mrs. DG said “We’re going on holiday, you’re planning it” to say I was apprehensive, would be an understatement, but plan it I did, with little enthusiasm. The journey would be a mix of flying and overland travel.
Start of the journey, the anxiety was high, then it subsided away, I could use so many clichés to describe the feelings, lets just stick with I felt rejuvenated and “as happy as a pig in …” Once on the move, everything changes.
I’m now planning our next trip, still feeling apprehension; five countries, mainly overland, over six weeks. If I could do it in a 2CV, now that would be the icing on the cake; enjoy it OP.
I love to read other people’s road trip exploits, be it an American road trip in a muscle car/huge SUV, European hoon in a supercar, or overland adventures in a suitable/unsuitable vehicles. A trip through France and Spain to Gibraltar, in a 2CV and a Europa, now my interest is seriously piqued.
Last August Mrs. DG said “We’re going on holiday, you’re planning it” to say I was apprehensive, would be an understatement, but plan it I did, with little enthusiasm. The journey would be a mix of flying and overland travel.
Start of the journey, the anxiety was high, then it subsided away, I could use so many clichés to describe the feelings, lets just stick with I felt rejuvenated and “as happy as a pig in …” Once on the move, everything changes.
I’m now planning our next trip, still feeling apprehension; five countries, mainly overland, over six weeks. If I could do it in a 2CV, now that would be the icing on the cake; enjoy it OP.
I would say that the 2CV is perfect for it. In my mind slow journies are so much better than fast one, (I'd rather be in the Citroen than the Lotus.)
Stop often in villages and towns, people will come and talk to you in that car and it will be a great holiday.
I'm rather jealous of you.
Stop often in villages and towns, people will come and talk to you in that car and it will be a great holiday.
I'm rather jealous of you.
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