Mclaren 750S into Europe, the usual nonsense!

[ess]

Great that you are still posting these summer events Brad.
Keep up the good work sir !

I’m just catching up; the last one I followed was pre-pandemic. (Thanks @B'stard Child for providing the links to previous years)
Clearly you have been through some traumatic times since then, and I wish you all the best.

I also went through simultaneous difficult times, personally/professionally.
Dropped out of everything to do with my life and went to hibernate in my mates converted barn in the Ashdown Forest for a while.
It’s only now, 2 years later, that I’m beginning to get it together.

Your adventures keep me inspired

S

[Boxster5]

I don’t know whether you realise but your annual posts of your trips are a proper tonic for us mere mortals.
You have lots of fans on here.
We are fortunate that we have done our fair share of Euro road trips over the years, admittedly on a more modest budget (think Airbnb accommodation) but in a half decent car that is designed for exactly this kind of trip. My wife loves washing!! so 3 weeks will invariably lead to turning the washing machine on in our accommodation or even a visit to a launderette due to travelling “light”.
Reading your posts are like reading a black comedy - one minute laughing out loud, the next minute crying either with laughter or genuine tears of sadness from some of the sad things that have happened in your life.
I may have to reread them all just to appreciate them again.
I hope you made it to Switzerland - some of the stuff on YouTube around the NW Italian/Southern Swiss border showing the aftermath of the storm is scary stuff.
Look after yourself Brad.

[br d]

Good morning.
Stirring stuff, thank you all, I will catch up with replies later on, I'm readying to meet my friends for day out in the area.

Now in Locarno Switzerland.
I will say that yesterday's trip scross was bloody awful!
SatNav had it at 7 hours but I hit a tonne of traffic and roadworks and it stretched out to almost 10.
Two quick stops for fuel and that was it, no food and one luke warm bottle of water!

I was knackered when I arrived here so just wolfed down some food and crashed out.
So far this morning though the sky is actually blue! These are my last couple of days in the mountains so if the weather is behaving I can get out tomorrow and hit some passes.

Thanks again for all the thoughtful posts.

[prand]

br d said:

Good morning.
Stirring stuff, thank you all, I will catch up with replies later on, I'm readying to meet my friends for day out in the area.

Now in Locarno Switzerland.
I will say that yesterday's trip scross was bloody awful!
SatNav had it at 7 hours but I hit a tonne of traffic and roadworks and it stretched out to almost 10.
Two quick stops for fuel and that was it, no food and one luke warm bottle of water!

I was knackered when I arrived here so just wolfed down some food and crashed out.
So far this morning though the sky is actually blue! These are my last couple of days in the mountains so if the weather is behaving I can get out tomorrow and hit some passes.

Thanks again for all the thoughtful posts.

I hope you get some good weather now and a chance to stretch the Mclaren's legs!

No Alps for us this summer, a week in a posh caravan at Port Grimaud for me and the family, all loaded into our trusty cruiser and load lugger- an Audi A6 avant bitdi. We'll be staying in Malaucene, next to Mt Ventoux on the way down for a couple of nights and Beaune on the way back. (Mrs P loves a Euro road trip too, and she used to sell wine so we usually stop in wine producing regions "for the scenery"!)

Encouraged by another poster and his earlier trip to the South of France I may make a journal of this trip and post it to PH. No way to compare to your writing style Br D, but perhaps some misadventure possible as I'm considering a bike ride up the Ventoux, wondering if I can feasibly train in the next 6 weeks to ride it. We're taking paddleboards and renting a RIB to buzz about St Tropez Bay amongst the mega yachts, so may end up with a tale or two to tell from there too. (Hopefully not a mooring chain wrapped round my prop this time as happened a couple of years before, rookie error....)

But before all that, how's your trip today Br D?

Edited by prand on Wednesday 3rd July 10:55

[Jonmx]

I have Bipolar and my mood has really dropped the last few weeks. Reading this thread and seeing the photos as well as having more than a passing envy to the toys (not the Alien renactment with the Gnocchi) has given me the motivation to get back to the coalface this morning. Looks like an amazing trip and I hope the weather holds out!

[br d]

Jonmx said:

I have Bipolar and my mood has really dropped the last few weeks. Reading this thread and seeing the photos as well as having more than a passing envy to the toys (not the Alien renactment with the Gnocchi) has given me the motivation to get back to the coalface this morning. Looks like an amazing trip and I hope the weather holds out!

I've got minutes as I'm rushing to get ready for dinner but that's great news man, if any of this rubbish makes a real difference to anyone then it isn't a total waste!
Keep on keeping on Jon. Dark nights become bright mornings.

Will catch up on all the other wonderful stuff as soon as I have time, thanks guys.

[theplayingmantis]

Enjoy your dinner Brad. No crawlers this time hopefully.

[br d]

Right, let me get back to those I can here.
I'm at my hotel, just been for a lovely meal with my friends, spent a brilliant day together.

I will put this up here as he is the most fearless person I've ever known.
Nels is terminal but the man is a fking bull, they gave him a year 12 months ago but he's still as strong as an ox, driving his family on European trips and taking life by the throat everyday.
We've been friends for 45 years and every minute spent with him is an inspiration. I've never known anybody with such determination and refusal to stop going forward.

Some pics of the family from today.





I mentioned Amber's discipline earlier, she's a triathlete who does Tough Guys, Iron Mans and all sorts of other ridiculously hard stuff.
She has a tattoo from the iron man's.



These are strong, decent and wonderful people who I'm privileged to call friends.
Me and shal spent many happy times with them.



They aren't reading this but thank you guys anyway for a lifetime of friendship and support.

[br d]

Ussrcossack said:

Br d

I suppose it's because we love you.

I'm doing a trip this year as years before, but probably won't post stuff up, I cram a lot in and with a teenage son it's difficult to put the effort in.

You entertained us, a lad from a council estate come good.

My lad said whilst at oulton park this weekend, he'd love to bump into you at an event or service station.

Keep it coming and understand we are all behind you

That would be amazing mate, I would love to meet you both one day. It's great that you can do trips together and share the memories.

[br d]

snoopy25 said:

Because there utterly brilliant

I mean who can forget about you throwing your wallet in the petrol garages bin and then having to empty it on the forecourt in front of a bunch if people to try and find it

Or that time you gate crashed that party

Edited by snoopy25 on Monday 1st July 22:00

Some cringe moments when I look back Snoopy but that's sort of the point isn't it? Do whatever and don't worry about it, as long as nobody's getting hurt.
I don't think I'll regret any of this stuff when my time comes.

Perhaps I should though!

[br d]

s94wht said:

br d, I have them all downloaded with the majority of the images. Send me a message and I'll figure out a way to get them to you

I'm really sorry s94, I didn't register this yesterday, this sounds amazing thank you.
Can you dm me please and let me know what's what?
Thanks.

[br d]

shirt said:

Takes skill to keep a thread going. Two people who do it well, you and Ronan (RDMcG) with his Route 66 trips.

Things like the caterpillar. It’s clear you found it amusing and didn’t really GAF as it didn’t spoil your meal or your evening, strange that people pick up on such things as an insult on your behalf.

Anyways, so let me know how the weather is in Switzerland hehe. Going to be gutted if I can’t get some 2 wheeled days in.

Hi shirt mate.
I don't know Ronans threads, I will check them out.

So far Switzerland has been good, sky like a Robins egg.
First decent weather I've had.
I'll hopefully be getting out properly tomorrow.

[br d]

B'stard Child said:

2. having had a conversation with you (in a pub a long time ago - you probably don't even remember that) - they are written in a way that I can see you saying it and you don't try to make them funny they just are sometimes.

Man please enlighten me! I have the worst memory, when did we meet, my apologies for being dense.

B'stard Child said:

3. there are always surprises (some good some not so good)

All our stories, right there.

B'stard Child said:

4. I don't have the budget to ever be able to play at your level but the trip reports don't come across as written by a cock.

Thank you.

[br d]

Mr Tidy said:

Because we know we are going to be entertained!

Just keep posting nonsense please.

Thank you.
I can do little else

[br d]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'm in Luxembourg.

Of course you are. Hope everything's good mate.
Thanks for all your advice and feedback over the years.

[br d]

Quick break here as I need to get some rest.

Will pick up on the rest of the replies tomorrow. I appreciate every response. It makes this thread a conversation rather just me transmitting nonsense.
Thank you.

[snoopy25]

br d said:

snoopy25 said:

Because there utterly brilliant

I mean who can forget about you throwing your wallet in the petrol garages bin and then having to empty it on the forecourt in front of a bunch if people to try and find it

Or that time you gate crashed that party

Edited by snoopy25 on Monday 1st July 22:00

Some cringe moments when I look back Snoopy but that's sort of the point isn't it? Do whatever and don't worry about it, as long as nobody's getting hurt.
I don't think I'll regret any of this stuff when my time comes.

Perhaps I should though!

Nope I don't think you should regret anything

Like you say do whatever and don't worry about so long as no one is getting hurt

You keep doing you Br d!! I only know you through your posts here and you come across as a top bloke

[B'stard Child]

br d said:

B'stard Child said:

2. having had a conversation with you (in a pub a long time ago - you probably don't even remember that) - they are written in a way that I can see you saying it and you don't try to make them funny they just are sometimes.

Man please enlighten me! I have the worst memory, when did we meet, my apologies for being dense.

Unless I've got it horribly wrong - Oct 2019 - London - Dirty Dicks - "JAYB leaving do" - I was the one who brought a bucket

[prand]

Keep driving, keep posting Br D x

[spikeyhead]

B'stard Child said:

br d said:

B'stard Child said:

2. having had a conversation with you (in a pub a long time ago - you probably don't even remember that) - they are written in a way that I can see you saying it and you don't try to make them funny they just are sometimes.

Man please enlighten me! I have the worst memory, when did we meet, my apologies for being dense.

Unless I've got it horribly wrong - Oct 2019 - London - Dirty Dicks - "JAYB leaving do" - I was the one who brought a bucket

People remember what happens at DDs?