29 July 2023

I loaded up the Pembleton and left my home in Sutton Coldfield and headed south. I took it steady on the rather dull run down to Portsmouth. This was the first real trip in the Pembleton this year and the first real test of the recent modifications. The car certainly felt better cruising down the motorway with the longer gearing and the adjustments to the suspension. The ‘wandering’ steering had been eliminated and it cruised along much better. It was a much more relaxed drive down towards the port than the last time I headed for the ferry.

I pulled into the Village Hotel in Portsmouth just as Shaun & Libby arrived in their T24. We spent the evening comparing notes on the cars and anticipating the adventure ahead.

30 July 2023

Portsmouth harbour was chaos! We were early but somehow after hours of waiting we were let on the ferry almost last. Hundreds of cars were directed past us as we waited but at least the sun was shining while we waited. We boarded and settled in for the trip to Caen. The sail-away was nice passing many ships in the harbour including the new aircraft carrier.

We spent the afternoon driving the quiet roads from Caen to our first overnight stay at a Chateau in Belleme. This was our first, but not last experience of staying in an old chateau. When we arrived and made our way down the drive I have to admit I did wonder what we had done. It was rather in need of attention on the outside but the inside was charming very comfortable and full of a bewildering mix of furniture. The owner was kind enough to drive us to his recommended restaurant, La Croix D’or for what turned out to be an extremely good meal. Day one was done, and I slept well, looking forward to pressing on in the morning.

31 July 2023

After the compulsory photoshoot in front of the Chateau we headed out. We had plotted a very rural route through the minor roads of France and today’s drive of just about 150 miles wondered gently south-eastwards past Nogent-le-Rotrou, La Bazoche-Gouet, Cloyes Les Trois Rivieras, Moisy, Beaugencyand Salbris before reaching our hotel in Bourges. The driving was easy as we passed lots of small villages, woodland and open fields. A few sunflower fields gave glimpses of what was to come.

I liked Bourges with its quaint cobbled streets filled with streamers and the impressive Roman Catholic Cathedral (World Heritage Site). Dinner was enjoyed outside in a lovely little square. The beer in particular was very good indeed.

1st August 2023

Rather than rush away in the morning we got up and walked the ‘Promenade Des Ramparts’ round the town. We were able to enter the Cathedral and enjoy the colourful stained glass windows before packing the cars and heading out of town. Very quickly after leaving we had our one and only mechanical issue of the trip.

As we slowed into the little village of Soye-en-Septaine I pressed the clutch to change down a gear but my foot went to the floor. No resistance, nothing. I pulled in to a lay-by at the entrance to the village to take a look. It turned out that the clutch cable has become disconnected from the pedal. There is a ‘U’ bracket that is connected to the pedal by a very small pin. The pin was gone! Of all of the silly little failures that could occur, a tiny pin – or rather the split pin that holds it in place had gone. Clearly there was nothing seriously broken sw I was sure we would get the car going but I needed to get the cable reconnected. Unfortunately the location of the pin was extremely difficult to get your fingertips to. Several times I had things reconnected (using a small screw taken from the rear view mirror) but I just couldn’t get the not on to fix it in place. Remarkably Shaun found the tiny pin in the road about 200m away but without a split pin to hold it in place we were stuck.

Google maps showed a small garage a mile away so Shaun ran me round in his car and I knocked on the door. The chap working there was brilliant. I pointed out my problem on Shaun’s car and after failing to find a suitable pin he agreed to drive out and look at the car. He was confident of being able to help but he too found it very difficult to get to the problem from above. We needed his jacks to get underneath. Amazingly the car started in gear and I managed to get the car to his premises. It took him a couple of hours but he sorted our problem – what a superstar. I thanked him, paid him, tipped him and we headed off. Our late start was now a very late start indeed.

We arrived late at our next Chateau but luckily they were still able to feed us. It had been a long day but once the problem was sorted, the cars ran very well.

2nd August 2023

The Chateau made quite a backdrop for the cars before we left.

Much of today was spent following the Loire. This was more like it. The winding roads through the lovely sunshine were great and the cars were humming along nicely. This was the first real opportunity to hustle the car along and the new suspension felt great. The new gear ratios were also showing their worth. The spacing was much better and the car just felt so much more drivable and capable. I think I am going to enjoy this trip.

We took a break at the beautiful Saint-Priest la-Roche, a chateau in the river itself. The cars looked fabulous against this stunning backdrop.

We overnighted at Valance and Shaun found an amazing steak restaurant at Saint-Peray (Shaun has a nose for such places). The views of the passing storm as the sun set was fabulous – even if we did get a little damp. A great day in France.

3rd August 2023

Sunflowers was the theme of the day today. I had been on the lookout for a good place to stop for a photo and today I managed to find somewhere. The flowers and cars looked amazing in the sunshine and I got the photos I had been looking for.

We now headed into the hills – big hills. After a great lunch in Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues we could see the summit of Mount Ventoux from many miles away. The climb up felt like it was never going to end. It was a spectacular day – one which I have been looking forward to from when we planned this trip. The cars buzzed up the climb willingly though the engines were getting rather hot as the air thinned and we climbed ever higher. We were rewarded with amazing, clear views from the top. We paused for coffee at what must be one of the most spectacular cafes near the summit. The cars really did cause a stir here. They were admired by different nationalities and I don’t think anyone had seen anything like them. They had done very well indeed today climbing the 1912m of this spectacular peak.

We continued down some more spectacular winding roads through lovely lavender fields to our hotel near Sault. Today had been an epic day’s driving – the first real day of mountain driving in the Pembleton. The cars certainly hadn’t let us down.

4th August 2023

Today we headed for the coast. Toulon was about 110 miles away and we kept to the minor roads for most of it. We had a delicious lunch in Saint-Maximin-la-Saint-Baume before winding along some lovely rural roads towards the port at Toulon. Things got busy but somehow, we managed to stay together through Toulon and checked in at the port for our overnight ferry crossing to Corsica.

5th August 2023

We arrived in Bastia, Corsica very early and were off the ferry at 5:00 a.m. into thunder and rain. That was rather unexpected but directly outside of the port we noticed a café so we parked up for breakfast and to decide our next move. We had a choice now. Head directly for the hotels or drive round the north-east peninsula of the island. That would make it quite a long day but the coast road is famous for its spectacular views and is in my book of the best roads in the world. We decided that despite the rain we have to go for it. This turned out to be an inspired decision. The sun came out and we headed upwards to do a clockwise circuit.

The circuit is about 75 miles and it really was spectacular! Cliffs, beaches and precipitous drops from the road made for an amazing drive. These cars are made for roads like this. What a stunning piece of tarmac. I could have stopped every 30 seconds for photographs along this road and it is one I will definitely remember. If you ever have the chance – do it.

The route across the island was beautiful too. I was heading for Porticcio and Shaun & Libby were heading for a different hotel. We stayed together as far as Corte where after stopping for coffee, we went our separate ways. It was very strange not having a Pembleton in my mirrors.

My route down the T20 to the coast was just superb. Flowing roads through woodland and over the mountains were amazing. The car was just sensational and an absolute joy to drive. Drivers and passengers waved and photographed me (or rather the car) as I made quick progress through the countryside. Corsica is a fabulous driving destination in these little cars and the sound of the exhausts echoing through the mountain villages was fantastic.

I arrived at my hotel in Porticcio early evening and met up with my wife Josephine who had flown out to meet me.

6-10 August 2023

We had a very nice couple of days exploring locally, visiting some of the local towns and taking in Ajaccio. There are so many nice twisty roads through beautiful countryside here. Many of the roads are just the right size for these little cars.

Shaun and Libby ventured further afield up in to the mountains and brought back some amazing photographs…

10th August 2023

I was on my own again today, for a short time. It was another amazing drive down to the port at Bonifacio. I wish I had more time to explore here but I had to head directly to the port through the traffic to queue for the ferry. Josephine had made her own way there and we were reunited with Shaun and Libby for the crossing.

The departure was quite amazing with superb views of the cliff-top town and the unusual landscape. There were also some amazing superyachts departing, one with a helicopter onboard. It was another beautiful day and we settled in for our crossing to Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia.

A 50 mile drive through hot Sardinian countryside took me to the hotel right on the beach in San Teodoro. This would be our base for the next few days. Shaun & Libby stayed at an amazing hotel inland.

11^th to 14^th August

11th to 14th August 2023

We enjoyed another few days relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. We took a beautiful boat trip around the islands and relaxed around the pool We did explore up into the local hills and to some of the local villages.

Shaun had come up with a route around the island that included two roads that had been described as the best in the world so we just couldn’t resist. The route took us right around the island taking in some spectacular roads. From ultra-tight twisty roads overlooking the sea to amazing flowing hill-top roads we spent a whole day enjoying an amazing variety of roads and landscapes. The island really is a paradise for a Pembleton.

I did have concerns about touring with this car in hot climates with no forced engine cooling so I had Pembleton fit a temperature gauge in place of the clock. Despite the demanding roads and conditions the temperature was never close to causing concern.

15th August 2023

Wow, that was an early start. I left just after 2:00 a.m. as I needed to be at the port at Porto Torres some 90 miles away on the other side of the island – not the best planning! It was an odd route. It was shown as motorway but it would suddenly disintegrate to a narrow windy road round roadworks before suddenly resuming. This was repeated several times. I made it to the port and met up with the other T24 to queue for the ferry. The port was just chaos. We were backed into a side road and watched hundreds of cars pass in front of us before hours later we made it on to the ferry. We had to laugh at the packing of a couple of cars that did actually pack the kitchen sink. I still wonder where they were going and why.

After definitely the worst, most chaotic ferry crossing I have ever done, we disembarked into a very busy Barcelona just as the sun was getting low. We drove directly away from the City into the dazzling setting sun and we were glad when it set. The cars buzzed along nicely up into the cool hills and we arrived at the Parador de Cordona 60 miles away rather later than planned. The hotel was a spectacular castle on top of a hill surrounded by amazing views. The hotel was good enough to allow us straight into the restaurant in our sweaty, dusty state before it closed and that first beer really did go down well – it had been a very long day. 2:00 a.m. start and we got to the hotel at 9:30 p.m.

16th August 2023

We spent a little time this morning admiring the 360 degree views from this castle. I have stayed in a few Paradores and they have all been excellent. This one however has raised the bar.

After breakfast and photos we headed back down the hill and made our way back to the main road and headed for the Pyrenees. I was expecting a good route today but it turned out to be outstanding. The L-401 turned out to be a fabulous windy road through some beautiful countryside. It was quite unexpected and again, the cars were just superb for exploring these backroads. Frequent photo stops punctuated our journey and we stopped at a place in Oden where, although they were fully booked, produced a perfect cold lunch on their porch. We had even timed it so we could watch the Lionesses win their match on my phone. So far, an excellent day.

After a short sharp shower, the cars dried out and we headed out again. It was a gorgeous run through gorges, tunnels, woodland and hillsides. One of those days that you don’t want to end. The hills became mountains and we climbed Port de la Bonaigua. A great climb that went on and on. We stopped at the top where a motorcyclist approached us who had filmed us driving up the climb – cool!

Our coffee stop in the afternoon was hilarious with the shop owner trying Shaun’s car out for size and having great difficulty in extracting herself!

Our destination for tonight was another Parador just outside Vielha. Another hillside building with quite amazing views down the valley from the restaurant. The meal was great but the views were even better with tantalising glimpses of the mountains we will be tackling tomorrow.

17th August 2023

Another fantastic day in the mountains today. After travelling down the valley we ascended Col d’Aspin then continued on to the high point, literally. Col du Tourmalet at 2115m was a huge climb and we stopped for coffee at the top. We were surrounded by cycles and motorcycles admiring the cars and making it almost to get a clear photograph. I love driving in the Pyrenees and with great weather on our side today was one of the best I’ve had.

The long descent was just as brilliant (apart from a near miss with a deer crossing the road). In Argeles-Gazost we stopped for a rather excellent cup of tea before tackling Col d’Aubesque and continuing on to our overnight stay at a Chateau just outside Arudy. This is probably the strangest, quirkiest place I have ever stayed in. My room included an aircraft fuselage headboard, a metal sofa and an old electrical test panel mounted on the wall. It was very strange, but very comfortable.

We drove into the village to a lovely restaurant in the little square in the centre. The food was excellent and it rounded off a quite brilliant day.

18th August 2023

The owners put on a lovely breakfast before we packed up the cars again. Oh no, another great day in the mountains! We set off and continued westwards through the Pyrenees. We stopped at a great restaurant at the top of a pass directly on the border between France and Spain at St Etienne de Baigorry. Situated on the border it had an amazing shop that sold everything from souvenirs to guns and huge pans.

I had plotted a route on some tiny roads through Parque Natural Senoriodr Beritz then Parque Natural Penas de Aya. These lovely tiny roads wound through beautiful woodland and I was surprised how lovely and quiet these roads were when we were so close to San Sebastian. The town almost came out of nowhere and Shaun took the lead to our hotel as he was much more familiar with this part of the world. He did a great job and guided us through the tight streets in the old town and through restricted access roads to our superbly located hotel. We certainly made an entrance especially as a door opened which exposed a car lift down to the small underground car park. We had quite a crowd filming us as we made the tight manoeuvre in turn. With the help of the turntable we parked the cars in the small space available.

We had arrived during a carnival and when we walked out for our evening meal we had to dodge the huge crowds and characters bashing passers-by with balloons. We didn’t all escape unscathed! It was a great, lively and somewhat mad introduction to San Sebastian. During dinner we reflected upon our journey. We had driven these little cars from the Channel to the Mediterranean and back to the Bay of Biscay. The cars had been great. Apart from our problem with the clutch cable, the journey had been thoroughly enjoyable. We had set out a demanding route but the cars had coped with everything thrown at them. They excelled in the mountains and on the twisty roads. Motorways are not their strength but with our modifications they coped well. We couldn’t have asked them to do any more.

19th August 2023

We left San Sebastian slightly downhearted. I had very much enjoyed my brief visit here and it is somewhere I will return to. We took the straight route to Bilbao and headed directly to the port to board our ferry. The trip was coming to an end and what a trip it had been.

This had been the first proper tour in the Pembletons. I did wonder how they would cope with the route we had chosen. It was by no means s simple, easy route but the cars were a pleasure throughout. They are simply great little touring vehicles. The performance is fun, they are unexpectedly practical and they certainly draw a crowd wherever they go. The modifications we have had done by Pembleton have certainly worked and improved the cars greatly. I can’t think of much I would change now (apart from the clutch cable fixing). It is such a refreshing change to deal with a Company that listens to their customers and then takes action to make the cars into what they really want. The last two weeks have been fabulous and I now turn my thoughts to what to do next.

2509 mile round trip.

I can’t finish this entry without a special thank you to Libby for so many of the photos included here. She has a great eye and amazing timing to capture the moment all while being buffeted in their Pembleton. And to Shaun, for his ability ability to find the best hotels and restaurants.

Until next time……….