We have left Andorra la Vella heading north in to France via Ax-les-Thermes and Foix to Toulouse. We stopped over night outside Toulouse before we continued our trip. We passed by Montauban, Agen, Villeneuve-sur-Lot again and reached Bergerac on a beautiful day.
Traditional barges on the Dordogne River.
One of the old town’s half-timbered buildings.
Help yourself!
We like to drive the scenic route from Barcelona to France via Andorra in the Pyrenees. This takes less then 3 hours via the Autopista de Monteserrat. Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra and is famous for shopping and of course for cheap fuel.
A quick stop south of the border to Andorra.
Duty free Shops lining Meritxell Avenue.
Casas or Chalets in Andorra.
Time was great on the “Lac”. Campsite is very good. Just as we like it. We have met a lot of nice people. This will be not our last stay.
Camping Le Lac, Mimizan
44.2197 N, 1.2274 W
Courant de Mimizan
Nice day on the Atlantic coast. Hot day but the sea was very cold.
We visited the local marked. Anybody fancy a new hair style?
Today cook the “Chef” himself. Someone has to do this work.
We left Haute-Vienne and traveled toward the Atlantic coast. We have planned to stay overnight on the coast but as we left a bit late on the morning we stopped over in Bordeaux to travel next day further to Mimizan. We have visited this place a view years ago and we like it very much, so we mad the decision to spend a view days again in this beautiful spot.
Etang d’Aureilhan
Overnight stay in Village du Lac, Camping de Bordeaux. The campsite was packed, but still enough place for us.
44.8054 N, 0.5822 W
We left the beautiful Campside in Thury-Harcourt and continued our travel to south-west via Rennes, Bretagne and Nantes on the Loire River. Unfortunately the weather and forecast was not the best and instead to continue with our plan to travel to the Atlantic coast we headed south east towards to the sun.
We traveled Cholet, Maine-et-Loire and Bressuire and Poitiers in the Vienne department. The weather changed dramatically from heavy rain to beautiful sunshine. We decided to stop in Vivonne which is just south east of Poitiers and stay overnight on a Campsite. Our plan was to visit some friends next day which live in the Haute Vienne department and only a 2 hours drive away.
Camping des Trois Rivieres, Vivonne, Poitiers, Vienne
N 46.42499, E 0.26462
Some unfortunate french holiday maker had a problem with the electric on his ancient Caravan. I was more then happy to help him to fix it.
This year we decided to travel to France again. The original plan was to go somewhere else for a change. By taken the roof tent, the advantage is to go wherever we like and to change the routing on the last minute.
We headed overnight south to the Euro-tunnel in Folkestone to catch our pr-booked Train to Calais. After a view ours rest and a short sleep near Abbeville, Somme we continued via Le Havre and Caen and stopped over night at Thury-Harcourt in the Basse-Normandie region.
Camping Du Traspy, Thury Harcourt including free WIFI on the whole Campside beside the lake “Plan d’eau du Traspy. Beautiful place.
48.988518 N, 0.467728 W
For more then 2 years we have planned to sell our old but reliable ARB Simpson Roof tent and buy a new Maggiolina Airtop Roof Top Tent. We believe the Airtop fits our travel’s around Europe much better. We had great times with the Simpson roof tent. Of course the Airtop can be opened within 20 seconds and packed away within a minute. Which is very good. To open an close the Simpson it took me at least 15-20 minutes and was no fun to do it in the rain. Of course the Simpson could folded in half and this has give me some space on the roof rack for gear which I rather not have in the Car. This of course is now gone as the new tent use the whole length of the roof rack.
I had to re-arrange the layout in the Land cruiser to fit all the gear in. The good side on it is, some of the equipment which I have carried around for years and of course never have used has been thrown out and flung in to one of the dark corners in my Garage and probably never see the daylight again.
The tent fit perfectly on to my old roof rack. I’m still be able to slide the table under the rack.
There is plenty space in the tent. Although the height is restricted compares to the Simpson roof tent.
The Condenser on my Land cruiser has seen better days and I decided to change it out before the unit fails completely. Aftermarket condensers are very cheap and plenty full to choose from. I had no intention to purchase an original condenser from Toyota as they extortionately expensive.
First step was to remove the ARB Bullbar, Spotlights for better access.
Next step was to remove the oil cooler for the automatic gearbox and the inter-cooler including pipe work. This has also give me the opportunity to maintain the T-max winch, as it was a bit in a bad state but still working.
The condition of the oil cooler is not that bad. I believe I can get a view more years out of it.
A bit of paint and the cooler looks much nicer.
The same with the inter-cooler. A black spray can and everything look much neater.
This was the state of the old condenser, still in working order but no idea for how much longer.
This is the new condenser, no doubt Chinese manufactured, but good enough for me. For the cost of an genuine Toyota, I can buy four of this type. The condenser comes with air dryer already attached.
Connecting was strait forward, as the aftermarket unit fitted very well. Just a bolt on job.
Installing the oil cooler and inter cooler was easy.
After recharging, the air-con system was good as new. I can be sure the system don’t let me down on hot days.
The other day while I was checking the LC over I have noticed the inner boot has split open on the right hand site. How long this has been I can not say. I did not noticed anything while driving or any noise coming from it. As the LC has now close to the 150 000 mile my best option is now to change a view more parts which will fail soon ore later.
First step was to remove the steering knuckle with axle hub to access to the drive shaft. Unfortunately I could not get the ABS sensor removed. On the end the cable snapped off behind the sensor. Another expense to add on.
The removal of the drive shaft was very simple. I had just to pull it out. I fitted a new differential oil seal, as it would be false economy to save a view pennies and ending up with a leak after assembling.
The removal and fitting of the inner and outer bearings and races was very easy work with the 20 tonnes hydraulic press.
I installed new upright needle bearing, bronze bush and and inner knuckle seal.
New axle shaft assembly installed.
Original Toyota brake backing plate. The old plate was in a bad state.
Axle hub assembly ready to go back on
New brake disc and pads installed. New hub side snap ring installed. Toyota has different sizes between 1.8mm and 2.8 mm. In my case the one I had fitted perfectly.
A blog dedicated to Toyota Land Cruiser
Creating memories
LIFE ON THE ROAD
Overland expeditions in Europe, Africa and the Asiapacific
A personal blog of photography and commentary by Andrew McAllister.
A Land Cruiser full of poetry books, traveling the world.
A Barcelona blog and travel blog
„Man reist nicht nur um anzukommen, sondern vor allem, um unterwegs zu sein.“
Summer is for offroading. Winter is WrenchingSeason
Kleine verhaaltjes over kleine gebeurtenissen in een grote wereld.
Bringing Britain's engineering past to the present.
Inspiration for meeting life's challenges.
Bringing Curiosity and Adventure to Everyday Life
On Road & Off-Road
Overlanding 