Forget Paris-Dakar, here is Cowlinge-Saillagol

So why travel from England to France? Pa has deep attachments to both places. He has lived in Cowlinge Suffolk (http://www.cowlinge.suffolk.gov.uk/) for nearly 30 years, but over the last 10 years has spent increasingly longer periods of time in France, first near Djion, and more recently refurbishing a house in Saillgol and its attached Moulin (http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Cartes-plans/Carte_plan-Saillagol-82160-Tarn_et_Garonne-France). The tractor is needed over in France for various agricultural projects, what better way to get it there than to drive?

Who can question this desire, roll on London Bridge.

The Ferguson Odyssey

First some background to the vehicle itself: Having in the past returned from forays to the pub with a couple of sheep, some twelve years ago (1998) he was found returning with a very decrepit tractor, for which he had bartered; the cost of a years electricity securing him the Ferguson tractor (http://www.fergusontractor.co.uk/) from some unsuspecting local. This has sat gathering rust outside for nearly ten years, until his middle youth vanishing and retirement upon him, he has found it necessary to fill his life with things other than his devoted woman, loving (but fiscally demanding) children and his delightful, but noisy grandkids. Having built an electronics workshop, raised a wood, donated many power tools to needy offspring, it was time to deal with the bulk of the tractor. This was no superficial primping of the externals but a thorough strip down and an ability I am sorely lacking.

So far he has (and I am so grateful to my Uncle for furnishing me with some of the more esoteric terms and details):Crankshaft reground and fitted with new main journal and con-rod bearings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crankshaft-vital in converting linear motion into rotational-don't you know?), cylinder block re-bored and oversizes pistons fitted, cylinder head cracks stitch welded and new valve guides and valves installed, replacement rocker shaft and rockers/followers, new clutch and pressure plate, new carburettor, new wiring harness made up, refurbished dynamo and control box cut-out, new exhaust system and silencer (it has a silencer?), steering gear, king pins and ball joints overhauled, road wheels sand blasted and powder coated, new tyres fitted, many body panels repaired or replaced and repainted, new drivers seat, brakes checked for wear and adjusted, transmission and final drive units checked and found to be perfectly serviceable. Phew... There are a few pieces of bodywork to be repaired, but an initial run of 5 miles was successful. Wicked.

Travel in the slow lane

Having spent many years toying with exceedingly fast cars, streaming past other commuters in a streak of colour, such that their oaths once uttered were so far behind as to be in another time, he has now decided to join the ranks of the slow and ponderous aged daytrippers: realistically I suppose his reactions are not what they used to be and his desire to stay alive seems to have increased in direct proportion to his age. So it gives him great pleasure now to be one of those irritating buggers, who used to so annoy him, who toodle along at 20mph, oblivious to or perhaps enjoying, the mounting queue of traffic behind. Except no Fiat Uno or Nissan Micra for Dad and so no zipping along at the hypertensive speed of 40mph, but a Ferguson tractor, lovingly restored by himself, and a thrilling maximum speed of 15mph. And no days trips to Brighton, but a 717 mile trip from Suffolk to Saillagol, Midi-Pyrenees France (http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Cartes-plans/Carte_plan-Saillagol-82160-Tarn_et_Garonne-France). I am sure Pa will explain the route later, but the plan is to avoid major roads and motorways (and I am fairly sure the fear of the law does not come into this), cross London Bridge early one Sunday morning and collect the ferry for France and proceed along paths suitable for French velos.

Now: PJH 2010.

The lifetime of a trip: one oldish man and his old tractor.

Which ever way you look at it, this is going to be a journey to remember. Ever since I can remember our Pa has been twiddling with electronic gizmos, building, drawing, inspiring us all with a practical and creative grasp of life, such that no challenge is insurmountable. We have all listened spellbound to family stories of him manufacturing explosives and building inventions much to the peril of his brother, who on many occasions came off worse from his experiments, or who perhaps, was an invaluable, though not indivisible part of many of those experiments. The infamous tree explosion springs to mind here. Who needs all their fingers anyway?. A life lived as though it could end tomorrow, hence the need at nearly 70 years to take an ancient tractor some 700 miles from Suffolk to rural Midi Pyrenees. His four children (us) are introducing him to the world of blogging, with the Eurotractor blogspot, as a present on his 70th birthday, and also because this feat needs to be recorded in a truly modern manner. Please don't kill yourself (or anyone else) en route, instead, Cassez une jambe! (As we are sure they say in French theatrical circles....)