08-08-2014 Pontarlier – Queige 254 km

Yesterday evening it starts to rain, we were glad that we build the tarp so we could sit dry!

This morning it was dry again, but the tents where still wet. After a refreshing shower we eat our breakfast and we where in our cars at 8.30 to travel further to the campingplace where we will meet the other participants at the Alpentour in Queiga.

It was a long day traveling, because we took only the smaller roads, and we had to pass Geneve. We drove a big circle around Geneve, because we did not want to get in the trafficjam!

In Mijoux we drink

07-08-2014 Gèrardmer – Pontarlier 210 km

This morning we wake up in the rain! Everything was sokingwet so first thing first, taking a hot shower! And because it’s not getting any dryer we deside to leave as soon as possible!

At 8.00 we leave the camping, and directly begin at a beautiful climb! The Voghese area is realy beautiful, also when it’s raining (realy hard!) In the first village we were passing we filled up our fueltanks, and all 3 LJ80 are using 10 liters of fuel every 100 km! When we later passed another village we passed a bakery, where we bought some bread. After about 1 hour we climbed the Ballon d’Alsace. At the top of that coll we drink a cup of coffee in the rastaurant, and we spoke a Dutch cilclist whos has done a round through France (about 4.000 km in 35 days!). It was a nice coversation, and it was nice to here some storys from someone who clims all mountains !

06-08-2014 Einighausen – Gérardmer 470 km

We left home after a good breakfast! After about 1 hour we are driving through Luik (Liège) and when we past that city we drove to a parkingspot on the highway for a little brake and see how everything goos. The brake is short, because everything went well, and we diside to drive further.

The first stop we make is in Luxembourg. We wanted to fill up the fueltanks (much cheaper fuel!) and Paul wants to buy cigarettes (also much cheaper). We decided to drive further again, and make a bigger pause when we leave the hoghway in France. Thats only about 50 km from the tankstop, and when we find a good spot it’s time to make coffe and eatsome sandwiches. We are sitting in the sun, and we finaly have that “holliday-feeling”!

First stage

Here we are, in the garden at Piet’s home, about 170 km from home. First part of the tour is done, and everything went well!
Only thing which is not ok, is the power of my fridge. That thing got it’s power from de cigaretlighter, and when i get the contact off the power of the cigaretlighter is also down. So i went to the local carpartsdealer and bought a 2nd cigaretlighter, wich i mounted directly on the battery. Only thing i have to care for, is the battery itself when i shut down the engine. 😉

On the road, the Alpentour has started!

Paul was here this afternoon, and together

Ready…?

Ehm… almost! :O
At the last moment had to work on the LJ80. I found out that one shock absorber was broken, and while loosening the lower bolt, the entire bracket broke off!
Fortunately, I have one in stock, but when I try to remove the U-bolts, I did not get losse the nuts. I was Afraid that the U-bolts would also break,so i went looking for spare parts. Unfortunately I did not have them…
Thanks to Hugo, I could quickly pick up a pair of U-bolts, and last night i changed everything! A bit last minute, but glad averything is fixed!

Now almost everything is packed. In about 2 hours i leave to the (sunny?) south! Let the Alps Tour begin!

Broken shockabsorber

Broken U-bolts and bracket

Almost time to leave

Finaly the holidays are there! Now we can start with the last preparations for the upcoming Alpstour. Pick up all things which we need, wash and clean the LJ80 and trailer for the last time, etc.

Last month Benno made us some nice stickers, and Dieter made some nice aluminium plates to stick the stickers on. Now we have a nice rallyshield for all participants!

Tuesday i will

New fridge

My old coolbox was crap! It was an electric thing which only works on 12 volt. It was cheap, and it was useless.

A month ago, i saw a used compressor cooler for sale which had a few minor falers like a rubber sealing which was broken. I bought that thing and thought it should be easy to fix it. But i couldn’t find a sealing which would fit…
So i called

LJ80 Alpentour Weblog

Hello, and welcome on this brandnew blog! 😀
On this blog we will keep you informed about the preparations for this trip, and of course the trip itself. When there is news, we will put it in this blog, and when we are on our way, we will try to keep you updated every day. We try to upload some pictures also!