Pyrenees Trip 2024 Cornish Style

Where to begin, probably the start would be a good place!

Team Stribley ( lost boys team member well sort of, I’ll get to that later)
Driver Paul Stribley
Co pilot (Team Boss) Diane Stribley
Car Porsche Cayman 981s ( 2014 Rhodium Silver)

Our car had a full service at Williams Crawford including brake fluid change and the PSE repaired (so glad about that, tunnels ha ha),it was checked over for the trip and we decided to have new brakes all around (discs and Pads)
We arranged to meet the other guys and girls. (lost boys) at Chiverton Starbucks ( Simon Toy, John & Teresa Kirwan, Nigel & Lynn and Colin & Kelly Dawe)
We set off a couple of minutes later than expected but not too late, as we were driving through Blackwater feeling a mixture of excitement and also ‘bricking it’ a little we spotted a red Porsche 911 Supersport Targa with the number plate COL777N, we both waved and then realised that’s Colin going the wrong way, at this point my phone rang
Simon, ” Alright Stribbs are you on your way?”
“Yeah 2 mins we’ll be there”
We had arranged to meet Chris & Aly and Steve & Les,at Cornwall Services, a quick coffee and Colin & Kelly turned up it transpired that he’d forgotten his radio and gone home to get it ( he needn’t have bothered a couple of people had spares )
We drove to Plymouth stopping at Saltash service’s for the first of many top ups of the finest super fuel you can buy.
Meeting at Marsh Mills Sainsbury’s for a group together and for Martin to dish out the itinerary and stickers in a club bag ( very professional).
We convoyed to the port the heart racing just a little went through passport control and queued to board there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the way we were being loaded with us seemingly in different rows. The row to my left seemed to move and looking in my mirror could see Nigel and Lynn not moving, the next minute he’s out of his car trying to push it and bump it off, we all remember doing this manoeuvre at some point in our lives and it wasn’t easy then, so trying to bump off a 911 on the flat and jump in wasn’t going to work so I ran back and myself and Lynn pushed it ( yes Nigel sat in it !!) and it started, this was the story for A911WRL for the remainder of the trip.
Once boarded and Diane was pumped full of seasickness tablets we found our cabin and worked out the sleeping arrangements, that’ll be me top bunk Diane bottom.
We had a meal onboard which we both thought was not bad for the money and went to find the rest of the gang who were on the top deck indulging in some merryment mirth, although the movement was taking it’s toll on Diane and we decided to move closer to the middle of the boat.The weather got progressively worse and to pass the time we (and Adrian and Suzanne) decided to go to the cinema and watch the latest Mad Max film ( each of us fell asleep at one point and Adrian bailed out and went to bed) it was nearly 3 hrs long ! . After the film we decided to retire to our cabin and try for some shut eye, Diane was ‘pretty rough’ at this point with her own collection of sick bags. While trying to sleep we were tossed and turned by the waves and also woken by a few bangs and crashes which was quite scary for a couple of not so ‘salty sea dogs’ as us.
The morning arrived and a shower was had and breakfast on board.
When finally seeing land this gave me the chance to say
” Land ahoy ” Diane didn’t see the funny side.
When on the car deck Adrian was parked just behind us and said “are you coming on the same route as us, we are following Alan and Sharon for a scenic drive as opposed to a mainly motorway route”
So we tagged on with them, I think this was the point that our membership of the lost boys was put in jeopardy,
WOW and WOW, if this was what the tour had in store for us then OMG what a week we were in for.
We took up the rear gunner position and what an amazing drive through the mountain passes stopping at one high point it was a little mizzeley but hey we’re used to that, we did have a local that we over took that tried to stay with us, me thinking we’d upset him overtaking on corners and such due to the fact he didn’t know we had radios and any manoeuvre was safe due to Alan and Sharon’s expert commentary, but he pulled over and just wanted to take pics of the wonderful machines obvious the locals had good taste.
We went through some villages that were clearly inhabited but not one person to be seen, this was quite normal according to our ‘ tour guide’ don’t tell him I said that.
I requested a ‘ comfort ‘ break and we stopped in this town ( free car park), we went to a cafe and after a little mime the owner was aware we needed the facilities, it was at this cafe ( in the basque region) that we sampled the best cheesecake in the world complete with no biscuit base yippee.
When leaving the cafe Simon rang me to ask of my whereabouts as he and some of the others had waited at the port for us and I’d forgotten to do my live location ‘whoops’.
The route to the first hotel was amazing and included a couple of mega straights, I know we all love the Twisties but these straights were amazing.
When we arrived at the first Hotel everybody else was there and checked in,we had a lovely meal (well most of us) and after a drink retired still buzzing from our first day on the passes.

Day 2, we all checked out and out in the carpark for the first briefing, then equipped with the map headed out for our first drive together.
It was quite apparent that some of us wanted a ‘spirited’ drive whereas some others wanted a more leisurely meander through the mountains this suited the group and we split up meeting for lunch way up a mountain ( the food was somewhat an acquired taste) but this really didn’t matter to us as this was a driving holiday not a gastronomic adventure, after lunch the weather improved and more spirited driving ensued by the time we got to the next hotel it was decided to visit a local pizzeria which was very enjoyable.
Off we set for the next leg which had us driving mountain passes on more amazing roads with spectacular views and even driving Jeremy Clarkson’s favourite road and I can see why, it was fun to sit on the tail of a certain Black 996 Turbo through the Twisties and stop at the top for a pic or two we are bit of a vain lot but the scenery and the cars do you really blame us,
The drive down was just as amazing to be honest the roads just kept getting better and better it really is the land that just keeps giving.
We had our evening meal at the special request of Mia at MacDonalds but not any Maccy Dees the one with the best views in the world and also so dubious sculptures in the carpark.
On our arrival at the hotel the other group had arrived earlier and were well into sampling the local drink, some banter occurred and my membership of the lost boys was seriously in doubt although the senses was Diane could remain due to the fact she was a passenger.
The following morning we were greeted with ice on the cars ( which soon melted ) and hot air balloons in the sky. Morning briefing and one of the two groups (us) was away. More amazing roads and views and some fun driving, the highest point of the trip was reached and ( after getting lost) met up for lunch with the other group, we both went our separate ways with us ending on the tour de France route which was a bit narrow in places but in my opinion added to the fun, at the top it was quite busy probably due to the amazing weather, I parked behind Adrian while he took some pics ( tripod and all) while I used my phone a local. A French couple weren’t very happy with my parking and were heard muttering and moaning the only bit I could understand was Angletere my bit for Anglo French relations.
The drive back to the ‘last’ ( or so we thought at the time) hotel was equally spectacular with amazing views and roads to match.
We were last to arrive at the hotel which didn’t serve evening meals so we opted to go to a local American Diner but upon arriving a few of us bailed out and opted for Le Burger King instead
The last day ( or so we thought) saw us retrace our steps back but in reverse from day 1,WOW again it was amazing to drive a mountain pass but one we’d driven before ( albeit down as opposed to up ), through more seemly abandoned villages and then, as I’ve said before we love the Twisties but the straights were also epic, I don’t think I’ll ever forget Martin saying ” Tractor Tractor Tractor” over the radio and we all passed a local doing a smidgen over the limit.
The news came through that the return trip was cancelled and we’d have to stay another day in this amazing place, we booked another hotel and also adorned ourselves with berrets and headed for our ‘last’ night, the French Police closed the motorway and we took a diversion regrouping in a petrol station where some guality tarmacing decided to relieve me of my front spliter, but once over the annoyance the drive to the final hotel was up there with all that came before,once booked into the hotel most of the group decided on a spa with Diane and myself seeking a little local culture.
The following morning we boarded the ferry and thankfully for Diane the crossing was like a millpond compared to the last one, we watched another film in the cinema and also had the buffet meal which was amazing.After and reasonable nights sleep we had breakfast and all met up and shared stories and coffee about the absolutely amazing week we had just experienced, with the conclusion we are DEFINITELY coming back, Thanks Martin.

Paul and Diane Stribley.