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Northumberland in the MG
  • Peter Sprot
  • Peter Sprot

Northumberland in the MG

The choice was either Montenegro from me or Northumberland from Mandy
I was born in Northumberland and haven't been for many years.
So it is time. Leer más
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  • Inicio del viaje
    23 de junio de 2025
    Peter SprotNorthumberland in the MGPeter Sprot

    The Humber Bridge

    23 de junio de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Two places Mandy has never seen are Skegness a place she remembered from childhood posters at London's railway stations and the Humber bridge which is one of Britain's most iconic bridges.
    Skegness was every bit as expected with sea side amusements and more fish and chip shops than you could count. There is a huge beach and I was surprised to sea a few swimmers bracing the cold waters.
    The Humber Bridge can be seen from a long way before you reach it. Today was not the best day to cross as the wind was very strong so there was a 30mph speed limit in place on the bridge.
    The wind was very strong all the way today often slowing the car which has only 53 horse power.
    We chose to stay off the motorways so instead came up through the Norfolk fens which had very bumpy roads and then the Lincolnshire wolds which were better but still not good.
    We came about 170 miles today which took around six hours.
    We are staying at a hotel just over the bridge very close to the very wide fast flowing water. We needed a rest then had a walk in a nearby forest.
    Tomorrow should be shorter distance. I hope as the weather suggests it might rain.    Leer más

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  • Peter SprotNorthumberland in the MGPeter Sprot

    Robin hoods bay and Boggle hole YHA

    24 de junio de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    We left Humber bridge view hotel in cloudy weather and within half an hour Blubelle had her first break down.
    At the bottom of a hill the engine missed a beat then about half way up the engine cut out completely. I manage to coast across the road and just managed to roll into a layby.
    Using a spare spark plug I checked for a spark and the was none. It has electronic ignition so no points to check. I unscrewed the lead from the coil to the distributor and found heavy oxidation on both ends. I cleaned everything and all was good we were back on the road. Just as I was finishing a car pulled up. The driver said he saw we had a problem so he turned around to offer help. I took a photo and thanked him as he offered to follow us from a while.
    Just after that it started raining. It wasn't heavy but it was persistent. So the hood went up in the car and rain jackets on us as rain comes in the sides when it rains.
    We continued to Robin Hood's Bay intending to stop for an hour then continue but Mandy liked it so much we decided to look for somewhere nearby to stay the night and found this amazing place which was along a single track road of over 25% incline up and down. Then you must park the car and walk for ten minutes down a steep hill to the remote hostel on the tiny cove. It is beautiful.    Leer más

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  • Peter SprotNorthumberland in the MGPeter Sprot

    Saltburn by the sea

    25 de junio de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    The breakdown.

    Although I'm quite sure the problem with the car is either the coil or the electronic ignition (my money is on the coil) the mechanic didn't check anything.

    He loaded the car into the truck and said both the car and ourselves will be taken back to Suffolk tomorrow.

    The good news is that they booked us into a really nice hotel overlooking the bay in the beautiful town of Saltburn and the breakdown insurance will pay the £205 for the night plus a meal.

    So now we are having cream teas then we will explore Saltburn.    Leer más

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  • Peter SprotNorthumberland in the MGPeter Sprot

    The Breakdown

    25 de junio de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    It is times like this when your faith in human nature is restored.
    As we waited nearly three hours for the breakdown truck to arrive we had so many people stop to admire the car and ask of we needed help.

    Before I called the breakdown service it stopped three times and each time I managed to get it off the road and within minutes someone stopped and asked if we need help.
    When it stopped for the third time I knew we were about to swap to a major busy road so I said enough and sat on a wall while I decided what to do.
    As I sat a man stopped in a car and asked if all is well and I said not really so he took his wife home which was nearby and came back. He explained he was a mechanic for an international touring car racing team all his career and now he's 82. We ran through the problem and thankfully we agreed it was one of two things. Then he took me in his car to see his Corvette and have a tea. Then he (John) offered to take Mandy for a tea but she was content painting so he phoned around to try to find a coil but none were available locally so he phoned a friend who didn't have one.
    As we chatted the breakdown truck arrived and the man appeared more interested to take us and the car to Suffolk than he was in even looking at the problem. Then within minutes his boss had booked us into a very nice hotel for the night and agreed to take us home tomorrow. I know what wrong and how to fix it. Next time I'll add a coil to the spares I carry.
    I'm absolutely sure that if this problem had happened 40 or 50 years ago the parts would have been replaced by any garage and I would have been on my way in an hour.    Leer más

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  • Peter SprotNorthumberland in the MGPeter Sprot

    We are home

    26 de junio de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Slightly disappointed that the car couldn't be repaired in Saltburn.
    To be honest I think the breakdown company realised they could make far more money bringing the car back home than they could repairing it on the spot and once I sign over to them I was at their mercy. If, once I had worked out exactly what was wrong I had said don't return the car to my home 300 miles away I would have been liable to pay the expensive hotel and probably some costs on top.

    Never mind it was fun while it lasted.
    We'll have another go another time.

    I'm going to end this Find Penguins here.
    Ciao    Leer más

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    Fin del viaje
    26 de junio de 2025