Hi...ho...hi...ho...a 'raiding' we will go

This morning dawned bright and early - well, ummm, not so much of the bright but definitely the early. We were heading for a dawn raid and we had to get up before it was light. We wrapped up warmly and loaded the car with a picnic basket burgeoning with yummy delights. I looked at my three and despite the early start and the grey wet weather - we were all grinning with anticipation.


We travelled for about 20 minutes before we saw the sun come up, the clouds had broken and it was still bitterly cold, but in the car we were all cosy and warm under our crochet blankets.

Where were we going? Well, I put a link in yesterday's post as a hint but I can reveal today that we were participating in a 'Raid', but not just any old raid, we were about to do our first 'Raid Tan Hill'. But before I say anything more, I think a little flash back is needed..................

July last year we entered our 2CV, Emily,  in the village garden festival - as a planter - like you do when you are a known eccentric - any hoo I digress, our 2CV won 2 awards and I was suitably surprised and delighted. As a reward, we took our little car off to be restored by a specialist garage.

Much puffing of cheeks and tutting and rubbing of oily forehead by the mechanic produced a bleak (and therefore a very expensive) scenario. Emily apparently was worse than useless and not worth repairing...........the mechanic 'very kindly' offered to take her off our hands and use her as part-ex for a newer and therefore expensive (but not as expensive as the restoration) replacement. He went on how he would try and salvage any bits and use her for other restoration projects.

He was talking about using Emily for body parts!!!!!!!!!!!

Himself was devastated. We had rescued this little car once before and it had been our (but mainly his) dream to get her road worthy again.  We left Emily with the garage and drove home with our new 2CV. Our journey home was in stony silence, we should have been delighted with a newer model with no rust, no corrosion, not needing restoration and road ready.

We felt terrible - we had let Emily down, we had abandoned her!

Late that night Himself instructed me that as soon as the garage was open I was to ring them and tell them not to do anything to Emily - we were coming back for her!  Which we did, much to the garage owner and mechanic's bemusement. They had even offered more money for her.

We brought her home. Now, we were a 2 x 2CV family, did that mean were were a 4CV family?

So, to cut a fairly long story short, Emily is going to be restored - by Himself, piece by piece, with help from his junior mechanics (us) and even better, we have bonded with our new little car and she is called .... Gertie.

So, back to the present, c'mon.....keep up, keep up!

We took Gertie to Britain's highest Inn - Tan Hill which is 1732 feet above sea level - in the middle winter, through snow and ice. We were not alone, we trundled along with 51 other intrepid 2CVs of all colours and shapes.

Our new little girl - Gertie is a 'plum and custard'. 2CV colours are given whimsical names and unusual colour combinations. Emily is a 'Blueberry and Cream'

We ambled through quaint Dales villages

We roared our way over the cols on narrow icy tracks

Youngest took charge of the camera as often as he could

Half way there we were re-routed due to ice on the usual road. A bit later we all stopped and were supplied with hot mulled wine.We raided our picnic hamper

 - as usual the boys were starving

When it was time to set off again, several vehicles had to be 'helped' 

from their parking spaces back on to the road

The higher we climbed, the less clear the roads and the more intrepid we felt!

We tobogganed over hill.....

...and slid down dale

Then suddenly we all ground to a halt, the lead cars were slipping and sliding just a bit too much. Marshals jumped out of their cars and began pushing and guiding the little cars through the drifts.

Whilst we waited for our turn to attempt the hill I took more photos

Yes - this is the road we took! 

Himself managed to get up with out any assistance despite the icy conditions, 

but it was an interesting ascent, a bit more 'dancing on ice' that driving with due care.......

Our destination - Tan Hill Pub - 1732 feet above sea level.

Warm food and cold beer were waiting and we were ready.

Some of the earlier arrivals had been plastered with snow

A final photograph before we headed home.

Getting back was 'interesting' to say the least as the roads we had managed to do during the day were rapidly icing over as the sun dropped and we had to go the long way round.... a very long way round.... to get home. The boys needless to say finished off the contents of the picnic hamper and promptly fell asleep curled up under their blankets.

As I write this, I can see our certificate we received for participating in the 2011 Raid Tan Hill and know that despite driving, sliding and tobogganing over 120 miles we have thoroughly enjoyed today.

Oh yes - I did get some crochet done, not a lot though - there was too much other entertainment going on :)