Northwich Round Table

16/09/2026

Mais Qui Rodney!

Stop 8&9 - Orleans & Boulogne Sur Mer

426 miles drive from Clermont to Orleans and then onto the Northern French coast and a glimpse of home across the English Channel at Boulogne.

Orleans was lovely and 32 degrees, with lovely squares, historic buildings, nice cafe restaurants and a tram that thrilled Simon. The cathedral was very impressive and the choir was practising whilst we were in there.

This place was classically French but somehow we ended up have a Chinese for tea. Don't quite know how we ended up there.

Boulogne does not have the character of the central and southern areas of France. It grey, a bit grubby and pretty run down in places. There are some nice areas though and the front has a nice walk down the river to the sea. We have a good steak there also.

The AirBnB was next to a bakery who were literally cooking baguettes all night.....to rock music. Ear plugs fixed the issue.

Talking of bread, we need to raise some dough for this fabulous cause.....

https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUXXV10ZGNwBRXxlXRkY3AFE1CNdGRjcAUSNIx0ZGNwBRC9_nRkY3AFDy9sY2xjawUPL2VwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnBoSb56aC5CaPleR8y4Tt_Z9qcxb0oY8kv4EGCtZ3aiKVC50MsQYb_bZFIC_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

15/09/2026

Tête de veau Rodney!

Stop 7 - Clermont-Ferrand

Long day in the Pug, a 393 mile chug to Clermont-Ferrand from Nice. We have made the turn for home and colder weather lies ahead. Too much driving for any sight seeing so no photos of vistas I am afraid.

For the first time we experienced proper french cuisine - a French version of sausage and cheesy mash, the main difference being that their name for it scores much higher when played on a triple word score. It was very nice, especially the sausage or saucisses should I say.

All for a good cause, so please get your saucisses fingers on the donate button...

https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUV8ZV0ZGNwBRNQjXRkY3AFEjSMdGRjcAUQvf50ZGNwBQ8vbGNsY2sFDy9lcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5waEm-emguQmj5XkfMuE7f2fanMW9KGPJL-BBgrWd2oilQudDLEGG_22RSAg_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

13/09/2026

Bonjour and Crème de la menthe!

Stop 6 - Monaco, Monte Carlo & Nice

Just 125 miles today from Turin to Nice but still 5hrs of driving taking in at least 2 high mountain switchback passes, various gorges and some tunnels. Finally a long drop into Monaco and our first view of the Mediterranean.

The 2006 Peugeot covered in stickers and with a wagging cats tail didn't look out of place at all alongside the Bugatti, Ferrari, Aston Martin's and Lamborghini"s 🤣.

We heard on the news that Monte Carlo property prices collapsed by 10% in the hour that we were there. There had been rumours spread that we were moving in apparently. 😁.

Nice was very nice....you must of seen that coming 😆

Happy to be the Griswalds in Monaco if it raises money for this good cause....

https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUTUI10ZGNwBRI0jHRkY3AFEL3-dGRjcAUPL2xjbGNrBQ8vZXBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEecGhJvnpoLkJo-V5HzLhO39n2pzFvShjyS_gQYK1ndqIpULnQyxBhv9tkUgI_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

12/09/2026

Bonjour and bonnet de do**he!

Day 5 - Turin

Literally can't believe we've drove from Northwich to Turin in this old banger.

No dramas today, just epic scenery, especially in the Swiss Alps. There must be places on those mountains that no human has ever stepped foot on or even been within 100 ft of. Other parts have probably been discovered but so rarely that milk is still 12p there.

We also did some silly photos which are challenges from the rally organisers.

Mike joined us in Turin and we ate at a restaurant where Juventus coach was on the next table. We didn't know this until the waiter volunteered the info without us even asking. Juve man was just leaving at the time and we weren't interested anyway 😁. I wonder if the waiter told Juve guy...... that's the 5 blokes who drink in the Hartford Hall from England? 😆

We drove the St Bernards pass over the top between Switzerland and Italy and the hotel that featured in the Italian Job.

We visited Turin motor museum whilst there. Seemed a fitting thing to do while on a car rally.

Photos can convey the immenseness of those mountains....

A good day for a good cause.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUSNIx0ZGNwBRC9_nRkY3AFDy9sY2xjawUPL2VwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnBoSb56aC5CaPleR8y4Tt_Z9qcxb0oY8kv4EGCtZ3aiKVC50MsQYb_bZFIC_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

11/09/2026

Stop 4 - Dijon

Bonjour and pot pourri.

We started out from Calais at 10am and arrived in Dijon in the pitch black at 10pm.

A solid 12 hours driving with a 30 mins stop for classic french cuisine - burger and chips - we couldn't find parking in Arras and so after two laps we give up and set off. That's why we ended up at a burger kiosk on the outskirts.

We did notice that France has a field problem - they are far too big! No hedgerows, nothing, just endless cabbage or whatever. The problem with a big field is that when you have a 10 hour drive, a country sized field makes you feel like your getting nowhere.

Nearly everything closes at 9pm or simply can't be arsed opening at all. So I can't believe it, after fantasizing about french cuisine for 10 hours, we ended up only being able to go to a pizza van in what seemed like an abandoned town.......10 minutes after.....guess what......they shut. The restaurant we had intended to go to there, was not only shut but clearly had never opened that day.

Below is our photo of the day, Dijon at night....

It's for a good cause at least.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUQvf50ZGNwBQ8vbGNsY2sFDy9lcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5waEm-emguQmj5XkfMuE7f2fanMW9KGPJL-BBgrWd2oilQudDLEGG_22RSAg_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

10/09/2026

Bonjour and mange tout. We're now in France with a great line up of Skinflint cars.

Our Cheshire Cat themed 2006 Peugeot 307 has a revolving list of problems which have surfaced throughout the journey so far. Here is the current top of the engine pops....

1. Clutch (Davenham) it's literally at the top of the pedal
2. Oil leak (Northwich) you can follow us all the way from Northwich
3. Fuel gauge (Marlow) - still reading 3/4 of a tank after 250 miles....surely can't be right!
4. Passenger window (Calais) - it now only shuts when it feels like it
5. Rear Drivers Side Shock Absorber (Arras) - brand new entry into the top 5. Every single bump when you are in the rear driver's side rear passenger seat feels like you are on a bucking bronco.

10/09/2026

Stop 3 - Folkestone & The Channel

We met the rest of the Skinflinters at the Premier Inn Channel Tunnel last night and now we're on Le Shuttle ready to go under the channel to Calais. It's fun but we are doing it for a very good cause...

https://www.justgiving.com/page/northwichrt348?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUPL2xjbGNrBQ8vZXBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEecGhJvnpoLkJo-V5HzLhO39n2pzFvShjyS_gQYK1ndqIpULnQyxBhv9tkUgI_aem_DP8tsgFsgKyR1h0h7CThBw

09/09/2026

Stop 2 - Marlow in Buckinghamshire. We hit big prices not traffic. £10 for a tea and thimble cake. Pretty little town though.

09/09/2026

First stop, The Tame Otter at Hopwas near Tamworth, just as we arrived Joyride by Roxette was playing on the 📻

09/09/2026

They have departed for France!

Thank you to everyone who’s supporting with donations; we’re blown away by smashing our initial £500 target and on course to break £1000 today, can you help make that happen? All for St Luke’s Hospice Cheshire

Help James Wilmington raise money to support St Luke's (Cheshire) Hospice