France Cave Trip

[alterastro]

Crotchrocket, Alan Bradley and I ventured into France and underground this weekend with the Four Wheel Drive club. We had a fantastic time, with minimal damage, eh James!!!

Here's a few pics I hope you'll enjoy....

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKK8pLQzI/AAAAAAAAFd4/I7_dOUPEZ6U/s800/IMG_5021.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKYfUrIWI/AAAAAAAAFgw/jwL6aKftLaU/s800/IMG_5044.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKZ4KPTXI/AAAAAAAAFhA/vERJRLwDBM8/s800/IMG_5046.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKabj_TWI/AAAAAAAAFhI/sFYH29duvfQ/s800/IMG_5047.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKcojlS4I/AAAAAAAAFho/pt-wc0_pbMs/s800/IMG_5051.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKg19gqRI/AAAAAAAAFio/M6NVr6M4E20/s800/IMG_5059.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKrYTMg_I/AAAAAAAAFkw/NjyiPwZDCsE/s800/IMG_5075.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKzTf9dGI/AAAAAAAAFmU/aWaEAmcsJWE/s800/IMG_5086.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEK0fhxzmI/AAAAAAAAFmk/WDvu92vWOiE/s800/IMG_5088.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEK2GSyS9I/AAAAAAAAFm8/3RI9yStvI0w/s800/MVI_5118.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEK8UvpqyI/AAAAAAAAFoM/ehOvT2nntho/s800/IMG_5100.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDELAWdQzEI/AAAAAAAAFpM/HBwHB4YUeoI/s800/IMG_5108.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDELHF0yriI/AAAAAAAAFqE/kGI9GJwqbv4/s800/IMG_5116.jpg

[RamAirZ]

That's awesome! Looks like ALOT of fun man

[MSHardeman]

That is CRAZY!! Love it.

I usually duck my head when I head into a parking garage (sort of like body english in bowling), so I would probably be crouched down the whole time.

Any more pics?

[Ldub]

Someday I wanna be a member of the "Offroad Underground"...:yesgray:

Though shipping Suzy the Floozy all the way to France might prove cost prohibitive...:confusedw

Looks like a great adventure...:thumbup:

[Triathlete]

Cool trip! That is one original club name:laughy:

[RamAirZ]

Shouldn't the passenger get out and take the pic, it's dangerous for the driver to be out of the vehicle don't ya think

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_92IlRiDjRDE/TDEKZ4KPTXI/AAAAAAAAFhA/vERJRLwDBM8/s800/IMG_5046.JPG



haha j/k

[RallyDude]

Spelunking and off-roading at the same time. How long is the cave and the driveable trails?

[tomdietrying]

Awesome!!!!! Never seen anything like that.
Peace.
Tom

[ZEUS]

That is so cool! Glad you guys have some cool places to meet up and wheel. Cheers!

[alterastro]

Thanks Guys!

The caves extend to over 60 kilometers in all directions. In all there are about 3 kilometers that are driveable. But get a torch and start walking and you'll soon get lost!

Here's all my pics:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Alterastro09/20100703LesCinqPilierssm?feat=directlink

Nick ;)

[Big G]

What great pictures. THANKS for sharing.

[Mile High VX]

That must have been a great trip.

Thanks for sharing the fun of having a VX!

[alanbradley]

It was an awesome weekend. What Nick misses out is that he was one of the guys that put in the work to organise it...

It would be really good is I could see the video of my attempted climb out of the caves up the really rutted exit. I said I'd have 3 goes before I started and that's what I stuck to as there was a 300 mile drive home. I'm sure that I'd have made it on the 4th ;) Only a couple of quite highly modded trucks made it under their own steam so I'd say I made a pretty valiant attempt on behalf of us VX drivers!

Anyhow, here are some of my pics...

Some of the assembled masses
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010542.jpg

Entrance to the caves
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010548.jpg

Mine lurking (that's it lurking behind the pillars in one of Alterastro's pics too - it was trying to get a sausage off the BBQ...)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010556.jpg

Crotchrocket playing above ground (I have loads of mine but they're on my mate's camera...)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010557.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010558.jpg
"How high can I get my front wheel off the ground?"
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010559.jpg

A pair...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010560.jpg

As speed, underground (well I didn't want to get stuck)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010570.jpg

Posing
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010574.jpg

I guess its the Vehicross equivalent of sniffing each other's bottoms...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010596.jpg

Tight...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010606.jpg

Vehicross in the mist...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010616.jpg

The site had a very interesting history, having been used as a munitions store in the WW1. Judging by some of the carvings in the rock the guards were a bit bored...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010587.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010588.jpg

There was a small memorial-like bit too. Check out that mortar-shell fencing...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010589.jpg

I'll be stitching together my video snippets when I'm back home and will post the result on YouTube and here so you can get a bit more of an idea. Even above ground it was a pretty fun little site and I'd happily go back.

A

[crotchrocket]

Hey all!!!

I'll get the embarasing bit over with first.............i destroyed a CV joint :( snapped it trying to out do a french man :D Any way thanks to 2WD on the selector stick and free wheeling hubs i got home without a problem. heres some of my picks and THANKS nick for organising a great trip! Thanks also to Alan for the on hand mechanical advice!!!


A couple from Saturday, the rest are on my other camera which i'll upload shortly.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6034.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6035.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6039.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6036.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6046.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6051.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6054.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6056.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6059.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6062.jpg

[crotchrocket]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6068.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6071.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6072.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6073.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6076.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6077.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6079.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6081.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6082.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6084.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6090.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/100_6091.jpg

[crotchrocket]

More pics, althought maybe a few too many of my own truck :)


http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03847.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03849.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03850.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03853.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03854.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03859.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03862.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03863.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03871.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03877.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03880.jpg

[crotchrocket]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03900.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03901.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03903.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03908.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03909.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03911.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03913.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03914.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03919.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03917.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03924.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03929.jpg

[crotchrocket]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03930.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03931.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03934.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03936.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03938.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03941.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03944.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03947.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC_003620_Small_.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC_005920_Small_.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC_006120_Small_.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/320.jpg



Waiting for the Ferry :)

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/Cinq%20Pilliers/DSC03952.jpg

[BigSwede]

Wow, cave wheeling...now that is something I had never even imagined. Awesome.

Any issues with carbon monoxide with all the vehicles in there?

[crotchrocket]

we went in 5 at a time but no, no issues with fumes etc. i turned my VX off when watching some one else but you GOT to have lights down there, or its Pitch black and quite un-nerving!

[alanbradley]

Dust was more of a pain when Discos couldn't get traction and were churning it up. I never felt fumes were an issue...

[ZubrAZ]

thanks for sharing the pics. the trip looks awesome!
as BigSwede, never could imagine four wheeling in caves!

[LiquidVX]

:drool::eek: :!:

This is so incredible I could not find the words or emoticons to describe it. Pure awesomeness!

[alanbradley]

Seriously, the pics don't do justice to the awesomeness as you lose so much of the atmosphere and "feel" of the place.

Here's my video compilation from the weekend:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US0R7gSEWnY

Enjoy!

A

[Triathlete]

Cool vid...what program did you use to put it together?

[ibmx2]

That is too cool for words
I bet the atmosphere and the vibe was unimaginable
, and I love the pics

[alanbradley]

Cool vid...what program did you use to put it together?

Thanks. It was just iMovie using a standard template. i did it in a bit of a rush hence the couple of missing transitions...

A

[Bob Barker]

That has to be one of the coolest things ever! There's no way all the bleeding hearts would let that happen here in the US.

[alterastro]

That has to be one of the coolest things ever! There's no way all the bleeding hearts would let that happen here in the US.

Nor the UK! Which is why it is such a fantastic thing in France! I still can't believe that it is allowed there too! But as long as it is, we'll be going there :)

[Bob Barker]

Yeah, France being less bleeding heart about something compared to the US is a flippin suprise to me!!!

and why does your sig say 97 vehicross? I thought they were only 99-01...

[Triathlete]

He drives a JDM.

[Bob Barker]

ooooo neat-o... So they were making the trucks for years before they decided to sell to us... sounds racist to me:slap:

[Triathlete]

They made up for it by giving us more!:bwgy:

[RamAirZ]

Ya the ones overseas are ALOT rarer than ours, but they get 2wd option and a 3.2 that doesn't burn oil (or as much lol)

[PK]

Ya the ones overseas are ALOT rarer than ours, but they get 2wd option and a 3.2 that doesn't burn oil (or as much lol)

And nice cloth seats that don't burn your *** in the sun.;):yeso::yesb:

PK

[vt_maverick]

And nice cloth seats that don't burn your *** in the sun.;):yeso::yesb:

PK

That's why man invented pants. Don't tell me you're driving around commando style... ;)

[alterastro]

ooooo neat-o... So they were making the trucks for years before they decided to sell to us... sounds racist to me:slap:

Nah they just wanted to make sure they were perfect before they let you have them :bwgy:

Yes we get snazzy cloth Recaro's, but I love the red leather more, so if anyone wants to swap.... :bwgy:

[alanbradley]

Worst accident of the weekend - Alterastro rolled his Paj

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010602.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010592.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010598.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010610.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010585.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010586.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/alanbradley/FWDC%205%20Piliers%20July%202010/P1010548.jpg

Another bunch of photos - hope there are no repeats...

A

[alterastro]

Here's Alan having a go at the toughie exit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYaw2OzYkbY

Nick :bwgy:

[ZEUS]

That's cool! I love that floaty feeling when you lift alternating tires.

[lasturbo]

Incredible shots and wheeling!! That would never happen in America...or does it? That would be shut down sooo fast here.

[alanbradley]

That's cool! I love that floaty feeling when you lift alternating tires.

You mean like some of the shots in this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBHaVqilQN4

Yeah, I was a little more enthusiastic in Nick's video than I thought I was being tbh... Oopsie...

:bwgy:

A