2004

two blokes :: one diesel pug :: some stickers :: 1500(ish) miles :: and back...

Go back to the 2005 page by clicking here

Well, we made it, somehow! Thanks to everyone who supported this jaunt, everyone on it and the organisers. I've now reversed the order of the web log so that it makes sense. Well, as much as it can do anyway!

Jon has some proper, non-phone-uploaded pictures here: http://jonathan-hills.fotopic.net/c306787.html

This is what we did www.staples2naples.com

Click here for Jem's live photos

Click here for Jon's PugnaciousD photos
Click here for Jem's photos of the making of PugnaciousD

Jem in Bristol at 00:56 on Monday the 27th of September 2004 Right, 1st entry. 5 days to go. Blimey   Jon in In the office... at 09:14 on Monday the 27th of September 2004 Is it that time already?!! We should probably be thinking about buying a map!   Jon in the office after 2 beers at 19:39 on Monday the 27th of September 2004 my phone must be crap. x2 posting still :(   Jem in not at work... at 17:09 on Wednesday the 29th of September 2004 Ah well, I'm sure it'll be fine. No-one'll notice anyway! :: edit (i've deleted the additional posts and tests etc)   Jon in the office at 10:39 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Double post test   Jem in Portishead. Really should be gone by now at 12:03 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Excellent. I'd better get going!   Jem in Melbourn at 18:25 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Right, made it and the car is nearly where and how i left it. One or two more stickers though. 1st picture uploaded!   Jem in Royston (no Vasey) at 19:05 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Made it the to the 1st checkpoint... The o   Jem in Royston at 19:24 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Just had to go hunting round the office for jon's shades, which aren't there...   Jem in Dover at 21:31 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Arrived early!   Jon in Dover at 21:48 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Made it with 90 mins to spare. on the 10pm ferry!   Jem in English Channel at 23:01 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Not bad!   Jem in Calais at 23:23 on Thursday the 30th of September 2004 Following an s2n rover!   Jem in Citi Europe at 09:06 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 The start!   Jon in France at 10:08 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 We have started. Managed to leave before the start was interrupted by french officials.   Jon in Belgium at 11:21 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Lost. Looking for holland   Jem in Belgium at 11:22 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Lost!   Jon in Holland at 11:55 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Found it! Eventually.   Jon in Brussels at 12:45 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just overtaken our first s2ner! Make that 2. We are not last!!   Jon in E411 belgium at 13:20 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just been nailed by the general lee.   Jem in Belgium nearing luxembourg at 13:52 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just stopped for driver change, some new pictures are up!   Jem in Belgium at 14:29 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 2 more s2ners passed, team bobbins and the one that looks like an aa van.   Jem in Luxembourg at 14:43 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Still coping, no more cars yet!   Jem in Luxembourg at 15:00 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just been caught by team 36... A kia pride! Pic uploaded.À   Jem in Germany at 15:21 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just realised the heated rear screen has been on since calais. Kia pride still with us!   Jem in German autobahn at 15:37 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 PugnaciousD slows in the outside lane...   Jem in Germany nr france at 15:55 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Following a brief stint on the hard shoulder, we are off again. Think we may have flattened the battery! No stereo for a bit. Met some nutter s2n types, who were stopped for a quick break!   Jem in Phalsbourg (France) at 17:33 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 PugnaciousD stops for diesel and cannot restart!   Jem in Selestat (france... Still) at 17:59 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 A total of three teams come to our aid, a pink carlton gave us a push, team bobbins and not the aa assist with gaffer tape and bungee cord when it turns out the battery was loose and one of the terminals was off!   Jem in Switzerland at 19:14 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Heading to lucerne, just realised we don't know where our rally pack is, and so don't know the exact whereabouts of the finish... It'll be fine!   Jem in Lucerne, Switzerland at 19:53 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Found the handbook, but now stuck in an almighty traffic jam heading into Lucerne. Lucerne being a few miles from the finish of Sarnen.   Jem in Sarnen at 21:27 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Knackered   Jon in On the way to lucerne at 22:28 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Just eaten dinner. Saw the aa guys who helped us fix our car earlier... Their sierra blew up half an hour later! :-(   Jem in Lucerne at 23:39 on Friday the 1st of October 2004 Got totally lost on way to hotel, just arrived. Rally re-starts at 8!   Jem in Lucerne at 06:35 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Damn   Jem in Grimselpass at 10:22 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 One down three to go!   Jem in Furkapass at 11:14 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Still going ok. Met five teams i   Jem in Oberalpass at 12:06 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Awesome views   Jem in Chur at 13:26 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Traffic jam   Jon in Chur at 13:42 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Make that lost! Ok now though.   Jem in St Moritz at 15:09 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Stelvio or bust...   Jem in Italy at 16:41 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Heading for Stelvio!   Jem in Trafoi (foot of stelvio) at 17:04 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 Blimey, that's steep...   Jem in Stelvio at 18:06 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 New picture. Cold up top!   Jem in Grosotto at 18:59 on Saturday the 2nd of October 2004 At hotel looking forward to rest!   Jon in A21 autostrada services near Brescia at 11:46 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Petrol pump spotting. 8 out of 24 so far! Probably need to buy some more oil soon!   Jem in Firenze at 14:12 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Busy day. 11 pumps photographed!   Jem in Nearing Firenze (I lied earlier) at 14:45 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Busy day. 13 down, over half way now...   Jem in /around Firenze at 15:01 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Bit of traffic and we think we may have missed one... :(   Jem in Valdarno at 15:30 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Definitely missed one. 8 to go.   Jem in Bagnaia at 17:19 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 Found 20, heading for Viterbo, end of day.   Jon in Viterbo at 17:42 on Sunday the 3rd of October 2004 City is busy, no where to park the pug! Found hotel and checked in.   Jon in In bed at 01:22 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Perhaps that last whisky was one too many   Jon in Bed at 07:26 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Feeling quite rough   Jon in the car at 10:46 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 On the way to naples. Driving beside the med. Warm and sunny! Car squeaking a bit!   Jem in Cerveteri at 11:42 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Picture hunt. Feeling absolutely rotten!   Jon in Latina at 14:01 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Jem not feeling too good. I'm driving, heading for napoli   Jon in Minturo at 15:46 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Apologies for lack of updates, still feel rancid! 9 out of 10 pictures taken and all 5 bonuses! En route to naples.   Jem in Minturo at 15:47 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 Oops, that was me by the way!.   Jem in Naples! at 16:42 on Monday the 4th of October 2004 About the 5th car in!   Jem in Naples at 09:50 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 And back...   Jem in Mondragone at 10:30 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Aiming for the A1 to Rome.   Jem in Italy on the S630 at 10:58 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Heading north toward Ausonia and then the A1.   Jem in Cassino at 11:21 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 On the A1 heading for Rome, Dermot get back to work.   Jem in Colleferro at 12:09 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Making reasonable progress, but a loooooong way to go. Piston Broke is keeping up well.   Jem in Rome at 12:29 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Skirting round the north east.   Jem in Magliano Sabina at 13:00 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 157 miles done! Firenze next major city.   Jem in Attigliano at 13:12 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Where we started yesterday! Just clicked over 1900 miles since leaving Thursday.   Jon in Chianciano at 13:50 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Some roadworks and a traffic jam have slowed progress a little, but not much! But then, Jon is still driving!   Jem in Chianciano at 13:51 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Forgot to change the name again.   Jem in Arezzo at 14:29 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Piston broke have blown a radiator hose. Stopping for lunch.   Jon in A1 near arezzo at 15:03 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 We are on the move again.   Jon in A1 Modena at 16:52 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 372 miles today so far. 2100 miles since we left. Volvo still going!   Jem in Arezzo at 16:55 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Piston broke have blown a radiator hose. Stopping for lunch.   Jem in Milan (north of) at 19:23 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Not sure why the double post but... Just been stuck in a jam of 12 lanes into two, which was rubbish! 502 miles done just finished one tank!   Jem in Switzerland at 19:44 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 Heading for Lucerne.   Jem in Lucerne at 21:51 on Tuesday the 5th of October 2004 634 miles co   Jon in Basel, CH at 10:19 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 About to cross into France. Just had our picture taken by a speed camera!   Jem in France at 10:28 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 I can confirm that swiss speed camera flashes are red!   Jon in Hachimette, FR at 11:43 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Looking for petrol for the volvo! Again!   Jem in Thiéblemont-Farémont at 14:50 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Driver change, and a reduction in pace, as PugnaciousD is not enjoying   Jon in Vitry-le-Francois at 15:09 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 930 miles in total, 300 ish today.   Jem in Reims at 15:49 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Piston Broke have been stopped by police at the toll booths on the A4...   Jem in Neufchatel at 16:35 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Volvo was stopped and searched by police checking for smugglers!   Jon in St Quentin at 17:12 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 If anyone wants anything from calais, just text me.   Jem in (nearly) Calais at 18:25 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 1137 miles since Naples.   Jem in Calais at 18:34 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Blimey!   Jem in Calais at 18:51 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Hmmm, storm brewing... Blimey   Jem in Calais at 18:53 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Got an earlier sailing, 21:30 instead of 23:45.   Jem in Citi Europe at 19:16 on Wednesday the 6th of October 2004 Back where it all began. Time to buy some cheap beers.