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Two travelers drive a 1967 Jaguar E-Type from Asia to the UK, covering 14,500 miles in 77 days across 17 countries. Despite minor technical issues, they complete their cross-continental journey, experiencing diverse cultures, climates, and landscapes along the way.
The process involves appointing a shipping agent, lawyer and translator, and giving power of attorney to handle the vehicles. A Russian lady who had joined her friend at the end of the China leg is a massive help here and the vehicles are dropped off at the port. We take the short flight to Baku in Azerbaijan, where we enjoy a pleasant four-day stay, waiting for the boat.
From Azerbaijan we travel to Georgia and then to Turkey. Border crossings are getting easier, and traversing Turkey takes eight days including rest stops in Cappadocia and Selçuk, visiting the ancient site at Ephesus, home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
It's in Turkey that we experience the first potential problem with the car. Near Konya, the oil pressure gauge suddenly drops but without any noticeable change to the engine performance, noise or temperature. We drive carefully to the outskirts of the city and find a workshop where we can change the oil and filter, strip and check the oil pressure relief valves and springs, and then reassemble.
It's slightly better but clearly not right according to the gauge. I suspect the oil pressure sender is the issue, but for the rest of the journey we drive at a leisurely pace, always with an eye on the oil pressure gauge.
Although Bulgaria and Romania are now part of the Schengen area, the system is not yet fully integrated and we still face border crossings within the EU zone, with the final one at the Romania/Hungary border. From Hungary it's clear for our journey through Austria, Germany and France. We spend two weeks travelling within Europe, shorter daily distances and lots of beautiful medieval cities, great roads, hotels, food and drink, although all twice the cost of the equivalent in Asia.
We've fixed a July date for arrival in the UK, where our wives and family will meet us. On schedule, we emerge from the Channel Tunnel and head north to my mother-in-law's house in South Yorkshire for a well-earned celebration. We've spent 77 days travelling 14,500 miles across seven time zones and 17 countries. We have experienced altitudes from -100m to 5250m, temperatures from below zero to more than 40ºC, plus sun, rain, hail, snow and sleet. Remarkably, we've averaged 21.5mpg and, apart from the oil pressure issue, suffered only two flat tyres and one broken exhaust mount, which was fixed with Jubilee clips. Not bad for two 60-year-olds and a well-sorted '67 Jag.
