Waking early it was down to a Cafe on the seafront for breakfast and then to find a car accessory shop - HAB as most of you will know has covered over 418,000 moles on its original engine and has of late started to become noisy. A friend suggested I should put some 'Slick 50' into the engine oil to do the run etc. and no way could he see the car making ½ Million Miles, (my target for the engine). He of little faith - still what can you expect from a Jaguar owner!

Slick 50 added it was off to the Log Flume at the Pleasure Beach and John Tilby who had organised for us to start from this venue. John was already on site, this time with his very nice 120 Saloon and not his immaculate 144 which I had seen the previous night.

With no other Members arriving for a start despite promises, it was off to find Britain 's MOST EASTERLY POINT. This was to be my greatest disappointment of the run, firstly without John's help I would never have found it - the point is behind the Birds Eye Factory on a large industrial estate, the collections of rusting metal etc. spoil what could be an attraction for visitors of Lowestoft. When you finally find the point there is a large circular tablet set into the ground which points and sets the distances to various places including my origin at Lands End. With no Refreshments available it was off to John's house for a well-earned pot of tea! Thanks to Mrs. Tilby

Refuelled with tea it was off to my father's at Bewdley in Worcestershire for my next stop. I was concerned that adding the Slick 50 to the engine oil had raised the level above the full mark on the dipstick and I decided that I should 'drop' a little to bring it down to the correct level. A clean container found I drained some of the oil out of the sup. While allowing the oil to run I felt some hard bits pass the sump plug and my fingers. Later inspection of the oil found the remains of the fibre timing gear. I always keep a spare good S/H fibre gear in the car so next morning I would remove the engines front cover to see if there was a problem.

An early start and with the help of Fred, my father, we removed the radiator, fan and front cover. One and a half teeth were missing but the engine still run. Replacement of the timing gear solved my engine noise problem - well worth a check if you have similar problems - long term I shall be fitting steel gears to HAB and all my cars, they are a little bit noisy but last.

My next point was to be the Lake District via the M6 but decided to call into Blackpool for a bite to eat. An Indian Curry and a walk along the front later and it was back on the road. Weather conditions were at their worst and I decided that I should find Bed & Breakfast in the Lake District . I wanted to take HAB over the Kirkstone Pass again, so I found a B & B in Kendal, famous for its Mintcake.

A good nights sleep, full English Breakfast, and armed with complimentary Mintcake for the journey, it was off to the Kirkstone. As a matter of interest Kendal Mintcake isn't a cake at all.

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