In the usual line of semi-wrecks beside a country garage in the Lot, SW France, a Lancia Trevi - the one with the dashboard like a Swiss cheese that they introduced hurriedly, and unsuccessfully, after the Beta saloon debacle.
Later that afternoon we followed some intriguing looking road signs just outside Montauban and discovered a 'unique in Europe' canal barge lift that was like two railway engines in parallel each side of a waterway. Each had an enormous diesel engine and eight rubber-tyred wheels and actually carried the boats on rollers up a slope of several hundred metres between water levels, avoiding a flight of five locks. It was, apparently, installed in 1973 and is still working. You can even pay for a joyride on it.
A day later I was staring into a building that contained a restored Austin tractor - my friend the expert tells me they once had a factory in France - when in the semi-darkness at the back I spotted an amazing canvas-topped Berliet lorry that looked to be of World War One vintage and in running order.
One day I'll put all my pictures on a website...
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