Thursday 12 February 2015

Day 12 Complete - What a day!!!!

And Another Fantastic Day :))
And there was i expecting a little run in the countryside or rather National Park..
How wrong could one be..



A quick petrol & banana stop.. 4p per bunch - bargain..


We kicked off and stamped out from the Museum which was a 76km drive from the Hotel after a 'quick' stroll (knee high thermal boots werent really the attire for the hike down) around the old railway remains that was built by the POW's of WW2..











Some of the old railway carriages (above)

and Rob Kitchen (below) doing an extra shift in the cafe whilst waiting for the control to open and stamp us out lol





Onwards and UPWARDS we went and BACKWARDS we came.... Literally..

We took a right turn into the National Park and within minutes of the 'police check' we were climbing high but try as we might we just could not get the Old Girl up the steep hill from Hell.. :((


So David had to slowly roll her back down to try and get onto the flat to take another run at it. Of course by now all the Rally cars had caught up with us and were wondering what we were up to..




Roy in the Datsun offered to tow us up. Such a kind offer but we had to refuse as we didnt want to put strain on his pride and joy so we carried on rolling back and ended up mounting the only stone on the blessed hill.. 



So we were then perched for a few minutes on the damn thing watching all the Rally cars passing..

How this lump got up there i will never know ...


You certainly wouldnt want to meet him on a bend aghhhhhh...



I tried to kick the stone away but to no avail and David was afraid to leave the wheel to give it a size 10 wallup just in case the handbrake flicked on and the mad machine would head off backwards.. 
Didn't bare thinking about. 

Eventually we overcame that 'obstacle' and rolled back almost to the police checkpoint when a pick up truck pulled up loaded up with monks... 


And there was me worrying that we wouldnt manage to find another orange robed chap to 'snap' at..

So to the rescue came a Monk or two..






After the 20 minute photo shoot was over and the offer of a Tow up the hill  was accepted with great glee..
David rolled the mighty machine back to the police check point..

Another 20 minute photo shoot took place here and then a better offer of a tow up the 'hill from hell' from the Police Patrol truck was accepted and after waving our goodbyes to our new friends we were on our way again... Albeit on the end of a tow rope..





What a story to tell their mates.. 


Note the 'wordly goods' are in full use.
Am told that they are allowed 3 items so no doubt this was number 1...



You couldnt make this story up could you.. Lol



Released back into the wilderness..
What an experience.. So grateful for their help.. Dont think we would have got up that hill on our own steam so ....

On we sped to the 1st Test of the Day and onto dirty dusty tracks... 
The queue was 'a mile long' - ok slight exaggeration... 


Leslie & Nicolas in Car # 38 very kindly summoned us through as they are such super sports :)) and probably knew that we were extremely late.. 

But the mean burgandy beast didn't look amused at all..
But off we sped through the dust and grime, hitting pot holes and bolders for over 5km lol and missing but just managing to reverse back for the right turn and sharp left turn with the blessed meany beany menacing machine behind on our tail..

And behind, the burgundy buggar stayed for another 15 km and then decided to overtake and splatter us with dust..
David was not amused as you can imagine. An Eye Full of dust is obviously blinding for us so high up and exposed.. 
If that wasnt enough he then proceeded to nearly ram into the back of us when later on.. Think he is the same geezer that rammed the Model A yesterday :((
Maybe he needs his eyes tested or something..
We had a rather antagonising salute from his at the dam. Maybe the dust splattering was 'payback' for pushing in but not sure what the salute was all about!!! Nought stranger than folk eh..


We shook rattled and rolled for km after kms. Some crews turned around as they thought they were off route but now that i remembered how to set a waypoint.. 
I knew we were most definately On Route... And on we plodded..


No time for a lunch stop at the Dam. Great photo opportunity but we were on a mission so we flew in and flew out heading for the home run and only just getting in within our 30 min free penalty slot...

A totally exhausting but fun day apart from one a.... w.....
Hopefully there is only one on this Rally.. 

Just bumped into the little Volvo Team again, metaphorically of course.. 
Last seen at E&O hotel a few days ago. He had a new gear box brought it and has been playing 'catch up' since..


Xena Team in the Black Volvo Amazon are now out of the Rally or rather Xena is and a hire car is on the way for the Team. I did suggest that they hire a fun local banger to follow on with. Not sure if 'Mum' would agree tho.

Home sweet home again.. Same Hotel as last night so no luggage to cart in..
Just sign in and flop into the pool..



End of a Busy Day for all...



Martin & Tommy are doing well and taking good care of the Lagonda (ps no leaf spring was replaced as reported in 'Rally Reports' - must have been a Typo!! A Tyre was replaced but not a leaf spring!!) 





Filling up with '91' and heading for the wooden hill.... 
All done and 'dusted' for one day.. 
Over and Out.. 

2 comments:

  1. I'm exhausted just reading of your exploits today guys, you know how to enjoy yourselves without a doubt ..... lol
    Pleased to see a good intake of potassium, that should help keep you awake on those sightseeing adventures ..

    atvb t ..

    ReplyDelete