Darwin IV

3 weeks the lurgy had me. I was barely fit to travel on departure day. I got the car loaded with supply mission 4. Workshop equipment and tooling, and some of my books and files this time. I apologise to anyone I passed what seems to have been swine flu to. Mild but very contagious it is rife in Northern Europe just now.

The journey fully laden to Harwich was in a force 8 storm. More than an hour of delays left me with 10 minutes to spare. Time enough to fill the tank at UK prices. Embarkation ready for a roller coaster voyage across the North Sea. Esbjerg Jutland to the bridge 3.5 hours. The fever came back a little but I wasn't too bad as I drove across into Sweden, ready for a routine stop and search. It happens a lot with foreign plates. I know a little of how black guys feel in the UK, but here is the thing. The policeman was just doing his job. No problem unless I want it to be. Anyway my snuffling and coughing may have influenced him. I was on my way. "Welcome to Sweden.

3.5 hours to Bankeryd. 100 miles to go and I was spent. Problem, the next motel is 50 miles (UK) north. I did it, so just 50 more to get home. Finish the job was my decision. I think anyone would have made the same dodgy call. 5 Days with a friend good enough to nurse me until I was well enough to go home and look after myself. Funny a few day earlier I thought I was coming out of the flu. It turns out I hadn't hit the bottom.

Thanks to the lanky girl for helping unload Darwin. A woman friend significantly taller than me is a god send sometimes. Shame my back gave out. Shit happens. Job done though. It may have felt bad but it was actually a successful trip.

   

Check List

The month wasn't going badly. A trip to Lincoln, all be it with what felt like the start of a cold, was a real treat. Always good to catch up with Paul and family. The journey home was problematic though. The warning light came back. Then one cylinder started miss firing. Then it packed up completely. I limped home on three cyclinders the last 3 miles. The long hill southbound to M42 junction 10 I was dropping through the gears, hoping not to end up as a breakdown on the hard shoulder. Made it, just.

Car Repairs                              Check
Road Fund Licences                  Check
New Drivers Licence                 Check
New Credit cards                      Check
Provisions for Sweden               Check
See Friends and Family              Check
New Motorcycle                       Check
Influenza                                    Check

Ohh crap!!

Suffolk

January 2014:

There is nowhere more typically English than the county of Suffolk. Great to be here and have time with a long standing friend and his charming wife.

12:00 GMT at Harwich. 1 hour to Melton. 6 hours to get beered up and talk crap with Ali. Unfair, our conversation ranges but he is a great wall to bounce ideas off. He has worked with me conversationally with my Swedish adventure. He has some good Ideas, and the pubs of Woodbridge are perfect for the work. The home cooking including full cooked English breakfasts are not half bad either. Thanks Ali you pulled a blinder.

Sunday afternoon drive to Warwickshire ignoring the exhaust system warning light. Darwin is booked in for Monday diagnostics. England is flooded. Seriously. The wettest winter for 100 hundred years. One flooded field has goal posts at each end. That'll be a football pitch then!

Cats to feed and a house to sit. Home for a month. Looking forward to seeing Allan and Sue fresh from their cruise, but that is 2 weeks away.

Switch the computer of and switch it on again. The warning light has gone. Apollo say to bring the car back when the warning light comes back. No problem, I'm here for a month. 

A New Year Journey

Breakfast was bread and cheese, then hit the road south. To the ferry at Helsinburg for Denmark, bright sunshine, the sun low in the sky behind me.  Leap frogging the journey to Jutland with Roland. Coffee and chat as we stop for refuelling both vehicles. The big guy is heading back to Germany to work. Thousands of German trees to fell, and a big Swedish lumberjack to do it. For me, homeward bound. Home that is an illusive concept.

Tea time for an Englishman and I reach Esbjerg. A warning light illuminates on Darwin's dashboard. A symbol I am not familiar with. Waiting in line to be loaded onto the North Sea car ferry and I have time to read the manual. Exhaust system problem, go to a dealer. Apollo Auto on Monday then.

 Being greeted by a 5ft blue parrot capering, is not a good sign as I emerge into the passenger accommodation from the car deck. I already had my suspicions. I couldn't get out of me car for parents slowly unloading little kids form their 4 x 4s. The crossing is a kindergarden run!! Later in the bar the musician stops playing in the face of overwhelming decibels from the goblin hoard, led by a jolly pirate.

Question: Why are pirates cool? Because they Harr!!

Mummy and daddy deposit their three pre-schools with the blood chilling invitation to go run around and have fun in the Columbus cocktail lounge. No chance they will go to bed early, so I do. Grumpy old bugger that I am. (PS: If not mother tongue English and translating, Old bugger is not to be taken literally. It doesn't work that way.

How I hate the travelling public.