Heavy Fuel

Tried to update the Blog yesterday but the website was being funny. Anyroad, just to dispell the rumours, Earl has not completely ababndoned me, he's just gone back to Dublin to take a Pilot's test and will then fly back here to whereever I am at the time. Which should be Bratislava or Prague at a guess. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Managed to find a 10 day old offer of an engine on a Suzuki enthusiast site and mailed the Dude Monday night. Tuesday monring there was a mail back from him saying yes he still had the engine but I still didn't know where he was or have his phone number. So seeing I was in Cologne and there was a Suzuki specialist near by I thought I'd kill time visiting that. They like all the others couldn't help. So back to the little Internet Cafe in Cologne (sure the woman in there thought I was nuts) where I finally got half of what I needed, the address of the Engine. Not Ideal as it was south of the Danube about 5 and half hours drive away but with no other concrete leads for an engine it seemed to be the last viable shot at getting the show back on the road. So I set off sending the Dude a mail asking him to text me when he got it and that I was on my way and wanting to pick up the engine. A few hours passed and I got a bit nervous that I was making a monster trip just to find they flew to Menorca or something, so I went to another Internet Cafe to check my mail. Still nothing so It was either go for it or keep surfing. Go for it seemed the more proactive choice if not the cheapest. So I set off again towards Würzburg and Nürenburg, you gota love the Autobahns :-D if your car is good you can make such good progress when it's quite. Anway about an hour into the Mystery Tour the text came "Praise Be" I thought (realy did which is something my gran might say which is why I remembered). They we're in and had read up about the rally :-D which meant there was suddernly a box of spare gaskets and other parts and even a gear box too thrown in. Not to mention the kind offer of Coffee and Food should I have time. Feeling a little more like things may begining to go our way I floor it and put the Xsara into warp speed. I got to Petra and Alex's (our new friends and saviours) at about 21:30. The Coutryside round there is realy beautiful but it was getting dark so I had a coffee and a chat about everything and nothing and loaded up the Xsara with the engine said a thankfull good bye with the intention of making it back to Aschaffenburg in one hop. About an hour later I realised it was not to be, things were happening too fast and judging speeds was getting difficult so I decided to stop for a little rest. Truck stops are so ming, don't even like stepping out of the car there, but had to in order to drain the lizzard before traing to get some ZZZZ. Felt a touch on the lonely side at that point as I couldn't even reach Claire to say good night, so I got on the back seat in my sleeping bag and wrote a text instead, half way through which she called me, so after a nice comforting talk to her all was well with the world once more and I figured we may me heading east again by the end of the next day.
Wednesday:
I woke up at 5 am and somewhat bleary eyed fired up the mighty Picasso and shot to Aschaffenburg which I made in time for the opening of the Garage with the hope they could get straight on with it. They said they'd start lunch timeish and so I toddled off for Breakfast and a wander round town and along the river. Lunch time I went back and still nothing done grrrr but after the previous days victory I stayed up beat and went swimming and wrote the odd card (big mistake as I'm now very sunburned) Back to the garage near the end of the day and still nada, so I had words and they were all appologetic and said they'd crack on in the morning. Seeing as I once again had time on my hands I drove to Nassau for a beer in a Bar I used to frequent alot when I lived there during my year out. Nothing had changed, just the people were gone. I found it all quite surreal as I had not been there in 8 years, but it was still good (going to go Cylcling there in the near future I hope) after that I decided to treat myself to a hotel in Frankfurt. I use the word treat loosly as it turned out to be alot crap and due to the advertised Parking being non existant I got a ticket too :-(
Bounced out of bed this morning ready to go see the Jeep. Made it to the Garage in 30 mins and eagerly went to look. The Jeep was on a ramp but that was it. NOT HAPPY and made my feelings clear to the Boss and the Mech who'd been harping on it'd be done in time.
And that's about where we are now. I'm off back to see how they're getting on though I need to find some aftersun too and also invent a way of getting on my back :-D
Also missing my baby loads, not least cos she could help with the Sun Cream, but cos I love her, never thought for a second it was going to be this hard.

take it easy people and wish us luck

Dylan