journey - great trek south
Ben Millingen
Sunday 29th July
Stopped for a brew near Aachen, all five of us, then since the
"Crab" needed more petrol we arranged to meet Nick and Julian down
somewhere near Mannheim. But nasty noises started coming from the L.H.S.
rear wheel and when these developed into heavy clunks and bangs we pulled
into a parking place to inspect. Not really understanding what was wrong we
drove the car up and down the parking area, peering under the rear to see
what was happening. Unfortunately there then appeared a cloud of smoke from
the dashboard and the bonnet. This was discovered to be the whole of the
electrics shorting and burning the insulation from the dynamo via the
regulator and ignition switch to the solenoid. Flames were put out and the
battery disconnected. Luckily we managed to borrow a bit of wire and
insulating tape and botched it up. This enabled the car to start but did
nothing for the rear axle bearing. Left the motorway and arrived in
Rheinböllen. Being a Sunday, all the garages were shut. Went to a
café and drank lots of beer, ate a meal and saw the two most
delicious pair of blonde twins. Such pert little buttocks and nicely
developed bumps under sexy white teeshirts, and only about 13 or 14. Managed
not to get chucked out of the café for ogling by their father and he
found out Fritz's telephone number for us. Slept off the beer next to a
stream and decided to move on slowly to Bingen.
Here we asked for a Ford garage at the cop shop, drank some more beer and
then set up camp by the Rhein in an orchard. Watched the most superb
thunderstorm and drifted off to bed, knackered. Also rang Fritz for the
first time.
However, Nick and Julian managed to get safely to Altaussee. They
discovered Karl Gaisberger is in Yugoslavia till August 12th.
Ben.