'Always Look On The Bright Side of Life'
Our route today along the 'Costa Verde' was simply gorgeous. I would love to be able to tell you that it was all plain sailing for car #7 but that would be an untruth.
We broke down three times; the first two we were got on our way again by the terrific mechanics but, alas, the third time was terminal: a cracked radiator.
The weather has been 'scorchio' 42C and the coast road, whilst lovely has many hills. Worst of all though were the 3,765 speed bumps. Such vicious ones too. Brazil is such a vibrant, fabulous place and, I suppose there must be some surly Brazilians but we haven't met any yet as everyone is so friendly, fun loving and helpful. The country would be perfect if only they would get rid of the wretched speed bumps.
Being towed for the last 40 kms was not really the end to the first day that we had anticipated but, as I type, the car is being worked on and, hopefully a repair fashioned . Even the towing was not trouble free. We started off on a fixed bar attached to the spare spring that we have in place of a front bumper. But, all the hills and the dreadful speed bumps broke the bracket and so the last 15 kms was with a rope. Not good on such steep hills.
Our route of 423.9 kms took nearly 12 hours and, when we arrived at the hotel Adrian had to remove the radiator - not an easy task. David in the Itala was also removing his radiator and, like us, has a long night ahead.
Are we downhearted? No. We have every confidence in Charlie, Richard and David, the mechanics who have helped so much today.
We were also stopped by the police who demanded to see all our documents although I actually think that they were just nosy about the car and did not detain us too much.
We were in a filling station where Adrian was so deep in conversation with one of our support staff that neither of them noticed that there was a man standing behind them with some prawns on a stick, looking perplexed.
A one of our breakdowns a man who had forgotten to put on his trousers managed to explain to us, with no common language, that he owned two Model A's . Unfortunately he didn't have a spare radiator.
One good thing is that the clocks go back here tonight so we will gain an hour. With luck and lots of hard work car #7 will be on fighting form tomorrow and WE WILL NOT BREAKDOWN AGAIN.
Please keep all things crossed!
We broke down three times; the first two we were got on our way again by the terrific mechanics but, alas, the third time was terminal: a cracked radiator.
The weather has been 'scorchio' 42C and the coast road, whilst lovely has many hills. Worst of all though were the 3,765 speed bumps. Such vicious ones too. Brazil is such a vibrant, fabulous place and, I suppose there must be some surly Brazilians but we haven't met any yet as everyone is so friendly, fun loving and helpful. The country would be perfect if only they would get rid of the wretched speed bumps.
Being towed for the last 40 kms was not really the end to the first day that we had anticipated but, as I type, the car is being worked on and, hopefully a repair fashioned . Even the towing was not trouble free. We started off on a fixed bar attached to the spare spring that we have in place of a front bumper. But, all the hills and the dreadful speed bumps broke the bracket and so the last 15 kms was with a rope. Not good on such steep hills.
Our route of 423.9 kms took nearly 12 hours and, when we arrived at the hotel Adrian had to remove the radiator - not an easy task. David in the Itala was also removing his radiator and, like us, has a long night ahead.
Are we downhearted? No. We have every confidence in Charlie, Richard and David, the mechanics who have helped so much today.
We were also stopped by the police who demanded to see all our documents although I actually think that they were just nosy about the car and did not detain us too much.
We were in a filling station where Adrian was so deep in conversation with one of our support staff that neither of them noticed that there was a man standing behind them with some prawns on a stick, looking perplexed.
A one of our breakdowns a man who had forgotten to put on his trousers managed to explain to us, with no common language, that he owned two Model A's . Unfortunately he didn't have a spare radiator.
One good thing is that the clocks go back here tonight so we will gain an hour. With luck and lots of hard work car #7 will be on fighting form tomorrow and WE WILL NOT BREAKDOWN AGAIN.
Please keep all things crossed!
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