"No man can live this life and emerge unchanged. He will carry the imprint of the desert, the brand which marks the nomad; and he will have a yearning to return. For this cruel land can cast a spell which no temperate climate can match."
Wilfred Thesiger, Explorer.
 

Morocco 3 - Rise of the Boldies (we're trying again)

06
Oct

Day 3

Distance driven so far : 740 miles
Location : Same place as yesterday

avignon

The day started well after a good nights sleep in the rooftent.  the tupperware toilet facilities had coped admirably in the night and we awoke refreshed.

After breakfast the first job was to investigate the rattle from the front of the car.  This turned out to be a loose lock nut on the drivers front wheel bearing.  Something which was not major and simple to tighten.

It is embarrassing to admit that after 300+ days of planning the number of times I have said "I meant to pack that" or "that was on my list as well" has been all too many.  In the first instance it was a torque wrench, laterly it was something far more important (nut more of that later).

As you would expect there were any number of keen onlookers willing to provide advice, lend and hand and let me use the tools that THEY remembered to pack.

The job was dispatched quickly along with fitting a new EGT gauge (the other had devloped a fault).  Unfortunately the airbag light was not so successful.  Removing the fuse did not seem to phase the light which sat there belligerently shining at me.  So it looks like I will have this for the whole trip.

Routine checks of oil, water and other fliuds threw up no issues so all was well in the orange world.

avignon1

After lunch we wandered over the bridge to the beautiful walled town of Avignon.  This really was a treat as the town has some wonderful architecture and a very french feel about it.

avignon2

I, of course, couldn't keep Belinda away from the vino so we stopped in the main square and had a lovely luch listening to a busker playing the most fabulous classical guitar.

avignon3

We wandered through the streets for an hour stopping to buy some fresh fruit and bread for tomorrow as well will need a packed lunch while we wait to board the ferry.

As you can see the weather was hot and sunny.

avignon4

In the evening, Peter (our guide) gave us our first briefing about tomorrow and we all had to fill in the documentation for entry into Tunisia.

This is where things took an embarrassing and worrying turn.  Remember that comment earlier about things I meant to pack.  Well it would appear that I have left our vehicle log book on the scanner at home. 

I have a lovely colour photocopy, a digital copy on this netbook  I am using and a copy I can download from the internet, just not the original.

This could be a major problem as without it they may not let me take the car onto the country.

Peter seems to think that we can get away with the photocopy and a few packets of cigarettes but it will be an uncomfortable few hours until we know for certain.

We will get the car on the ferry before any documents are inspected so it is unlikely they will prevent access but as followers of our earlier exploits will know; with us anything can happen.

 I don't know when my next entry will be.  I will try to update before we board the ferry at 14:00 tomorrow but if not it may not be until Friday.  Either from a hotel in Tunis or a prison cell in Marseilles.

Gripping stuff, huh?

Comments   

 
0 # Janet 2010-10-07 05:06
looks as if you are having a great time. hope all goes well on the ferry if not I will send you food parcels.


love sis
 

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