rachelsuzyrallyafrica: Italy2

Things didn’t go so well today. The start time of 8.00 was actually 2 hours away from the hotel and as we were trying to get there on time in freezing fog we skidded and hit the wall of the centre of a roundabout.

We were basically unhurt, but the car wasn’t. Some fellow rallyists helped pull us off the middle of the road. After much waiting around the police arrived who organised a tow truck. After about another hour he towed us 500yds to a garage for E100. Orlando the mechanic was very doubtful and hadf to keep ringing his girlfriend Vanessa to speak English with Rachel. He did pull the front out enough to turn the wheel and found us a lorry to Ancona. Lorry driver got lost, had never been so far from home, and the clock was ticking as we all got more anxious, when suddenly we found the garage Orlando had found on the internet for us. The very elegant owner in his smart blue puffa and cords was dubious, but we pleaded and his mechanic kept insisting it could be done. They took it off the truck and shook their heads, they opened the bonnet and shook their heads, they took off the wheel and shook their heads. Then suddenly they were a hive of activity and in less than 2 hours they had changed the radiator, straightened the tie bar and done loads of bashing and banging and rearranging til we had a car again. Hugs, kisses and photos all round with this fantastic family and we were off in our rather wonky little car.

We decided to drop into the ferry port to check timetables etc and Minoan ferries said we could board the ferry which was about to go. Our luck was back. So here we are in a huge cabin which was all they had left, and a lie in. Plan is to catch the rally at the end of day 5.

And we still haven’t left Europe.