| Received 13 Jun 02: Adam & Becky's Disaster Update Hi Everyone, So.... I told you about the awning breaking 3 weeks ago. Well here's the story so far: After two weeks of waiting for the UK insurance to sort things out, we fnally got instructions to take the bus to a motorhome dealer the other side of Rome, last Thursday. Just as we left the campsite there was a whole load of freaky noises, pops and bangs, and the clutch started slipping really badly. So we limped it to the dealer, only to be told that they didn't have time to look at the awning til Monday. In halting french I managed to explain about the clutch, so they made a load of calls for us, and finally found a VW garage who could handle our weight (5.5 tonnes). So driving very slowly we made our way around Rome to the East side. When we got to the Garage, they didn't speak any English. We ended up getting them to call the campsite, and used the receptionist there as a translator. To cut a long story short - we had to leave the bus, and had the owner of the campsite drive out and collect us. On Friday we called and were told that the clutch was fixed, and was 800 euros. We got a friend to drive us out there only to discover the Turbo was broken! So we left it again. On Monday we called up to be told that the Oil pump was broken, and that was what had stuffed the Turbo. So the Turbo was about 400 euros to fix, and the oil pump should be about the same, but we still don't know as the bus isn't back - but maybe tomorrow. Of course we missed our Monday appointment to fix the awning - so we need to re-arrange that........ So we will probably still be here in september. Will keep you updated Ads & Becky Received 14 Jun 02: Adam & Becky's Disaster Update 2 The story continues.... Well, we got the bus back tonight. Total cost 2200 Euros (approx �1300). Unfortunately the engine sounds rough, so we probably took some damage when the oil pump failed. We'll find out when we head off. Next step is to book back into the Motorhome place to get our awning fitted, which should be possible early next week. In the meantime we are checking our budget to see if we continue on, or head home. We did have some contingency for disaster, but this has more than used it up. Partly because we have been staying in one of the most expensive cities in Europe for the past 6 weeks. We should have been in Eastern Europe 4 weeks ago, getting a lot more for our money. So anyway, we'll let you know what happens next, as we find out. Hope you are all having better luck than we are. Adam & Becky Received 19 Jun 02: Adam & Becky Back on the Road again! Hello everyone, Thanks a million to all of you who sent us emails, cash, food parcels etc....! We finally got our new awning fitted today, and we are off to Florence tomorrow morning!! Cabin fever hasn't set in yet, a few more days and.... The weather is fantastic here, Adam is apparently the brownest person on the whole site, but 6 weeks by the pool has its effect. Hopefully we will be in Venice by Friday afternoon, we will be setting off after the match. Its really weird sitting here with two Brazilians, and loads of Germans, Dutch etc discussing the World Cup. We will really miss being in the UK when England play Germany in the Final!!!!!!! So take care all of you, See you in two months, the show must go on!!!!! Adam & Becky Received 21 June 02: Hi everyone, Well we left Camping Tiber yesterday morning, carrying two extra passengers (Ross & Aimee from Dublin) and two Canadians backpacks. The Canadians had gone to the Sistene Chapel, and intended to meet us in Florence last night. Less than 1km from the campsite the temperature guage went crazy, so we pulled over and found we had no water in the engine. (even though we checked it 2 days earlier). So we refilled it, and drove off, only to have the same thing happen another km down the road. But this time the engine wouldnt stop even though we took out the keys. Eventually we discovered that switching off the hazard lights cut the engine. Bizare! We made it another km, then pulled off onto a safeish part of the hard shoulder, and we could see the water pouring out of the radiator. So yet again we called the insurance in the UK, and got through to the same person who has been helping us for a month. They eventually got a truck out to us after about 2 hours sitting in the intense heat, (about 35 degrees). We both had food poisoning from the previous days chinese, so were not happy campers! To cut a long story short, we had to get a new radiator fitted, and were panicking because we had the Canadians bags, and no way to contact them. AFter spending the whole day at the garage, boiling hot, we eventually got away 420 euros lighter, at about 7.30 pm. We had to go on to Florence as we had their tent etc too! Got here about midnight last night, after having to push start the bus twice, as the starter motor seems to have packed up now..... got up early, saw england lose, sat by the pool, hopefully leaving for Venice tomorrow, but who knows!! running out of time, will keep you all updated Ads & Becky Received 30 Jun 2002: Hi everyone, We finally made it to Ljubljana!! Its beautiful here, as was the coast in Croatia. We spent 4 days there near the beach, not far from Rjeka on the Istra peninsula, then headed here. Its not as cheap as we expected, there are so many tourists, mostly Austrian and German that the prices have shot up. But you can still get a pint of beer for about One Pound Twenty (2 euros). We should be in Vienna by about Friday, but sadly our Irish travelling companions are heading back to Rome from here, as their budgets are diminishing fast. Sorry we haven't been in touch sooner but the internet is not as common in eastern europe and is expensive and slow when we find it. However we can check our email for free in the tourist offices here, which is pretty cool. So feel free to reply soon! Must go now as our time is running out yet again.... Take Care Adam & Becky |