Post by Looby on May 23, 2009 19:45:28 GMT 1
Well what a day!! 
We met up at Toughjeans' house at 6am, ready for our cruise to Plymfest.
Toddled along quite happily up the A14, M6 and onto the M42. We then decided to stop for some breakfast, and fill up with fuel.
Got onto the M5, where there were warnings of delays around junctions 14 - 18.
Right enough - that's where we began to crawl along, and where issues started to become apparent.
Our gears were starting to make strange noises, but by doubling the clutch, they seemed to be OK. Toughjeans bus developed a strange tapping sound, and again, after a brief inspection on the hardshoulder, we failed to find the issue.
A little further on, at about 10.30am, Toughjeans pulled over on the hard shoulder of the slip road of the A38, and discovered that something serious had gone wrong (I'm sure he'll explain in detail later).
So Vicky called RAC, and recovery was requested.
They told us to go on, and that they would keep us posted on what was happening.
So us and the Spensters pulled back onto the M5, only to be greeted by the most awful growly/grindy noise. That would be the gearbox then!! So we pulled over about 300yds ahead of Toughjeans and Vicky, but on the main M5 hardshoulder. Again - we told the Spensters to go on, and we'd hopefully see them later.
We then phoned our roadside assistance (Autohome), and a low-loader was dispatched to us. (Approx 10.45am)
Well, those central reservation railings are only bearable for so long, so we got out the camping chairs, and made ourselves comfy...
Well we waited, and waited, got waved at, bibbed at, heckled at, and had our photo taken by numerous passers by!!
We even had a roadside visit from Slammedbus, on their way down to Newquay for the week!
At about 12.30pm ish, we spotted some flashing lights down near camp Toughjeans, and after a little while they were towed off to the RAC Control Centre (which was right next to the motorway where we had broken down).
About 45 minutes later, our own set of flashing lights came to our rescue, and poor old Vera was loaded onto the truck...
Once we were loaded up, we set off (after a much needed loo stop!!), and headed for home. Our recovery driver was a lovely chap who had owned numerous dubs in the past (a 411LE, Fastback, 1960 Beetle), and although some of the corners were a little scary for a bad passenger like me, he got us and the van back to the garage in great time, and in one piece!
Chris is back trying to sort out Vera's issues tonight, in the hope that we can try again tomorrow.
Lulu and Al came up to the garage to drop off her bug for some electrical work, and very kindly offered us a lift home (via the pub!)...
Anyway - we're now at home, and in the words of the littlest hobo...
"Maybe tomorrow....!" ;D
Plymfest - the nightmare (Toughjeans' chapter) will follow shortly, I'm sure!!
We met up at Toughjeans' house at 6am, ready for our cruise to Plymfest.
Toddled along quite happily up the A14, M6 and onto the M42. We then decided to stop for some breakfast, and fill up with fuel.
Got onto the M5, where there were warnings of delays around junctions 14 - 18.
Right enough - that's where we began to crawl along, and where issues started to become apparent.
Our gears were starting to make strange noises, but by doubling the clutch, they seemed to be OK. Toughjeans bus developed a strange tapping sound, and again, after a brief inspection on the hardshoulder, we failed to find the issue.
A little further on, at about 10.30am, Toughjeans pulled over on the hard shoulder of the slip road of the A38, and discovered that something serious had gone wrong (I'm sure he'll explain in detail later).
So Vicky called RAC, and recovery was requested.
They told us to go on, and that they would keep us posted on what was happening.
So us and the Spensters pulled back onto the M5, only to be greeted by the most awful growly/grindy noise. That would be the gearbox then!! So we pulled over about 300yds ahead of Toughjeans and Vicky, but on the main M5 hardshoulder. Again - we told the Spensters to go on, and we'd hopefully see them later.
We then phoned our roadside assistance (Autohome), and a low-loader was dispatched to us. (Approx 10.45am)
Well, those central reservation railings are only bearable for so long, so we got out the camping chairs, and made ourselves comfy...
Well we waited, and waited, got waved at, bibbed at, heckled at, and had our photo taken by numerous passers by!!
We even had a roadside visit from Slammedbus, on their way down to Newquay for the week!
At about 12.30pm ish, we spotted some flashing lights down near camp Toughjeans, and after a little while they were towed off to the RAC Control Centre (which was right next to the motorway where we had broken down).
About 45 minutes later, our own set of flashing lights came to our rescue, and poor old Vera was loaded onto the truck...
Once we were loaded up, we set off (after a much needed loo stop!!), and headed for home. Our recovery driver was a lovely chap who had owned numerous dubs in the past (a 411LE, Fastback, 1960 Beetle), and although some of the corners were a little scary for a bad passenger like me, he got us and the van back to the garage in great time, and in one piece!
Chris is back trying to sort out Vera's issues tonight, in the hope that we can try again tomorrow.
Lulu and Al came up to the garage to drop off her bug for some electrical work, and very kindly offered us a lift home (via the pub!)...
Anyway - we're now at home, and in the words of the littlest hobo...
"Maybe tomorrow....!" ;D
Plymfest - the nightmare (Toughjeans' chapter) will follow shortly, I'm sure!!
.
,lovely blokes that they where they towed us to Taunton Deane services.
I bet if you did'nt laugh you would be crying dude & dudette 
and 