Pioneer I
- 11,171
- First Name
- Dave
- Last Name
- Spinks
- Member #
-
3057
- Service Branch
- Royal Navy Veteran
So we arrived back in Cyprus for a calm 8 days final preps before we start our trip.
We should have collected the Landy Wilson from the garage the day after we arrived but sadly that did not happen. We also had to contend with no mains water as the land lord had not paid his bill so the water meter was removed.
Wilson was off the road first with a water pump issue then an oil leak on the oil cooler so garage ordered a new gasket, The courier akis express lost the gasket.
So a second one was sent out from a different Land Rover depot and akis express also lost that one, talk about incompetent.
After 2 days of searching one of them was finally found and was fitted friday (yesterday).
I could now relax a little so enjoyed a couple beers in the sunshine. That one €20 gasket was going to cost us €100's if it had not been found as we would have to extend the rental apartment, extend the rental car and change the ferry booking. To say I was stressed out is an understatement.
We collected Wilson last night and today I have finally managed get some work done loading up the trailer, couple minor repairs and a 100 mile test run on Wilson. We should have had plenty of time to do this but everything went against us and as Wilson has just had a new gearbox I am now trying to get as many miles on it as I can before we head off just to be comfortable and confident in it.
We have all of tomorrow to finish off everything else and hopefully another minimum 100 mile trial run before the trip starts on Monday.
Big trip psychology is not something I had planned for but had been warned about by experience long trip Overlanders. Back in January I said I was stressed and one Overlander who did Europe, Africa the across to South America and the Pan American to Alaska commented I hadn't seen anything yet !!!
I am just now realising more and more what he meant.
Below is couple of pic from our week so far trying to plan and prepare but always with the thought Wilson the Landy might not be ready.
We should have collected the Landy Wilson from the garage the day after we arrived but sadly that did not happen. We also had to contend with no mains water as the land lord had not paid his bill so the water meter was removed.
Wilson was off the road first with a water pump issue then an oil leak on the oil cooler so garage ordered a new gasket, The courier akis express lost the gasket.
So a second one was sent out from a different Land Rover depot and akis express also lost that one, talk about incompetent.
After 2 days of searching one of them was finally found and was fitted friday (yesterday).
I could now relax a little so enjoyed a couple beers in the sunshine. That one €20 gasket was going to cost us €100's if it had not been found as we would have to extend the rental apartment, extend the rental car and change the ferry booking. To say I was stressed out is an understatement.
We collected Wilson last night and today I have finally managed get some work done loading up the trailer, couple minor repairs and a 100 mile test run on Wilson. We should have had plenty of time to do this but everything went against us and as Wilson has just had a new gearbox I am now trying to get as many miles on it as I can before we head off just to be comfortable and confident in it.
We have all of tomorrow to finish off everything else and hopefully another minimum 100 mile trial run before the trip starts on Monday.
Big trip psychology is not something I had planned for but had been warned about by experience long trip Overlanders. Back in January I said I was stressed and one Overlander who did Europe, Africa the across to South America and the Pan American to Alaska commented I hadn't seen anything yet !!!
I am just now realising more and more what he meant.
Below is couple of pic from our week so far trying to plan and prepare but always with the thought Wilson the Landy might not be ready.