Change of plans

I’ve been worrying if I would have problems with DonAVan or not and I did.

It’s a sort of ongoing issue. Normally it takes a couple of goes to get it to turn over. It was worrisome that I had problems when I started again just having to book in, with the engine still warm from the journey cross country.

Now and it’s time to leave, with plans for the day in balance it didn’t start. Well not until I had tried a number of times and after I had made a call to recovery.

The mechanic I think was puzzled but has in the end decided the starter motor is beginning to fail.

Not really the result I wanted. I had wanted to stay on an extra day. A local estate is hosting the Wildlife Photographer of the year exhibition and I had wanted to revisit the sea stacks and grey seals one more time.

Instead I made the hard but sensible choice of moving on, not to my intended stop, half way to my next long term destination, but all the way. Just over 4 hours driving in one go. No stopping and leaving the vehicle. Couldn’t be sure if it will start again.

Good old fibro made the journey painful and hard. I nearly fell asleep a few times. I did pull into a services next to a Starbucks and tried to ask for a coffee at the drive through window but, astonishingly refused, because I was not in a vehicle. I should say I was parked engine running next to the drive through, in the lorry park. Height restrictions and traffic control meant I was unable to drive through.

So instead I employed a cold flannel and sugary sweets to keep me awake.

Rather obviously I made it. Just an unpleasant experience.

Now I’m here I can sleep and rest a bit until V rejoins me in an unexpected but fantastic change to the last part of my trip away.

I’m not sure if she will let me out alone again by myself.

I was sad not to be able to make more of my time up North but V says we can book a tour in for next year.