Still in Schweich, June.

June 13th.

Night out in Saarsbrucken, waiting for the Yaris to be repaired. Stormy skies.!!

Also found these advertising billboards around the centre of town. After a while we gathered what they were each advertising but it took some time.

Well, finally,,, after 2 nights in a hotel paid for by the car insurance company, and a lovely day walking round a sunny Saarsbrucken, we set off to pick up the car. They gave us a re-conditioned alternator, (as it was cheaper) and we went to pay… Now remember this is a large Toyota car dealership…

” That’s 388 euros, and , Oh sorry, Sir,  we only accept German cards or Cash”  They didn’t like our french debit card, our Amex, or either Visa ( UK & NZ). So after much debate we had to drive off to find a bank machine to extract the cash. Now this we just found unbelievable,,, and when the insurance company phoned us to ask us if everything was alright, Max explained succinctly his complaint. But the Insurance Co definitely made it all easy for us.

Schweich.                                                                                                             So arrived back to the boat and friday morning Christoph comes down to check out the engine before our 2nd water test on the river and we find coolant in the bilge.. “Yes, he says that’s good!! “,,,, “ “  Good ? Max says.   “ Oh yes, that’s just left over coolant and water from when we dealt with your water pump and the mechanic didn’t have time to clean out last week”..

well !!! 

 

Max felt so so much better!!!  So we were asked if we would mind cleaning out the bilge before we took her out for a run on the river??.. Max dutifully goes head down, arse up and gets it spotless.

At least the coolant does look diluted,

 

So, we are ready…………………..EXCEPT the engine won’t start!!!!!! (shit,shit,shit etc)

Next day, sat morning the boys come down, take the injectors out and find we have water in the engine,,,,,water?? where bloody from???  and its fresh water….??           Max goes to see Christoph, who doesn’t look happy ( but then neither do we ) and the diesel specialist is phoned and will appear first thing Monday morning……………………We will be up and waiting!!

At least on Saturday Max had some light relief as we managed to get the NZ /Wales rubgy test live on the Radio Wales,.. a new experience for Max. The Oz/Lions was on live written update on the lap top because of Sky’s broadcasting rights.

     Then,,

we find this, which is on our intended route back to Toul.!!  But the rate we are getting the engine sorted it should be all over by the time we are ready to go…                       Between the rains, floods, broken locks and strikes, the joys of boating here never cease and all plans are made in Jelo  !!!… (apt description)

We even end up doing a jigsaw puzzle of a photo that Jan gave us for Xmas.

Sunday night…we found fellow boatie friends to party with ,, yeh,yeh,  so we drove to Merzig, 50mins away upstream. .…. We needed a night out!!

Max, Sue & Rob Cooper (NZ) and Austin & Susie (OZ/German)

 

 

What decent Kiwi bloke could resist trying the French style boys’ Portaloo.

 

Each one fits 3 at a time..

A very good night out with good friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Max’s latest!!

Max found this advert in a magazine in UK,,,,he thinks they might catch on quite well in New Zealand.  (they are real and have charcoal filtering properties!, google it. ) 

Maybe a new business venture for him!!!

Cheers, and happy reading.