Monday 15th August
We woke up feeling fresh after a
tranquil night at the homestay and started on the roads towards the Wakhan
Valley in the south of Tajikistan. Around midday we found a small town and
parked up for a traditional “lagma” lunch. But before we had successfully
parked the cars, Rich drove Marigold’s front right wheel into a two-foot deep
street sewer. At the moment of realisation, we all sat bolt upright whilst Rich
began to tremor like a tuning fork. In our own Italian Job experience, any
sudden movement and we were in the sewer and it was the end of the trip. Some
quick-thinking locals then suddenly rushed to our aid and started pushing
Marigold backwards as Rich floored her in reverse gear. Thankfully there was
just enough tread on the lip of the sewer for us to clamber to safety. Baring
sweat filled pits and soiled pants; Rich was issued his 11th strike.
Good job there was a sewer nearby.
Back on the road again we soon found
our route taking us into the more mountainous regions of Tajikistan towards
Kamar. This proved to be bad news for Marigold who after her front end
collision 2 days before was not back to full fitness. Extended periods of
gradual incline were too much for our little girl as her engine temperature
gauge hovered around the red. Rub-a-Dub-Dub’s experienced mechanics yet again
swiftly diagnosed the problem as being a slight kink in the radiator hose as a
result of the crash. Multiple times we had to stop, let her cool down and
resume again. One time we had pushed her so hard that the engine coolant was
visibly boiling in its reservoir. But as we constantly reminded her, it’s a
marathon not a sprint and we took baby steps to the top. Nothing was going to suppress
our excitement after listening to Harry and his Firebolt outwit the Hungarian
Horntail in the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Channelling that same feeling
of resilience and unwavering gallantry that embodied Potter in the Goblet of
Fire, we spurred Marigold on to give us more.
 |
| Mechanics Murray and Horton set to work on an overheating engine. Meanwhile Alford threw stones at a sign |
Posted by: Rich