We’ve made It down to Zagreb in Croatia. In many ways it’s a miraculous place to find ourselves.
The lead up to leaving not entirely smooth and the early part of the journey not without problems.
Friday was supposed to be a day sorting and packing the van. The first job of the day, a trip to Tesco’s to get a few bits and fill up. The van wasn’t running smoothly and not wanting to leave like that I knew that I needed to sort what ever the problem was.
After an hour or so of playing with it I had concluded that the carburettor was probably where the fault lay. It’s the one part of the van I know least about. Carburettors have many small brass parts inside responsible for delivering the right amount of petrol mixed with the right amount of air just at the right time.
Aged 11/12 curiosity getting the better of me I took the one fixed to my mother’s Simca apart only to find I hadn’t a clue how to reassemble it. The only saving grace was that the car was no longer in use which was just as well as once I’d fiddled with its carburettor it stood no chance of ever starting again.
Wind the clock forward to Friday the 29th March 2024. It’s 14:00 and we’re on the 10am train under the channel to France the following morning. The 12 year old in me is screaming out don’t touch the carburettor. But the 60 year old knows that it must be done.
Carefully I dismantle the zenith in front of me I meticulously clean it blowing compressed air into every little tube and passage way. I fit a new main jet and screw it all back together and have it back in the van just after 16:00
Turning the ignition key the van purrs into life. Shouts of joy from Juliet. I can’t really believe it.
Packing is hurried, and chucked in to the van before we all head down to the pub to meet friends and say farewell.
Baku or bust it is!
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