The plan was simple.
An early start, and hit the road to Hartlepool for a day of piratey goodness with Rachel. Shame it didn't quite work out like that. We made excellent time, covering 90 miles in 90 minutes at just about legal speeds, through misty fields and industrial landscapes.
We were within spitting distance of our destination (well, I saw one sea gull) when the car started making worrying noises. As I drove up the slip road off the A19 the gearbox seized completely and the car ground to a halt. It was a bit hairy for a while, seeing as how we were blocking one lane of the slip road entirely and lorries were having to squeeze past on the verge, but the police arrived pretty quickly and were able to coax the car out of the road.
Another wait, and then the AA patrol arrived and towed us round the corner to the service area. After spending even more time on the phone trying to get to the correct department of the lease company, a recovery truck was arranged so we settled down for even more waiting. Fortunately, it was a sunny day so it wasn't too unbearable sitting outside drinking coffee although I've discovered that Mc Donald's bacon sandwiches are a pretty vile creation.
Time passes. Thorin sits down and sings about gold.
The recovery truck arrived and agreed that heading back to Sheffield was the only choice. The gearbox was, much like an assembled Ikea wardrobe, completely screwed. The lease company couldn't say when I might be able to get a hire car, so we travelled in the back of the recovery truck, alternately snoozing and enjoying the sunshine.
I'm gutted to have missed being a pirate for a day, but at least we got home in one piece - it could have been a lot worse, and at least it's not my car to worry about seeing as how it's a lease car. It's just the hassle of sorting out a replacement next week and waiting for it to be fixed.
Thank you to Rachel for staying to wait with me - it was much appreciated, and I'm sorry I didn't get you to our destination.
Still, there's always Tortuga to look forward to ...
1 comment:
Shame about the pirates, but at least the car was a lease
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