This is the serenity I had in mind when I left home…
After the great deflating tyre adventure that we’d had on our trip to Scotland and the Hebrides. I really wanted to get the currently deflating tyre changed before leaving for the monthly meeting in the north. My one day off this month would be spent pretty much on the road, a round trip of over four hundred miles in a little over twenty-four hours as I needed to get back for Ani… and I didn’t fancy getting stuck in the cold, rain and floods that are plaguing the country.
Between running around fruitlessly after work, trying to find someone who could supply and fit atyre before I left and the needs of one small dog whose current dog-sitting arrangement is not ideal, I didn’t set off until mid-afternoon, a good three hours later than usual. Never mind…at least I would be there early evening. With the clearest of runs, I can do this part of the journey in three and a half hours, but that doesn’t happen often and it usually takes a bit longer. This was not going to be a clear run…
The roads were bad, with vehicles kicking up enough spray to make driving hard work, deep puddles and standing water everywhere. Although the route I take is largely fairly quiet, there is a thirty-mile stretch of road that passes several towns. I managed to hit the start of it as rush-hour began and crawled for the next hour at snail’s pace in the dark.
I don’t mind night driving these days. Unlike its predecessors, this car has good lights. Even so, the unlit, winding roads through the hills were hard going with the rain, spray and flooding. There was no way to see whether the shining surface was merely wet or several inches deep in water, so progress was necessarily slow.
By the time I hit Ashbourne, where the road really climbs up into the hills, I was rather tired and looking forward to the cuppa, food and eventual glass of wine that I knew would be waiting.
So the blizzard was a bit mean.
It is only November, after all…
This is what I got instead…
With the temperature already below freezing, the huge and unexpected snowflakes were settling nicely. Visibility was even worse than in the rain, the sinuous and ungritted roads made driving over the hills a tad hairy, to say the least. I paused near Arbor Low to let Stuart know I’d be a while, but I couldn’t help laughing… it really seemed as if the day was throwing every obstacle it could in my way.
I had been vaguely uneasy about this particular trip, but there was nothing concrete. Stuart had the odd niggle too. And there is a scan appointment looming that could happen any day. Maybe I should have listened to the inner prompting…
Five hours after leaving home, I climbed the last hills and headed down towards the lights of Sheffield. Which is when the warning light flashed, the engine shut itself down and the car died.
I managed to coast close to the side of the road, cursing and near tears. I was a mile from my destination. It could have been worse and at least I have breakdown cover.
Or not, apparently.
Not as I’d driven through the flooded landscape, as the breakdown service refused to come out to any vehicle that had done so. To make matters worse, my phone barely works since I fell on it… and I’d forgotten to pack my charger. I couldn’t even make my disgust at their unhelpful attitude heard.
Leaving a note in the car window… the car had stopped on double-yellow lines… and wearing sandals, I might add, I abandoned ship and walked to Stuart’s, coatless in the rain. Once fed and watered, we walked back to see if it was just the water and whether the car would now start. The console informed me I had now lost all the fuel that had been in the tank. There had to be a fuel leak… and a fairly bad one to drain all that fuel. We pushed the car to safety. Then we walked home.
Next morning, we walked back yet again… this time to a garage, a family-run business who were absolutely brilliant. I was worrying about head gaskets and flood damage… but they arranged for the car to be towed, did the repair and got me back on the road within a day to get home for Ani. A pipe had exploded, worn by years of friction, NOT floodwater… and sprayed the engine compartment with the contents of my fuel tank. Awful as it was, it could have been much, much worse.
But next time I get that uneasy feeling, I’m not getting out of bed.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
OH MY WORD!!! Would a train have been possible? It is a great read and I am glad it wasn’t me but, WHEW?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A train? No…not without winning the lottery 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh goodness!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know what it is like up there 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, although sounds like the weather was calm compared to what you experienced. So glad you made it okay.
LikeLike
I’m just glad I broke down within walking distance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is something to be thankful for!
LikeLike
It certainly was 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, goodness, what a journey! You should definitely listen to the little niggle in future – and keep a pair of boots in the car, just in case. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I usually do , Mary, but had been carrying the wheelchair and stuff for nick’s garden so had taken the boots and spare coats out..
LikeLike
Oh, Sue, you do have the worst adventures with your car! I hate to suggest this but is it time for a newer model? We’ve had good luck with used ones. Sandals in a snowstorm – oh my!
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the whole, they behave well, Noelle, considering what I ask of them. This one has probably been the most troublesome…and it is by far the newest I have ever owned.
LikeLike
Oh wow Sue. Glad you are OK and the car was fixed with the minimum of delay.
LikeLike
The garage was brilliant. The RAC? Normally so good…but I am going to enjoy filling in the ‘customer satisfaction’ form they made the mistake of sending me…
LikeLike
Ha! I had run-ins (read let downs) with the AA, and when I bought my Peugeot, got three years free membership with the RAC. Called them out once and they ere good. We’re with Green Flag now as it’s more within our budget for the service we want.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The RAC have always been brilliant, but the woman on the phone may need a little course in being helpful…
LikeLike
That happens…………..more training required in customer service skills!
LikeLike
A beginner’s course, methinks 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
ha! It could have been her first day ????? lol
LikeLike
Should have been her last… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear, Sue, a most unfortunate occurrence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could have lived without it, I must say! 😉
LikeLike
Goodness, Sue! You seem to manage to attract the worst adventures, but your sense of humour is admirable. It does seem to come out all right in the end. 🙂
LikeLike
It could have been much worse though 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My dad always said, If it weren’t for things going wrong, we would have no stories to tell! Although, I believe you could have done without this story. For what it’s worth, it was an entertaining read.xo
LikeLike
Thanks, Darlene. Disasters always seem to make the better tales to share 😉
LikeLike
What an awful nightmare, all I can say is LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS! Thank God it was not a worse outcome with all that fuel sprayed around your running engine. Someone was watching over you 💜💜
LikeLike
We really needed the meeting though… so logic and necessity got in the way of listening… But yes, definitely watched-over! x
LikeLike
Stay safe 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sandals! Why am I not surprised?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, they’re comfy… 😉
Mind you, I have finally bought myself a pair of proper shoes today…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stands back in amazement! Although I am forced to wear more suitable footwear myself these days, well, most of the time any way!
LikeLike
These are all memory foam and elastic… not exactly practical, but comfy for being on my feet for hours 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sensible shoes, what is the world coming to?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t call them that, exactly 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sound sensible, anyway…
LikeLike
Sadly, they are 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLike
Thanks for shaing, Jaye x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. What a difficult trip, Sue. I’m glad it wasn’t any worse, though it sounded pretty bad. Yes, next time listen to your intuition. It will rarely steer you wrong.
LikeLike
It never does…t is just that logic gets in the way 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Petrol on a hot engine, a blizzard, and rainstorms … oh my! 🙂
LikeLike
And don’t forget the sandals 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, who could forget the sandals!!! 😀 … heh, heh, heh. 😀
LikeLike
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, noooo!!! I’m afraid to even ask about the tire.
LikeLike
Hopefully getting that changed tomorrow 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed. Double crossed.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person