A reward for Fay

Thur 2nd Oct

To be on the safe side we de camp early and continue on through the mountain range. The track is good, it has been recently graded, the app is working well showing us which direction to turn in this pickle of tracks. That is to say, the track was good until either the materials or the inclination had run out, then it was back to its former, original state! We and Fay made it to other side but not without using up a little bit of adrenaline, especially when the fuel light came on and there was still a long way to go till we would reach anywhere that might have a petrol station.

Finally, back on Tarmac we resume snaking along the coast road until we reach a secluded bit of beach. This will do us for tonight, tomorrow we ought to try to cover more miles if we are going to reach Georgia ahead of the weather.

Fri 3rd Oct

If there have been days when we have set the pace and days that have followed their own agenda, then today was a Fay day. It started with Richard doing a bit of beach combing first thing, whilst I fiddled in the van. Before long he returned, like a dog with two tails. Proudly waving the treasure he had come upon: a bucket and a soft broom! Now I know we have wild camped since leaving Ahmet and, therefore, washing has meant boiling a kettle of water but is he really going to stand me in bucket and scrub me down?

Phew, no it is Fay he has his sights on. This deserted bit of beach was more of a find than we knew. It had closed up but accessible changing cubicles, with fresh running water and even a bit of left over liquid soap! Fay was in for a treat, especially when Richard rigged up a bit of hose pipe to rinse her off with. Our dusty, muddy street urchin scrubbed up well and Fay left the beach looking like quite the lady about town.

Not satisfied with this, Richard then decided it was time Fay was also treated to an oil change. This could be more tricky? We spotted a Bosch Service Station; in we go armed with our useless phrase book. I found the phrase for "we need oil" but not oil change. To the back of the book, find the word for change, there are two options; one means change as in money, the other change as in clothes. I opt for the latter and hope that I am not asking the mechanic to undress!

Eventually, through humour and sign language I get connected to their internet and let Google Translate do the work. Before long we are back on the road and Fay has a new spring in step. We are a day closer to Georgia.