The Usual Demise

"....So it may require a full engine rebuild." . I had only been half listening to the list of issues that Lee had discovered on Jezebel and how he had fixed them, until that comment was thrown in. From previous research, I'm aware that an engine rebuild, if done properly, can cost up to £1800 or so for a VW Aircooled T25. It brought the usual gulp. I say usual, as it's not the first time that an expert has told me that she would need an imminent engine rebuild. The first time was a few years ago when she was sounding very rough. An oil change, costing £20 or so seemed to fix it. She's completed two Windy 500's since then. Strangely, it was an oil change before the last European Windy 500 that prompted the last demand for an engine rebuild. Number 1 son, showing his mechanical skills and drowning the engine with several gallons of oil, blowing valves and causing no end of problems. Fortunately the VW community was helpful and I found a new cylinder head for about £20 and John managed to fit it (berating me that it wasn't a Lotus as he did so). So, engine rebuilds, or vehicle death sentences are nothing new.

How my van seems to me

Once more, it seems, after a bit more research under the bonnet (is it still a bonnet, if it's actually a metal hatch under the bed where you keep the engine?) it seems it could just be a dodgy oil pump leaking oil. Not the rocker cover, that I had spent so much time trying to fix. The oil issue is fixed now, apparently.
It always seems to be oil related. I'm thinking of not putting any more in, to see if that will help.
So, we are down to 25 days until the off.  I have some planning details to deal with. I have Windy clothing to distribute. I guess most importantly though, I have a van to collect and make trip ready, assuming she gets through her second MOT of the year today. She did so badly on her first test, she is having to resit it.

Not A Bongo

That van may be a pain, but I was reminded this weekend that using a camper van is so much easier and more enjoyable than going back to canvas. I currently have a huge pile of soggy tent drying in the garden where it got soaked in Blandford over the weekend. The tent took about 45 minutes to put up on my own, which was 45 minutes of drinking and chilling time that I missed out on. I also had to tip toe around at 7am pulling up pegs and extracting poles. God, I hope that damn van is fixed soon.
I met the new addition to this years event too over the weekend. Sarah rolled up in her new snot coloured VW T25.
 It is apparently called Theo and is replacing the Bongo. It's a diesel and therefore is water cooled, not air cooled. Perhaps many VW aficionados will consider it 'less cool' than air cooled, but I'm led to believe Sarah had a much better night's sleep than me and nobody has yet threatened her with an engine rebuild.
We may not have picked up any new teams in recent weeks, but we are still gathering participants. Jo is bringing her little sister Vicky for 4 days. Clare is now joining John in Team Lotus....in the Mini. Raquel is also back in Team Creaseybear. This may be the final line up, but who knows ? Still a few spaces for part or all the trip on some of the teams. Marc is still trying to sell his beloved Pinkie, the Bedford, and included in the price is half price entry to the Windy. We could still have a last minute team entry. 25 days is sometimes a long time in Mystery Tour planning...On the other hand, only 25 days ? Christ, I'd better get my skates on.

The Mistress

I have a mistress. And a very demanding mistress she is too. In just under 40 days I shall be taking my mistress on holiday around Europe once again. She will probably complain incessantly as usual. She is, after all, getting a bit old and cranky. She also drinks like a fish, smokes and is currently incontinent, but we have had some good times together. Jezebel, my mistress, is now in her mid 30's. Mutton dressed as lamb springs to mind, but she's served me well. Together, with others, we shall once again be Team Jezebel on this year's Windy 500 European Mystery Tour.

Jezebel, in the Tatras Mountains

We have had our highs and lows, Jezebel and me. Mile upon mile of trouble free motoring, up and down mountain ranges. Twenty six different countries we have visited, from Norway to Greece, France to Romania via some of the most picturesque landscape, treacherous, winding roads, iconic European cities and beautiful campsites across the continent. She's also had to be carried home in shame on more occasions than I'd care to remember. She has let me down...but I've forgiven her. Again. She may be old, leaky and thirsty, but she will be my faithful travelling companion once more as we venture forth in to the unknown.

Eileen in his less upholstered days. 

Talking of faithful old travelling companions, I'm dragging Eileen along once more. Steve, as he was christened the first time around has been known as Eileen by all of my friends and family for the last 10 years or so. We first encountered Eileen whilst back packing in rural Venezuela and since then he has been harder to shake off than damp toilet paper from your shoe. He's like a well upholstered piece of the furniture these days.

The next Jezebel team member is Marc. Again a veteran of two Euro Windy trips and the Global trip last year. Marc has jettisoned his illustrious pink wagon, imaginatively named (by Marc) 'Pinkie', more imaginatively named (by me) 'the mobile brothel', due to the garish paintwork and rather worrying looking interior. It was like some sort of masochists dungeon inside. Anyway, Pinkie the brothel isn't coming this time.

Pinkie. Standard pose....

Jo, my wife, is also lined up to make a cameo appearance for 5 days or so, and Kath, my mother-in-law is along for the second week. As usual, Team Jezebel will be one of those 'hop on, hop off' teams.

'So, where are you going ?' is the question I am asked just about every time I mention that I'm off on a Mystery Tour. 'Oh yeah.....' is the general reply when I've reminded the person asking that it's a Mystery Tour. Yes, I know where we are going. Eileen doesn't. Marc doesn't. Jo and Kath will have some ideas as they'll have to fly in and out.  They'll all find out when we get there...

Jezebel is currently unwell. 17 points on an MOT unwell. In fact, there aren't many bits of her that can be classed as well, it seems. She does however now have new indicators and a few other minor new bits. She's hopefully being welded up next week where she is falling apart at the seams. Brakes are being replaced, lights adjusted and that damn rocker cover (oh God, I hate that damn rocker cover) is hopefully being stuck back on. I've done it myself once or twice. Possibly a few more times. My handy work and expletives just don't seem to fix the leak though. She needs some TLC. Or a good going over with a hammer. And more bling and flashy interior lights..... It's a bit of a stormy, love/hate relationship at times.

Still the final line up isn't quite final. Awaiting news from some people, some teams. It's looking like 17 teams will be setting off. Most from Weymouth, some from other parts of the World, such as Inverness, Uppsala in Sweden and Derby. We shall either see them on route at Dover, or at our first stop......wherever that is. Some old (well 'veteran' I guess would be politer) teams will be coming, some wide eyed 'freshers', eager to find out what this Windy thing is all about. Thirty nine days until it all becomes a reality....just hope my mechanic has fixed that poxy rocker cover by then.

Setting off in 2014.