The big trip

[Peter Pan]

Yvonne and Fran, best regards from your former home state for 3 decades...
Sacramento California. Screwing as usual.
"It comes first different then you second think."

[Fran]

After 2 years of waiting (it is a long story and not all the fault of the Portuguese), Pferdi is now a Portuguese citizen. We got 16 hours notice before we had to show up: phone call at16.45 for a test at 9.00 am the next day. It's a safety test, lights, vin, tires and general condition. When I checked Pferdi we had a few problems with the rear and the brake lights. Straight into panic mode as my electrical skills fade rapidly after changing bulbs and fuses. I forced myself to stop and asked myself what would Claus tell me to do. It turned out to be a combination of stuck switches, bad connections, blown bulbs and a bad rear light earth. I got finished at midnight and with all the adrenaline in the system it was 3am before I fell asleep.

I had carefully charged up the battery pack overnight, but when I went to fire up on the day nothing happened except a clicking of the starting relay. After a few prayers and telling God that I would never do anything wrong again if Pferdi fired up, the miracle happened. Now all we needed was gas. There is a station 8k up the road and I left it running as I filled up. Next stop I thought, the test site, except I stalled it at the pump. Yvonne looked at me with a "You mental midget, if we miss this test your will die a slow, painful and humiliating death, and like Prometheus, you will relive it every single day". If that isn't motivation, then I don't know what is. More prayers, it's amazing, there are no atheists in situations like this. We got there in plenty of time which gave me a chance to drive in circles around the parking lot for 30 mins to charge the battery. All the other testees were scratching their heads at this, but it paid off. You know we passed so I'll skip the test. Getting ready to leave before the DMV engineers changed their minds, good old Pferd. fired up first touch of the starter. We went home with the silliest grins on our faces. And we were back in love. Thanks Claus!!!

We had forgotten just how much we like traveling with Pferdi, even if it's only down the road to the supermarket. The looks, smiles and waves brought back so many memories it made the wait worthwhile. Now we can finally think about finishing off S. America.

[Manscout]

Congrats! That really has taken a while! Pferdi is getting up there in age. I've found that gently rubbing the tank and talking nicely also can elicit the desired effect from these rigs.

[Claus]

I've found that gently rubbing the tank and talking nicely also can elicit the desired effect from these rigs.

Yes. Gently rubbing the saddle and talking nicely does it as well in my 30 years of experience

[upstate ny]

Outstanding, the saga continues.

I would tell you to keep the shinny side up, but with Pferdi I don't know if that applies. So you and Yvonne just do your best.

(Seriously, good job chasing down your light gremlins, they can be a big pain.)