An exhausting day

We had a  very enjoyable breakfast with George. I have to say enjoyable cos Pam cooked it.
 
A quick check of the car revealed a loose exhaust (speed bumps are savage down here and Numbum is very low) and some adjustment needed to the clutch.

Once this was sorted out we hit the road and headed through Paignton to the Kingswear to Dartmouth ferry and the exhaust scraped. An easy drive to Plymouth where we hit heavy traffic and eventually found the Plymouth to Torpoint ferry. Once again the exhaust scraped on the ramps both on & off.

Followed the coast as much as possible down to the Bodinnik to Fawey ferry. We got on all right but got severely stuck on the way off. With no help from the ferry staff there was nothing else to do but boot it. Eventually it came free but the exhaust mounting rubber was split so as soon as I could stop, emergency repairs were carried out and we were back on the road again.

Eventually we drove through Mevagissey where the roads are very narrow indeed. Much stopping & reversing going on.

In Tregony,  having negotiated many speed bumps in many villages, there was a loud crack and Numbum ground to a halt.The left hand rear wheel was not in the proper location in the wheel well and I could see some suspension parts out of position. RAC to the rescue.It turned out that the two inner locating holes in the axle plate had split open and allowed the bolts to pull through and allow the axle to move.

The RAC man shot off to his friends place, D L Marine at St Just in Roseland who had some parts to make a temporary repair.

The people of Tregony were superb with offers of hot drinks, use of toilet & washing facilities, and generally keeping us from getting bored while waiting.

As we set off again the RAC man gave us the contact details of somebody local who could do a more permanent repair. It was now getting dark an I turned the lights on and was surprised at how dim they were. I haven't driven the TA in the dark for ages but didn't remember the lights being particularly dim then.

We limped along though Truro and down a narrow unlit road to the Killagorden Cottage B&B. It was very spooky and we were expecting owls hooting or a dog howling to cap it off.

Eventually we got there and settled in and Pam told me why I thought the lights were so dim.I was still wearing my sunglasses. DOH!!

129 miles today.