Day 6 started well with Sam geared up to drive 7 difficult muddy and rocky stages
We started the first only to come across the road blocked by three cars that had run off the road
We had stopped beside another car, and when we went to drive frown the rear just went sideways off the road into a small washout. A meter in either direction their would have been no problem. So their we sat on her belly
We spent an hour getting us and one of the other cars out then we took off for an hours drive back down the stage trying to catch up to a stage about an hours drive away. We were about 3 Kim’s from the start and early and driving slowly but maybe casually, and had to turn round a long left hand hairpin. I touched the brakes and she locked up, so foot off and turned in but we went sight ahead and off the road, luckily only about 40kph through a ditch, small tree and came to rest luckily on a big pile of dirt and not a rock, just before the edge of a big cliff. Satellite image probably shows where.
We got the car towed out by a passing truck, and the driver just laughed and showed us how slippery the road was. It was like black ice. The asphalt was made with smooth round stones, and we could barely stand on it.
A quick inspection revealed some damage, but we couldn’t get the bonnet open and the were no noises running the motor and no leeks. We continued down the hill to the start but decided to head straight to Athens and try and find a merc dealer to change the rear springs. Our day was screwed anyway
We pulled up when we found a garage with a roof, got the bonnet open and found the radiator had been pushed back at the bottom, and jammed or damaged the fan. We pulled the fan off, as we have an electric one as well which was working.
We headed off for Athens in heavy rain and wind, arriving a the port about 3pm.
As we pulled up the Greek mechanics turned up as they had Ben asked to do some work on other cars. W asked them if they could fix up the driving light support, and have a look at a vibration we had in the rear. They sent us off and took over
We grabbed a taxi and headed of for a quick 1.5 hour tour of the sites, and collected some food, observing the wild weather and big seas battering the break walls.
We returned and still no rally cars, but they started to turn up about an hour later. We then went through customs with the Aussies getting special attention.
We loaded up on a ship with a single car deck, booked just for us with 87 crew, and maybe 87 passengers.
This event had been due to rn last year but they pulled the plug due to Syria. Ten when Egypt blew up all ferries from Europe were cancelled. Initially this year we were supposed to leave from Venice, and that is probably whys some of the days are much longer
The ship left in force 11 gales. All other shipping had been banned by the authorities, but our ship is internationally registered
The ride last night was pretty rough but this morning the med is quite calm
