Wednesday 31st July 2013
Car transport sorted
Today we ship the cars, so we will end the blog. We want to end on a high note, as we have so many fantastic memories. We still cannot believe what we have achieved, or how far we have travelled. We have learnt so much about ourselves and each other. People we had never met before have welcomed us, shouted hello, helped us, stared at us. We have also done the same. Maybe not the staring so much. British reserve and all that.
At breakfast we learn that Atle and Hilde have finally tracked down their puppy. Great excitement. They travel to Germany the last weekend of August. Not sure we will still be there after the wedding. On way out of hotel, a manager asks if we would mind parking the Landys in their lock up garage. Out of view perhaps? We were told when we first arrived that we would not fit in. Never mind, we are actually leaving this minute. Well not straight away. A car from the Mongol rally came in last night, so we have a snoop and snap a few photos. Tim and Atle interested in the huge home made air filter.
Drama on the way to the shipping company. We run out of fuel!!! Atle tows us on the short solid tow bar. Scary. Atle says for 2017 he will have made a triangular towing device, much better. We get to a fuel station and put a little in. Huge flood just at approach, people are trying to pump it out. Hope it is the last dunking the cars will get in the near future. Insurance paid, paperwork sorted. Now just follow someone to containers.
It starts to rain. Grey clouds. We may need to dry the cars off once in container, don’t want any more rust on ours!!! Must remember to take everything we need, and not get locked in ourselves. Arrive on outskirts of city. Wait for instructions. Our support car drives off. What? Fun until the last. Wonder if he has gone off with all our money, and is just leaving us here?
Man trying to straighten a bumper with a hammer. Give up, sits down, makes a phone all. We wait. A woman arrives with instructions. It takes over two hours to secure the vehicles. Tim drives the Beast in, then men chock the wheels, nail the wood to the floor of the container, add chains and tie those off. Then the same for Hildefender. The two cars are further secured by Atle’s solid tow bar. If one goes down, the other one goes with it. Company seals secure the doors, until the Chinese Customs Officials check it.
We leave. A company driver takes us back to the hotel. One and a half hours, due to heavy traffic, even though he knows the back routes. Make sure our packing is finished, order a taxi for the morning and meet in reception. We are all dressed in out Grand Khan Irish Pub polo shirts, and walk for our final evening in UB.
It was rammed. We started outside, beer and garlic bread. Then move inside. Fish and chips, with homemade coleslaw. Delicious. Glad we had a swanky meal last night, as we are all so tired. Think I may be getting a cold. Hope it is only pollution.
Taxi back to hotel. Say goodbye very quickly – thanks for fantastic trip, safe journey, we will see you soon, and we know we will journey together again.