The border crossing was a bit chaotic but H&H had help on hand and we managed to get all the paper work done, seemed to cost quite a bit but I was assured by the guy with a polce T shirt ( they can't even spell) that if I gave him $50 it would all be ok.
Julie was busy doing her form work and coming down some steps when crash, over she went and managed to tear the 5 metatarsal ligament in her leg. Result being she could not walk on stand on it.
Dr John was right on hand and bandaged her up and has being doing a wonderful job looking after
her ever since.
Laos is a very poor country (one of the 10 poorest countries in the world) and the roads certainly show
that. The ferry was apparently top of the range :)
We had to drive to a town called Oudomxay, the road was very scenic, very twisty and in reasonable condition. The hills were 2nd and some times 1st gear for poor Molly. 330 Klm into the trip there wasa stranger than normal smell and a terrible crunching sound. Molly was broken. We came to a grinding
halt in the pouring rain. Broken car, broken wife and Peeing with rain and 45Klm from home.
I have mentioned how good the back up system is and now we were about to find out.Along comes one of the land rovers, stopped, lots of shaking of heads, took photos, and carried on their way. To be fair the brake down land rover was right behind them :) Molly was then towed 45
Klm to the hotel.
The problem was a ceased dynamo, there is nothing that can be done when that happens, the car won't
start and even if it did it would not run very far. End of rally :(
But, the guys at Gantspeed ( they built Molly) had suggested taking a spare dynamo just in case. We
Listened and had packed not only a spare dynamo but fitting instructions ( not that they were really needed)
That evening the mechanics ( more like 'God like beings' now) took the old dynamo out and fitted the new one. Turn the key and Molly is back in the rally.
Car fixed, Julie getting used to being waited on hand and foot and its stopped raining.
Smiling again :)
Onto day 13 :)
