SORTING PROBLEMS

 

Here we go again. Our feet are itchy and we are off. We have found cheap business seats, but the drawback is that they start in Sydney. So we need an extra flight to go down there that leaves us plenty of time to check in etc. That’s not too bad, but then our flight from Abu Dhabi to Munich is delayed, which means we miss all 4 of our trains, so we catch later ones with not-so-great connections. After 40 long hours we are in Schladming unpacking our stuff. By evening we head to bed, sleeping like logs despite the unusual heat.

The next day we check off our list of repairs. By early afternoon we are ready to go but it is so hot, (36 here is unheard of) that we decide to relax and head off early tomorrow. It’s a nice early start as we head towards Budapest. We are catching up with friends there. Only a few hours down the road John discovers power is not coming from the alternator to the house batteries so we need to return to Krug. Of course it is Friday and the staff are leaving early for the day. A quick look doesn’t rectify the problem. We will need to return next week as we only have solar charging.

We head back towards Hungary. Really the scenery is so staggeringly lovely it is no hardship to drive the same road again. By evening we pull over in a Sports field beside a river. A nice quiet spot for the night. No sportsmen are out because storm clouds have rolled through.

The next morning we head across the border and into the flat farmlands of Hungary. We stop for cheap fuel (compared to Austria) and stock up with food before heading along the motorway. A few hours out of Budapest we encounter roadworks. From then on it is gridlock the rest of the way. Once in the city we hunt down the small camping area near the centre. It is full so we head to another further out, but the bonus is a tramline right outside the door and secure gates. Before long we are on the tram, then the metro to the city to catch up for a lovely dinner with friends Chris & Erin. They live in an apartment just a stones throw from the famous Parliament Buildings. We spend a great evening chatting and catching up. Then back to GR3 on the oldest electrified underground train in Europe. The stations are all wood paneled and the train still the same as in it’s heyday.

The next morning we zip out for a ride on our e’scooters through City Park. We buzz past gorgeous gardens, slow down past statues, stop to admire the Palace and continue onto Heroes Square. Back at GR3 we spend more time with Chris & Erin. Then later get those scooters out for another jaunt to the Danube River and follow the magic waterfront. But my power is running down so we head back. Unfortunately, the power does run out, so it’s a hot slog home. It is 38 today with no breeze! We chill out for a few hours before heading out yet again, this time to ride the trams. They are free for us oldies, so we jump from tram to train until we have looped the city and followed the riverfront twice. Such an easy way to see the sights in this heat.

It would be easy to spend a few more days here but we need to get back to Krug, so decide to leave early before the rush. Google maps send us on a big loop and we later realize why - the motorway is gridlocked with trucks. By the time we get to the motorway we have missed the worst of it. We continue all the way today in the hope of an early start tomorrow. The only hiccup is when our toll box starts to do 4 beeps. We check online – there is no money left on the account, and I had put over 100E on it. Tolls in Austria are scary. We try and detour along back roads after that.

Back at Krug again and the guys are all scratching their heads trying to work out what is wrong with the power. They replace the Battery Management System for a second hand one and say you be fine. We wait to check, but it’s not fine. The next day they replace it with a brand new one. Still not fine. It is overheating so they install new vents and a fan. We are still there on Friday and it looks as if we will be stuck here for the weekend. But the head electric guy changes the Buck Booster and by 4pm it is looking good. We wait overnight and it’s still fine in the morning so we finally free to hit the road.