I’ve waited a while before posting this entry in order to let time create a sense of perspective that was sadly lacking on Tuesday.

Some of the texts I sent to H whilst sat by the side of the road waiting for the RAC seemed to suggest regret at our purchase of Bob, and indeed at times even called into question the parentage of our VW Camper…

This was the view that I enjoyed for over three hours on Tuesday as Bob decided not to work again. I’d picked her up the day before from Colchester and she’d been fine. I took her to show off at badminton the night before and she’d not missed a beat. Even though she is booked in at Superbeetles next week to be finally sorted out I thought a quick trip over to Braintree would be well within her capabilities. It was only going to be a short trip out so I didn’t bother putting a jumper on under my coat…

I guessed something was up by the time I’d driven to the end of the road, for although I’d sat and let her warm up for a time on the drive, and although she’d been great the day before, there was a slight loss of power when in mid-revs. The road to Braintree is twisty and with many a blind bend, and it was just before one of these bends that Bob’s engine died for the first time. It was about 11.30am at this time. I tried to restart her but there was nothing. I waited a few minutes and tried again. The engine fired and I quickly got her moving again, aiming for the layby in the distance where I could settle the engine and if need be return home to try a different car. The engine lasted about 20 metres. With the layby tantalisingly close I now found myself actually on the blind bend and thankful that although I was in a dangerous position at least I was big and orange and likely to be seen. Again I tried to get the engine going with no success. I decided to again wait a while before trying, and when eventually she did get going again I slammed her into first gear and headed for the layby. It was a good job that no one was coming the other way – I wasn’t going to stop for them!

And so I sat admiring the view for further while seeing if I could get the engine going again. When I managed it I sat and let it run. For almost two minutes it ticked iver nicely and then. Gone. I was further than two minutes from home and the road is not a good one to be broken down on, so for the third time in a fortnight I called the RAC and gave the registration number JAT 910V. It was 12.30pm. The Scottish woman was very pleasant and apologetic when she informed me that due to an accident that morning the waiting time was around two and a half hours, but that she would try and get someone from another area in less than an hour. The trip to Braintree seemed to be cancelled. I used the opportunity to make some ‘phone calls, check my e-mail and take photos of just how cold it was. For some reason there’s a thermometer stuck to the underside of the sun visor. It stated 15 degrees celcius (Warning!) when I first stopped. By the time I’d been there three hours it was somewhat lower. I did get Bob going on three occasions whilst I was waiting, and each time she ticked over beautifully – for about two minutes each time before cutting out…

At 2.30pm I was called by the RAC to apologise for the wait and to inform me that there wouldn’t be anyone there for at least another 45 minutes. It was then that I called Adam from The Old Volks Home to update him on the situation and he reminded me that there was a gas cooker in the back! Having only owned Bob for a fortnight and never having cooked in her I had forgotten this, and swiftly retired to the rear to crack open the gas bottle and warm myself up a bit. From a low of 9, I managed to get the temperature back up to 15 degrees before the RAC man eventually arrived at the by now misted up Bob just past 3.30pm. Over four hours since I’d left the house. My feet were like ice.

The engine wouldn’t start for the RAC man until he’d linked up the battery to his van to give the starter a bit of extra oomph, but then proceded to run like clockwork for about ten minutes… He’d checked all the easily removable parts and they were, as is known, all A1. We decided to give it a go getting home, and so I shut the engine bay. Immediately the engine started to splutter and fail. I felt very confident that I had diagnosed the problem as the engine cover but the RAC man said that that was unlikely. He quickly opened the engine bay again and got her ticking over properly, and we made our way back home. The engine ran well and made it without any problems. I was followed home by the RAC who gave diagnosis number umpteen – he thought it was air getting into the engine through a gasket or possibly a crack in the manifold. We’ll see…

Bob has since been sat on the drive and tomorrow I’ll be taking her back over to Superbeetles to be completely sorted. The Old Volks Home has again agreed to have Bob put right for us, even to the extent of replacing the carb if need be. Although our first few weeks of VW ownership have been a little less than ideal I do have faith in Superbeetles and The Old Volks Home to put Bob right. Italy is not as far as way as it seemed on Tuesday afternoon.