Saturday 15 March - Sao Pedro do Sul

We weren't too sure about the opening hours of the garage but somebody appeared about 7.30 and opened the gates so we got up, not that we could do much! So for now we just got on with life and just after 9.00 Rui and his mate appeared to continue work. We stayed out of their way of course but there was little communication although Rui did occasionally show me what he was doing.

But shortly after lunch we realised that everything was going okay and there was a real chance it would be finished today. We just stayed out of their way until around 5.30pm they pronounced themselves ready and started the motor, checking all the connections etc. and waiting for the temperature to reach normal operating levels. All turned out well and Rui went through what he'd done and what we should watch for, although he was confident we'd have no more problems - well with these repairs anyway. So into the office to pay the reasonable bill, bearing in mind the man hours they'd put in, said our thanks and manoeuvred out of the yard.

Still a little nervous we drove carefully, first to Lidl to restock on items we were short of, and of course the heavens opened! Then, not wanting to travel any distance in the dark, we returned to the park where we'd stayed on Thursday night for a late tea then an earlyish night. We'd both expended a lot of nervous energy over the last 36 hours so needed the rest.

But we felt we had been incredibly lucky that the recovery driver was also able to fix our problem, especially in the time frame. Ordinarily, and our expectation, we would have had to wait for the breakdown company to locate a repairer and then be transported there, which wouldn't have been until at least Monday. Then we would have needed accommodation whilst the work was done. We believe someone like a Fiat workshop would have replaced parts (when they could get hold of them!), rather than repairing, involving far more dismantling and of course a much larger bill. Thank goodness there are still many smaller "proper" workshops with mechanics who know what they're doing still around.