By about 3 we were on our way again. We had booked into an Estancia (a large ranch, many of whom do B&B and are famous for being particularly good, something I had really been looking forward to). But it was a long way, so we would have to motor.

Motor we did. On a long fast section I become increasingly unhappy about the petrol smell. Chris could smell nothing, but then I noticed fuel was also low. We must be leaking it. I asked Chris to contact Julian, who was ahead, on the walkie talkie (bought for these situations). We got Delmar on the other end and tried to make him understand we needed to stop, but he couldn’t understand. The fuel got lower. We kept trying, and again. Suddenly we lost power – fuel just about gone I assumed. We pulled in coughing and spluttering at the first entrance we could find. We looked under the car, fuel dripping from the front. Pop the bonnet….. the rear carburetor was hanging in two bits. The hollow bolt connecting the float chamber to the main body had shaken loose and dropped out…… Where would we find one of those? The next hour was spent walking the verge trying to spot against the odds a small bolt. No luck.

So the first breakdown and prize is awarded at 366 miles. I will put up a 2nd/3rd prize and go to 15% of the amount raised that I will donate personally to the prize.

Our next plan was to tow to a big town, then the thought of the Estancia. About 4 or 5 hours of towing would get us there near midnight, worth a try? We set off with the big people carrier towing us.

One thing I have not mentioned yet is the weather. It is freezing! We all arrived expecting temperatures in the high 20s and dressed accordingly. It is more like a crisp Autumn day back home. Some rain, and cold high winds constantly buffeting us as they sweep across the miles of plain. The wind is so strong it tore the glasses off Chris’s face! By the time we had been towed for about 2 hours my gloved hands had gone white with the cold and I was shivering. Chris and I had no large heater to thaw us out (a running engine), but the others were cold too. It was now dark and was after 9pm. We re-fuelled and looked for a near hotel in the town. Again we found a lovely hotel and great value. Clean, modern, good food…. But what to do? We stayed up until after midnight over the beer and talking. Optimism spread over us. Delmar (who owns a garage in Brazil) had talked to someone who thought they could help. So first thing tomorrow morning we would take off the other carburetor bolt, give it to Delmar and he would take it to this chap who would give us another… I don’t know, it seemed unlikely that someone would have exactly the right bolt, but we have learnt Julian’s friends are very resourceful.

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