Boomsplosion on the motorway

Further northwards we went, we sailed into the EU without any checks on the dodgy paper work for our car and we were feeling good. Onwards, onwards, ever onwards, oh, wait, no, hold that, stop, really! STOOOP!

Something exploded in the engine. Bright green gunge was everywhere, it was like a hoard of aliens had mated underneath our bonnet. Maybe the air conditioning? Not sure, so it was time to call the car insurance and wait for roadside assistance. In the 37c heat, with no shade, on a four lane motorway, one kilometre into Croatia after crossing in from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Perfect. At least we could work on our tan, eh?

After three hours in the searing sun, our tow truck driving, mechanically-minded saviour had arrived. He was friendly and seemed to be saying it was the A\C, but as he was not actually a mechanic we got a tow and two hours later the mechanic at the shop told us that the air conditioning hose had popped, so no A/C for us now. Sigh. At least it only cost us a beer and a coke for the friendly mechanic.

The Croatian motorways have a 130kmh limit, which is slightly outside of Bessie's 'comfort level'... i.e. the engine goes "eeeeeeeeeee", but we aimed for it, with all the windows down, getting wind-blasted in the face and every single millilitre of water drained from out body by the merciless, hot, dry wind. Three hours later, and minutes before the only bridge to the island shut for the evening, we made it to the little seaside town of Murter and our awaiting boat - a forty five minute boat trip later and we were in heaven.

Our host reckoned that his local mechanic friend will be able to fix our car whilst we relax on the beautiful Croatian island of Otok Zut for eight days. Time to slow down and cool it down. Come here sweet sea.