If you have been keeping up to date with our blogs or on social media you’ll have noticed a trend where we continually try to be by a body of water. Yes, this partly due to needing a refreshing cool dip, especially now, in this South American heat but it also seems to draw us in like the shore draws the waves. After spending a fair amount of time inland, and after our much anticipated visit to Buenos Aires we made a mad dash for an escape to the seaside. The relaxed atmosphere suits us so much more than that of bustling city life so we were eager to reach the calming tones of the ocean. Our first night was a peaceful one, having taken a stroll along the shoreline at sunset, unknowing to us a fellow beach goer took a beautiful photo of us hand in hand with the burnt orange glow of a fading sun. He managed to capture a beautiful moment that we will cherish.
Staying at the beach for several days we were able to knuckle down and get some work done, planning cool dips in the sea in our breaks. As well as preparing for the start of a mechanical saga, knowing that Solero needed a bit of work doing. The weather however had something else in mind as it grew stormy. No storms actually passed by but the temperature did drop considerably and the winds picked up bringing in a cold draught from the South Atlantic. To our dismay we actually had to put a jumper on! It was necessary to move the van away from the cliff edge as it swayed in the wind – don’t ever want to find out what could happen there – and move it behind the sand banks for protection. So we were where we wanted to be, we were beside the sea – but couldn’t actually see the sea, we were close enough for a swim – but it was too cold and the sea was too rough to go swimming, and the calming tones were frequently drowned out by motor cross enthusiasts with their bikes and quad bikes hurtling past. Ah well, you win some you lose some.
Dropping into the nearest town for a few supplies we were pleasantly surprised to find a small local market, these places are often the best and cheapest place to shop for fresh produce. Picking up fresh bread, local made cheese and a few veggies here we made our way to the the supermarket. When food shopping here in Argentina, it’s a whole afternoon experience, getting pre-packaged foods from the supermarket, then heading to a fruteria for – you guessed it- fruits and vegetables, then to a panaderia for bread and finally to a butchers (a carniceria) for… well you know what a butchers is.
Having heard a rattle in the front left wheel arch in Solero for a few weeks and knowing nothing about the mechanical workings of any vehicle we ummed and ahhed over what it could be. Before we took it to a mechanic we wanted to have some idea, so Will watched a few youtube videos and got down under the van to check it out. He correctly diagnosed the issue as the axial joint having had worn over time. Driving over 100 kilometres on dirt tracks and wash board roads likely didn’t help. As a result, the start of our mechanical saga begins with finding a mechanic in a small neighbouring town to have it repaired. As you can imagine Will was quite impressed with himself for accurately pinpointing the issue and it gave him a boost of confidence with all things van related. Now when I say we took Solero to a mechanic… I don’t mean we took it to a garage. Driving on yet another dirt track road we pulled up outside a family home with several rather worn and tired cars lined up outside and we were greeted with the friendly smile of our mechanic. With the part that needed replacing a two hour trip away we stayed the night on the mechanics driveway.
In the evenings he and his wife make pizzas for takeaways, which of course we had to indulge in, we were already spending money to fix the van, what’s a little extra for a pizza. They even offer a free delivery system – unless it’s raining then it was 200 pesos for delivery – which I happen to think is fair enough, nobody likes to go out in the rain. Luckily for us though it wasn’t raining that day, so that’s practically saving money! We at last got to try the highly anticipated Argentinian pizza recommended by a tour guide in Buenos Aires. It was just as he said it would be, very cheesy! Even Will being a loyal margarita man, the kind that is particularly sparing with the mozzarella, enjoyed it greatly. Now I must admit the Italians do take a little more care and put a little more love (well at least that’s what I think it is) into their dough, but it was still very delicious.
Now back to the van, the following day we passed the morning eagerly awaiting any news from the mechanic. To pass the time we both did a little work and read a while but as afternoon approached we started to get itchy feet and were hoping to get going. Come early afternoon the mechanic emerged with the new part and started to work. We must remind ourselves it’s a much different way of life and great deal more laid back. In no time at all the van was fixed, put back together and we were ready to go.
However… as we drove out of the town and beyond lo and behold the rattle was still present and with the axial joint having been fixed the steering wheel was now out of alignment as well plus the ESP warning light was now showing. So there we were £120 poorer, a new issue to be fixed and still oblivious as to what the original rattle is. Back to the mechanic we go!
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