Overnighted in a quiet gravel carpark at Dalrigh 1 mile south of Tyndrum on the A82. Bit damp but pleasant although no9 4G of course. £5 in honesty box for motorhome overnight.
Next morning set off and fifty foot out of the car park, right in the middle of the exit, went for second gear then down into a dip and started up a slope. Van would not pull and clutch slipping. Close look showed gear selector cable snapped a gearbox end. The left to right action of the lever was loose so probably in 3rd not 1st also could not reverse. Called RAC at 10am. Promised a response in half an hour, three hours later a non RAC van turned up and agreed we needed a tow then drove off. We called RAC a couple of hours later and told very busy but should be with us in the hour. Phoned again at 8pm and told van on its way by 9pm. At 10pm we phoned, they dithered so we told them we are off to bed and to knock loudly on the van. Next morning around 8am phoned RAC and told van coming by 9am. It turned up at 10am and took us to Stirling. RAC told us it would be ferried back to Southampton, we could go with the van or have a hire car. Decided to stay with the van and ferry back. Once at the recovery depot in Stirling RAC then said they would not ferry the van but shift it at their leisure and put us a taxi to a car hire firm in Glasgow. As it is along drive back we asked about a hotel halfway, of course they said and booked us into a hotel in Penrith at the RAC expense. Then at the car hire we had to pay £75 waiver or risk a £500 excess. Finally on our way, called the hotel and ....no booking, sorry they said, our website is down so cannot see how RAC could have booked. Gave up and drove to a Wetherspoons hotel in Wigan, now enjoying a lovely meal and red wine. Wonder what tommorow holds, only another 240 odd miles.
Next morning set off and fifty foot out of the car park, right in the middle of the exit, went for second gear then down into a dip and started up a slope. Van would not pull and clutch slipping. Close look showed gear selector cable snapped a gearbox end. The left to right action of the lever was loose so probably in 3rd not 1st also could not reverse. Called RAC at 10am. Promised a response in half an hour, three hours later a non RAC van turned up and agreed we needed a tow then drove off. We called RAC a couple of hours later and told very busy but should be with us in the hour. Phoned again at 8pm and told van on its way by 9pm. At 10pm we phoned, they dithered so we told them we are off to bed and to knock loudly on the van. Next morning around 8am phoned RAC and told van coming by 9am. It turned up at 10am and took us to Stirling. RAC told us it would be ferried back to Southampton, we could go with the van or have a hire car. Decided to stay with the van and ferry back. Once at the recovery depot in Stirling RAC then said they would not ferry the van but shift it at their leisure and put us a taxi to a car hire firm in Glasgow. As it is along drive back we asked about a hotel halfway, of course they said and booked us into a hotel in Penrith at the RAC expense. Then at the car hire we had to pay £75 waiver or risk a £500 excess. Finally on our way, called the hotel and ....no booking, sorry they said, our website is down so cannot see how RAC could have booked. Gave up and drove to a Wetherspoons hotel in Wigan, now enjoying a lovely meal and red wine. Wonder what tommorow holds, only another 240 odd miles.
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