Getting close!

Well, for the next recce anyway... needs to be as soon as - no later than May Day w/end me thinks. Electrics now sorted on support car - currently giving the A-frame promised coat of paint. This is dismantled and each painted section hangs from the garage roof supports. Had to spend an hour this morning freeing one of the brake calipers that was sticking on yesterday though (why didn't I buy that pair on eBay for £20..? - long gone now...) The other Pandas have never suffered from seizing calipers - anyway seems sorted now...
Getting near to running 3-5milers at 10 m/m pace now which proves that the training is paying off - other than a few niggly aches now and again all seems well, so thumbs are UP!

Towing Eyes...

Fitted bracket to the other side without incident this Sunday. Borrowed the actual 'eyes' from the other Panda, so now we got something to tow for the up-coming recce weekend. Finished in time to get an 8m run in as well this week. Looking good.
The 'A' frame has been stood in the cat pen since new years day (as it came back with the 4x4 -ie. with the arms and chains that attatch to the front suspension underneath the car) and as it's rusty a coat of paint is called for... then there's the electrics to sort on the car so there's no need for the towing board... getting there though...
Felt a bit tired since the Sunday run (was pushing all way round) but otherwise no injuries.
I'm preferring the Stonethwaite site and with no hook-up here I might just have to 'go it alone'...

Blood shed...

Spent yesterday afternoon fixing the first bracket for the towing eyes on the 4x4. Definitely more difficult to fit with the sump guard in place and managed to nip the end of my finger trying to lever it back into position - ouch! A plastic bush on the tie rod kept popping back out making the job a tad frustrating. She's back on now though complete with bracket to accept one of the eyes and at least the hole in the end of my finger looks clean. With all the surface skin gone I was worried it might get infected as hands were black and oily at the time.
Missed planned 8m long run yesterday too as the job took longer than anticipated.

With the weather unsuitable for work today spent the afternoon preparing 2nd bracket for attachment to the other side and once the towing eyes are in position she'll be ready to tow once the electrics are sorted to work the car's lights (though I can always use the towing board)

Plans are under way now for the next two days Lakes recce. Claire has offered to support, but will want a site with electric hook-up. My preferred site (on route) at Stonethwaite has no hook-up and can be noisy, apparently. The CC Borrowdale site is fully booked so it looks like being a CL somewhere also off route.
MayDay weekend is a possibility - but I'm keen to get there a bit sooner...

Getting back on track...

Having caught a cold sometime before Christmas, and suffering a lingering chesty cough I'd let fitness slip a bit but a few short runs this week seem to be giving the green light to start building up again - so there's hope on the horizon. Hopefully I'll be fit enough to get longer routes in as the weather warms up - when it does begin to warm up a bit that is. After a lay-off it's always better to start as a beginner again to avoid injury, but 4 weeks on now and all seems well. Fingers crossed!

Progress!!

Turns out the impellar on the water pump was spinning uslessly on its shaft when the engine got to temperature... fine when cold but once warmed up the coolant wasn't circulating as it should! This could have been done sooner, but I was told there was nothing wrong with it! The continuing process of elimination meant it could only be the water pump after swapping the head. So all's well with the support car now, though back-up (a 4x4 this time) awaits collection in Surrey... so looking forward to the new year to get back in shape.

More reliable..?

This pic was taken in Muker, Swaledale (outside the Peter Brook exhibition) on the day after the last leg... got me thinking - of the two which is currently the more reliable..?



...though the Panda didn't let us down... and still keeps going! Removing the thermostat (again...) has increased her range and she's still usable, but the cracked head needs replacing.
I've managed to source a later head which will fit, but it has no mechanical fuel pump facility - there are several options - the easiest being to fit an electric fuel lift pump...
Looks as if a December weekend is off though for days 4&5 to St Bees...

Panda blues...

The support car is poorly... maybe it's just the head gasket. Delivered head today for 'crack test' and skim. Fingers crossed the head won't be cracked... hopefully will have it sorted for the next sections... using van for work - it's fun getting the ladders on and off -at least I got a roof rack!