London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 3 – 30 August 2016
Trouble on the Road to Berlin
After another comfortable night in our faithful Kontiki motorhome, we were up early at 6:00 am. The morning routine was already becoming familiar—freshening up, preparing breakfast, and discussing the day’s plans over a hot cup of tea.
The weather was pleasant as we set off at around 9:30 am, continuing our journey towards Berlin. With every mile travelled, we felt ourselves moving further away from home and closer to the great adventure that awaited us across Eastern Europe, Russia, China, and beyond.
The drive was largely uneventful, with Germany’s excellent motorway network allowing us to make steady progress. Around midday, we stopped for fuel and a short break before continuing towards the German capital. Our trusty 22-year-old Swift Kontiki had carried us faultlessly so far, but during the journey we began to notice something wasn’t quite right.
The gearbox and clutch were becoming increasingly difficult to operate. At first, we hoped it was simply driver fatigue or a minor adjustment issue, but as the day progressed the symptoms became more noticeable. On a journey of over 22,000 kilometres, even a small mechanical problem had the potential to become a major concern.
By late afternoon, we arrived at a campsite on the outskirts of Berlin and immediately contacted the AA for advice. After describing the symptoms, they recommended that we take the motorhome to a repair workshop the following morning for a thorough inspection.
Although the situation caused some concern, we remained optimistic. After all, every great expedition encounters a few challenges, and this appeared to be our first real test.
With little more we could do that evening, we turned our attention to more important matters—dinner!
Ramesh once again worked his magic in the compact motorhome kitchen, preparing a delicious meal of chicken wings and chickpeas. The wonderful aromas soon filled the motorhome, making us forget our mechanical worries for a while.
While dinner was cooking, we took a leisurely walk around the campsite and the surrounding area. The evening air was cool and pleasant, and we stopped along the way to enjoy a refreshing beer. It was a perfect opportunity to relax after a long day on the road and reflect on the journey so far.
Returning to the motorhome, we found dinner ready and waiting. We enjoyed the meal together, sharing stories and laughter while discussing what the next day might bring. Would the repair be straightforward, or was something more serious lurking beneath the bonnet?
After a final nightcap, we decided an early night was in order. Tomorrow would be an important day as our beloved Kontiki went under the mechanic’s microscope for the first time on this epic journey.
Little did we know that this gearbox issue would become a memorable chapter in our London-to-Mumbai adventure.
Distance travelled today: Germany to Berlin region
Countries travelled through: Germany
Night halt: Campsite near Berlin, Germany
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki faces its first mechanical challenge and discovers whether the journey can continue towards Russia and beyond.
