London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 5 – 1 September 2016
Waiting Patiently in Berlin
Another day dawned in Berlin, and with our hopes resting on the expertise of the mechanics, we were up early to see what progress could be made on our beloved Kontiki.
The mechanics wasted no time and began dismantling the gearbox for a closer inspection. We watched anxiously as various components were removed and examined. To our surprise, after several hours of investigation, they could find nothing seriously wrong with the gearbox itself.
The verdict was unexpected.
Rather than replacing the gearbox, they believed the problem was being caused by a worn clutch and recommended fitting a new one. This sounded like much better news than replacing an entire gearbox, and we were relieved that the repair might be simpler than first feared.
Fortunately, we had planned ahead and had brought a spare clutch from the UK. Feeling rather pleased with ourselves, we dug it out from our supplies—only to discover, much to our disappointment, that it was the wrong model!
Our relief quickly turned to frustration.
Thankfully, the garage was able to order the correct clutch, which was expected to arrive the following morning. Once again, all we could do was wait.
Since there was little point staring at a dismantled motorhome all day, we decided to make the most of our unexpected stay in Berlin and boarded a sightseeing bus into the city.
Berlin is a city steeped in history, and the tour provided a fascinating glimpse into its past. We visited several famous landmarks, including a preserved section of the Berlin Wall, a powerful reminder of the years when East and West Germany were divided. We also stopped at the famous Checkpoint Charlie, once one of the best-known crossing points between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.
As we walked around these historic sites, it was difficult not to reflect on how dramatically Europe had changed within our own lifetimes. Only a few decades earlier, crossing many of the borders ahead of us would have been almost impossible.
By late afternoon, we returned to the garage, where Kontiki still sat patiently awaiting its new clutch. The mechanics had finished for the day, and we settled into our now familiar routine.
The first order of business was a refreshing cup of masala tea.
Dayal volunteered to take charge of dinner and soon got to work preparing a delicious cassava curry with rice. Earlier, we had purchased a few fresh baguettes from a nearby shop, and we still had some leftover fish from the previous evening.
Meanwhile, the day’s entertainment came courtesy of Ramesh.
After enjoying a cold beer, he stretched out for an afternoon nap with a small electric fan resting proudly on his impressive beer belly. The sight was so amusing that Dayal could hardly stop laughing while stirring the curry and keeping one eye on the sleeping chef. Every now and then he would burst into another fit of laughter, making the rest of us chuckle too.
While the others relaxed, I took the opportunity to stroll around the neighbourhood surrounding the garage. It was interesting to observe everyday life in Berlin and appreciate the friendliness of the people we had met during our unexpected stay.
As evening approached, dinner was finally ready. We gathered around the table and enjoyed chilled wine accompanied by peanuts while waiting for the meal to be served. The cassava curry was excellent, and combined with the rice, baguettes, and leftover fish, it made for a memorable feast.
With full stomachs and high spirits, we rounded off the evening with a couple of shots of Johnnie Walker while discussing the adventures that still lay ahead of us.
Tomorrow, if all went according to plan, the new clutch would arrive and our journey could finally resume.
As we climbed into bed that night, optimism had returned to Team Kontiki. The gearbox appeared healthy, the repair seemed straightforward, and our dream of driving from London to Mumbai was once again very much alive.
And after the wine, whisky, and hearty dinner, none of us cared whether the German police might have caught us snoring while technically over the limit!
Location: Berlin, Germany
Night halt: Garage forecourt, Berlin
Highlight of the day: Visiting the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie
Challenge of the day: Discovering that our spare clutch was the wrong one
Join us tomorrow as the new clutch arrives and Team Kontiki hopes to finally get back on the road towards Russia and the vast adventures waiting beyond Europe.
