Day 23 - Ever crossed a pontoon bridge?

Another medium-long dull day at about 370 km ... and reasonably uneventful.   Well, uneventful compared with some previous days, but hardly a typical weekend jaunt in your old classic car.

First there was the 4:00am wakeup call ... but they're getting used to that.   Then quickly fill up the 60 litre endurance tank with petrol and head off.   They were a little concerned at the colour and state of the fuel ... which seemed to have some sand-like brown stuff in it.  

Hmmm ... let's just blitz on and see what happens!  

Some time later:    They didn't have to wait long because Fugly just stopped on the highway.   Immediate panic set in, because between the offending petrol station and the side of the highway, they had been calculating the "what ifs" relating to fuel.   They were fairly sure that the small tank (the 40 litre one with good fuel) would not get them to tonight's hotel ... and there were no more service stations enroute!!

So it was bonnet up, laminated checklist out, as Clive and Ces both bend over and get to work.   While Clive works on the inline filter behind, Ces works on the goldfish-bowl filter upfront.  When the process has been completed, the checklist is ticked off and they're on their way again.

Next is the pontoon bridge where the fare is listed as TMM 20/USD 12.  (The Manat is the unit of currency in Turkmenistan ... Peter)

Ehh, let's pay the 20 local widgets.   Ces says.
He wants the 12 dollars.   Clive responds
We haven't got 12 US dollars, he needs to take the local widgets.  Ces responds rather firmly.   Besides, why won't he take the 20 whatsits?   
A few minutes later, Clive comes back and says  He is taking the 20 whatsits but he needs the 12 dollars as well ... it's not 20 or 12, it's 20 PLUS 12 ... otherwise, he says he won't let us across!!.

Much to-ing and fro-ing followed, some strong language was used, separated by some periods of silence.

Eventually 12 dollars were found somewhere in the car (probably next to those keys in the safe place ... Peter) and they were on their way across the pontoon bridge.   The episode was, according to Clive, quite an adventure and definitely eliminated any chance of them being bored on this particular day.

Now they're at their hotel, which is very basic but friendly.   Mood of the evening is all's well that ends well.

For and on behalf of Clive and Ces.


PS:  Photos will be received and loaded in due course (ie. within a week) but I know you readers need an image every now and again, so that you can sit back and let your imaginations take over, so here you are ...

This may very well be the same pontoon ... it's in Turkmenistan.