After a rather fancy breakfast at the hotel restaurant we packed up quickly and set off for the Royal Perth Infirmary as we were running late. Or rather we didn't, as the Imp's battery was flat. With a push from the boys we were soon on our way.
I thought my eye had improved overnight but the opthalmologist seemed to think it was no better or perhaps worse. She changed my eye drops and suggested I go to Accident & Emergency when we get to Solihull.
I decided to stop off at Linwood to see the last relic of the factory where the Imps were made on the way down to Doncaster. It took three passes to figure out which building it was and where the entrance was. The building is a 60's / 70's style two story office. Inside there are a few photographs of the factory when it was in production and plaques commemorating its opening. With permission of the very friendly owner we pushed the car back in front of the building to take a photograph of the car. We bad brief chat before we pushed off to get some lunch.
After lunch we headed to Doncaster. The navigator seemed to take us back Northwards before getting onto the A74. We had a few stops on the way, one for petrol, one just for eye drops and one for drops and sunglasses. One of the drops dilates the pupil and this then let's too much light in and is uncomfortable. I mostly drove with the right eye closed but that is a bit disorientating. After the A74 / M6 we turned off onto the A66 from Penrith to Scotch Corner.
By now I knew we were in a bit of trouble. The oil pressure / coolant temp warning light had come on and as it was cool and there was enough oil I assumed this was a voltage problem. It went out when I disconnected the temp sender. The fuel gauge was reading near empty when I knew there was at least half a tank left. About half way to Scotch corner we felt the first misfire. Soon there wouldn't be enough charge to run the coil. Spotting the village of Bowes, I pulled off but somehow misread the signs and ended up returning back up the A66. We got to a break in the barrier where we could do a U turn but the engine cut out. There was no hope of push starting this time and the road was busy with fast cars. Luckily we were opposite a lay by where there was a recovery service truck. This was there to do free recoveries from the previous stretch of the A66 where the hard shoulder was closed for road works. The two chaps came over and, after getting the boys safely into their truck, pushed the Imp over the busy road into the lay by. I explained my problem and they offered to try out their charged up battery. However, this didn't do anything so I started wondering what else could be wrong. In the end however, we tried their half charged battery and this fired it up straight away. They then very kindly gave me the batter for nothing. It was too big to fit into the battery tray so I had to tie it in with rope after undoing the air filter to squeeze it in.
So then we were on our way again. I wasn't sure how far this new battery would get us but as things seemed to run well we pushed on almost to Doncaster. There we stopped for a take away and to look up a hotel to stay at. By now it was dark and we needed to turn the lights on so thankfully the hotel was quite near. The Travelodge on the A1 is a bit old and tired but at £36 it was good value.
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