2 Pit Stops Today.

We awoke in Kohima this morning to find that we where in a lot hiller town then we had expected after our arrival in the dark.

Breakfast in the dinning room was as funny as dinner the previous night. We were the only 4 people in the restaurant so it quite eerie with the staff standing around ready to pounce and do something to fight of their boredom. Actually we were the only guests in the hotel.

After breakfast we got driven to the WW2 cemetery at the site of The Battle of the Tennis Court. This was the battle that started turning back the Japanese invasion into India in 1945.

We set of for the Manipur state border to meet our guide for the transit across to the Myanmar border. This is the first state border were I’ve ever had my passport stamped.

Pit Stop 1

While waiting at the border to meet our guide I noticed a puddle of oil under the car behind the engine. A quick look and the oil hose to the top of the motor was chaffed and weeping. This fix was easy with the hose long enough to trim and refit, so back on the road in 20 mins.

Today’s drive was same with very unmaintained road that seems to be the standard in the back blocks of India. We lost height all day and finished the drive to Imphal on a flattish plain. Once we reach the flatter country the road surface improved so it looked like we make town before dark.

Wrong!!!

Pit Stop 2

25ks from town we got this bad vibration under he car so pulled up to check the tyres and all good so drove on a bit only to have to stop in the middle of a little town as things were deteriorating. Upon further research I discovered that the drive shaft bolts we had done up at Paro during the diff fix had come loose and broken all bar one.

My heart goes through my feet as I think, “I don’t think I have packed any of those”. Digging to the bottom of the rear compartment low and behold I had out thought myself and packed 2 sets. My heart jumps back to chest and I start the repair using Loctite this time.

By this time we have a crowd of 100+ watching the process and amazed at Penny. Julie asks what she can do to help and my reply is “Keep an eye on everything, look after crowd control and apply the hand brake when needed while I get under the car and fit the new bolts”.

About an hour later we pack up and bid farewell to the crowd of onlookers.

The last 30ks into Imphal was smoothish and didn’t require massive pothole dodging. The delay did however mean we entered town in the dark and at peak hour. It was quite an exercise to keep up with the guide and manneuvrer through the main roundabout with all the traffic chaos.

Today is off to the border and into Myanmar to continue the adventure.

Today is off to the border and into Myanmar to continue the adventure.