Life is one big adventure

[ppp]

The PPP sitrep

One of the great things about travel is not knowing what’s around the next corner. The adventure gleaned almost every day fills the soul and mind with memories which can be recalled upon during times of prolonged inactivity during those long days of  winter when the weather has closed us all down.

Our latest adventure happened on Wednesday as we were driving through a torrential downpour in Cheshire at about 5 pm. Approaching a set of traffic lights we observed standing water of about 2 inches across the carriageway. The Satnav was directing me to go left at the lights. Unbeknown to me, the road dipped slightly before going uphill and the water at that point became much deeper, about 18 inches, at that point the engine stopped and could not be restarted.

We were trapped midstream with rain bouncing down and a torrent of water coming down off a hill to our left adding to the rising flood. Oh! Oh!, this is looking serious ‘I thought’ while thumbing through my telephone diary for the breakdown recovery number.  After several minutes of automated Spanish language, I finally got through to the human voice of RACE in Madrid who was very nice, sympathetic and assured me that a man from the AA in England would be with us as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I could see through the rear view mirror that a police patrol had put some signs up reading FLOOD ROAD CLOSED about 15 metres behind us. 10 minutes later, a big fire engine arrived, coming through the flood and took up a position in front  where they got to work unwinding a long winch rope and proceeded to pull our motor home up to dryer land.

Eventually the man from AA arrived, took one look at the engine and started shaking his head. “It’s not looking good sir” he said. “When water gets into the engine, through the air filter, it usually causes big problems” He went on to say something about Conrods bending  and Camshaft getting distorted etc etc.

We were towed to our original destination a few miles away and the following morning some serious thinking got underway. This is going to cost us an arm and a leg I decided before coming across a very nice man who said “Have you told your insurance company?” “You were in a flood which was no fault of yours, therefore you should be covered”

An even further nicer lady from Abbeygate on the Costa Blanca sent me a claim form as an email attachment which I filled in and sent back. An hour later a young man from Abbeygates head office rang me from Gibratar and gave me authorisation to have the repairs done. I rang the AA man again who arranged to have the motorhome picked up the following morning and taken to Peugeot’s main dealership 30 miles away in Manchester.

It’s now 09.45 and we’re just waiting for the AA man.

Watch this space…………….

[David Jackson]

Eeee by gum... hope it all works out OK!
Still rather funny to imagine a Brit in the UK having to call Madrid for his insurance, tho'!

[aslan]

I reckon a british insurance company might call it your own fault you drove through flood water and refuse the claim; be interested to see what the spanish one does.

[chiccomallo]

People on here are calling you Captain Pugwash Ha Ha

[ppp]

Abbeygate is not a Spanish insurance co. They operate in UK, Spain, Cyprus, France, Portugal and Gibraltar and up to now they have been very efficient and there response was quite rapid, they are set up mainly for the ex-pat community in those countries.

From my initial call to them by phone, I received a claim form by email which I filled in and returned to them within 45 mins.

An hour later, I received a telephone call from Gibraltar telling me to go ahead with repairs.

I do know that Spanish insurance companies are notorious for the length of time they take in just processing a claim.

As regards driving into a flood being my fault, you have missed the point Aslan, the water was only about 2" deep across the road but only the locals knew that there was a hidden dip halfway across.

Viva la Espana and Abbeygate!

[David Jackson]

Isn't a Captain supposed to go down with his ship?
I just have this vision of you leaning out of the window and saluting as the motorhome slipped beneath the waves!!!