Sopot, Poland

I have to admit that originally, I wasn’t going to write a blog about our stay in Sopot but was planning on combining it into the next planned blog once we got to Germany. But, our visit here has been very eventful and therefore worthy of it’s own blog entry!

When we were in Vladivostok, we “met” another Australian driving across Russia. Originally, we thought that we might be able to travel together, which would have been good from the point of view company, assistance (if & when required), but timings just didn’t work, so Michael Ginter & his family (wife & two kids) left Vladivostok ahead of us. Thankfully, we were able to stay in touch most of the time, and Michael was a forward scout for us – he would tell us about the road conditions, etc, which turned out to be a great help.

So what was so frustrating, I hear you ask?? Well, Michael also owns a Troopy and has a background in the Off-Road industry, so he suggested that he might like to take the opportunity to look over our Troopy and just make sure that everything was ok. Well, the first thing they found was a snapped spring shackle in the rear suspension! We HAD to get repaired! So, Michael contacted a friend of his who has a 4WD Mechanical Business – Trasek. Tomek (Michael’s mate) was fantastic – we took the car to him and he manufactured a replacement shackle and installed it for us. Apparently, this is normal behaviour in Poland – whereas in Australia or Germany, mechanics are likely to say “This is too difficult – you have to replace it with a new one”, in Poland, they are used to repairing, so Tomek made the shackle, bent it, drilled it & welded it, and generally did a great job. As we were due to leave Sopot the next day and drive to Berlin, where we would be catching up with family (Kathy & Dave Edwards), MJ was very concerned when Tomek came in and, even though we don’t speak any Polish, we understood his tone. Michael translated to advised that Tomek had discovered that the rear suspension was just totally rooted! Now, given that it was the original suspension in a 22-year old car, and we have just driven it over some very punishing roads, this wasn’t so much of a shock, but it was a major inconvenience.

Tomek kept on checking the car and finding things that needed to be done! “Stop looking!”, I heard MJ say to him. Anyway, we ended up with a short list of things that needed to be done immediately – repack the wheel bearings on the rear suspension, machine and install a bearing sleeve in the axle hub, rotate the tyres, grease the front springs and generally check belts & fluid levels. We also have asked Tomek to arrange to get the necessary parts so that when we come back, he will replace the rear suspension (shockies and rear springs), replace the rear axle housing as well as do some of the 260,000km service. Yes, we will be going back – this is work that will need to be done before we can even consider Africa and Tomek now knows our car and understands what needs to be done – and there is a couple of really nice resorts on the Hell Peninsula where MJ can lie back and chill!

So, we have to say a bit thanks to Michael & Joanna, as well has Michael’s parents for allowing us to stay with them for a few nights as well as for Michael’s tour guide services. We also have to say a BIG thank you to Tomek and his staff at Trasek Off Road. Despite our problems, we will go back to Poland and explore the country more, as well as getting the repairs done on the poor old Troopy.