Will she won’t she? Oh the joys …
14.8.23
We bought Naz, our motorhome in May 2021. Post covid, life’s too short, it’ll be fun blah blah.
In an ideal world we would have bought a young one, with low mileage. Instead we bought within our means, a 15 year old ex public bus with high mileage.
Her conversion is beautiful and it was love at first sight. I remember my Dad saying we wouldn’t go wrong with a Mercedes.
She first overheated on the long steep hill in Sarıyer, near Seydikemer, Muğla, Türkiye 45 minutes from our home in Fethiye in September 2021.
We continued on our journey and went 1000s of miles, up to and all along the Black Sea coast, down to the east of Turkey, to Lake Van, then near to the Iranian and Syrian borders, then to one of the most anticipated experiences of our lives, onwards to Nemrut Dağı, Mount Nemrut.
Poor Naz ran hot every time she reached a hill.
She finally had enough on the steep climb to Nemrut, there was an almighty bang, lots of steam, the radiator cap dented the bonnet, the front grill disintegrated and her Mercedes badge flew many metres along the road as if to say “Yep, I’m a Merc but you’re taking the piss now’.
Fast forward, we spent 6 days at Kahta Sanayı with ‘Ömer the incredible.’
The offending article – the antique water pump – replaced, radiator, cam shaft, injectors reconditioned, head gasket, skimmed head, lots of other bits, whose names I forget. Johns asleep or I’d ask him. Shockingly our bill equated to around £1500 for all of those parts, a 3 hour round trip to Gaziantep and all of Ömers time. We had expected so much more.
We’ve had numerous trouble free trips since then and have been feeling the love so much that we’ve been contemplating driving her outside of Turkey.
Fast forward. 2 years on.
August 2023
On the 17th of August I had septoplasty and rhinoplasty, having been unable to breathe out of 2 nostrils since 1969 ish, taunted, called names and been so self conscious of my large humped nose my whole life.
I squeezed surgery in between a boat trip and a group camping trip to beautiful Lake Girdev. The perfect place, away from the Fethiye August heat to chill, almost 2 weeks post op, with friends.
Food all shopped & prepped, Naz all packed with everything we needed for 3 nights in the wilds and 2 very excited dogs who haven’t been out of the house much since the summer heat started in May. I was so looking forward to it. We even knew not to go up the extreme, almost impossible montain road we subjected poor Naz to last time.
Off we went.
Unbelievable.. But on the long steep hill in Sarıyer, 45 minutes from home Naz’s temperature went up into the red.
Determined not to end up with an engine rebuild again we turned round and went home.
Sometimes I wish I was happy like a dog. They went back indoors tails wagging after a nice little trip out. I went in laden with frozen food and perishables feeling totally fed up and John as usual calm and not saying a great deal.
I took myself off to bed and watched tv and went to sleep early. I assume at some point we ate, I can’t remember, but mainly I felt angry that John didn’t seem overly bothered.
The next morning I was up around 6am. By 9am I was seething because John hadn’t got Naz to the garaj by 8am. Convinced by now that he never even wanted to go in the first place and that he’d let me prep and trot to and fro loading Naz with my post op poorly snout.
At 9.15am I marched upstairs fuming, I can’t remember my ranting opening line, but when he said Naz was booked in at midday I’m sure I had steam coming out of my ears.
The upshot to that was John skulked off and reappeared after midday with a new thermostat. Done by the same garage he booked in with. I swear he either sat somewhere eating breakfast or wandered around the mall rather than ask one of the other 50 or more garages to have a look.
I was being overly harsh and angry. I blame the anaesthetic which was probably out of my system days and days before.
So, van re stocked. Dogs excited. Off we went.
45 minutes later, same hill, overheated. Turned round. Went home. Dogs loved their drive out. I’m coming back as a dog in my next life and Naz will be up for sale as soon as this is resolved.
3 days later Naz was fixed. A new head gasket and head skimmed, 19,400 tl, £600. A man was lurking around looking at her and asked if she was for sale.
The garage guy told us not to sell, she’s a very good vehicle.
It just doesn’t feel like that to me, but Ömer the incredible told us the same 2 years ago.
What we have learned from this is that when having an engine pretty much totally rebuilt, for goodness sake replace the thermostat at the same time. Maybe Ömer isnt quite as incredible as we thought.
Weve also learned that actually £2100 outlay on a vehicle that’s given us so many beautiful memories and experiences over 2 and a half years really isn’t a lot.
So on 14th September we’re heading to Ayvalik, where John has a half marathon to run.
Will we make it?