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[Phil Payne]

> Hopefully someone will find a fraying cable & catch it
> before it becomes really inconvenient!

Hmmm.

Left the flat for a run down to Heidelberg - ca. 450 miles - in one pull.  Built-up area and Landstrassen to the Autobahn - 50 kph
and 70 kph.  Spent the time sorting out the stuff for the journey - plugging the phones in, getting Nena Kerner ("Wunder Gesche'n")
on the MD player, demisting windows, all the while watching the gauges warm up.

Late afternoon.  Trying to sneak past the early Hamburg rush hour and pass Hannover just after theirs.

Onto the Autobahn at Schnelsen.  Down to the Elbtunnel at 80kph (electronic signs) and through.  Out the other side - car looks nice
and warm, traffic starts to speed up.  Wriggle the bum into the seat.  Check the mirrors.  Through the 'no speed limit' signs and
wait a few seconds to work out who CAN do what and who INTENDS to do what.  Start to pick up speed.

Gradually cruise up to 135mph or so in company with a dozen others, mostly A4 TDIs.  Road gets damp.  The cars in front are picking
up fine spray - the Autobahn has been salted, so it starts to build up on the screen.  With 450 miles to go I'm sparing with the
washes - as big as the Type 44's reservoir is, you sometimes have to fill it twice on this trip.  Just before I go blind I pull the
washers.

BANG!!  I AM BLIND!!  There's a spurt of foam past the driver's window and a total whiteout in front of me!

Somehow to the hard shoulder - the hose has snapped where it passes the neck of the bottle.  As always there's a roll of N 020 301 1
in the boot.  Tools worth $2500 on board and all I get to use is a Swiss Army knife.

--
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com
  +44 7785 302 803
  +49 173 6242039