Open wide, this won't hurt a bit

A second day of open alternator surgery on Fidra and bestie and I managed to get all the way down to the crook of the engine. What an utter, utter faff.  In fact it was beyond faff and bordering on the ridiculous, involving levers and rope and lots of swearing..  We took a break and had a trip out in the afternoon to a car parts shop across town to buy a slightly more specialised tool to assist with the last task.  I am pretty well equipped normally but sometimes you just need the precise tool for the job.

But we managed to get the alternator out from its cosy confines and immediately found that the entire thing was on the verge of extreme failure.  And mine is not the first.  Frankly I'm amazed –and relieved – that it lasted as long as it did, or our Lake District holiday, or even our south coast trip, might have ended on the back of a flatbed.  I'm also dismayed, because it's a chunky piece of engine to find a replacement for, and I won't know if the rest of the bike's electrics have survived until it's all bolted back together.

That was enough wrenching and much as it may be Type 2 Fun, we needed to have some time actually enjoying our holiday.  For the rest of the day, we drove over to Mum and Dad's where Mum had cooked up a lovely meal of mushroom and chestnut casserole.  Bestie brought a cake with her and Mum had made a trifle too, so we were properly equipped for a wee pig out!