This is Nick Baggarly. Today we rested in
Milan
Hello folks. This is Todd in Milan. Today Russ and I woke up early and went out for a stroll. When Russ and I get together there aren’t many things that are off limits in conversation and there never seems to a silent pause between our thoughts. I viewed Russ as an outlet and an ally, two things I never really felt I had on the trip until now. Although I was good friends with everyone, and never lacked someone to do things with, there seemed to be something missing for me, at least I felt that way. Nick and Chanda were a team, Doug and Jeff were a team, and I just kind of floated between all the groups. Russ and I met and became friends on the Belize trip back in ’97.
The morning put us on a strict diet of Rover work and trip planning. We hoped this would be the last serious maintenance check in Europe as a combination of good roads and a weariness of daily vehicle checks set in. The day before we had heard a mild valve tick in Hercules, so this was one of several things that needed to be attended to. Everyone had a job. Nick was making preparations for vehicle shipment across the Atlantic. Chanda, did general maintenance, and the Jeff and Doug took care of the mechanical duties.
For the Jeff and Doug, I took the role of supervisor as I listed off the items that needed attention and delegated them to the best man. I asked Jeff to drain the gearbox overflow. A bad seal in the overdrive unit drained caused its gear oil to drain directly into the gearbox. This not only necessitates daily filling of the overdrive unit but daily gearbox drainage. Otherwise it runs with too much oil. This was routine maintenance, so I directed my mind to the next task while Doug replaced the gearbox filler plug because the plug’s edges had become “rounded.” In todays pictures you can see him posing with a saw for effect. Finally, Russ and I performed a valve adjustment. He’s my monkey boy.
Although we were all quite sick of maintenance we all buckled down and did the required work. At this point knew the drill and operated very much like a family. Doug filled the air with his colorful phrases and descriptions as we all labored. Occasionally Nick would yell at us out of the hotel window, and general testosterone banter would continue. I became so involved in the valve adjustment that I didn't realize the quantity of 90w that Jeff was draining from the gearbox; he soon was looking for more containers in which to store the overflow. It was at this point that I realized that Jeff didn't know the difference between the gearbox plug and the oil pan plug. Nick finally got the oil change that he had been talking about since Iran.
With five quarts of synthetic oil drained and placed into compromised containers we need to locate a new supply. Russ and I set off for the nearest auto parts place to obtain another dose of the precious commodity. Successful, we returned with the booty. Unfortunately the oil we obtained and the extra we had with us wasn’t a match and all stores we closed due to a celebration in the town center. I guess we will leave this problem until tomorrow.
Lunch time came and we had a bountiful feast of MacDonalds and cappuccinos which Papalino so graciously offered every time we came in from the cold.
The vehicle maintenance and cleaning was finally completed later in the afternoon so we all cleaned up and decided to stroll into town.
Papalino gave us travel instructions into town by trolley. We made it into what was unmistakably the town center as we saw the large Cathedral (duomo) of Milan, which was built in the fourteenth century. There in the center of the square was a concert. It was a Christmas celebration during Milan's biggest celebration, St Ambrose day.
A large choir was singing songs of Christmas and the spirit of the season filled the air. Beside us a man was selling roasted chestnuts, something I had never seen before. It was cold enough and festive enough to let all the senses know it was Christmas time; Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at our noses, Yuletide carols, were being sung outside, the only thing missing was fire.
Christmas shopping was on the agenda and we figured we should take advantage of our travels and the exotic things around us. The shops were full of possibilities so most of us bought a few Christmas presents for others.
As is always the case the evening brought hunger pangs, so our shopping turned to hunting. Not knowing much about the city we set out on another quest. We walked and walked and walked. We all wanted an Italian dinner, but due to the scarcity of places, and mild dissension among the group, we must have looked for a restaurant for more than two hours. Eventually we found an upscale Italian restaurant and ate heartily.
Although, we all wanted to take advantage of our Italian setting, our dinner produced its usual weariness and most of the group headed home. Russ was kind enough to take up my quest as I figured I should take some Borge wine home for my sisters. We dropped the rest of the group off at the subway where we met and English woman. She typed us off to where we might possibly get the wine in the late evening. We walked all over the place, but my lack of planning got the better of me, no wine. Eventually we decided we should call it quits and head for the hotel. Once back at the hotel we popped on some racy Italian television and were soon down for the count.
