Getting the Car out of Quarantine – 12/18/2012
Dec 18th, 2012 by admin
We’ve been waiting for Ivan from Bikes Abroad, who are our importers, to call and tell us that the Cherokee has been released from quarantine and that we could pick up the car. Finally, I paid Ivan 1775 AUD for his work. As soon as I put the money in Ivan’s account (another story in itself – the National Australian Bank doesn’t take Trevelers Checks), he mailed the quarantine release form and I had it in my email when I got back to my hotel room which is exactly across the street from the bank.
After waiting most of the day for the insurance guy to get in touch with me after I sent him the completed form for the insurance, I gave up and went down to the warehouse that had the car. Walked in and had a nice chat with the girl in the office who explained the facts of life (Oz customs version) to me.
They told me the car was cleared with Customs and with Quarantine so the would release the car but since I didn’t have the insurance sorted yet that they really wouldn’t release the car. And if I didn’t take the car they’d start charging me 35 AUD per day until I did. So, I ask, what do I do? They said to call a tow company and have it towed to anywhere. Just don’t drive it until the insurance and temp reg are finished. That’s it? Yep, if you don’t drive it, we won’t ask about insurance.
Called the Jeep dealer. Yes I could have the car towed there. No, they wouldn’t arrange it. But here’s the number for Imperial Towing. Dial Imperial Towing and get voice mail “Leave a number.” Of course, that won’t work b/c my mobile number is a US number and I know they won’t call.
<Today’s miracle starts here>
A tow truck shows up. “Can you help me with a tow?” “No, but here’s a number of another tow company.” I call; another voice mail. Shane, the tow truck driver, “No drama, mate. Let me call around.” He finds another mate that can come. He gives me the number. I call. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”
Sure enough 30 minutes later, he’s there and another 30 minutes and the paperwork is done. I drive the Cherokee (after a jump start) out of the building and up the ramp of the roll-back. Off to the Jeep dealer.
Back in to Brisbane and into the service yard for Albion Jeep. We start to unload the Cherokee and I go in to set up the service appointment. Everything is going swell until we get to “and what year is the Cherokee?” “2001.” “Sorry, we don’t work on them.” “What? Are you kidding? All I want is an oil change and lube and maybe some new shocks.” Sorry, we don’t work on old cars.” “Any suggestions?” “We do have a shop that we refer older cars to. Here, I’ll dial them up and you can talk to them.”
I get Steve from Global 4X4 & Performance Garage on the phone. (Think YAZ in Chelyabinsk but in English and no hand language req’d.) “No worries, mate. Just bring it over and we can do what ever you need. The only issue is we can’t work on it until Friday.” “Well, I was going to ask you if you could hold the car until the 29th or 30th.” “No worries.” “And I’d like a quote on some appropriate shocks for the Jeep which, you’ll note, has been raised 3 inches.” “No problems. That’s what we do here.” “Okay, an oil change. New filters. Lube job. Quote on new shocks. I’ll call on Friday about the shocks.”
Get the car off the roll-back. Start it with another jump start. (Two months in a container hasn’t done the battery any good.) Pay the tow truck. And call a taxi for the ride back to Brisbane.
</Today’s miracle>
Of course, the taxi ride is with a Kurd (as in Kurdistan) taxi driver. He’s a hoot. I we do a banger rally to Kurdistan, he’s our man. Knows Kurd, Turkish, Persian, a little Greek and, of course, English. But very talky. He brings me back to the hotel and as I’m getting out, I tell him we should get together for a drink if he’s not Muslim AND Kurdistan actually gets to be a country. The good news: he’s not Muslim, says he’s an atheist. The bad news: Kurdistan country part might be a problem.
Back to the hotel room. Barbara, “Where have you been?” “Well, you wouldn’t believe this. Or maybe you would.
Obi-wan