4 hours. Little 80s Peuguot with falling-off car doors, missing latches, ripped seats, deflated arm rest and decapitated rear view mirror. Scent of mildew and diesel.
Just outside the city, a stop for gas, oil, water and more water and windshield wash. Into the car and turn the key. No ignition once, twice, three times. Then the engine catches. Confidence soars?
Testy driver. Swerving, gestures and a little distraction? Hand grips what's left of the arm rest.
2 and a half hours out into the countryside. Donkeys, goats, horses and street vendors. Entry into a tiny little country town for a nice, hot coffee. Car turned off. Will it start again?
Back into the car. No ignition once, twice, three, four, five and six times. Then back to the trunk, and return with a tire wrench. Hood open, tire wrench jammed into the engine. Another try, no go. Back the the engine. Use of a hammer to drive the wrench deeper into the engine. Ignition.
On our way again. More swerving, more gesturing and that sometimesdistracteddaze.
Dakar. Whew.
The allure of the places you go is clear. Do you travel on business, or is this all pure adventure?
Posted by: Ed Darrell | Jan 10, 2010 at 03:18 PM
Hi Ed - all the travel is purely for the adventure of it :)!
Posted by: Heida Biddle | Jan 10, 2010 at 04:34 PM