Awaking from my hazy dream like state there was definitely something in the air, an acrid foul smell, this wasn't the sweet smell of friendship, what the hell was it? Conversation quickly snapping back to reality as we all quickly come to the same realisation, that is not a good smell at all! Maybe an engine smell? Dale quickly explains he has been playing he-man all the way down the mountain, the steering comparable to a days hard labour at every turn. By the growing odour, and the growing concern in our voices, we soon realise this could be big trouble, pulling off the highway before the engine leaves us like our earlier windscreen wiper!
Now not to say any of us aren't mechanically minded, but the usual five men one car problem debates quickly ensued. Decision made lets get it somewhere lighter and safer, maybe with signs of human inhabitants, then we can continue or analytic debate and discussion of problems and options.
Finding a little diner, caravan park in the process of closing with some outside lights this had to be the place to solve this new challenge! A little engine inspection, dirty hands, dirty mouth comments, and a whole load of opinion and roadside expertise, contributed by the whole group, a few options were thrown down for serious further discussion:
- Drive back to France (A lot of km's)
- Stay here for the night
- Drive on with faith and hope in our hearts
- Hitch to a garage and get some power steering fluid
- Drink beer and have another cigarette
In the end with a rather firm veto by me on driving back to France, we settled on / combined a few options, firstly beer and cigarettes to take the edge off what in all honesty had been the most friendly tense stand offs, I have ever been in. After a quick attempt at hitching and a chat with some locals it was decided this was us for the night. Five guys all our gear, no space, frayed tempers, a few more beers, a missing ariel from the quad copter (again), what will forever go down as a cosy 45 minute sleep...less said the better.
Fresh as a flogged horse I was up and about, if nothing more to just get out the van, grabbing my reliably tired hippy, we were off, to find garages and rescue the situation. It was 7.30 am, all solved by lunch time we joked. We hiked, hitched, bus rode, and walked about 21km before we managed talk to some angels, who helped us talk to a mechanic, on a saturday in Switzerland, no easy task I am telling you. For our efforts and resilience we were rewarded with the news that, just about three km in the other direction from where we broke down, was a garage! O how we laughed! I joke but for two guys with no sleep we kinda enjoyed the whole experience, even meeting a lovely local in a beat up banger who helped us with the last 10km or so back to ground zero.
So with a little hopeful hopeful spirit, a quarter wind at best in our sails, an a little prayer we fired her up, ad braved this alleged 3km. Just three kilometres laid out before us, like a winding black serpent, penned in by high passes, just waiting coiled to strike any stricken traveller. Onwards to Kandersteg!
No comments:
Post a Comment