The Torture

Odometer: 161136

We went to bed late yesterday and both had a bad night’s sleep. Perhaps it was due to the scary stories we had read about auto repair shops or maybe it was because we were now placing our 'home' with all its trappings in stranger's hands? When the alarm rang this morning, we skipped breakfast, except for the much-needed coffee. After all, we didn’t want to keep the mechanic, who had kindly given us an appointment, waiting.

When we arrived at the 'garage' well before 9:00 AM, we asked again if the diesel and air filters could be checked, but the workshop manager declined. They would only replace the spark plugs, nothing more. Nada mas!

Now began the anxious time of waiting for us. Would the repair work? Would the glow plugs hold or break? Would they even take care of Gary today? Or would we be stuck here for the next two or three weeks?

We tried to push aside our concerns and use the time until the call as sensibly as possible.

First, we settled into the cafeteria of an office building we had seen on the way, ordered coffee with milk and two sweet pastries for breakfast.

Then Ines discovered a fashion outlet center where we could perhaps find a few inexpensive items. That was our next stop. We were two of four customers in the store; the fashion didn't appeal to us but it was really very affordable. A glance at the labels revealed that they were likely returns from the two large Chinese discount shippers.

We strolled through the industrial area further. In search of something to do, we discovered a small 'park', a piece of land with one or two benches, grass, and trees. However, the pond in the middle of the green space was completely fenced off with wire mesh.

At a hardware and home improvement store, we searched for a piece of hose for Gary's cooling water overflow. It had now happened multiple times that Gary got too warm, and each time the overflowing coolant doused the engine compartment and specifically the battery because a piece of hose was missing at the overflow. Unfortunately, we found nothing suitable, but we did find a 1/2 inch click connector for the water hose. We were equipped with a whole range of water connections: click, 3/4 inch, 1 inch; for very small connections without threads, we even had an adjustable rubber connector, known as a water thief. So far, we had managed to get by with this, but at some places and disposal stations, we had had poorly accessible 1/2” connections, making it impossible to fill water properly even with a watering can. This problem was now resolved.

However, our search for a hose continued. We found a car parts dealer, but after a lengthy conversation, in which all the present employees gradually joined in, it turned out that the company was a wholesale dealer and could only offer us spare parts in bulk or by the pallet. However, they gave us an address for further inquiries.

The machinery parts dealer offered us a hydraulic hose, but it was not temperature resistant. When we declined, he also gave us an address where we might find help.

The next store also offered machine parts but had transmission and tool accessories in stock. When we entered the shop, we were immediately asked if we would like to speak English instead. We gladly accepted. The colleague who spoke fluent English was from Portugal, had lived in England for a while, and had now settled in Spain. When we expressed our wish, he also didn’t have a perfect solution, but after a few minutes, he brought us a hydraulic hose. Although it was only heat resistant up to 70 degrees, we agreed that this part would work as an emergency repair. In the end, he also suggested we ask the caravan dealer about the filter changes; they wouldn’t do car repairs, but perhaps they knew a workshop.

At the caravan dealer, we were recommended the workshop where Gary was currently located.

By now it was 1:00 PM; we had walked extensively through the industrial area and met many very helpful people. Now we were asphalt tired and it was getting warmer. We went back to the cafeteria and ordered freshly squeezed orange juice. At the next table, a group of ten businesspeople had set up a large table and right at the start, four to five bottles of red wine were served with their lunch.

Alongside our juices, we received a small salad with potatoes and chicken or tuna, just like that. When the group next to us was served their starter salads, we couldn't resist and ordered a large 'Ensalada tropical' with pineapple and peaches. Although Sebb had no appetite due to the uncertainty about the outcome of the repair, he let Ines have some.

By now it was clearly past 1:00 PM, and the workshop would close at 3:00 PM for the weekend. We discussed that we needed to check back there by 2:30 PM at the latest to see how things looked. If we didn’t find the mechanics, Gary might be inaccessible with all our belongings in the locked hall over the weekend.

1:48 PM, the phone rang.

Sebb was immediately on the phone.

The workshop manager had good news; everything had gone according to plan, the replacement plugs had been installed, and the old ones would remain in the car as a keepsake. Sebb asked how much we had to pay and was surprised by the answer. The bill was well under 100 € and thus far below our expectations. We said we would pick up the car in the next few minutes, as we were just a few steps away.

When we reached the workshop, it was just after 2:00 PM, and they were already starting to clean up; by 3:00 PM, there would surely be no one left here.

We paid and thanked them once again for the help, then received the keys back. Gary was in the same spot where we had parked him that morning; we couldn’t say if he had even been moved. Had the mechanics changed the plugs on the street? Sebb opened the hood and inspected the engine compartment. Everything was as expected; the newly screwed-in plugs were where they belonged. When we opened the door, the two old, heavily sooted glow plugs lay on the threshold; they had apparently been switched out without damage. When we started the engine, everything was running as it should; a weight was lifted off our hearts. We would receive the final confirmation of the successful repair tomorrow or the day after when we started the car in the morning after a cool night, but we were confident.

We stopped by a nearby supermarket and made one last purchase in Spain, as we would be driving to Portugal today and diesel there was significantly more expensive than in the neighboring country. However, we refrained from large amounts and heavy shopping since the mountains were still ahead. Now we had new glow plugs, but Gary's problem with steep climbs had not yet been addressed. Therefore, we also directed ourselves to a waste disposal station before crossing the border to get rid of our wastewater; that was about twenty kilograms we didn’t have to haul up the mountains. We skipped the refilling as we would be camping for the next few nights.

Because the temperatures had already exceeded 30 degrees again and we were quite exhausted from all the excitement of the last few hours, we did it like the Spaniards and took a siesta. We could always drive later.

After a 1/2 hour break, an hour and a half had already passed…hmm… had we miscalculated the time? Probably we had been in Portuguese time (-1) on the country road, and when we departed for disposal and break, our phones had stealthily reverted to Spanish time (+1). Suddenly, we had gained an hour for our break.

Thus, at 6:00 PM, we restarted in Spain and arrived at the campsite at 5:50 PM after 50 minutes of driving.

Here, at the reception, Fernanda greeted us in fluent English and with so much friendliness that we felt immediately at home. We received a spot and set up for the weekend.

Next, we went to shower, finally to shower again. Then we sat down with Gary and had dinner. We went to bed early tonight because when the clock goes forward an hour, it gets dark at 8:00 PM.