We have problems with sms - twitter - we will try and fix that.Once again experiencing the agonizing comforts of hotel life. Going to the mechanic to change the gearbox once again. It was business as usual. Us standing around watching other people work. This is actually rather hard work. One need to look stylish and appear to be interested in that is going on. Actually it is quite nerve wrecking. What if the new gearbox does not work?
We did a little sightseeing in the area where the garage is placed. It is really a somewhat industrial area. Lots of various workshops. Walking down the street in suits and top hats makes us stick out. We are wondering in what way people view us. Are we seen as arrogant European assholes or are we just a curiosity. A small girl that waited in line at the small kiosk we bought cigarettes was staring at me, but smiled back as I smiled at her. I also came across the only white person I have seen in this part of town. I was walking down the street in my regular outfit - with the expedition sun-glasses. An outfit which make me look like something taken straight out of Mad Max - to add to the look I was wielding a green tire-iron I had just bought. The guy was sitting at a cafe - eating something. He noticed me. Stopped chewing his food and just stared at me.
Today we also got to know the kids that help out the mechanic a little better. Some barriers where broken and we talked about Norway and Morocco and football and everything a young Moroccan kid wants to know. All in a mix of small parts of French, a tiny bit of English, and a lot of finger language and drawing in the sand. We have a small polaraid-like printer and took some nice pictures of our new friends that we gave them.
Finally the new gearbox had been installed. We tried it out. We were able to go backwards. And forwards. We were getting ready to depart. Everything was looking good. I took the car for a last test drive together with the mechanic. And. The gearbox did not shift up. I maxed out the car at 70kmh at rather insane revs on the engine in first gear. It is not possible to get a new gearbox on the Sunday - so we are stuck till Monday. This sucks big time! But what can we do but wait? There will be a lot of catching up to do. A lot.
If you can't make one working gearbox out of the three defect boxes you have, and test it before you put it in the car, I suggest you just put back the one without third. Change the oil. Third gear is not very important, assuming your have a forth. The quality of the gearboxes you have got until now has not impressed, and don't assume the next one will be any better. Africa is where broken European car parts go when they retire.
SvarSlett