Right now i am writing as we are stuck in the Usumboro mountains in a village called Loshoto in Tanzania. The car's starter is broken, and we are stuck and we are at 2000m deep into the mountains of Tanzania. Here is a quick story of whats what.
The car trouble started a few days ago as we were leaving Dar es Salaam. First we realized that the tyres needed replacing and the mission of navigating through Dar to find new tyres took the full day. Everything here takes a full day.
However it was only the next day when we had been on the road for about 2 hours that we stopped for a pee and stretch break. Yet once the car was off, it was not to start again. We were on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere in 30 degree heat. After an ameture inspection it appeared to be the starter that was broken - it was disconnected and hanging below the car.
Some clever thinking and a push start allowed us to get the car going and return back to the nearest town to get it fixed. This could have been the end of the story, but it wasnt. That day we drove another 6 hours up high into the majestic Usumboro mountains to a town called Loshoto. We are camping on a hill overlooking villages and cows and pure green beauty. We had fresh yoghurt and farm made museli with fresh jam and home made bread with farm style cheese this morning for breakfast.
I was gonna do a quick run into town to get more supplies for Stacey's birthday - yet once again the car wouldnt start. Sparks flying everywhere. Whoever said Jews cant fix cars was wrong - we had 3 jews greased up, inside the hood, under the car trying to reconnect (and eventually disconnect) the starter, which had come loose again.
As we were on a mountain we figured we could push start it by rolling it down. After about 400m and input from several locals we finally got Ian (the car) running again, but only temporarily.
The status now is firstly that we are stuck in the mountains far from any mechanic. We have some ideas on how to get it temporarily running so that we can reach Moshi, but the starter is disconnected and the car is not happy. There are no spare parts around here and to organize anything takes hours. Plus as it turns out we are 2 hours from the closest ATM. But secondly, its Stacey's birthday, so i caught a ride on the back of a bike down to town (crazy ride) and am buying Konyagi and watermellon for tonight celebrations.
The hope is to get out of here and to Nairobi by Friday. But we will see how that goes.
Never a dull moment in Africa.
Aweh.
Eitan
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