Musings from and about
living in Mexico
The Spruce Goose has Landed
OK the good news is my brother-in-law and his lady arrived in Coatepec at 8 PM last night. This is a mere four miles from us. We jumped in the Jetta as it was starting to get dark – do not like to ride the scooter very far when it is dark – very poor Chinese lights.
Spruce Goose Art Work: Re Becca
As we drove into Coatepec right there at the entrance in the Pemex parking lot – there they were. Quick hugs for everyone; back to the Casita.
By a major stroke of luck there were no vehicles parked on our side of the road the entire stretch from where the road turns to dirt all the way up to the little capilla. Words cannot be found to express how unusual and fortunate this is.
The wagon train settled in to where it will probably remain for some time in the distant future.
Yesterday on the final leg of the journey the happy travelers took a wrong turn and came here by way of Perote. That trail, one we have never ventured on, reaches altitudes of over 8200’. Overheated transmission and my heart be still!
At 1:45 PM, about the time we expected them to be here, we received a panicky email via cell phones, “We broke down, in Perote-Altotonga. The truck couldn’t take the uphill grades. I think the trans blew it’s seal. I can get a tow I think with my road side service for the truck only. But not the trailer. Our coordinates are north 19 degrees 43.019 seconds by west 097 degrees 14. 978 elevation 7172 ft how far away from you are we?”
Here we are thinking – what the hell are you doing there at 7,172 feet? And wrote back, “WHY are you there? That is miles away from the FLAT coast hwy you should be on. We have never been there and know nothing about it. Where did you leave from this morning? You may be better off heading back down from where you are – it is still higher – cold and miserable ahead. We have heard about the area but never been there – the roads are winding and narrow and dangerous for even a car.” Let alone a wagon train!
Putting the moment in perspective – we are at our computer in our Casita. They have been on the road for 10 days experiencing myriad problems, and out now in the middle of nowhere in a foreign land. We are asking HOW they could be there in no uncertain terms.
The point being, in retrospect, this rather harsh question was surely NOT what my BIL wanted to hear at that point. However in our defense we also have been following this trek for ten days making all effort to advise. Earlier on this fateful morning we were frustrated by the fact that we were not contacted before they left their hotel so we could go over the details of the last 150 miles of the trip. We had emailed three maps the night before over which we had hoped to have some conversation and last minute advice. So OK we had our own frustrations – but none we would have traded for the mess my BIL was in at that moment.
After the initial shock we settled in to trying to help from afar. We had little to offer at that point other than an offer to throw up some prayers.
There is POWER in prayer!
After logging into Google Earth and checking the coordinates supplied we knew this was very dicey.
2 PM another short email, “Our transmission seal is blown” OMG!
Adding more fuel to his pain we emailed the map below and commented, “The blue line is where you should have gone – we are about four hours from Perote and again we have never been there. We only have the scooter and Jetta here. It is dangerous to leave your stuff unattended in that area (it is VERY primitive).”
Just Follow the BLUE line – See A and B for Actual Location
We wait chewing our nails until 3:30 PM – then this, “We have been filling one quart at a time we are put of mountains. Going down grade now should be coming to 140 soon”.
What does he mean, “we are put of mountains” ?
More waiting.
4:45 PM we receive this, “At avenues Lazaro Cardenas Calais, ver”
They are in Xalapa – prayer does work!
Over the next 3 hours we receive a couple more very short emails – they are wandering lost, or eating or working on the truck??? Finally at 7:30 PM we learn they are at the Pemex station in Coatepec. We write a pleading email asking them to NOT MOVE – we will be there in 10-15 minutes!
OK so the Spruce Goose has landed – all is well in Mexico land. We will pry the details from my BIL’s bloody hands and tell the rest of the story as it unfolds here – there is a lot to tell – so Stay Tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you. Comments are welcome.
ivan