Here we are again

Let me introduce Mohamed. He's an auto electrician from the town of Ait Melloul near Agadir. His specialty is starter motors, which is lucky because ours is packing up! It's been showing signs of old age for a while now but it packed up all together in Tiznit on a hot sunny afternoon, leaving us stranded in a town we've been stranded in before. A good test of stamina for us both. We've discussed the situation many times in theory as well as in practice and can now apply our wisdom. All will be fine in the end, keep cool and center oneself. It's the life as Lahoucin would say.
I've already cleaned every available connection I know of so it can only be the starter motor. So I hit it with a hammer ! Laugh a bit, go on.
Finished? I'll carry on.
I've heard of this remedy before and it's purpose is to free a jammed starter and blow me it worked. Elation is an understatement. We're running and we're not stopping here. Agadir here we come!

Agadir is sixty miles or so away giveing us plenty of time to consider a plan of action. Vannie might not start again or maybe hammer technique will work again? What to do? Ait Melloull has become a legend over the years of many breakdowns in Morocco. It's the place to break down! Rumour has it and we go through it on our way. So a quick search on google for an auto electrician? and google maps leads us to a few doors away from our friend and saviour to be, Mohamed. Synchronicity has kicked in.
So here I am, the following morning, in a familiar position inside the engine. Vannie has gone so well this year. New engine has purred to Dakhla and back but now she wants some attention.

You love it really don't you Ted! It's what keeps life on the edge. Back streets of a very Moroccan town, on the street next to a very small garage in the hands of a chap who obviously has been doing this all his life. Mucky hands and prospects of repair, in my element you could say.


Like a little boy watching his daddy repair an engine. I'm caught and am vital.


Straighten those shoulders Ted, Krysia reminds me. She's watching me all the time, keeping check on my anxiety levels and grounding me whenever needed.

Mohamed has removed the offending motor and is now dismantling it to it's core pieces. He's known what the problem is since first meeting him. The brushes are worn, the motor is dirty and a new solenoid is needed! He says that's no problem. Phew, that's a relief. No problem eh? Can this be true? There is but one problem, can we get the spare parts? This takes several wanderings through town with Mohamed and without him. It's an old spare part we're looking for and although we find a very respectable similar replacement. It's not quite right and we only find out after refitting and trying to start, which fails! So off comes the motor and out comes a box of spare old bits. He finds a suitable part and refits the whole thing and............. it starts like a new engine? Well it is but now it's kicked into life with a force.

 

Krysia, in the meantime, as well as keep tabs on me, is recording the whole event for you all to see. 

Outside the garage I take five and rest on our own drivers seat.


This is a wonderful day.

 The resident artist gets distracted with beautiful and interesting images that surround our place of repair.

Gets a bit boring keeping an eye Ted's stress levels so her eye wanders around and captures a bit of life and art.

Mohamed's son turns up and helps his Dad put us back together and send us on our way. He's proud of his Dad, helping the strange tourists back onto their journey.

We appeared from nowhere and disappear into the traffic, hopefully, strange as it is, never to be seen again! Well no one wants to breakdown, do they?

A parting group shot of Mohamed, his son and a couple of extras? and we're off.


Back on the road. I wonder what's next?