Day 1: Truck began sputtering 30 minutes outside of town, we chalked it up to dirty fuel. An hour later in a remote village the truck died. A so called "mechanic" took a look turned a couple screws and deemed it fixed. An hour later it died again, another "mechanic" no luck again. Towed to the next big town behind a smoke billowing truck that barely ran owned by the "mechanic". Two more mechanics, a welder and 4 hours later we drove off to a small hotel for the night.
Day 2: We made it to our first destination and the truck broke down again. I spent 3 hours with the mechanic untill he gave it the clean bill of health. I drove it the 2 miles back to where we were staying and it died again. I limped it back to the mechanic, 4 hours later I was on my way.
Day 3: We decided that going even farther out would be a bad idea so we altered our route a bit. We headed back in country to explore, we quickly realized that we were now burning fuel as if it was pouring out of the tank, not good when gas is 6 dollars a gallon. Coupled with the fact that mechanics, and welders costs were draining funds. In a country with only about 4 ATM machines total. Undeterred we followed the direction of a local to a tourist spot, truck airborn, 50 lbs Jerry cans flying off the roof and caving in the hood, avoiding village kids and goats dead ending at a river with a bunch of horse carts. Eventually made it out running on fumes and found a hotel for the night.
Day 4: Long day from Farrafenni to Salle, Senegal, truck made it but just barely nearly died as we pulled into the hotel.
Day 5: We got up early to go exploring, hopped in the truck and made it 100 feet before it died. Called up another mechanic, 2 hours later he was finished doing the EXACT same thing every single other mechanic did and confidently sent us on our way.
Day 6: We headed for Dakar with fingers crossed, as usual when traveling in Africa what should be less than 2 hours takes 4 hours. We arrive just before dark after battling horrible downtown Dakar traffic and pull into our abode for night with the car sputtering. Drop it with another mechanic who proceeded to repeat the steps of Day 1-6 and I am ready to have an embalism. They send us back with a thumbs up problem solved.
Day 7: Hop in the truck first thing in the morning to go explore. Half a mile out she begins to protest and sputter, not good when we have a 15 hours drive the very next morning. So we take it back to the mechanic and leave it there for the day. We return to yet another thumbs up problems solved steps 1-6 completed again. For Pete's sake think outside the fricken box!!!
