Automobile Adventures!

Yesterday, we came up to Ooty.

Dad drove the car and we really made good time! Dad drove really, really well -not safe, mind you- but well. He always does.

We went through a game park and saw elephants, bison, and hundreds of small deer. It is monsoon, so the park was in full green- so beautiful!

Then, we get to the hill. We must climb a hill of 7000 ft and the road is about one lane wide, but still 2 way traffic. There are waterfalls and beautiful peaks and it really is a georgious drive. But, looking over the side of the mountian, there isn't anything particular to keep you from sliding all the way back down if your car makes a bad turn. Then, there are these HUGE tour busses that speed around the hairpin bends and hope nobody is on the other end. Not to mention the potholes the size of a small car. IT WAS GREAT!!! We always have a good time!

So, we were about 10 km from our final destination and all of the sudden the car just dies. Totally goes out. We've got nothing. Wouldn't start. Nothing. So, mom and dad got out behind and pushed it and I poped the clutch, but that didn't do anything. We tried that 3 or 4 times.

Because we live in India, people are always about and watching us. There was a small crowd gathered because it really is odd to see white people pushing a car. So, they started to ask and try to fix the car and of course they don't know any more about it than I do (which is nothing) so there we sit.

Then this guy comes up with a Mahindra- a truck. Dad wanted him to tow us the 10 km and he wanted 1000 rupees, which is like $26. Dad kinda laughed and said he would give him 400 rupees, and they started to dicker. The guy wasn't budging so dad started to flag other cars down. At that point, the guy decided he would do it.

So, they connected our car to the truck by a rope and off we went!!! They took us through back roads until we got to our little hotel. Praise the Lord! It really worked out well. We did all this in the LIGHT! it wasn't dark yet, so we were thankful. We got out our hotel all safe and sound- we were happy!

So, today the car is getting fixed. Maybe it is already fixed by now. The timing belt went wrong. Acutally it was a small "key", as they call it, that helped move the timing belt that broke off. So, the key is being replaced and all will be well!