Life's a Full Time Job

I rode my bike to the gym this morning. It was beautiful, a little breezy, clear, sunny, cool. The road had been freshly graded above the Wilson Bridge which was a joy to ride. The bike was performing perfectly.

All in all, life was good.

I rode from the gym up hill into the wind to get to Boquete for breakfast. The wind was now stiff so I was walking as much as riding, but it was OK.

I got to Olga's, ready for a breakfast with friends and I got the dreaded phone call.

Yella saying the car quit running...just like that, while she was moving, it quit. And wouldn't start again.

Now the problems begin...no Spanish, a poor pool of mechanics to draw on.

I call Keith the Car Guy who I bought the car from. We meet at the Boquete Hostel at their restaurant on the river. I whole gang of friends are having coffee.

So it is time to stop, pause and have some fun before getting on with the car stuff.

(If you are worrying about Yella, the car stopped about a quarter mile from our house and she walked home)

We got to the car and, of course, it started right up.

Now what?

I hate intermittent problems. How do you fix them?

I drove to a store and got Coca Cola to clean the battery terminals.

This is the old standby, "brush you off" explanation for any electrical problem in Boquete. This was the diagnosis for the problem by my friends.

In order to shut people up, I cleaned the battery.

And the car stopped running again...of course. Does anyone really buy the "it's your corroded battery terminals" story anymore?

Ya, ya...I know they have to been cleaned but it is not the cause of all problems electrical.

I met Keith at a mechanics shop on Volcancito Road. He will keep it tonight and work on it.

I hope he finds something.

It may be time to say "Uncle" and give up on this car. It is a constant problem. Sooner or later, you have to admit "it's a lemon!"

Problem: no money. HHMMMM?????

We'll have to wait and see.

By a stoke of luck, I had my bicycle in the car so I was able to ride home. A good ride. Now it's hot though. I am having trouble cooling off.

But it was a great day for bike riding!