Dec. 22, 2005 — Our motorhome’s clutch got fixed in a very Mexican way. Two mechanics and a helper turned up and had the clutch out within an hour. The disc needed replacing and they went into the nearest city to get a new Toyota part. While they were away, they re-machined the pressure plate. They reassured Kelly that the throw-out bearing was in such good condition that there was no need to replace it.

They came back later in the morning and installed the parts in less than an hour. Total cost $100 US. We paid them in dollars because we didn’t have many pesos yet… no problem!

All this was done with great aplomb and jollity. They were so cheerful that Kelly put my little pocket recorder into his shirt pocket and recorded a bit. So here is a 45-second jolly mechanics mp3 file which begins with Kelly walking over by their pickup truck to catch a bit of the music and then joining them. If you click on it, it should just play on your computer. assuming you have Quicktime or some other mp3 player connected to your browser.

Here are our heroes. The one on the left is the one who was laughing the hardest on the sound file.

5 Comments from the old blog:

• At December 22, 2005 11:27 PM, macmember said…

  I am glad to hear you all are OK. It had been so long since you were online, that I was afraid you had disappeared into the Mexican, “Bermuda Triangle”. Your jolly friends did not exactly look like Pirates, but they did sound a little like them.

  Good to hear all is well.

  Beverly

• At December 23, 2005 8:52 AM, chinle said…

  We just had the same thing done to our Toyota truck and it cost us almost $600.00. Nice to have you back again.

• At December 23, 2005 9:56 AM, Rosana Hart said…

  Interesting that it cost you about $600. We guessed that, but if it had happened while we were in the US, there would have been towing, staying in a motel, etc. I can’t imagine most US mechanics lying under our vehicle in a campground.

• At December 24, 2005 4:27 PM, Anonymous said…

  Similar situation over here in the State of Veracruz (Xico).

  Feliz Navidad you two!
  John & Anita

  http://ranchocalypso.com/travellog/?p=154

• At December 30, 2005 11:33 AM, Anrahyah said…

  They sound an awful lot like Click and Clack, the Car Guys on NPR!
  I am delighted in catching up on your adventures!

  Thank you.

  Anrahyah