Our first Mission to help the Animals
Somehow it just wasnt meant to be.
Already yesterday ist started of badly. As i was getting Petrol for today, the car would not restart at the petrolstation. As i had trouble like this before, i thought it would be the starter. So i quickly borrowed a hammer form the petrol attendant and climbed under the car (much to the amusement of the onlooking men) All the knocking did nothing, so i opened the bonnet and had a good look. Everything in its palce, nothing loose, so it can only be the batterie. Well i bought a new batterie and the nice gentleman from the station even put it in for me.
This morning then, i confrered with Renata, about pickup, time etc, filled the cansiters with water, drove to the supermarket bought 16kg Dogfood and headed for Las Palmas. These bl…y traffic jams. But at last i arrived at Renatas, managed to fit in the transport boxes, blankets and everything else. On our way up into the mountains we went. Due to the traffic, we took the road over Tafira, Santa Brigida, San Mateo and headed in the direction of Tejeda.
Due to the tight corners and the traffic, we were having to drive slowly which did not go down to well with my car. Somehow the motor began to sound aliitle off and i was looking for a shady place to pull over and let the car have a rest whilst i looked into it. But, as anyone who knows the route knows, there are few if almost no parking areas on that road. The engine was gettin rather hot, and the temperature gage was moving dangerously into the red. At last just befor the Kruz de Tjeda, i found a spot where i could stop.
I had hardly gotten out of the car whe it started to bubble spit and burp from under the bonnet and water was running no streaming from under the car. I couldnt even open the bonnet as it was so hot, you could have fried eggs and bacon on it. Oh sh.. i thought it has burst the cooling water pipe or the cooler itself. Well befor i could open the bonnet i had to wait for it to cool a little. So there we sat, waiting and having a little water our selves.
After about 15 minutes, i was able to open it at last without getting 3rd degree burns. Phui, even though the water was still spitting and bubbling, i could see that the pipe and the cooler were still in once piece.
As there was still to much pressure on the cool water bottle, i had to wait again 15 minutes. Then i managed to loosen it a little, wait again, loosen alittle wait again etc etc until i was able to remove the cap completely. After the water had managed to cool and return downwards, i added some cold water to replace the lost, and carefully sarted the Motor to see if it would work.
Phew, thank god it did. As I was unsure if the car had got some damage, and i did not trust it,we decided to fgive up our venture for today. I wasnt evensure if i would make it home. Renata got on the Bus, and after waiting some more time (just tomake sure) i headed of home too.
Funny though, People are not very helpful. I was sat some time all alone at the side of the road, Bonnet of the car open obviously there was something wron, not one person stopped to ask me if the could help. Everyone had a good gawp though. I was also very suprised at how many tourist buses were heading up into the mountains.
Disapointed that our sheme to help the poor animals had not succeeded, i went home, but could not stop myself of thinking how much we had wanted to do, and how badly the animals nedded help.
At home i then told my plight in the German speaking Forum, and was offered help straight away by one person. So im hoping we can have another go tomorrow or Saturday.
The best thing though was, As i arrived home, Renata called me with this unbelievable story.
She had to change Bus in San Mateso. A few stop outside the Village the bus stopped to let on some more people, and suddenly a young scared Dog jumped into the Bus. Everyone was in uproar, and the Driver tried to chase the poor animal off the bus, but it was to scared. Renata offered to put the dog into the transport box and take it with her, bet the driver wouldnt hear of it.
So Renata, includign the dog box and the dog got off the bus, and she had to think of what to do next. A few kilometers down the road, at a restaurant she asked if the dog was known there, but no. So she packed the animal into the transporte, called a Taxi and took her home. The dog has not left her side since. Now she is going to try to trace the owner, or find a new home for it.
