The Waiting Game
Trip Start
Jan 20, 2004
1
59
165
Trip End
Ongoing
Coyhaique,
Chile
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
After a week of waiting, we returned to the mechanic with fingers crossed. "Yes" the truck had arrived, and "yes" the windshield was unbroken and "yes" it was the correct size, and they would need only another two days to complete the repairs
01 Sebastian learns a new tune
. Breathing a sigh of relief, we spent the following two days feeling quite elated, knowing we would soon be back on the road. When we returned two days later we could immediately tell from the look on our mechanic's face that all was not well. Yes, the truck had arrived, but somehow they had failed to load the windshield onto it in Santiago. Don't even ask why we were told otherwise. However, not to worry - the next truck was expected within four days and we were assured that our windshield was already aboard. We tried to encourage our mechanic to get started on the remaining repairs so we would be ready to go as soon as the windshield arrived, but in spite of daily promises, he never quite found the time.Unfortunately, a low pressure system was passing through the area, creating generally cool, cloudy days with considerable rainfall. Josh and Jason, a couple of young fly fishing enthusiasts from Seattle kept us entertained at the breakfast table, telling us about their fishing exploits over the past two weeks. They too were getting somewhat frustrated by the constant rain, as it meant that the rivers had become swollen and turbid and they were no longer able to make their "100 catches" per day!
Yes, the next truck did arrive on the scheduled date, but our windshield was apparently right at the back so we were forced into another day of waiting while the remaining contents were unloaded
02 Towering over Coyhaique
. We had already lost ten days just waiting, and the weather in the south was getting progressively colder. Sleeping in our van is not much warmer than sleeping in a tent, so we are naturally anxious to be on our way. By the following evening, the windshield was finally unloaded and delivered to the workshop. We were totally dumbfounded when we saw that it was the wrong size!! We didn't know whether to laugh or cry! By this time we were ready to duct tape the old shattered windshield back into place and take our chances on finding a new one in Argentina. However, once again we were assured that the "correct" windshield would be available in "just three more days". Since the company in Santiago had erred, they were now prepared to ship the windshield by air, at no extra cost to us. The aircraft was scheduled to land on Sunday afternoon and the mechanic would definitely have the windshield in his hands by nine o'clock Monday morning. For sure!! Somehow, however, we were no longer feeling quite so optimistic. And yet, "to everything there is a purpose". Had we not been forced to wait for the windshield, we may never have met Luís and Teresa, and their children Mathias, Bastian, Lucas and Valentina. One evening we were in the local video store, selecting one of their few DVD movies to watch on our computer. We started chatting to owners Luís and Teresa, talking excitedly about our trip, and eventually also telling them about Mike. Within minutes, Luís informed us that his birthday was the next day and invited us to join the family for a celebration dinner. So when was the last time you were invited to dinner by your local video store owner? And what a feast it was - including mouth-watering lamb, barbequed over a wood burning parrillada just outside the door. Relatives Karen and Adonis, with their children Catalina and Guillermo also joined us, along with med student Mauricio
03 Dinner's ready
. By 11 pm we were ready to sit down for the scrumptious meal. Later in the week we spent a second evening with the family and some neighbours showing them photos of our trip, and then joined them for an all day Sunday outing to nearby Puerto Aisen and Puerto Chacabuco. As for the windshield......need you ask?? It's now Monday afternoon and of course it still hasn't arrived. But what to do?! (as people were so fond of saying when we worked in Sri Lanka). Everyone who hears our story here simply tells us.....be patient, this is life in Coyhaique!
We recently heard from our friend David Catmur in Aylmer. He wrote...."Some time ago I read Lord Lytton's biography about his son Antony's life - Antony was killed in an air crash in the thirties - he, like Mike, was a bright star who left us far too soon. Lytton quotes Ben Johnson":
"It is not growing like a tree
In bulk doth make man better be
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night;
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we must beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be."
