Part II of II
The back road was pretty rudimentary, and before too long she was
mashing down grass that was taller than the car. After some miles of
this, she got a flat tire. So, there she was, alone in a TR-3, in the
bush of Africa with a flat tire, and in grass taller than the car. She
could not find the spare. Those who had TR-3s would understand.
But, luck was still with her, and though the area seemed abandoned,
people appeared as if out of nowhere. She was fluent in Walof, and knew
Mandinka pretty well, and so she explained the problem and where she was
going. When they heard she was going to see the Maribu, they were
particularly willing to pitch in and help. But, they also could not find
the spare tire. They said the village was only a few miles down the
road, and they escorted her there on foot.
The villagers set her up to spend the night, and when she got up the
next morning, her TR-3 was in the center of the village. Being
hospitable to visitors, the people had gone out and carried her car the
rest of the way to town. Upon further investigation, they found the
spare, but no jack. This is not a problem for people who have carried a
car two miles, and they changed the flat.
Mom received three Ju Jus while she was there, she had the leather man
bind them up, and then she headed back to Bathurst.
Because she was late returning, several of the Peace Corps volunteers
headed out on a 'rescue mission' for her in a Land Rover. Unfortunately,
they totaled the Land Rover on the detour road when they hit a hidden
stump. They were not seriously hurt, and Mom made it back to Bathurst in
the TR-3 without further incident.
The Ju Ju she got for me worked very well, but just as this story
started, that is another story.
Cheap Charley
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