in arriaga, chiapas

Arriaga,Chiapas

Wanted to let you know we made it to Chiapas, driving from Mexico City.  Only one major problem along the way.  As we were nearing the mountain before the city of Cintalapa, our transmission began to fail.  It wouldn’t go into reverse very well.. we got it going however and were ok for a few more kilometers.  About half way up the next mountain we got stuck as the bus wouldn’t go out of 4th gear.  It seemed to shift but nothing happened, the transmission was stuck in 4th and the angle of the road required 1st or 2nd.  It was one of those steep windy mountain roads with no slow or passing lane.  We put out our emergency red and yellow flashing light because for some reason the VW’s built in flashers decided to stop working at that moment.  (I had used them less than an hour ago.)

I just purchased that emergency light on a whim only a few days back.  I had imagined us on a dark highway and needing it.  Did stuff like this happen because I thought it might happen?  Or did I imagine it happening because it was  already going to happen - causing me to get prepared.  Do I affect the future or does the future affect me.  I likely think too much of my own ability to affect anything.  The past and future being simultaneously sculpted by an outside observer force is more reflective of our understanding of space time - yet our experience is grounded in the choice of the now.

I worked at the shifter and clutch for about 10 minutes, trying to get it out of 4th.  I pushed and pulled, jammed and yanked, it felt like it was shifting but to no affect.  Each time I let the clutch out, the car just groaned and barely moved forward - telling me it was still in forth.  Sweating, frustrated, I climbed under the vehicle, to inspect the linkage from the shifter to the transmission.  Following it all the way back, everything looked fine.  I had Abby shifting as i made sure everything there was working.  Nope, it was for sure a problem inside the transmission.  I noticed some dripping transmission fluid…. not good.

Got back in the vehicle and began very forcefully trying to somehow pop the transmission out of 4th.  I rolled it back down the road a few meters popping the clutch.  I turned the car off and rolled back a bit so the transmission turned the engine as I let out on the clutch.  It got stuck; wouldn’t even roll back anymore.

I prayed, “just let me get it into 2nd, we are just a couple hours from our destination.  we can make it in second.”    In 2nd gear we can start from a level and go as fast as 50 kph (30 mph).  Staring ahead I had a moment of inspecting my faith and the reason for praying.  Answers to prayer can be yes or no.  They can affect reality or not.  What does my praying do?  Does believing it will happen cause it to be so?  I do believe but do I believe enough?  If I have doubt will it be less possible for a positive outcome?   Any faith and belief I do have is gifted to me, so it is really not up to me or my ability at all anyway.  Giving it up to the most high.  “Just let me get it in 2nd.  I can rebuild the transmission when we get to Arriaga.”

The transmission stayed in forth gear.  We pack up a few items getting ready for a walk.  There is no cell phone reception here.  We don’t want to be near the bus anyway when that massive double tractor-trailer rounds the corner and plows into our beloved, overstuffed, 33 year old van and sends it rolling down the mountain.

As we lock the doors a Ford Mustang federal police car zooms up behind us.  I start walking toward the cop and try to wave him down, maybe he can call a tow truck.  He drives right up behind the bus, connecting with our bumper, waving for me to get in the bus.   Its front end bumper is built with large rubber extenders made for pushing cars out of the way.  Abby and I jump in and he begins to push our bus up over the mountain.  I work the shifter trying to get it to pop out of 4th.  It seems like nothing is happening.  This transmission my have breathed the last of its life in 4th gear.

We descend the mountain and the cop turns off.  I start to let out the clutch, then engine revs way up.  Hey, we are in second.  Yeaah..  We cost down the mountain and are able to make it over several more mountains and drive the rest of the way to Arriaga in 2nd gear.  Pheeew.  We gots blessed.