If you return from traveling

Sometimes life sucks. Especially if it hurts: I was about to do a trip to Hamburg to see an old friend again. For keeping things simple I have decided to go by car which would grant me some more freedom.

But due to various things I was able do depart quite late in the evening. But that wasn’t the worst issue. Just as cruising along the highway a yellow light showed up stating a ‘general motor failure’. So I did a POI Search for the next garage.

To be sure to do the right thing I got me the manual of my car and read the passage about the warning lights again which told me that I shouldn’t drive any further. As it’s already past midnight and there was nearly no traffic on the road I decided to push my car. 12 Kilometers - not a big deal but better than waiting.

Hours and Kilometers passed by and I arrived at the gates of the garage but as it was quite soon they were still closed. So I had to wait. If I would have known the answer which was that they weren’t able to help me. But at least I got a new address to push my car to. As I arrived at the next garage the salesman explained me, that I wouldn’t have to push the car as it’s got an emergency program which prevents damage to the engine and it would be possible to drive across a longer distance doing so…

The car gets hooked up to the computer and the diagnostics don’t find a clue except for an entry in the log which gets cleared.

Then I could move on after paying 50 bucks for the service. Slightly pissed I kicked down the pedal to hit the same problem just a few kilometers later.

As it’s already daytime I started by putting on my safety vest. Next step: breakdown triangle and some phone calls.

The car blinked and I had some time to look around me. There was a small parking area and - may it be my lucky day? - a car stopped just as I was preparing the car for being pulled away.

A man got out of that car, looking at me, turning away and walking to a tree for using it as a toilet. Then he drove away again. Some hundred cars passed by - a few ones stopped… but nobody asked if I could need some help. And they did notice me as everybody passing by turned his head. It’s our greedy and selfish society giving their best.

About an hour later I was being pulled to the next garage and my vacation could start at Mixter’s while the car’s being fixed. Two days later I got my car back and I was happy to be able to go back home. I could already feel my bed at home. But that dream ended just 28,7 km later as that damn yellow light showed up again.

As I already know the steps to take, the vest, the triangle… fed up with all that problems I called the Citroen emergency service who sent me someone to tow the car. Hours passed by and nobody cared - same procedure as everytime. The service guys finally called back to give me a status report which wasn’t quite amusing.

They offered me a hotel and a car - but they’d need a credit card number. So I thankfully refused and went on by foot until I was picked up again…

Some days later I got my car back again. The error description was quite fascinating: The plug at the high pressure pump was damaged.

Next time I’d go by plane. Promised.