Sometimes the slaves want a little attention themselves. I'm not heartless, so I generally permit a little bit of slave time. In this particular case, it concerned Curt. He had been complaining for a week about a mosquito bite on his left hand between the smallest and next largest knuckles. The red bite had now swollen into an extra finger and he was screaming in pain every hour or so. Given that his left hand is his driving hand, I relented and we went to a hospital in El Calafate. The doctor said it was an infection and he must take some antibiotics for a week. See, I take care of those I am responsible for.
Of course, we didn't go straight to the hospital, there were a few items for me that had a higher priority. First, there was the issue of the U-joint I broke in the wilds of Torres del Paine. Second, there was the failing right front disc brake. We rolled into El Calafate in the mid afternoon and a mechanic specializing in brakes was located. They gave me a new caliper piston on the left side, and Curt got the extra brake pads from the spare parts boxes to have them installed while they were at it. Not much excuses for not stopping now. Then a wild fight ensued to get my front propshaft off so the U-joint could be replaces (of course there were 8 spares in the boxes). But, they were unable to grease the nipples on the U-joints, and it was getting late so we called it a day - hospital would have to wait till tomorrow.
The next day another mechanic was found who insisted that the reason the U-joints could not be greased was that the propshaft was installed backwards. So off it came. Things flipped around. On it went. Still no grease gun would fit on the nipples. Off it came. Curt came to the rescue with some spare long nipples, which installed make it all possible. Nevertheless mechanics must be paid, even for things they break. I have thrown four U-joint in the past 10,000km, all on the front propshaft. Apparently despite paying mechanics to grease the front propshaft, until today it has never been possible; but no mechanic bothered to mention it nor refuse to be paid for not doing it.
And so it was off to the hospital for the slave to have a little help.
The next day another mechanic was found who insisted that the reason the U-joints could not be greased was that the propshaft was installed backwards. So off it came. Things flipped around. On it went. Still no grease gun would fit on the nipples. Off it came. Curt came to the rescue with some spare long nipples, which installed make it all possible. Nevertheless mechanics must be paid, even for things they break. I have thrown four U-joint in the past 10,000km, all on the front propshaft. Apparently despite paying mechanics to grease the front propshaft, until today it has never been possible; but no mechanic bothered to mention it nor refuse to be paid for not doing it.
And so it was off to the hospital for the slave to have a little help.