EXPLOSION IN TRUCK WRECKS JOURNEY

Okay, so I wrote earlier today that I´d reached the high desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, where I was going to stay for three nights before heading up and over the cordillera and into Argentina´s Jujuy Province and a planned stop for Christmas and New Year´s in the town I´ve come to really love on the past two South America trips: Cafayate.

Well, I got myself settled into the nice Hosteria

Incahuasi (I recommend it to any one of you who are considering traveling to this part of South America, especially with the new management) and took a siesta during the heat of the afternoon.

But while I was sleeping, there was an explosion in the truck, which was parked just outside of the Hosteria. I didn´t know it yet, but there was a fire extinguisher that Andres´mechanic had placed in the glove box...and as you can imagine, with all the intense heat from a sun beating down from virtually directly overhead (yes, this is thr tropics here), plus the pent-up pressure from being at high altitude, and BOOM!

It not only blew out the right side of the dashboard (and possibly vaporized the vehicle registration papers) but the force of the blast shattered the right side of the windshield (although it is mostly still intact).

Well, there is no place here in San Pedro where I can effect repairs, but I do know of a place in Calama where I can get the work done at least to replace the windshield - but regarding all the safety and emissions inspection info and the Santiago auto-toll device, all of which are attached to the windshield, I do not know what will happen. Actually, I REALLY do not want to have to go back to Calama. I´m hoping that I can dodge the Carabineros all the way back to Santiago and then drop the rig off with Andrés.

But one thing is for sure, I will have to turn around first thing in the morning and start on my way back to Santiago, to bring the truck back to Andrés, and to see if he can get me some kind of vehicle to salvage something of a trip.

I know, there´s a phrase for this sort of thing...Sh*t happens. Shucks.