Nothing for it but to light out to the territories and try and find a garage. The nearest reasonable town is Creel, which to my surprise is at 2,300 meters. It is a 4 hour drive.

The truck works just fine over 1,500 revs; below that the engine stops. We haul ourselves up the appalling zig zag road out of Urique.

Those who have travelled in Mexico will back my assertion that the biggest danger is Topes. We used to call these things sleeping policemen but the accepted term is speed bump. I prefer sleeping policemen. There are hundreds between Urique and Creel. At each the engine cuts out. Huge trucks roar their anger as I stop dead, right in front of them.

In Creel, with much help, I find a garage. Antonio stops what he is doing and does what he can. Unfortunately he does not have the magic wand that diagnoses and cures Toyotas. “Go to big city.” he says.

I am fairly depressed. I am usually quite good at fixing things but Engine Control Module is beyond me. I have to find the wizard with the wand.

It is a 2 day drive to Hidalgo del Parral. Holy cow! The landscapes are jaw dropping. I must stay on the main narrative, otherwise I will fill pages with the descriptions of the very varied country we amble through.

I find a hotel with WiFi and Google ‘Toyota garage Parral.’ ‘Go to Garage Campos!”

Not easy to get there in rush hour traffic, stalling truck, no idea of where I was going.

Edouardo says come back in an hour.

I look at a couple of very old churches. I think I have seen too many. I can only think about the truck.

“Everything is fine.” grins the excellent Edouardo.

Phew! What a relief. I am back in business. The truck feels more relieved than I after 3 days of illness.