Pedro, the team vehicle, is a loved and valued member of the team and has much to share with us after an active life of 20+ years. While, thankfully, it is still running, it is beginning to show its age. This segment of the blog is intended to be a light-hearted story from the car’s perspective.
October 2025
Diary Entry 5
The life of a car is hard. We haul and carry all sorts of things across kilometres and kilometres. Most people don’t even remember to clean us properly after each trip. And then kids write their names in the dust in our windows. It is disgraceful!
Well, I can’t complain too much. At least I am appreciated!
Another teammate moved to a new district, Obock. Only about a third of the distance from the city to Tadjourah and the road has recently been paved so it’s really nice. And there are some pretty views of the mountains as you leave Tadjourah and then the sea as you get closer to Obock. But still, the DUST!
And moving someone? That means furniture and boxes and many heavy things. It’s exhausting work.
And here I was thinking another thankless task done by the loyal, uncomplaining steed, when wouldn’t you know it, they went and surprised me with a new board to cover my floorboards in the back. Previously I had a woven mat, which was lovely for its time but I have to say, it was getting shabby. The new board is pristine. Clean and neat. Really improves the whole atmosphere in the back. I love it!
And everyone else does too! Friends have even taken to putting their goats in diapers when they come along to the countryside so they don’t poo in the car! Personally, I greatly appreciate the effort. And I think it’s sweet.
I am looking forward to other possible improvements soon, if I can be so bold.
Diary Entry 6
Now I am not vain. I am too old and have had too many repairs to be plagued with that vice. But I can’t help but preen a bit when I hear people talk.
So, my roof has needed a bit of support to stay up, so to speak. My carer added some sticks between the frame and the roof. Rather ingenious I thought. And practical.
They have been there for ages so I hardly think about them anymore. But the other day, one of the friends driving out to the garden mentioned that it reminded them of the traditional homes. They use strong sticks to create the frame of the round hut and to support the woven mats or animal skins or, nowadays, plastic tarps that form the walls and roof.
What an honour to be compared to this integral part of Djibouti’s history and culture. I don’t think they were trying to flatter me, but it definitely worked! Now I look at those sticks with even more honour and gratitude.
November 2025
Diary Entry 7
It only took two years but I now have new springs. I’m thrilled that they were willing to spring for some new ones. (Did ya see what I did there?) The last ones were bandaged together. Which to be honest worked rather well considering all the roads I’ve bounced along, but it was only a matter of time before something broke loose for the last time. I don’t have many miscellaneous metal pieces that can just fall off with no consequences. So, I’m glad for the repair.
It took a good afternoon of work. Inevitably one of the parts isn’t going to fit quite right or a random bolt isn’t there. But by the end, I was in ship-shop state, ready to hit the roads.
Kerith Trust 