The plan today was to get setup to use a local-country propane cylinder. This would involve buying a filled propane tank, some hose, and having the carrier on the back of the Tiger modified at a welding shop. I was confident that all but the welding would be straight forward as other travelers had told us about a very good hardware store close to the campground.

So around 9:00 am we set out to find El Hierro ferreteria. Finding it was easy, but the contents disappointing. They had no tanks, no hose, but they did have a manager that spoke good english and went to considerable trouble to find the address of a business that sold tanks, and another one that would come and fill tanks on request. Good samaritan numero uno.

Off we went into the center of the old city to find the place that would sell us a tank. After some navigation, driving, and parking challenges in the narrow old town streets we arrived on foot at the place, it was a retail outlet for stoves, refrigerators and other white good. But yes, it did sell gas tanks and there was a shop assistant that spoke English. So a few minutes later we had the tank, full of gas, and were in a taxi going back to where we parked the Tiger. But as yet no hose. But - the shop assistant gave us the address of a local ferreteria (hardware store) that might help. Good samaritan numero dos.

After putting the tank inside the Tiger, and packing cloths and sleeping bags around it, we headed for the ferreteria. Not only did we get the hose but he also noticed that we need some brass fittings that he dug out of the bowels of his shop. Numero tres.

Back at the Tiger, a man stopped by to say in a mix of English and Spanish, that he was an engineer who had a business nearby that made camper trailers. After some discussion we agreed to come visit his workshop as 2:00pm, and yes his people could do the welding we required.

So with some time to kill we set off on the second challenge of the day - what to do about an electrical transformer for Peru, Chile and Argentina which uses 220 volt power. We had the name of a place from other travelers that did indeed help, we bought a 1500 watt transformer - hope it is big enough to do lights, battery charger, and microwave. Time will tell.

After lunch and a trip to the super market - where we met some very friendly, helpful, and unarmed guards we headed for the engineers workshop.

We got there about 2:30 pm to find a large work shed containing a big red bus under construction. The bus is being built to be a mobile medical clinic. A very impressive piece of fabrication. Within minutes we met up with Efrain Villota, the man from the morning meeting, and he showed us around his business and his wonderful house.

Then it was down to our welding. Efrain and his team of up to 6 spent the rest of the afternoon applying their considerable engineering skills to the modification of my somewhat poorly engineered rear carrier. At the end of the afternoon I had the propane tank and two plastic gas cans mounted, plus I had considerable reenforcing applied to the carrier.

Efrain and team - thank you for you help and friendship, Nina and I very much appreciate your time and skill. Efrain you certainly were a good samaritan.

To other travelers; if you are in need of welding or other engineering work while in Cuenca, you might lookup Efrain and his business at villotaconstrucciones@gmail.com, or 095328058, 072850223.