Real men die like heroes do: in the loving arms of a woman

“Achtung Autofahrer auf der A3, Köln richtung Frankfurt”

I was on the news today :) At least, the radio must have announced that there were “people on the road” and that there was a car which had broken down. It was us.

My dear car had decided to let me go on my bike to work. In other words … Coming out of a 130 zone, while speeding up to cruising speed (160, 170kmh for me), all of a sudden I heard a big *klonk* and immediately after the nose of the car was covered in white blue smoke. As I just merged onto the outter left lane, I had to move over to the most right lane. That went fine, but I also noticed the engine had shutdown. And the oil light blinking. Well.. at least the STOP sign did not blink :)

So, time to call our friends from the ADAC, which I got on the phone at 18:20.
The usual questions were asked, like my ADAC membership number, where I got stuck, what had happened (accident or broken down car).
I said my car was bleeding oil and that I was waiting on the sidetrack for them to pick me up, no use to start the car again to drive it.
So I got asked for my telephone number, license plate and what my car looked like. They then said that they would expect the “Abschleppdienst” to arrive within the next hour. Also they asked me to put the warningsplate (triangle) behind the car, and if I could step away from the car, to safely sit behind the rails beside the Autobahn.

Well, uhm, I had already done so, however the wall next to me was about 3 meters high. If I really had to climb over it and sit behind it. The ADAC person grinned and wished me all the best, also asked to keep my phone ready just in case they missed me on the Autobahn. Well, big white car and a blonde, not easy to be overseen :)

While waiting, the weather turned from cloudy to rainy and windy, and the temperature dropped quite a bit. As it was better to not sit in the car (accident risk!) I just waited next to it and where possible walked over a few times to collect stuff which I wanted to be ready when the truck arrived.
Cars drove by, trucks drove by, the wind they produce made my car wobble and my hair flying up and around. Seen the police a few times driving by, which are supposed to stop and wait until the ADAC is ready with their job … but they just stared and drove by. Well, great. Not. #fail for them

none of these stopped and one nearly tried to run me over .. brilliant service!

What surprised me most was that the one and only time I nearly was a witness of an accident with my car while standing there, was with the Polizei itself. As I stood in front of my car (so if something might hit it, I would not get it towards me), I saw a long line of german Polizeivans driving on the right lane. As I was quite annoyed that they just did not stop to assist, I waved at them when they went past. Therefor I also noticed the last van that first dissappeared over to the middle lane, then to come back and almost strike my little warnings triangle, to swirl back onto the main Autobahn again where he did belong. Idiots! Geez! They completely fulfilled the “white van man” description I made a while ago.

59 minutes later (so just within the 1 hour) the ADAC truck arrived and therefor it started to rain.

After having helped the technician with removing the LEDlight and the plastic that covered the eye, he went to the front to drag the car up his truck.

I barely got in the car when he already started, and as I did not have my keys in my car yet but in my back pocket, I could not steer. Very funny that the truckdriver pointed me to the right, but my car just got into a keylock so I could not do anything else than stamp on my brakes and wave with my hands that he had to stop. It all went fine after that little hickup:

Car in 1st gear, handbrake on, papers and other expensive stuff out and lock it! And be careful with getting out of the car, it is quite high above the ground :)

The better bit: I could go into the truck and get a bit warmer again!

After the technician prepared all the cables and blocks for blocking the wheels we took of.

drängler :)

As a “Plus” member of the ADAC I enjoyed my ride home, where as normal (dutch ANWB) members get dropped off at the first available garage. Not only I got my car delivered at the garage which services it, I also got a ride back home, about 3km further.

I gave the driver a dutch can of sweeties which really pleased him, grabbed my stuff and walked towards my house. While walking past my other car I said “Im gonna need you, you have been waiting long enough! :)”

In short: Great service from the ADAC and yes, they are called the “Gelbe Engel”, aka “yellow Angels”. And… it is one of the very first times that an higher insurance shows immediately the advantages of the higher level of support you get. I can only recommend it :)