My Harmonic Convergence Diverged
After a lovely weekend in Denver, with some of the kindest hosts, Kaden and Khenti, and sweetest dogs, Jack and Athena, I struck out for Salt Lake City. I opted to go through Wyoming, which was an easier and shorter drive, but just as exciting. I can say finally that I visited Wyoming. I stopped at the highest point on I-80, which has a convenient rest area. I marveled at the open plains and rolling hills. The terrain is just so different than what I've known before. In Salt Lake City, I ate a wonderful pumpkin mole at the Red Iguana. The only food that I know is similar is a curry. I'll have to try and make some moles for Brophey and Karwood.
Today started out fine. I saw the Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats, though it was more like Salt Soup. I saw a sign at a rest stop warning me to watch out for snakes and scorpions. And then I crossed the border from Utah to Nevada, chuckling as a town of instant casinos sprung out of the desert. As I was climbing a hill out of the town, looking forward to driving about 60 miles of Nevada wasteland, my car downshifts and suddenly runs very rough.
Well, hell.
Luckily, I wasn't too far past the town, taking an exit to double back. After a quick call to a friend of mine, I tried a couple of things on my own. No luck. I found a local repair shop and brought my car in. Long story short, my harmonic balancer broke. And to be on the safe side, we're replacing the water pump (which needed to be replaced) and timing cover as well. He quoted me a price for parts, admittedly from a dealership, that made my blanch. My face paled some more when I was told it would take four days for the parts to get here. Mind you, Wendover is a fine little town. I'm not spending a week here.
With the help of friends who shall remain nameless lest you people start bugging them when your car dies, I have a price list from Summit Auto Parts that is much more reasonable, and the parts can be here on Friday.
So please, cross your fingers to make sure everything goes well this time. On the upside, this could have happened miles from any place close, say in the middle of the desert. So perhaps luck is actually with me.
Today started out fine. I saw the Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats, though it was more like Salt Soup. I saw a sign at a rest stop warning me to watch out for snakes and scorpions. And then I crossed the border from Utah to Nevada, chuckling as a town of instant casinos sprung out of the desert. As I was climbing a hill out of the town, looking forward to driving about 60 miles of Nevada wasteland, my car downshifts and suddenly runs very rough.
Well, hell.
Luckily, I wasn't too far past the town, taking an exit to double back. After a quick call to a friend of mine, I tried a couple of things on my own. No luck. I found a local repair shop and brought my car in. Long story short, my harmonic balancer broke. And to be on the safe side, we're replacing the water pump (which needed to be replaced) and timing cover as well. He quoted me a price for parts, admittedly from a dealership, that made my blanch. My face paled some more when I was told it would take four days for the parts to get here. Mind you, Wendover is a fine little town. I'm not spending a week here.
With the help of friends who shall remain nameless lest you people start bugging them when your car dies, I have a price list from Summit Auto Parts that is much more reasonable, and the parts can be here on Friday.
So please, cross your fingers to make sure everything goes well this time. On the upside, this could have happened miles from any place close, say in the middle of the desert. So perhaps luck is actually with me.