You Can't Get Anything at Alice's Restaurant
2 hours ago
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I should have expected this
Some things I should just expect to happen by now. I stretched the monthly budget a bit too aggressively to pay down some debt. That's just asking for something out of the ordinary to go wrong. Sure enough, while in town my wife's car started making some dying bearing noises. I'm guessing it's the power steering pump, as sharp turns increase the whining and complaining under the hood.
On the bright side, it was in town and I could drive it to my mechanic. My son-in-law was able to give me lift to my home in the woods.
I could fix it myself, but working outside in the snow and slush is down right unattractive. Besides, with a grandson on the way any hour now, I've got better things to do. As it was, I spent the morning sorting through and fixing some minor electrical problems on the van. I guess the car felt jealous of the van getting all the attention.
One of these days I'm going to figure out how to live comfortably without a car. For the average Joe, car problems are one of life's major headaches. Of course, I'm not willing to live in a city with public transportation, so car dependency is my own fault. Some days I think technological society went wrong when we got more complicated than a tent and a canoe.
-Sixbears
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Tents and canoes are both prone to leaks. ;-)
ReplyDeleteTrue. That should have been a hint that we'd reached a technological limit. :)
DeleteAs are bicycles. Pity - I think if work were located within a few miles, bicycles have a lot to recommend them. Excepting bad weather of course.
DeleteMy condolences on car problems, mine break down at very inopportune times as well.
There's just too much snow and too many hills here for bicycles to be a year round solution. Good for part of the year. Partial solutions are better than no solutions.
DeleteAt least the van's running well.
Sorry to hear about the car problems. Hope all will work out and it will be purring again like a kitten.
ReplyDeleteIt'll sort itself out.
DeleteVelomobiles, baby! except, as far as I can tell, the only way to get one is build it yourself... from your own design!
ReplyDeleteAnother project? Sheesh.
DeleteHad a similar power steering problem a few months back. I drained it and filled it with the Lucas power steering additive. some of that leaked out and I topped it with HD brake fluid. It's still operating with not so much as a peep. It still uses a small amount of fluid, but I just top up with the lucas and I'm good to go. It's a 91 V'ger so it don't get to much TLC. It belongs to my cousin who is hell on vehicles and short on cash. I hear Ya on cold weather wrenching on cars. I just cut the hanging end off the exhaust instead of replacing it in 30 degree weather. It'll get a new pipe as soon as the warm weather takes hold. It's got a distinct but quiet rumble from the catalytic converter now and the mileage improved.
ReplyDeleteHere's a funny story tent related. When drawing up my ideas, The first was a Tipi on a catamaran and the second was a yurt on a trimaran. The trimaran idea has some merit with a boxy covered wagon type tent amid ships, with a mod crab claw sail plan. I'll have to blog on that as it still makes me smile.
Lastly, Velomobiles, look up N55 space frame trike and get some coro-plast and duct tape and wing a body on it. I use coro-plast on my wheel covers on my bike and it works wonders. Use a 36 volt hub motor in the back tire for a motor assist. It uses a nickles worth of electric about every 40 mile. My problem now, is how to fit the trike on the boat.
It's the wife's car, so it's getting a proper repair job. I actually have a mechanic I can trust.
DeleteOne of the worse things about working outside in the cold and snow is losing parts and tools in the dirty slush. Yuck.
Bikes on boats are useful, but have a hard life. Salt is brutal.
Gotta read that tent on boats post when you write it.
Always something, isn't it? At least you have a backup plan!
ReplyDeleteYou know me, there's always a plan B.
DeleteBring back the horse and cart...
ReplyDeleteYou think vet bills are any cheaper than mechanics'?
DeleteBut, it's true you can't eat the car when all else fails.
I'm with Paracynic on this one.
DeleteHorses aren't my thing. I don't want to ride anything with a mind of its own.
I actually prefer liberated women.
DeleteThe only real reason for a vehicle is to transport for work, or to procure food etc.
ReplyDeleteAfter all soon the oil will be gone then we'll have no other alternative.
Won't that be an interesting time?
DeleteThings will certainly look a whole lot different.